Tom's campaign blog #7: What do toothbrushes, knives and forks, alarm clocks and chocolate coins say about autism?

Why would we want hundreds of toothbrushes and knives and forks, a few dozen alarm clocks, and an enormous pile of chocolate coins? And why on earth would we be sending these things to the Care Minister, Norman Lamb?

The Push for Action campaign has been building the pressure on the Government to do more to get the right support to adults with autism. With their announcement on their autism strategy review fast approaching, we didn’t want Mr Lamb to forget why we’ve been pushing so hard and so persistently

At its heart, the campaign is all about the basic support that the Autism Act legislates for – helping people with autism to wash and dress, prepare a meal, find work or manage their finances.

We wanted to keep it simple and remind Norman of the people who are behind the statistics, the legislation, and the campaign – the people who are still waiting for support. A stunt was in order, something to take this straightforward message directly to the Department of Health.

We gathered everyday objects to represent the support people with autism have told us they need. Although 53% of adults with autism said they want help to find work, only 10% are getting the support. So this Monday, we assembled 50 alarm clocks – something most working people need – packaged them up in a box and hand-delivered them to the Department of Health offices, 'FAO Norman Lamb'.

Throughout the week, we sent Norman three more packages based on the key support issues – toothbrushes to represent washing and dressing, knives and forks for preparing a meal and chocolate coins for managing money.

To take this message wider, we photographed it and shared our graphics on Facebook and Twitter. We also, for the first time, took to Vine, to truly animate this message and bring our boxes to life (take a look!).

Thanks to all of you who have shared, liked, commented, retweeted, revined, and showed your support for the boxes.

We’ve delivered these things to Norman – it’s time for him to deliver for people with autism.

To keep the pressure up and show Norman that you care, please click here to get your MP to do the same

Tom Madders,

Head of Campaigns