Please use the box below to enter your postcode & find your local MP to email about our campaign. I have written a guidance template below for what to include in the email – but personalisation is key, please keep reading to know what to do next. Please personalise – 1. To avoid SPAM filters & stop the emails being blocked, 2. To share the human side of this campaign which is needed to really gather support.

The template will help you personalise your email & share the key goals of this campaign. FYI: Copy the template below before entering your postcode & clicking through so you have what you need ready to go. Thank you so much for your support. Speech Therapy is failing autistic children in England & change is needed – let’s Speak Up for Autism.

Template for your email –

Email Title: Speak Up for Autism

Dear _________________,

[Please introduce yourself & your family here with a brief summary of how Speech Therapy has failed your family.]

Autistic individuals are being let down repeatedly by NHS Speech Therapy & are therefore left with no support to communicate. Statistics show that “8 out of 10 children who receive Speech & Language Therapy show improved outcomes”, but autistic individuals are being dismissed & this important therapy is never actually taking place. We have been collecting lived experience stories from families, alongside NHS & Independent Speech Therapists & in just a few days have over 200 responses explaining the devastating situation in more detail.

Our campaign aims to change this. Our goals are as follows: 

A. Make “Speak Up for Autism” training mandatory for all prospective & practising NHS Speech Therapists. This training would ensure autistic individuals have their specific Speech & Language needs met & give Speech Therapists the confidence to recommend, refer & support an autistic individual’s communication needs.

B. Change understanding of the ‘Guidance on Referral Criteria for a Specialist Alternative Augmentative Communication [AAC] assessment’. Make necessary edits & dispel current misconceptions around how this criteria is used in practice. 

C. Change existing Apraxia Assessment criteria & ongoing therapy delivery to make them inclusive for autistic individuals, especially those with high needs. 

Why this campaign matters:

1. “Our Speech Therapist seemed to have no idea of how to work with a young, non-verbal, autistic child – she seemed like she couldn’t be bothered as if my child was a lost cause.” – A parent’s lived experience.
2. “I was told my child didn’t have enough joint attention to be provided with Speech & Language Therapy through the NHS.” – A parent’s lived experience.
3. “Completely unrealistic and not tailored to my child, it completely disregarded their disability.” – A parent’s lived experience.
4. “Very little training surrounding AAC, Autism and Apraxia, it was mainly limited to theory with very little practical advice. I do not recall working directly with autistic children in my placements.” – A practising NHS Speech Therapist.

I am hopeful that you would be interested in supporting our Speak Up for Autism Campaign. We are planning to launch the campaign on April 1^st to coincide with the start of Autism Acceptance Month, and we have a number of exciting plans including the launch of a petition and a significant public awareness campaign. I would be very grateful if you would consider becoming involved.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Kind regards, __________________.

Parent of an autistic child, failed by the NHS Speech Therapy system

[Add your full address & postcode here – this is very important as MP’s only reply to their constituents]