By Danielle Cronin

Health Reporter, Canberra Times

A "silent plea" went out yesterday for political parties to improve the lot of people with autism, as well as that of their families and carers.

More than 600 chairs, bearing the photographs of people with autism and related syndromes, were set up outside Parliament House in the "first national silent plea" for members of autism families.

The wife of former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer and mother of Harrison, said the event would fire up advocacy groups like never before.

Productivity Commission Inquiry into the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
(see http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/dda/docs/finalreport).

Our efforts were not particularly successful with this inquiry.
The submissions relating to autism or ASD are: 28, 104, 168, 223, 279 and 282.
Submissions that mention "autism" or "Asperger" are: 38, 44, 74, 86, 91, 99, 115, 148, 155, 182, 219 and 220.

The Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Reference Committee Inquiry into the Education of Students with Disabilities (see http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eet_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002-04/ed_students_withdisabilities/index.htm) reported in December 2002.