I write this petition out of desperation and, truth be told, despair. My partner and I are parents to a beautiful and intensely challenging three year old boy, severely affected by autism. Every day is a battle. Every day is an emotional roller-coaster because the support system that should be helping us is failing spectacularly.

Our son was in nursery, where the practices amounted to nothing less than child neglect. On one occasion, they left him strapped in a chair for an extended period, causing him profound distress. In an attempt to free himself, he hit his head, and the repercussions of that day still reverberate in our lives.

No one seems willing to help, and every path we have taken has led us to a brick wall. Be it our local MP, SEN officers, or the schools/nurseries that should be sanctuaries for our child, we have encountered indifference and inaction.

The current state of affairs is unacceptable. These children, and their families, deserve proper assistance, not hardships.

It is high time for a change. We demand better training for staff interacting with children on the autism spectrum, improved transparency in handling such sensitive cases, and a complete overhaul of the currently flawed system. Let our children, and countless like them, get the understanding, compassion, and support they deserve, instead of being consigned to the margins.

Join us in our fight for the rights of our son, and all the other children struggling with autism. Please, stand with us, and sign this petition.