I Exist: the message from adults with autism

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The I Exist campaign, launched in 2008, highlights the impact of the lack of support on adults with autism and the action that is needed to bring real improvements to people's lives.

Thousands of you have already taken action to improve the lives of adults with autism but we need more of you to get involved to ensure we make a real impact. If you haven't already done so, please take action now to help improve the lives of adults with autism across the UK.

Find out more about the campaign where you live below.

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Campaign update

The I Exist campaign launched in February 2008 to transform the lives of adults with autism. It focused on the lack of support and services available to adults.

The campaign website is now offline and we have transferred key information to our main website. Visit the fundraising section for information on Grand Intentions.

As part of our campaign we:

• published a report into public attitudes to autism. think differently - act positively is based on a survey of over 2,000 adults from across the UK. It shows that while many people claim to have heard of autism there is a lack of understanding about what it really means to live with the condition. This has a damaging impact on people affected by autism, who too often experience discrimination, intolerance and isolation

• made a series of short films that focus on how people with autism may experience everyday situations, to draw attention to how proper understanding of the condition can make a huge difference to those affected by autism

• held an exhibition called As I See It, which featured photographs taken of, and by, people with autism. The exhibition travelled to several venues around the UK

• asked the UK Government to ratify the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities

• NAS branches from across the UK have been organising awareness-raising events.

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What you can do

You can download a copy of our think differently - act positively report at the bottom of this page.

Become a fan on Facebook [you will need to be registered with Facebook to do this] or MySpace.

Sign up to receive the NAS bloggers RSS feeds:

• Ben and Gabriel
• Robyn
• Aly

 

I Exist: take action now! Nearly two-thirds of adults with autism say that they do not have enough support. This lack of support can have a devastating impact on individuals and families. Take action now to help improve the lives of adults with autism. I Exist campaign news Read about the latest updates and successes from our I Exist campaign. I Exist in England Details of our I Exist campaign in England, how you can get involved, and the demands we are making of Government, local authorities and primary care trusts. I Exist in Northern Ireland Details of our I Exist campaign in Northern Ireland, and what we are asking the Northern Ireland Assembly to do. I Exist in Scotland Details of our I Exist campaign in Scotland, how you can get involved, and the demands we are making of the Scottish Government, local authorities and community health partnerships. I Exist in Wales Details of our I Exist campaign in Wales, how you can get involved, and the demands we are making of the Welsh Assembly Government, local authorities and local health boards. Local authority progress tables As part of the I Exist campaign we asked all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales about local leadership on autism and systems to record the number of adults with autism in their area.

Related resources

Relevant areas/articles elsewhere on this website

• think differently - act positively
  

Relevant documents for downloading

• 5 Feb: New research reveals thousands of adults with autism are isolated and ignored (DOC)