Call on your MP to end the care crisis

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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The National Autistic Society - Making a difference for 50 years

Dear campaigner,

Thousands of adults with autism in desperate need of support are being let down by a broken, underfunded social care system.

That’s why our first call to action of 2012 is for you to join us at a mass lobby of Parliament to demand urgent reform of the adult social care system.

The lobby on 6 March 2012 is your chance to come to Parliament to tell your MP about your experiences of social care, and call on them to make the system better for everyone.

If you are interested in attending, please register here.  By registering, your MP will automatically be sent a request to meet you.  Without a pre-arranged meeting, it will be very difficult to see your MP on the day.

This lobby is being arranged by the Care and Support Alliance.  The Alliance is a consortium of over 50 organisations that represent and support older and disabled people.

Until next time…happy campaigning!

Tom Madders

Head of Campaigns


Accept difference. Not indifference.

We’d like to stay in touch with you via email as this helps us keep our costs low. If you no longer want to receive emails from us about our fundraising initiatives or campaigning work for example, please unsubscribe.
The National Autistic Society, registered office: 393 City Road, London, EC1V 1NG, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0)20 7833 2299, Fax: +44 (0)20 7833 9666, Email: nas@nas.org.uk VAT registration number: 653370050; a charity registered in England and Wales (269425) and in Scotland (SC039427)
Copyright The National Autistic Society 2012
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Help us tell the UK what it’s like to live with autism

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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Millions of people in the UK still don’t understand what it’s really like to live with autism. Please help us to tell them.

To mark our 50th birthday, we’re conducting our largest ever survey of people with autism and carers of people with autism, so we can get the most comprehensive picture yet of the lives of people affected by autism in the UK.
50 years ago, we started as a small group of friends with a common purpose: to improve the lives and futures of children and adults affected by autism. We’re proud of our achievements but that doesn’t mean our mission is complete. By answering this survey, you’ll be providing us with up-to-date facts and figures to present to the public and to key decision-makers. Please help us continue to make a difference in raising public awareness and understanding of autism.
If you are not a person with autism or a carer of someone with autism living in the UK, please do not fill in this survey. But if you, or someone you care for, are living with autism please give us up to 20 minutes of your time to answer these questions.
Thank you for taking the time to help us. It is much appreciated.
Find out how else you can support us in our 50th year.
We’d like to stay in touch with you via email as this helps us keep our costs low. If you no longer want to receive emails from us about our fundraising initiatives or campaigning work for example, please unsubscribe.
The National Autistic Society, registered office: 393 City Road, London, EC1V 1NG, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0)20 7833 2299, Fax: +44 (0)20 7833 9666, Email: nas@nas.org.uk VAT registration number: 653370050; a charity registered in England and Wales (269425) and in Scotland (SC039427)
Copyright The National Autistic Society 2012
Posted in ADD/ADHD, ASD, Advocacy, Asperger Syndrome, Autism, Campaigns, Disability | Tagged | Leave a comment

Support Meeting 20th February Geoff Evans ‘What Works’

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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Our next support meeting is on Monday the 20th of February at 10:30am.   There is no meeting in the evening. Please be aware if you haven’t already booked your place for the Geoff Evans ‘What Works’ Seminar we are now booked up.

The venue is The Washingborough Methodist Church, Lincoln Road, Washingborough, LN4 1AT. You can find the location on CANadda’s web site www.canadda.org.uk.

If you have booked and you are coming please be aware there are limited parking spaces in the car park at the back of the church.  You can park opposite along / up Church Hill.  Refreshments are served from 10am and there will be refreshments available after the seminar has finished.

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Campaign update: Welfare Reform Bill

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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This Wednesday, the Welfare Reform Bill returns to the House of Commons, and the government is planning to try to reverse some of the amendments made to the Bill in the House of Lords.

The Lords amended the Bill to increase the proposed time limit on Employment and Support Allowance (the benefit for people who cannot work because of illness, impairment or disability) from one year to two years. This two year period will help to protect those who cannot work and provide extra support to help people get back to work. It looks like the government will try to overturn that amendment.

Thank you to everyone who has already contacted your MP on this, but if you haven’t this is your last chance to contact your MP and ensure the government honours its commitment to disabled people.

Make sure you take action today.

Best wishes,

Hannah & the Campaigns Team

Leonard Cheshire Disability

P.S. Join thousands of people who have called on the government to stop and review the cuts to benefits which are hitting disabled people hard. Show your support and help reach 100,000 signatures: sign Pat’s Petition now.

[Editorial note: Karl McCartney, Conservative MP for Lincoln, described supporting the disabled as a "proud duty" rather than a burden, in a communication to me at election time. If you live in Lincoln, why not encourage him to show this commendable spirit in the House. Elsewhere, why not encourage your MP to do likewise.]

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Early signs of autism detected at six months

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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Early signs of autism can be detected in babies as young as six months old, according to new research.A study found that babies who go on to develop autism show different brain responses when someone looks at them or looks away.The scientists, from Birbeck College London, said that measuring brain activity in infants may help identify infants most at risk of developing autism, so they can be helped at an earlier age.

via Early signs of autism detected at six months.

Posted in Autism, Diagnosis, News | Tagged | 2 Comments

Autism: Some children may ‘grow out’ of it, suggests study

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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Dr Georgina Gomez-de-la-Cuesta, Action Research Leader for The National Autistic Society, said: ‘Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition – a child with autism will grow up to be an adult with autism.

‘While there is no cure for autism, securing the right support, implementing strategies to manage behaviours and creating the best environment can help manage anxieties and sensory difficulties associated with the condition.

‘Although this could lead to improvements in behaviour, the underlying autism remains and can continue to pose very real challenges at every stage in life.’

via  Mail Online.

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Brain scans could diagnose dyslexia in children before they even learn to read and head off difficulties at school

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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Some children with dyslexia go undiagnosed for years, leading to prolonged learning difficulties and children who are angry and frustrated at school. But all that could be a thing of the past. Scientists now say they can identify the reading problem before children even start school, and long before they become labeled as poor students and begin to lose confidence in themselves.

via  Mail Online.

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The Story Behind the Best NYT Correction Ever | JIMROMENESKO.COM

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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http://jimromenesko.com/2012/01/06/the-story-behind-the-best-nyt-correction-ever/

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A.D.D. comic book: Exclusive essay and excerpt by author Douglas Rushkoff « Boing Boing

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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http://boingboing.net/2012/01/23/a-d-d-comic-book-exclusive.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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Lincolnshire academies probed over claims of ‘rejecting special needs children’

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Phil Culmer
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Parents of children with special needs are being asked to come forward amid claims they are being “subtly discouraged” from applying to some schools.Lincolnshire County Council has announced it is to investigate the admissions and exclusions process for schools.

via This is Lincolnshire.

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