ALLIANCE Deputy Leader Eileen Bell MLA has welcomed news that research into the causes of autism is to be carried out by Bristol University.
Mrs Bell said: “This research is very welcome because there are so many complex issues associated with autism, and we still don’t know what has caused the increased incidence of it in recent years.
“Early diagnosis of autism is essential, as parents have had great problems in Northern Ireland with their children’s education because of misdiagnosis, but until we begin to understand the causes of autism, it will continue to cause grief.
“Research that can help understand autism better, help sufferers and halt its growth is welcome, and I hope that when it is completed, we will have more answers about this frequently misunderstood condition.”