Preamble
Since its foundation in 1983, the International Association Autism-Europe has had a vision that all people with Autism regardless of class, race, gender or creed are entitled to the benefits of diagnosis and appropriate education and life-long support and above all to be treated with respect and dignity.
To this end Autism-Europe prepared a Charter of Rights for People with Autism and in 1996 a Written Declaration on their rights was approved by the European Parliament. This states the right of people with Autism to the same rights enjoyed by all European Union citizens (where such are appropriate and in the best interest of the persons with Autism).
Autism-Europe in response to growing requests from associations dedicated to the welfare of people with Autism around the world decided to undertake the establishment of an international network on Autism, to provide a global response to the needs of people with Autism and their families and to promote the implementation the United Nations Standard Rules on Equalisation of Opportunities for Disabled People adopted in 1993 to mark the end of the U.N. Decade on Disabled People.