During Autism Acceptance Month 2025, we ran our ‘It’s How You Show Up’ campaign and encouraged campaigners to invite their MPs to attend an Understanding Autism session, led by autistic staff.

Over 1,500 campaigners sent an invitation asking their MP to Show Up for autistic people.  

Every autistic person deserves to feel heard and understood by others, including their MP. Better understanding of autism means MPs can be better advocates for the changes we need to make society truly work for autistic people. 

Currently, discrimination and negative experiences are a regular part of daily life for autistic people, with one in four autistic people revealing that usually, when they tell a member of the public, they are autistic, they get a negative reaction. Autistic people report negative reactions more than twice as often as positive reactions. 

Autistic people face barriers being represented by politicians:   

50% of autistic people said meeting with an MP, councillor or other politician is difficult or not possible for them 

Only 30% said they would be comfortable and confident meeting an MP, councillor or other politician 

42% of autistic people say there are fewer opportunities for them to get involved in politics and campaigning because they are autistic 

We want every MP to understand autism and how they can Show Up for their autistic constituents.