Autism Information

The spokesman said that it was an essential survival skill for people with
autism to simplify the complexity of the world around them.

“It is in their own natures that they have to do this, because otherwise the
world comes tumbling down,” Mr Schepp said.

In Britain, only 15 per cent of adults with autism are in full-time
employment, according to the National Autistic Society. People with autism
often struggle in a working environment that lacks structure.

In its pilot projects in India and Ireland, SAP worked with a consultancy that
specialises in staffing technology-oriented jobs with autistic people,
Specialisterne.

The German software firm ensured that each of its autistic employees had a
nominated colleague to be a single point of contact. “They need this trusted
person to make it through the day,” Mr Schepp said. “They need a single
person who can help them, and to be safe in their environment.”

SAP’s recruitment drive, which will begin this year in the US, Canada and
Germany, is the biggest announcement to date in a trend for IT firms to hire
workers with autism. Recently, the US firm Alliance Data, which manages
store loyalty cards, said it had recruited a dozen people with intellectual
disabilities.

Research published in the science journal Nature in 2011 suggested that many
people with autism had strengths in perception and reasoning which exceeded
those of people considered normal. Researchers at the University of Montreal
suggested that in some contexts, autism should be thought of as an advantage.

Article source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568556/s/2c37db85/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cnews0Cworldnews0Ceurope0Cgermany0C10A0A715580CGerman0Emultinational0Esoftware0Efirm0Etargets0Erecruitment0Eof0Epeople0Ewith0Eautism0Bhtml/story01.htm

A new theatre production aims to make going to the theatre a better experience for adults and children with autism.

Most of us take going to the theatre or cinema for granted but for those with the condition it can be a seriously daunting prospect.

The National Theatre of Scotland has staged a special performance of its latest show for children.

BBC Scotland’s arts correspondent Pauline McLean reports on how more theatre companies and cinemas have realised they can improve the experience for audience members with autism by making a few minor adjustments.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22571725#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

Too many people with autism are being failed by the adult social care system, according to a study by the National Autistic Society.

The study, based on more than 1,000 survey responses from people with autism in England or their parents or carers, found only 23% thought social workers had a proper understanding of the condition and 70% believed they were not getting the care they required.

Perhaps more damning still, the society found that more than three years after the Autism Act, which set out the responsibilities of local authorities to meet the needs of people with autism, almost half of councils have yet to set up proper systems to make sure their community care assessors, the most likely first point of contact, are properly trained about autism.

As a consequence, 77% of those with autism were still, as adults, relying on their parents for support. Slightly more than 7% said they were not getting any help at all.

The society’s Amanda Batten said the findings were disappointing “but perhaps not surprising to us”.

The Autism Act, which came into force in November 2009, set out a national autism strategy intended to stop adults with autism “slipping through the cracks” of care: “There has been some progress but we’re a really long way from an understanding of autism being embedded across health and social care. Some authorities are making progress but 46% still don’t have a system in place, and that’s a crucial factor. It’s disappointing, three years after the act and strategy being published.”

The nature of autism, particularly the communication challenges the condition entails, makes training for frontline staff vital, Batten said, arguing that cuts amounted to a false economy: “If you don’t recognise and meet needs earlier, they tend to escalate. Apart for the consequences for the individual and their family, it ends up being more expensive in the long run.

“It’s in nobody’s interest to leave people to deteriorate and for their needs to escalate. It doesn’t make sense on any level. Training is a really core part of the solution.”

Helen, a woman from the Midlands who chose not to be identified fully, said she had personal experience of care staff needing a crisis before they intervened. The 49-year-old, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome as an adult, cut off contact with social workers because she felt they offered so little support, only to need help again when her situation worsened and she was evicted.

She said: “I wanted to go into supported living and the social work team weren’t trying very hard with that till the eviction brought things to a head. It shouldn’t be like that – it shouldn’t have to wait for a crisis. The problem is, I can do the domestic stuff no trouble at all, which is all they can see. But it’s all the emotional stuff which is hard for me.”

