UK Disability Resource of Disabled Needs

The first World Autism Awareness Day takes place on 2 April. To mark the occasion, our Chief Executive Mark Lever and a group of adults with autism will present a petition calling on the UK Government to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People.

We launched the petition as part of our think differently about autism campaign; in ratifying the Convention, the Government would be showing its commitment to raising awareness of all disabilities, including autism.

Along with the petition, Zoe Kakolyris, a talented artist with Asperger syndrome who is also profoundly deaf, will be presenting the Minister with a picture that she has painted specially for World Autism Awareness Day.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism, a cross-party group of MPs and Peers who share an interest in autism and Asperger syndrome, will meet on World Autism Awareness Day.

Anne McGuire will update the meeting on the Government's progress towards ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Eileen Hopkins, International Development Director at Autism Speaks, and Isabel Bayonaras, President of the World Autism Organisation, will also speak about their work with their respective organisations to spread global awareness and good practice in the field of autism. There is now a waiting list to attend the meeting, but to find out more please visit www.autism.org.uk/appga or email appga@nas.org.uk

New £10,000 sensory room at our adult service in Manchester

Also on World Autism Awareness Day, we'll be launching a brand new £10,000 sensory room at our resource centre for adults with autism in Northenden, Manchester.

A sensory room can provide an invaluable place to escape for a person with autism. Difficulties with communication or over-stimulation of the senses may cause them anxiety and the room gives them the opportunity to relax and take some time out. The new room includes a bubble tube, musical vibrating bed, Milky Way carpet and optic fibres.

The launch event will include a ribbon-cutting and speeches by Barbara and Ray Kelsall, parents of one of our Manchester service users, and NAS regional manager Paul Sutton. Staff member Kevin Phoenix and his band, which includes people from our residential service, will be providing the entertainment.

The Kelsalls held a musical evening to help raise some of the funds for the sensory room, and other contributions were made by Altrincham Football Club, Mr Wallis, the grandfather of another of our service users, and Mr Rennie who bravely took part in an 'Ironman' contest. A plaque will be put up in the sensory room to thank them for their donations.

Paul Sutton said:

"I am delighted that so many people have given their time so generously to raise this incredible amount of money to create this sensory room. It will make such a huge difference to the lives of people who use our service. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed."

Television coverage for World Autism Awareness Day

On 2 April, the US news channel CNN is planning a full day of autism coverage. In the programme 'We have autism', to be shown at 5pm, CNN looks at some of the families living with the condition that affects an estimated 35 million worldwide. CNN reporters interviewed two clients from our Prospects employment service. Watch coverage on Sky 506, Virgin TV and CNN.com.

STORY HERE

I have given respite to two children with autism. The first was more profound with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour. I use sensory rooms with this youngster and they had such a calming effect on him (and me). lolol I loved the water bed and would lie on that whilst the youngster would be in the hammock at the side of me.
The second - well it has been like watching a miracle unfold (only I know what hard work goes into this) and I am proud to have been part in and witnessed the changes I have seen. Pam

My friend (from school) who has a child with Aspergers was going ot this yesterday - I will ask her how it went and hopefully post on here.

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Got the wrong conference - she is off to on on 28 April