On Monday 23rd October, Sir David attended a reception held by the National Autism Project (NAP) in Parliament. The initiative, which is supported by the Shirley Foundation, highlights that the UK does not presently base support decisions for autistic people on the best available evidence. This is therefore said to result in an unacceptable human and unsustainable financial cost.

The most comprehensive report on current autism practices ever undertaken in the UK, The Autism Dividend: Reaping the Rewards of Better Investment, encapsulates NAP’s view that concerted action to address this failure will result in better outcomes for autistic people. The report also believes that this will be more cost-effective for the country. Sir David stands alongside leading charities and experts in the field in calling for more to be done to shape policy and improve practice in the field, namely increased investment in resources and autism research.