User:CalvinK/Autism Act 2009

The Autism Act 2009 (c.15) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that received Royal Assent on the 12 November 2009. The Act makes provision about the needs of adults suffering from autism. It is the first ever disability-specific legislation to be passed in the UK.

Background
The Act began as a Private Members Bill which was drafted by number of autism related organisations:
 * National Autistic Society (NAS)
 * AIM
 * Autism Anglia
 * Autism Education Trust
 * Autism Initiatives UK
 * Autism Research Centre (ARC)
 * Autism Speaks
 * Autism West Midlands
 * The Children's Society
 * Hampshire Autistic Society
 * Research Autism
 * Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society
 * Sussex Autistic Community Trust
 * TreeHouse
 * The Wessex Autistic Society
 * Wirral Autistic Society

It was introduced to the House of Commons by Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan on 21 January 2009. It was then introduced to the House of Lords on 2 June 2009.