On the 24th April and 1st May, the National Autistic Society hosted Understanding Autism sessions for Members of Parliament as part of our World Autism Acceptance Month campaign, It’s How You Show Up. Over two sessions, nine MPs received an introduction to autism, the challenges autistic people face, and how to show up for their autistic constituents.
We’d like to the thank 1,565 of our campaigners who reached out to their MP as part of this campaign and encouraged them to attend a session.
Although a number of MPs were not able to attend these sessions we have had interest in future sessions which we will hold and requests for further information on being an autism friendly MP and holding an autism friendly surgery which we have provided.
Alongside the sessions we have sent a copy of our new It’s How You Show Up Report. That highlights difficulties and discrimination faced by autistic people and provides details for MPs on how they can show up for their constituents.
Who attended the sessions?
The following MPs attended the sessions:
Dame Nia Griffith MP
Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP
Ben Lake MP
Paul Maskey MP
John Milne MP
Caroline Nokes MP
Jeff Smith MP
Euan Stainbank MP
Cameron Thomas MP
Further information
- Read further details about the campaign and findings from surveys commissioned for it here.
- Read the blog by NAS Assistant Director of Communications, Chrystyna Chymera-Holloway on the campaign.
- Add to the Pledge Wall to highlight how you or others can show up for autistic people.
