The Government has decided to make ‘old style’ incandescent light bulbs unavailable, causing concern among groups representing people who suffer from light sensitive conditions, such as migraine, epilepsy, Lupus and other auto-immune disorders.
For these groups, new energy saving forms of lighting can prove problematic.
There are anecdotal accounts of new forms of lighting causing sensory difficulties for some people with autism - but the scale of this problem is unknown.
We have been asked for our view on how the decision to make incandescent light bulbs unavailable affects children and adults on the autism spectrum. Our view will be provided to officials at the Department of Health who are currently considering this issue with the group Right to Light.
This is not currently a NAS campaign – but we would very much like to have your views.
Please email richard.mills@nas.org.uk under the heading ‘Autism Lighting Survey’ by 14 February 2011 answering the following questions:
1. Are you or your child adversely affected by new forms of energy efficient lighting:
- not at all
- a little
- a great deal
- very severely
2. Do you keep a stockpile of incandescent light bulbs in your home?
Please also include your own comments and (optional) your name and address.