IT WAS sad to read the recent article in the Sentinel about Alison Dixon, who lost her son a few years ago through alcohol, which he turned to because of his condition, autism, which is now a recognised disability.

Autism is a developmental condition. There are other conditions which fit on the autism spectrum such as Asperger's syndrome, a milder form of autism.

A friend of mine committed suicide at the beginning of this year who had Asperger's syndrome and mental health problems as well, but she didn't turn to alcohol. She ended her life very quickly due to the sheer fact that the system let her down.

Again, we hear this tragic story of a young man, Oliver, taking his own life.

Oliver, pictured below, was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder when he was 16, but by then he had already begun to drink in the hope of becoming more accepted by society.

He preferred to be seen as a drunk person rather than as someone with mental health problems.

I think if the right support package had been in place, this would probably not have happened.

But this story, which Alison has highlighted in The Sentinel, is getting more common among young people with a developmental disability. The system needs to change.

Alison is an inspirational woman who is now campaigning for the government to act. As she said in her article, her son didn't want to die. He was crying out for help and support but he was failed.

On October 7, 2008, the Autism Bill (Draft) was launched in Parliament, in partnership with Angela Browning MP and the wider autism community. The Bill has been developed to challenge the exclusion from services that too many people with autism experience. The Bill builds on two 10-minute rule Bills, introduced by MPs Lee Scott and Angela Browning.

The Autism Bill aims to strengthen information about the numbers of people with autism and their needs in order to improve local planning and the commissioning of services. It aims to improve inter-agency working to secure effective transition for disabled young people who are moving from child to adult services. Finally, it aims to ensure access to appropriate support and services for people with autism in adult life. I urge the public to email their local MP to put this motion forward.

KEVIN HEALEY

Chairman,

Staffordshire Adult Autism Society