Autism Awareness Campaign UK

The Autism Awareness Campaign – United Kingdom was launched in 2000 by Ivan and Charika Corea in response to the autism diagnosis of their son, Charin.

Objectives

According to their website, Autism Awareness Campaign – United Kingdom was started in 2000 "to campaign on behalf of parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome, for better public services in health, education, specialist speech therapy and respite care; for independent research into the causes of autism; for greater public awareness on Autism and Asperger's Syndrome", as well as other areas where they believe there is a shortfall in public-service provision. [ [http://uk_autism.tripod.com/ Autism Awareness Campaign – United Kingdom.] Official website, home page. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.] They have lobbied for greater awareness of the condition and for independent research on the causes of autism. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070307/halltext/70307h0009.htm#070307132000005 7 Mar 2007 : Column 497WH, Autistic Children (Education).] UK Parliament, 7 March 2007. Retrieved on 8 July 2008.]

Events

;2002 United Kingdom Autism Awareness Year

The Autism Awareness Campaign of 2002 initiated debates in the Parliament of the UK and the Scottish Parliament for Autism Awareness Year, supported by organisations including the British Institute of Brain Injured Children, The Disabilities Trust, and the National Autistic Society. [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020109/halltext/20109h02.htm 9 Jan 2002 : Column 226WH, Autism.] UK Parliament, 9 January 2002. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.] A major conference on autism was held at the King's Fund in London and a service for autism was held at St Paul's Cathedral.

;2007 House of Commons autism debate and meeting with Prime MinisterThe Autism Awareness Campaign helped raise awareness about the condition in 2007 in the British House of Commons when Lee Scott, MP for Ilford North, brought a debate on autistic children. [ [http://www.bloggernews.net/15126 UK Autism Westminster Debate: British MPs focus attention onto Autism.] Blogger News Network, 10 March 2007. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.]

Ivan Corea met with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair and Lee Scott MP in April 2007. He presented the Prime Minister with a report calling for a national strategy on autism and a 10-year plan of action in the UK. [ [http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11529.asp PM praised for speaking out on autism.] 10 Downing Street, 25 April 2007. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.] The call for an urgent review on autism services was supported by leading British charities and community organisations including faith communities. [ [http://www.huliq.com/20018/uk-prime-minister-tony-blair-meets-autism-campaigners UK Prime Minister Tony Blair meets Autism Campaigners.] Huliq News 27 April 2007. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.] Parliamentarians signed an early day motion on autism (EDM 1359) backing the call for a national strategy on autism and change in policy for people with autism and Asperger's syndrome. [Gapes, Mike. [http://edmi.parliament.uk/edmi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33138&SESSION=885 Early Day Motion: EDM 1359 on Autism.] House of Commons - UK Parliament, 26 April 2007. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.] Ivan Corea met with the British Prime Minister-in-Waiting, Gordon Brown in June 2007 to urge him to launch the national strategy and 10-year plan on autism, [http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/74559.php Gordon Brown Urged To Take Decisive Action On Autism.] Medical News Today, 19 June 2007. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.] particularly in building state-of-the-art autism schools. [ [http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/help+autistic+children++call/591682 Help Autistic Children.] Channel 4 Television, 8 July 2007. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.]

;2008 United Nations World Autism Awareness Day

The Autism Awareness Campaign UK were involved in the first United Nations World Autism Awareness Day, declared by the UN General Assembly on Wednesday 2 April 2008 on the recommendation of the State of Qatar.

The campaign called on the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon to launch a world autism strategy, convene a United Nations Autism Conference in 2009 to engage with world leaders on autism and for UN agencies such as UNICEF and UNDP to reach out and help families with autism in the Third World who are below the poverty line – particularly in Africa and Asia.Fact|date=July 2008

Ivan Corea announced on CNN and GMTV that an international organisation is being set up called the UK Autism Foundation, to build a state-of-the-art Autism Centre in London and to help the poor in Africa and Asia. The UK Autism Foundation will lobby for real and lasting change for parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger syndrome. The CNN interview with presenter Max Foster was televised to mark World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April 2008. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2008/04/02/intv.austism.corea.cnn Fighting for Autism: Max Foster interviews Ivan Corea.] CNN.com, 2 April 2008. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.] International coverage about the Autism Awareness Campaign UK was also given on Associated Press and the campaigners received national coverage in the United Kingdom. [ [http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=28952 GMTV features the Autism Awareness Campaign UK] . GMTV, 25 April 2008. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.]

The campaigners released a film to mark the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day with the leading British peer the Baroness Uddin in the House of Lords.Open Every Door, written by the award winning Sri Lanka-born singer and songwriter, Nimal Mendis,was aired on the UN World Autism Awareness Day by CNN.

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid

Lord Coe appointed Ivan Corea as a London 2012 Olympic bid Ambassador; the Autism Awareness Campaign UK were fully involved with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid. [ [http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/search/575826.Buckhurst_Hill_man_called_up_to_back_Olympic_bid/ Buckhurst Hill man called up to back Olympic bid.] "The Guardian", 8 March 2005. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.] [ [http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/search/575199.Support_for_Olympics_results_in_special_posting/ Support for Olympics results in special posting.] "The Guardian", 7 March 2005. Retrieved on 20 July 2008.]

ee also

* List of autism-related topics
* Autism rights movement

References

External links

* [http://uk_autism.tripod.com Autism Awareness Campaign UK: Campaigning for all people with Autism] (official website)