John Nawrockyi, who leads on disabilities for the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said autism had traditionally suffered within care services because it was hard to define and hugely variable in effect and severity: “It’s not learning disability, it’s not a mental illness, it’s not a personality disorder – it’s not easily characterised. That’s why training is needed.”

Spending cuts meant there was now less money available for training, he said. Despite this, he argued, things were gradually changing since the Autism Act: “These things are usually about incremental improvement rather than a massive step change. We’re not talking about a quick fix here.”

Case study: the consequences of poor support

Julia Hipkiss from Chester is only too familiar with the family repercussions of poor care support for autism. Her son, Ryan, who has autism and severe learning difficulties, is now 18 and has moved from the more structured world of child social care to adult services.

The transition, Julia said, was so difficult that it took two years for him to be allocated a social worker. This absence of support saw Julia having to give up her job as a teaching assistant to look after Ryan.

The family finally has more help, but primarily due to two factors: Julia’s incessant lobbying of her council and an incident at Ryan’s school when his social worker called the police.

“The social worker we’ve got now has started to listen, but I think that’s only because I’ve persevered, and I’m not going away,” she said. “If Ryan hadn’t had the family he’s got, he’d have been taken to residential care a long time ago. The understanding just wouldn’t be there. This isn’t about slating the services; it’s about trying to put things right, trying to improve things for the families out there.”

She has seen no sign of Ryan’s social workers being trained to understand autism, with the only expertise coming from those who happen to have experience of clients with the condition.

She said: “A crisis has to happen before anything gets done and then things just get put back to how they were. Rather than dealing with the underlying issues, they wait for a problem, deal with that problem, but nothing fundamentally changes. They need to work as a team and they don’t. It’s very disjointed.”

Article source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/12/autism-sufferers-failed-care-system

A teenager who was diagnosed with autism and told he would never be able to read has been tipped as a future Nobel prize winner.

Jacob Barnett, who was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism at two years old, is now studying for a Master’s degree in quantum physics.

Experts say the 14-year-old student from Indiana has an IQ higher than that of Albert Einstein.

His mother Kristine Barnett, author of The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing Genius, told BBC Breakfast she initially found it hard to get Jacob the right education.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22477958#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

Join us on Thursday 9 May for a live chat session about setting up an autism-specific free school.

As the number of young people diagnosed with autism has significantly increased in recent years, many local authorities are looking to develop additional educational provision to meet increased demand, and to address gaps in the services they currently offer.

Free schools can be devleoped where there is a clearly identified need, and demand from parent groups and local authorities.

Jane Vaughan, NAS Head Of Education Development and Strategy, Bruce Thompson, NAS Head of Planning  Business Development and Fiona Veitch, Principal of the new Thames Valley School in Berkshire, will answer your questions about free schools.

The live chat session wil start at 11.30am on Thursday 9 May 2013, and last for approximately one hour.

If you’d like to join our live chat session on free schools, enter your details above and we’ll send you an email reminder before the event begins.

If you have a question to submit to this particular live chat session, please post it on our Facebook wall or tweet us @Autism and include #autismfreeschool in your tweet.

Article source: http://www.autism.org.uk/News-and-events/News-from-the-NAS/Live-chat-setting-up-an-autism-specific-free-school.aspx

What’s the stereotype most people have of students? We’re seen as boisterous party animals – socialising, drinking and flirting at every opportunity. Our degrees come second to the buzzing social scene that accompanies our first experience of freedom. But that’s not the case for students with Asperger’s syndrome.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) informs us that Asperger’s is “a form of autism that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people”. People with the condition struggle with social interaction. Things we take for granted, such as being able to read body language or empathise with others, are difficult for them.

Around 1 in 100 children have an autistic spectrum disorder in the UK, but nobody knows how many go on to higher education. Many adults with Asperger’s are undiagnosed, and that’s why it’s important to raise awareness. University is a very daunting prospect for those who may not understand why they act differently; a diagnosis can bring reassurance and proper support.

