{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/780190.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":780190,"attributes":{"action":"Fund rapid assessments and early intervention for non-verbal autistic children","background":"We are concerned that thousands of non-verbal autistic children in the UK miss the peak neuroplasticity window (ages 0-5) to gain speech due to multi-year SEN wait times. We urge the Government to fund guaranteed immediate, specialised speech therapy upon referral for non-verbal autistic children.","additional_details":"Multi-year waiting lists force parents to watch their children lose out on essential communication skills during their peak developmental years (ages 0-5). Leaving non-verbal children without early intervention can limit their future independence and increases long-term social care costs. We urge the Government to guarantee funded, specialised communication support immediately at the point of referral, reduce diagnostic backlogs, and ensure no child is left behind due to system delays.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":12,"closing_date":"2027-03-25","created_at":"2026-08-22T03:17:02.932Z","updated_at":"2026-09-26T21:09:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-09-25T19:30:24.315Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-08-29T06:20:10.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Monica Silva De la Vega","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":12}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Blackley and Middleton South","ons_code":"E14001103","mp":"Graham Stringer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Christchurch","ons_code":"E14001171","mp":"Sir Christopher Chope MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Gillingham and Rainham","ons_code":"E14001246","mp":"Naushabah Khan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Gorton and Denton","ons_code":"E14001251","mp":"Hannah Spencer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Huddersfield","ons_code":"E14001297","mp":"Harpreet Uppal MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Salford","ons_code":"E14001459","mp":"Rebecca Long Bailey MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough","ons_code":"E14001466","mp":"Gill Furniss MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Sheffield Hallam","ons_code":"E14001468","mp":"Olivia Blake MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Wythenshawe and Sale East","ons_code":"E14001602","mp":"Mike Kane MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":5},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":3},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":1},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":2}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}