Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley has called on the UK Government to make government buildings more autism friendly.

The local MP made the case in a Westminster Hall debate last week, citing the experience of an autistic constituent when attending a Jobcentre.

Angela has campaigned for greater autism awareness for a number of years, and spoke in two separate debates on the subject last week.

Commenting, Angela said:

“I wanted to use the opportunity to give my constituent a voice in Westminster.

“My constituent’s experience as a young adult attempting to enter the workplace and utilising the DWP on various occasions has been less successful than would have been expected.

“His visits to the Jobcentre left him feeling agitated and had a negative impact on his mental health.

“The accessibility of public buildings should not be exclusive to the likes of large chain supermarkets or cinemas; the government has its own part to play.

“Those who have autism and their carers face greater challenges of everyday life than most – we can and must improve the government’s own service delivery, awareness and guidance.

“I would strongly encourage the UK Government to follow the example of Scotland and develop a more robust autism strategy to improve individual’s life experiences.”