Personal experience has taught me that university is a perfectly viable option for “Aspies”, with the correct back-up. Both of my siblings have been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, and have successfully taken courses in computing and photography.

Asperger’s is at the “high-functioning” end of the autism spectrum, and individuals that have the condition often excel in a certain area, such as mathematics or science. Richard Brownless studied mathematics at Oxford University. He says: “My very literal, logical and systematic thought processes were instrumental in helping me succeed in my course.”

My sister Chloe believes that her Asperger’s allows her to see things differently. “I can pick up on details around me that other people miss, which is why I’m good at taking close-up images.”

Both Chloe and my brother, Paul, chose to commute to university rather than live there, which is a simple way of adapting university life to a less socially-active person while offering challenges that will boost independence. Chloe had never travelled alone before starting university, but now gets a train by herself every day and has grown more confident on public transport.

Those who do choose to reside at university may find the experience develops their social awareness. Richard says: “I did not socialise much at university, but I did meet with a support worker at least once a week, and they told me that they had seen my social skills and confidence grow immensely since the start of my course.”

The noise and disorder of student halls make some students with Asperger’s opt to live alone.

Matthew Nielson is an illustration student at Hereford College of Art. “I chose to live alone because I knew, after my years in Headlands and Farleigh [specialist education provisions], that shared houses were not for me,” he says. “I would have eventually lived by myself anyway, though I’m not quite sure when – it may have been a year or two later on.”

Nowadays, universities generally offer good support systems to assist with the transition to an independent lifestyle that being a student demands. “They offer me 10 hours of assistance per week, a computer, budgets for supplies like books and two hour-long one-to-ones per week with a lady who helps me with my essays and acts as an arbiter between student and tutor,” says Matthew.

The NAS is raising awareness and teaching both lecturers and peers to recognise the traits of Asperger’s syndrome. Matthew says: “A lot of the students didn’t know I had AS. But they are all very good with it.” You can download the NAS’s guide to assisting AS students.

When I was applying to university, the advice I got was to portray myself as somebody who was able to make friends easily and “fit in” at university. But for students with autism spectrum conditions, their social problems shouldn’t be a barrier.

We should all learn to embrace the differences that come with Asperger’s syndrome – there is widespread speculation that a number of geniuses, Einstein and Newton included, had the condition. I doubt any university would have turned them down for their inability to make appropriate small talk.

• More information about dealing with AS at university can be found on the NAS website and in Rosemary Martin’s book Top Tips for Asperger Students.

Article source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2013/may/07/how-students-with-aspergers-cope

Sobering new statistics released by The National Autistic Society (NAS) have revealed the devastating extent of disability hate crime on people with autism living in the UK.

81% of respondents to an NAS survey said they had experienced verbal abuse, while 47% reported that they have been victims of a physical assault.

Just 6% of respondents said they had not experienced any form of bullying or abuse because of their disability.

Just under 800 people took part in the survey, conducted late last year. Of those that responded:

• 28% had experienced exploitation, theft or fraud
• 28% had possessions or property damaged
• 24% had been victims of cyber bullying 
• 65% of respondents have experienced hate crime more than 10 times
• 73% of people didn’t report the crime to police but of those that did, 54% said the police did not record it as a hate crime and 40% said the police did not act on their report.
• 62% of people also said they did not think that the police had taken their disability into account

Responding to the findings, Mark Lever, Chief Executive of The National Autistic Society, said:

Disability hate crime has no place in 21st century Britain, but these figures reveal an alarming number of people living with autism in the UK have suffered bullying, exploitation and harassment. This has to stop.

It is both shocking and sickening that people with autism become targets of crime because of their disability, but unfortunately due to the social difficulties people with autism experience it can leave them vulnerable to being taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals.

It is vital that disability hate crimes are punished with the same severity as other hate crimes.

