Steve Brine spoke about helping the millions of autistic children who lack key parental support in the House of Commons on Tuesday 20th November.
The Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP, who is also vice chair of the All-Party Autism Group, was speaking in a debate held by colleague Robert Buckland MP, who called for 'greater awareness which would lead to improved treatment and quicker diagnoses.'
Mr Buckland, who has a ten-year old daughter with autism, said: "We need to move to a system where you don't need to shout at the top of your voice to get provision for your child, you don't need to bang on the nearest door as loudly as possible, you don't have to kick out at the authorities to get what you believe is in the best interests of your child."
Joining the debate, Steve congratulated Mr Buckland on securing the debate, and praised his work in the field. He went on to say he had 'lost count' of the number of parents who come to his surgery with an enormous folder after working so hard on behalf of their child.
He said: "They are the ones with the sharp elbows, the time and the wherewithal to do all the reading and understanding, and to battle their child through the system. This debate is about the millions of children in this country who do not have such parental support, such as children in care, getting the same access to services as children whose parents can drive their way through the system."
Among others who spoke in the debate were Mark Pritchard, Stephen Metcalfe and Tom Clarke, while former Cabinet Minister Cheryl Gillam added: "[Ministers must] make sure that the Department of Health and others ensure that young people with autism, when they reach adulthood, there is a plan for a net by other services so that black hole just doesn't simply move to the age of 25 as many people fear."
More information...