World
Autism
Awareness
Week
Celebrating autism in Greater Manchester
29 March – 4 April 2021
We need your help
Covid-19 and Lockdown has dominated all our lives for over a year and has crept into everyday language. The sudden changes impacted all aspects of everyday life. In particular, the move to home schooling and Government’s ever-changing coronavirus guidelines and restrictions impacted autistic people and their families. From speaking directly to the people we support, they felt they had been stranded, as services everywhere closed, including our own for a period. Thanks to our dedicated staff, we have continued to support people in need where we can and to the best of our ability, launching for the first time, online resources for autistic people and their families. However, a year is a very long time to not have the full support and resources our members desperately need and we need your help now more than ever. There are many ways that you can support us.
What is autism?
Autism spectrum condition (ASC) refers to a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders that is characterised and involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors. The symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning. The severity of symptoms are different in each person. Some children and adults with ASC are fully able to perform all activities or daily living while others require substantial support to perform basic activities.
Autism awareness in schools
For children with autism, school can be unbearable and impossible.
One in every 100 school children is autistic in the UK, with 71% educated in mainstream schools. Research has shown that too many children are not getting the support they need and the educational experience they deserve.
We have put together some free resources for students of all ages to learn about autism and better understand their autistic classmates.
Autism in the workplace
It can be a daunting experience for children and young adults with autism leaving the education system for the ‘big, wide world of work’.
For some with social communication difficulties the change and transition to work can be extremely difficult and challenging leaving to emotional distress, especially in a world that doesn’t readily facilitate neurodiversity.
We have put together some free resources for employers and employees to be better understand autistic people.
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