People with autism have the same rights as the rest of society to lead lives free from fear and violence.

As the Government reviews the adult autism strategy for England this year, the NAS will be calling for them to meet commitments on training for those working in the criminal justice system. We are also working across the other nations to ensure that there is appropriate training among criminal justice professionals.”

You can watch a Channel 4 News report on the findings online.

Article source: http://www.autism.org.uk/News-and-events/News-from-the-NAS/Autism-hate-crime-statistics.aspx

In a new series, we want to highlight some of the brilliant comments that we see on Comment is free (Cif) every day. Each week, the author of a recent piece will pick a comment that they think contributes to the debate in some way. We’ll then get in touch with the commenter and ask them to expand a little on their post, as well as tell us some more about themselves. Hopefully, it will give staff and readers a chance to see how thought-provoking such contributions can be, as well as allowing great posts the chance to be seen by a wider audience.

To start us off, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett has picked a comment found in response to her moving piece on autism and her brother. The comment she chose is by CanaryMummy:

My six-year-old son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in November last year. I can’t tell you how fed up I am of people asking why isn’t he like Rain Man or is he gifted at this, that or the other? He is just who he is … our beautiful boy who due to some unexplainable reason is “wired” differently from the rest of us. He is funny, frank, infuriating but most of all loving. He has his way of doing things and that’s fine. He is a little sponge, soaking up everything and then spews random facts out at the most strangest of times. Last week we were informed that John Lennon was dead, shot by a naughty man. A fact we already knew but he had had that little nugget stored away, waiting to share it at some time or another. It doesn’t matter how or when he shared it, the fact that he had taken it on board and did share it was what counted. He may never be a math genius or a world famous scientist (his dream at the moment is to be a scientist) all we want is for him to be the best he can, for the world to understand his world but most of all to be happy. Just as we do with our other two children.

Rhiannon explains why she chose to highlight this comment:

It was really difficult to pick a comment from this thread because they were all so touching (in fact it was one of the nicest threads that I have ever seen on Cif), but I chose this one because I felt it expressed perfectly how the parents of autistic children often feel, especially following diagnosis. Not only does it show how loved many autistic children are – looking after a vulnerable child can trigger a ferocious protectiveness in you – but also how the smallest steps forward in terms of progress are to be celebrated. The commenter’s son may never be an internationally renowned scientist, as she says (although I’m sure she’ll do everything she can to help him reach his dream), but the most important thing is that he is happy. I feel the same way about my brother. So often we project our own ideals onto a child and mourn the fact that they are not neurotypical, and yes, that can be terribly, awfully sad, but parents such as this never forget that their child’s wellbeing comes first. It sounds as though he is incredibly lucky to have such a supportive mum and I wish the family all the best for the future.

Canarymummy explains further her reasons for commenting on Rhiannon’s piece:

It was lovely to see the comment from the author of the article. This was the first time I had commented on an article in the Guardian and the piece had been brought to my attention by a group on Facebook. I felt compelled to comment as the parent of an autistic child because I believe the outside world has a very narrow, almost tunnel vision of what individuals with autism are like or should be like. They don’t understand that autism is just the umbrella term and that there are many different types. I feel that it’s not only my role or job to be my child’s advocate and ensure he makes the most of this world, but also to educate others about his condition … not in a preachy, ram it down your throat way though. People need to see that although he doesn’t give eye contact and can say inappropriate things, he is still a little boy who is capable of great things too. I think just looking at some of the comments you can see where I’m coming from! I’ve found its easier to just tell people he is an Aspie and wait for the questions, since watching people’s reaction to a meltdown and their comments of “bad parenting” or “spoilt brat” just make me angry at them for their ignorance, which in turn isn’t fair as Asperger’s is a hidden disability and unless you know it’s there you’re none the wiser. I admit I was angry at first when he was diagnosed, then asked what did I/we did to our child for him to be like this. I guess it’s like going through the stages of grief after a loved one dies. Now we’re at “acceptance” with a sprinkling of “why us?” on bad days. We’re still learning about it all but we have a great team at his (mainstream) school, and are slowly gathering our army of outside professional support. I don’t think my comment moved the debate on or changed the way it was heading though. You’re going to always have people make what could be classed as inappropriate or rude comments whatever the article. That’s just the way of the world!

