Fife MP calls for more support for people with autism

At the virtual Understanding Autism session, North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain learned more about autism, how autistic people have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak, and how to better support her autistic constituents.

There are around 700,000 autistic children and adults in the UK and a further three million family members and carers too. This means that around one in 100 people in each MP’s constituency are autistic.

Over 80 MPs attended the first in-person sessions at Westminster last year, and the charity have since held a number of individual sessions for MPs and their staff in their constituencies.

Ms Chamberlain said: “I was delighted to take part in the Understanding Autism session and I’m grateful to the National Autistic Society and All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism for organising it.

“As part of my commitment to representing everyone in north east Fife, I hope that this session will help me to better support and work alongside autistic people and families in north east Fife.

“Following this event, I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, encouraging him to properly fund support and services for autistic people in the upcoming spending review.”

Caroline Stevens, chief executive at The National Autistic Society, said: “We were really pleased that Wendy Chamberlain MP took part in our virtual Understanding Autism session.

“One in 100 people are autistic and many face problems getting the right education, social and health care. This has been even harder during the coronavirus pandemic.”