It is about time all spectrum disorders came under one umberella as in FAS Disorders early intervention and preventions should start eary. N.Ireland Gov seem too be going in the right direction see webb FASawareUK. Training staff for these children should be a specialization as in paediatrics

Bill, Cheadle, Cheshire

I have Asperger syndrome and wouldn't want to be cured if it were possible (neither do many so-called lower functioning autistics). I get sick of the constant use of the word 'tragedy'. Autism has lots of positives as well as negatives! Early diagnosis and appropriate support are vital, though.

Richard Chandler, Abbots Langley, UK

My sister died at the age of forty three from a heart attack due to the stress of having a son with 'asperger type symptoms' WHICH WERE NOT DEALT WITH PROPERLY!!!

This government do not take Autism type disorders seriously leaving parents and families in REAL turmoil!

K. Harris, Dudley, England

Bob Wright says

In three years of aggressive campaigning, we have made great progress in increasing awareness. We have raised more than $110 million .

Similar action is needed in Britain.

I have been campaigning for 13 years for autistics but there is denial of vaccine damage by Government Media

Joan Campbell, Glasgow, Scotland

Am I wrong but I got the impression that Bob Wright thinks that we in the UK have done nothing regarding awareness etc. It is a good article but I found it a bit patronising. I can’t help it if my words have fallen on deaf ears. I shall always speak out but there is a cover up of damage n denial

Joan Campbell, Glasgow, Scotland

I am so proud that my parents are working so hard to change to raise awareness and change attitudes about autism. I do want my son cured. Christian is not quirky or mentall ill- he is very sick. My son lost all his speech, developed horrible colitis, a myriad of severe food allergies and seizures.

Katie Wright, NY, NY, USA

The only people who suffer from autism are the ones that develop mental health problems as a result of being unsupported.

alexis, nr Bristol, uk

i have been on the gluten/milk/aspartame/msg free lifestyle for over 3.5 years now. Nothing else helped my Aspergers before this intervention. i also take supplements.

i only wish for the negative side of my Aspergers to go away.

i am also "too intelligent to have problems"

Alexis, nr Bristol, uk

All provision for under 5s should be supported in accessing autism services. Many private daycare do not know what to do, so the child arrives in full time school without support, it can then take a few weeks before teachers realise it's more than settling in issues.

Diana, derby, uk

Autism is not highly prevalent in the adult population, except in young adults. To discover why autism is on the rise we need to look at environmental and iatrogenic triggers, and not persecute anyone who tries to raise the issue. Genetics cannot provide the answer to this on its own.

John Stone, London, UK

Because autism is not "curable", parents are desperate to do anything to help, so snake oil salesmen succesfully promote ineffective treatments such as chelation and "DAN" dietary manipulation. These things do not work, and any idea that they do is a combination of coincidence and wishful thinking.

Bugsy, Preston, UK

Phil H, many in the UK do eat badly, but my daughter has always had an excellent diet - and Asperger's Syndrome. She has a 2:1 from a good university, but finds it hard to get work at all, still less appropriate work. Childhood was relatively easy; there's no help for intelligent, autistic adults.

Gill, also from Southampton, UK

I worked with a 20-year old that I was convinced had undiagnosed ASD. She was impossible to work with. Professionals couldn't help us without her acknowledging the problem. She wouldn't and ended up being sacked. I feel sad that she is unlikely ever to hold down a job if she won't accept help.

Carmen, Wolverhampton,

The second you label your children they are stigmatised and it will not change,-you wreck lives by labelling someone as potentially disabled. I have a non speaking dis-abled child, I have no wish to label him, doing so damaged our family very badly and I'd urge you to desist this out-dated practice.

E Robillard, London, England

Ben - I had an autistic boyfriend once. If I said "there were loads of people there", he'd question me about whether I saw them being unloaded in trucks or not. If I said "ooh, I'm freezing!", he'd call me a liar again, just as you are saying I'm being dishonest. The only wars were created by him

Helen E., London, UK

Does anyone know of any tools or groups to diagnose autism in adults? I can't find any information about how to help those adults who think they might be somewhere on the spectrum and don't know how to handle it, it's all focused on children.

Karen, Putney, UK

I agree with Ben from London. As a parent of an 8 year old child with Autism, I have no desire to cure him. He is logical, non-judgemental and sees obvious answers to dilemas that I will ponder for days. Yes, he often displays very odd behaviour - but then so do many of the "normal" people I know.

Georgina, Derby, UK

"Autistics need several things but they don't need to be treated or cured"Ben, London Autism is a spectrum; I don't think you mean all autistics don't require treatment; that is facile and ill-informed. there may be some truth in this stance with some autistics, in most cases it is incorrect.

stephen, Bromley,

It's very easy to be glib about a situation when you're not in the middle of it. I am.

steve, london,

there is no doubt in my mind it is due to the ever expanding
use of chemicals, pesticides and plastics. dont use plastics
to feed yourself or your babies they leach chemicals into the food.

colin c, Beverley. Yorkshire. , England

Autistics need several things but they don't need to be treated or cured. "Normal" people are the ones who are too emotional, irrational and illogical at speech, being pointlessly subtle and frequently dishonest. Such people give us wars and credit crunches.

Ben, London, UK

From a parlimentary report I found, it appears that the increase in prevalence in the UK is largely due to increasing awareness of the condition and changes in diagnostic pratices, and that autism, particularly conditions such as aspergers generally have a lower profile in the US.

Gemma, Burton,

John form Southampton,

Perhaps the answer to your question lies in the first post (Ana from Phoenix) - diet.

I have no idea if this could be true, but I do know that an awful lot of children in this country have appaling diets.

Phil H, Hurstpierpoint, England

It so frustrating to have what appears to be a perfectly happy normal looking child and yet part of their brain is shut off to you if you could just break down the barrier as I did with one son who had selective mutism,like autism this masks an artistic ability you loose if dealt with too severely!

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

If we could move to the view that autistics need 18 years of education in emotional spheres, whereas so-called 'normal' people need educating in analytical ones, then rather than seeing autistic spectrum as 'abnormal' we might see it as part of a multidimensional continuum.

Educators arise?

Rhys Jaggar, Leeds, UK

I'm intrigued by the statement that the UK has a much higher prevalence of autism than the USA. Anyone know of any reasons for this?

John, Southampton, UK

It is very good to see this attitude.

The Autism and Alzhiemer's Folks continue to lead the way in learning and using the research new and old. What they find can be used by all the rest of us brain different folks.
Thanks. :)gwenith (20 year survivor of a ruptured brain aneurysm.)

gwenith, Casper, usa

The only politician that talks the talk and walks the walk on special needs children is Sarah Palin. The media will not give her credit and will end up hurting these children. Shame on them.

Bob Bartlett, San Rafael, USA

Mr. Wright,
You did not mention biomedical interventions and their importance in treating autism. After my daughter was diagnosed at age 8, I change her diet and started her on supplements, with the guidance of a DAN! doctor. Her improvement was dramatic and she is now considered fully recovered

Ana A., Phoenix, Az, USA