(London, UK) Dame Stephanie Shirley,the distinguished UK entrepreneur and autism campaigner recently paid a visit to the London Borough of Redbridge, to deliver the UKAF Autism Lecture in Woodford Green, Essex. The event was organised by the UK Autism Foundation, the Redbridge Parents in Partnership and the parents autism group STAAR.

Steve Shirley who is Chair of the Shirley Foundation and Autism Speaks UK addressed a large audience and shared her moving story on her life with Giles, her late son who had autism spectrum disorder. Many were moved to tears by Dame Stephanie Shirley's story.

Ivan Corea said: 'Dame Stephanie Shirley is an amazing woman, She has overcome so many barriers to become a leading philanthropist, business woman and a powerful voice for parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. She is an inspiration.'

Val Davies of the Family Fund, Athena Daniels of the parents autism group STAAR, Angela Naish of Redbridge Parents in Partnership also spoke at the high powered event in Woodford Green.

The UK Autism Foundation's 'vision for autism' includes building the first ever state of the art Autism Centre in London and launching initiative to help the poor.