World Autism Awareness Day: 2 April

EVENTS IN EDINBURGH

Information and activities for people with autism and their supporters

World Autism Awareness Day is 2nd April 2015. One in a hundred people in the city have autism. A range of events are being planned across the city:

Giant Book Group Event: The Curious Incident Of The Dog in The Night-Time

Thursday 2 April, 6.30pm-8pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge.

To enjoy the event fully you are advised to read ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ beforehand so that you can participate in small group conversations prior to the panel discussion.

To book a place: www.edinburghreads.eventbrite.co.uk

For further information: libraries@edinburgh.gov.uk

Dance Back to the Future

Thursday 2 April: Electric Circus, Edinburgh, 10pm – 3am. Tickets £5

Scottish Autism are celebrating World Autism Awareness Day by dancing back to the future in this club night which will take audiences through the decades of dance from the hits of the 60s to the present day.

For further details: www.scottishautism.org/get-involved/autism-awareness-month/whats-on-in-april

PASDA at Ocean Terminal

Thursday 2 April and Friday 3 April, Ocean Terminal, 10am -5pm.

Pasda support families of adults with autism. PASDA are supporting World Autism Awareness Day by holding an information stall over two days at Ocean Terminal. Come along to find out more about Pasda, autism awareness and information about other autism services in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

For further details visit www.pasda.org.uk

Edinburgh Autism Champions

Various dates and locations across the city from 30 March – 2 April.

Edinburgh Autism Champions are celebrating World Autism Awareness Day by hosting a number of information stalls at a variety of locations across Edinburgh. Come along to find out more about autism and a range of autism specific services in Edinburgh:

Gilmerton Library, 30 March 2pm – 4pm

Moredun Library, 31 March 2pm – 4pm

Morningside Library, 1 April 2pm – 4pm

South Neighbourhood Office, 2 April 10am – 12 noon

Edinburgh University Library, 2 April 10am – 4pm

Drumbrae Hub, 2 April 10am – 2.30 pm

ASDA, Slateford 2 April 10am – 1 pm.

A is for AUTISM

April is World Autism Awareness Month and we want to get as many people talking about autism as possible which is why we are asking you to support ‘A is for Autism’.

The idea is simply to make a letter A shape, whether it’s a cake baked in the shape of an A or an A created out of your favourite things, we need you to get creative and share your A! Once you’ve completed your masterpiece text AUTT15 £2 to 70070 to make a donation and then nominate a friend to get creative. Remember to share your A pictures with us by sharing it on our Facebook page or tag us in your photo so that we know. Alternatively you can email it to

fundraising@scottishautism.org

and we will add them to our Facebook Album – the one with the most likes will win a prize!

By sharing your A picture with us you are helping to raise awareness of autism, and hopefully encourage people to take some time to really understand the condition. As an organisation we strive to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism, to enable them to lead full and enriched lives in their community. Part of this involves promoting greater public understanding. Just remember, the A you make carries an important message so get creative and join in today!

For further information visit www.scottishautism.org

Autism services in Scotland: ‘great strides being made’

Progress is being made in improving Scottish autism services, according to Public Health Minister Michael Mathieson. Today is World Autism Day, and Mr Matheson said said ‘great strides’ had been made in improving access to autism services.

Mr Matheson highlighted in particular the establishment of six new one-stop shops since the Scottish Strategy for Autism’s launch in November 2011, where people with autism and their families can get support and information. These centres, in Dunfermline, Inverness, Motherwell, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Perth, are added to those already in operation in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Services are provided by Scottish Autism, National Autistic Society Scotland and Autism Initiatives.

The new centres are funded as part of the Strategy which sets out 26 recommendations for improving the quality of life for people with autism and their carers.

Mr Matheson said: “The new one-stop shops really demonstrates what we are trying to achieve in our Autism Strategy. They bring local services closer to those who need them most, helping people to get support and build up networks. We are now into year three of a ten year plan. Some great strides have already been made, but we’re under no illusion that there’s more work to be done before we get to where we want to be.”

Many initiatives have been funded under the Strategy since November 2011, and some of the key ones include:

Working with the British Institute for Learning Disability – a Scottish edition of the Institute’s Good Autism Practice Journal has been produced, showcasing examples of innovative autism good practice work in Scotland. This was launched at a successful event in November 2013 and is available for free online
A ‘Menu of interventions’ has also been developed in collaboration with autism professionals , people with autism and their parents and carers. The Menu gives an overview of different interventions and techniques, and sets out the referral and assessment process that can be applied across the country. This will be launched at a special event in May and disseminated via a series of road shows across Scotland throughout the summer
A mapping project has also been carried out to establish what autism services are available in each locality. A Service Map was provided to each local authority to help them plan services and identify priority areas for action. Strategy funding was also given to each local authority to develop a local Autism Action Plan and the Service Maps have been helpful in informing the development of these

Mr Matheson added: “Our vision when setting out our strategy was that people with autism should be respected, accepted and valued in their communities, and that they should have services that enable them to have meaningful lives. There is no room for complacency, but I think we are well on the way to achieving that goal.”

