I WAS given a special invitation to attend the launch of the National Autistic Project at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on February 1. The intention of the event was to launch a project in order to improve the provision for those living with autism in Wales.

The goal of the project is to influence the Welsh Government and governments across the UK to adopt their strategies.

As part of the presentation, Dr Dai Lloyd AM and Claire Fitzgerald made speeches. Claire spoke with passion in her speech and compared the period of having a diagnosis of autism to planting a fruit tree, to symbolise the beginning of a new period in life.

According to a recent report by the National Autism Project, it is important to identify the condition and obtain a diagnosis as early as possible in order to get the best support. This report explains the aims of the project.

These days, there is a strong campaign for increasing awareness of mental health in society. This project states that there is a need for a similar campaign to improve people’s awareness of autism, also.

There is a need for better planning and a broader base of information for research in order to help individuals with autism cope with the big changes in life such as leaving school or moving house. Services that deal with autistic people should work together in order to understand how to use financial support effectively.

In order to achieve this, there is a need to research into which services or activities are most beneficial, for example, when looking for a job or when dealing with bullying.

I look forward to seeing the results of this project and how it will improve the lives of people with autism in the coming years.

Aled Thomas

Purcell Road

Penarth