THE town's autism 'champion' wants to hear your views about services in Croydon.
Andrew Rendle hopes the survey will help him set up a forum to explore the challenges, and potential solutions, facing those coping with the disorder.
Cllr Rendle, who was elected in Ashburton ward at May's local elections, has direct experience of caring for a child on the autistic spectrum.
His son Luca, 4, attended the child development unit at Winterbourne Nursery and Infant School, in Thornton Heath, before moving to New Addington's Castle Hill Primary School in September.
Luca's younger brother Mika, 3, is on the waiting list to be diagnosed and Mr Rendle suspects he too is on the spectrum.
"I wanted the autism champion role as soon as I knew it existed," Cllr Rendle told the Advertiser.
"In politics there are areas people particularly gravitate toward and often that is because of personal experience.
"I know what a lot of people are going through with younger children but I want to find out a lot more about the challenges adults face."
Cllr Rendle has spoken to council officers, health officials, charities and other services providers, and now wants to expand his research to parents and carers.
"I really want to hear from people who live with autism day in, day out," he said.
"I want them to tell me what they think are the good points and the bad points. I want to know what the gaps are in services in Croydon.
"It will help me to decide which way we go with the autism forum. From there it's about how I can push autism policy in Croydon.
"At the moment it's a big fact-finding mission and I'm saying to everyone in Croydon: Please get in touch with me."
Cllr Rendle can be contacted via email - andrew.rendle@croydon.gov.uk - or in writing at Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET.