• Let us know your thoughts on this exchange in the comments below, and tell us whether it has given you a new insight into autism.

Article source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/03/comment-of-the-week-aspergers

Disney’s The Lion King is set to present a dedicated autism-friendly performance this winter at Edinburgh’s Playhouse Theatre. The 3000 seat venue, owned by Ambassador Theatre Group, will host the largest dedicated autism-friendly performance ever to take place in Scotland.

Under normal circumstances, a visit to a musical on the scale of Disney’s The Lion King, taking place in the UK’s largest theatrical venue, could prove an overwhelming experience for someone with autism. The National Autistic Society (NAS) Scotland has been working closely with Disney and Ambassador Theatre Group on how best to support people with autism and their families wishing to attend the show. This performance will include modifications to the show and the theatre environment.

Some children with autism can experience extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and struggle with unpredictability and alterations to a regular routine. This can result in severe agitation, disorientation, and even a full ‘meltdown’. When this happens in a public place, parents attempting to calm their child can receive unhelpful comments and reactions from the public, who mistake autism for bad behaviour.

Dr Robert Moffat, national director of the National Autistic Society (NAS) Scotland said

Many of our supporters, people with autism and their families, tell us they are keen to access mainstream entertainment venues. By making some simple adjustments to their performance of The Lion King, Disney has given families affected by autism a brilliant opportunity to enjoy the same entertainments many people take for granted, in an atmosphere where they don’t risk being judged.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) Scotland has campaigned vigorously over the past fifteen months to encourage entertainment venues to become more accessible for people with autism. So we were delighted to be approached by Disney and the Edinburgh Playhouse to advise on this ground-breaking performance. NAS Scotland confidently expects families affected by autism across Scotland and beyond will make a special journey to Edinburgh to attend this first-of-its-kind event.

 
The performance will take place on Sunday 24th November 2013 at 1.30pm at Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre.

www.lionkingautismfriendly.co.uk

Article source: http://www.autism.org.uk/News-and-events/News-from-the-NAS/Autism-friendly-Lion-King-Scotland.aspx

An innovative autism information service has been launched by Leicestershire County Council and The National Autistic Society (NAS).

The Leicestershire Autism Information Hub will provide the estimated 6,500 people living with the condition in the county, and their families and carers, with up-to-date information on local support and services. It will also offer autism awareness training for employers and organisations in the county, helping to improve employment opportunities for adults with the condition.

Autism is a lifelong and disabling condition affecting how a person communicates with, and relates to other people, as well as how they make sense of the world.

According to a recent survey, just 15 per cent of adults with autism in the UK are in full-time paid employment. The hub will highlight the value adults with autism can offer organisations and businesses and provide practical advice on how employers can make simple adjustments to make workplaces more autism friendly.

The hub is a partnership between the NAS, Leicestershire County Council and other local organisations including the Monday Club.

Wendy Small, Head of Knowledge Management at the NAS, said:

The hub will act as a lifeline to all people affected by the condition, providing an easy and quick way to access vital support and services in the area.

Martin Hall, ASD Project Officer at Leicestershire County Council, said:

This innovative service will act as a one-stop shop for all queries about autism services in Leicestershire. Families and carers throughout the county dedicate their lives to supporting people with autism and it’s important for them to know that they’re not alone, that there is help out there.

Support is available from the Autism Information Hub via telephone and email from Monday-Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm (excluding bank holidays). You can also visit the hub’s website: www.laih.org.uk

Article source: http://www.autism.org.uk/News-and-events/News-from-the-NAS/New-autism-information-service-launches-in-Leicestershire.aspx