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To: UK Health and Social Care Secretary
Ensure needs of people with Autism are met in any future pandemic response
People with Autism in the UK were not considered and supported correctly by the UK Government throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. This must be prevented from happening in a future health crisis and ensure their needs are met.
Why is this important?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many people with Autism in the UK struggled to process and understand information, advice and guidance, if they found any.
Appropriate, Autism-suitable information needs to be provided on all platforms - TV, Radio, Newspapers, Leaflets, Websites and Social Media by the UK Government during a health crisis like this.
The mental health of many people with Autism has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emerald Insight Survey ‘The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Autistic Adults’ published in February 2021 stated:"72% of respondents reported some or significant deterioration in Mental Health during the pandemic” and said the most negative impacts were the result of “uncertainty and disruption of normal routine”. This needs preventing in a health crisis.
Action needs to be taken because it effects so many people, Autistic people themselves, their families, their friends, work colleagues etc.
This needs to be made Law, here are my Legislation Proposals I have produced:
Legislation to protect people with Autism during a future health crisis
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic there has been a lack of consideration and support by the UK Government for people with Autism. Legislation needs to be put in place to ensure this does not happen again in a future health crisis.
1. Information for Autistic people needs to be in clear straightforward language with short and simple sentences, no abbreviations and jargon. Bullet points and visual images should be used to assist processing and understanding.
2. Information should be provided on the following platforms, TV, Radio, Newspapers, Leaflets, Websites and Social Media.
3. Warnings should be put in place before programmes and advertisements. This would prevent Autistic people being subjected to information which is not delivered in an appropriate way for people with Autism. This would reduce so much confusion, anxiety, distress and panic attacks.
The failures which people with Autism in the UK suffered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic must not ever happen again in a future health crisis.
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Thank you.
