Llanelli MP takes autism awareness training

Llanelli’s MP Nia Griffith recently attended the National Autistic Society’s first ever autism awareness training session for Members of Parliament.

Ms Griffith was one of 82 MPs who attended one the ‘Understanding Autism’ sessions in order to learn more about autism and how to support autistic constituents. The sessions were run by National Autistic Society staff, some of whom are autistic.

Nia Griffith MP said, “There are around 700,000 autistic children and adults in the UK, so it is vital that we all learn about the condition and how best to help those it affects.

“The National Autistic Society’s training session was very informative and certainly gave me better insight into the challenges that having autism can bring. I will be mindful of the advice I received about interacting with and supporting autistic constituents.

“This session was also an important reminder of the need to continue to push for the best possible support for those with conditions like autism. I am pleased that Wales is the first country in the UK to publish a strategic plan for autism, and that the Welsh Government is investing more to improve autism services.”

Anna Bailey-Bearfield, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the National Autistic Society, said: “We were really pleased to see Nia Griffith MP attend our charity’s first ever Understanding Autism session for MPs.

“It’s really encouraging to see MPs like Nia want to learn more about how to support their autistic constituents, as they play a really important role in helping to create a world that works for autistic people.

“Now we hope MPs will put what they learned into practice so that autistic people’s needs are better understood. 82 MPs attended our first session. Over the coming weeks and months, we’re hoping to work with many more MPs, so we can help turn better understanding into action.”