Campaign to aid autism sufferers

Mar 17 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

A CAMPAIGN to end the isolation of thousands of adults with autism is launched this week to bring access to the support they need to lead the fulfilling lives they deserve.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) will be holding a Newcastle launch of its new I Exist report on Wednesday at the Northern Rugby Football Club, in Gosforth.

The I Exist report, based on the largest ever survey in the UK on the experience of adults with autism and their families, reveals that adults with autism do not have enough support to meet their needs, with 63% experiencing anxiety and 49% experiencing depression as a result.

Heidi Shepherd, area manager for the NAS, said: “For too long adults with autism have found themselves isolated and ignored, they struggle to access support and are often dependent on their families.

“It does not have to be like this – ‘I Exist’ is the message from adults with autism who want their needs understood and the barriers to support removed. The right help at the right time can have a profound effect – we are calling on the Government to think, act and transform lives.”

The event will feature speakers including Tracey Joisce, Countywide Commissioning Manager at Durham County Council, Heidi Shepherd, NAS Area Manager and Chris Mitchell, an adult with Asperger’s syndrome, from Sunderland who will be giving his own personal perspective of living with the condition from the autism spectrum.

“For the first 20 years of my life, until I was diagnosed, I felt as if I didn’t exist and I was trying to fit into a world I didn’t understand. Once I knew I had Asperger’s syndrome, I gained confidence. It is important professionals are trained to provide appropriate services to adults with autism.”

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition which means that while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Asperger’s syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger’s are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

Page 2: Chris tackles Asperger’s in positive way