David Cameron has been called upon to keep his election promise to help and protect the vulnerable, as the UK Autism Foundation (UKAF) launches its "Keep the Promise" campaign.

Last week the UKAF called upon its supporters to join the campaign by sending letters to the Prime Minister's 10 Downing Street address, calling for improvements in care for the 500,000 people in the UK who currently have autism. According to the UKAF, a new strategy is needed to ensure that vital services to support carers and positions such as speech and language therapy jobs are funded despite cuts to public spending.

"Her majesty's government needs to do so much more for parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome in our country," says the UKAF. "Many are still suffering and struggle to access public services in education, health, specialist speech therapy and respite care."

The Keep the Promise campaign calls for the government to develop a new strategy for the care of both autistic children and the elderly. This includes permanent increases to the personal care and welfare funds available to carers and sufferers, such as the disability living allowance, the carer's allowance, child benefits and tax credits for the autism community.

"Many carers are working over 70 hours a week and get a pitiful 72 pence an hour," says the UKAF, "this way below a minimum. Autism is a 24 hour job and carers need more than 72 pence an hour".

The UKAF has also called for state funded schools for autistic children and young people, where children will have regular access to those in speech and language therapy jobs as well as to specially trained educational staff. However the campaign's main message is to urge the government to protect the vulnerable from cuts to public services.