The Prime Minister Tony Blair has written the following letter to encourage an increased understanding of autism and to underline the importance of the UK’s Autism Awareness Year 2002 :
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA<
February 2002
Autism is one of the least understood but most frightening and difficult of conditions. I welcome initiatives which aim to improve our knowledge and understanding in this area. People with autism lead isolated lives. Their social and communication difficulties place great stress on their families. It is important that we should all be sensitive to their needs.Autism Awareness Year has an important contribution to make. I am pleased that Health Minister Jacqui Smith will represent the Government at the opening conference on 14 February. We will listen carefully to the messages which emerge.
I am also pleased to note how much activity has recently been stimulated on autism. This includes the independent “National Initiative on Autism: Screening and Assessment” which is due to report in 2002. The Government has also been active. The Department for Education and Skills will be issuing good practice guidance on autism in the coming months. Two reports commissioned by the Department of Health / from Dr Tony Holland on Asperger's Syndrome and from the Medical Research Council on the Epidemiology and Causes of Autism / have also recently been made available. Both of these are helping to improve our understanding of autism.
I very much hope that Autism Awareness Year will build on this work as well as being able to make its own distinct and complementary contribution. I wish it every success.
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
The Prime Minister