JENNY GILRUTH MSP PLEDGES TO SUPPORT AUTISTIC CONSTITUENTS
Published date : 30 Jun 2017
LOCAL MSP BACKS CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SCOTLAND AN “AUTISM-FRIENDLY NATION”
Jenny Gilruth MSP has pledged to support her autistic constituents and make Scotland an autism-friendly nation.
The Mid Fife & Glenrothes MSP made the pledge at an event held at Holyrood by The National Autistic Society Scotland.
As part of its ‘Too Much Information’ campaign, the charity is asking people across Scotland to learn about autism and the small changes they can make to their behaviour to be more autism-friendly.
Speaking at the event, Jenny Gilruth MSP said: “I have pledged to help my autistic constituents by communicating clearly and not using jargon. Politics can often involve all sorts of jargon and terms unfamiliar to local constituents, and I’m keen to ensure what goes on in Parliament is accessible for everyone.
“I am pleased to support The National Autistic Society Scotland’s campaign and I hope that people across Mid Fife & Glenrothes will take time to learn about autism, a condition which affects around one in 100 people.”
Research has revealed that 66 per cent of autistic people feel socially isolated, and 44 per cent sometimes don’t go out because they are worried about how others will react to their autism.
Jenny Paterson, director of The National Autistic Society Scotland, said: “Autistic people and their families have told us that increased understanding is the single biggest thing that would improve their lives. That’s why we’re asking people to take time to learn about the small changes they can make to their behaviour that make a big difference – such as avoiding jargon and showing patience when others seem stressed or anxious.
“I am grateful to Jenny for joining us at Scottish Parliament to show her commitment to making our nation autism-friendly.”
Around 58,000 people in Scotland are autistic. Together with their families they make up around 232,000 people whose lives are touched by autism every single day. To find out more about The National Autistic Society Scotland’s Too Much Information campaign, please visit www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/tmi.aspx
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information, please contact Jo-Anne Hamilton at The National Autistic Society Scotland at jo.hamilton@nas.org.uk or on 0141 285 7111 / 07917 651 617.
The National Autistic Society Scotland is the leading charity for autistic people and their families. It provides information, support and pioneering services, and campaigns for a better world for autistic people. To find out more about autism or The National Autistic Society Scotland, visit: www.autism.org.uk/Scotland
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