Ten years on from the ground breaking Autism Act we should celebrate its achievements but there is still much more to do says Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner.

Mr Zeichner visited the Cambridge branch of the National Autistic Society to discuss overcoming barriers to employment.

Around 12000 people living in Cambridge have autism. Recent research by The National Autistic Society found that only 15% of adults with autism are in full-time employment but 79% of those polled who are not in employment would like to work.

Mr Zeichner met Phil who has not been able to find work after returning from University where he studied linguistics.

Daniel Zeichner MP said: “Without the right support, autistic people can miss out on education, employment and social interaction. The Autism Act 2009 was a landmark piece of legislation committing the Government to increasing the awareness and understanding of autism, improving diagnosis and access to services and advancing employment opportunities. But it is clear more practical steps need to be taken. We discussed how application forms and interviews can be made less daunting. ”