Autism Cymru, The Scottish Society for Autism, Autism Northern Ireland and The Irish Society for Autism now form the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership. The original partnership was launched by the Rt. Hon. Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Wales on the 29th March 2006.
This was followed by a launch in Northern Ireland at the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings Stormont on 19th June 2007 at which the First and Second ministers spoke and committed themselves to supporting the partnerships objectives. The Scottish launch was held in Edinburgh on 7th November 2007 and the Irish Launch was held in Dail Eireann on 26th February 2008.
Representatives of the CNAP returned from Washington DC in September 2007 having met with members of the US House of Representatives, Autism Caucus, Congressman Smith and Congress Doyle and also with senior members of Senator Hilary Clinton’s staff.
The visit to Capital Hill was another milestone for the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership. As a result of these meetings a memorandum of Agreement was signed by representatives of CNAP and the US Congress Autism Caucus.
The aims of CNAP:
- Sharing of training, information and skills between nations
- Joint campaigning on national, UK, European and worldwide issues
- Joint research
- Sharing of issues and mutual support
The Irish Society for Autism needs support so that we can play our part in the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership and the development of services of excellence for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