World Autism Awareness Day has been a designated United Nations day since 2007 and is celebrated every year on 2 April.

The Scottish Government has been working with Autism Network Scotland to pull together a schedule of various activities and special events happening locally across Scotland to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. Event information will be posted on the Network’s website and a link to this provided on the Strategy website at

www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk.

There’s lots going on in Edinburgh to mark World Autism Day – see our 23 March post (City set to mark Autism Awareness Day) for details.

City set to mark Autism Awareness Day

More than one in a hundred Edinburgh families are affected by autism, and a range of events are being held across the city next Wednesday (2 April) to mark World Autism Awareness Day.

The Awareness Day follows the launch last week of Autism Edinburgh, a campaign to raise awareness about the symptoms of autism and how best to support individuals and families.

Among the events planned to raise awareness and understanding of autism are:

‘Surroundings’ art exhibition

Exhibition of work by trainees at the Gallery on the Corner.
2-30 April 2014, 34 Northumberland Street, EH3 6LS
Contact: 0131 557 8969, www.thegalleryonthecorner.org.uk

Scott v Zombies discussion with Alan Grant author and Scott Davidson

With dvd and auction of art work by Robin Smith. Preview artworks at www.art.linkedinburgh.bigcartel.com

2 April 2014, 6-7 pm, Stockbridge Library, 11 Hamilton Place. Book in advance by phoning 0131 229 3555 or info@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk

Open information event

With complimentary therapy for carers, cake sales and cake decorating, craft workshop, quiz run by PASDA and Lothian Autistic Society.
2 April 2014, 4-7 pm, Conference Centre, Norton Park, 47 Albion Road. Contact: 0131 475 2416 or info@pasda.org.uk

Sponsored walk raising money for Autism Initiatives Scotland

2 April 2014, 7-9 pm
Contact for information – 0131 551 7260 or hos@aiscotland.org.uk

Upward Mobility celebrates World Autism Awareness Day

film/art work/live music and nibbles – open event
3 April 2014, 2-4 pm, Floor B1, St Margarets House, 151 London Road.

‘Swing into Spring’: Season opening of Hermitage Golf Course

Open to all. Crazy golf, disk golf display, “build your own birdfeeder” and more.
6 April 2014, 10am-4 pm, 11 Braid Hills Drive EH10 6GZ
Contact: 0131 5517260 or hos@aiscotland.org.uk

Autism Life in Colour exhibition

10 March – 2 April, Stockbridge Library, 11 Hamilton Place.Contact: 0131 529 5665 or stockbridge.library@edinburgh.gov.uk
3 April-17 April, Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road EH16 4DS
Contact: 0131 529 5597 or craigmillar.library@edinburgh.gov.uk
Find out more:

You can find out more about any or all of these events at a World Autism Awareness Day Information Point. They will be open from 10-3 pm on Wednesday 2 April at:

Edinburgh University – outside the main library, 30 George Square, EH8 9LJ

North Edinburgh council Office – 8 West Pilton Gardens, EH4 4DP

South Neighbourhood Centre – 40 Captains’ Road, EH17 8QF

Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, 30 Harvesters Way, Edinburgh EH14 3JF

Norton Park, 47 Albion Road EH7 5QY.

Coffee Cups

Watch out for coffee cups in cafes with messages about autism
Contact 0131 661 3834 or office@lothianautistic.org to find out more

A campaign to raise awareness about the symptoms of autism and how best to support individuals and families was launched in Edinburgh last week. Autism Edinburgh has been set up by the City of Edinburgh Council and partner organisations in a bid to support people in the capital who have the disorder.

The city council has also launched it’s autism plan, which highlights the importance of getting the right service at the right time for people with autism, and their carers. Anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of autism can take part in the specialised online training programme.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder which can affect people with or without a learning disability– sometimes known as Aspergers Syndrome. It affects both children and adults, and can have a profound effect on the way a person understands and interacts with the world around them.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Health and Social Care Convener, (pictured above) said: “Autism affects people differently, some people are able to live successful and independent lives whilst others will need very specialist support.

“A wide range of services are already available in Edinburgh and the way in which we will keep delivering these in the future is described in the autism plan. The Autism Edinburgh campaign is a great example of working in partnership with other organisations, which will let us offer the very best in care and support.”

Autism Edinburgh is being delivered in partnership with Autism Initiatives, Upward Mobility, Parents of Autism Spectrum Disorder Adults (PASDA), Lothian Autistic Society, Edinburgh University, NHS Lothian, Intowork, Edinburgh and the Lothian’s Aspergers Society and the Action Group.

Visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/autism for further information, or contact the Autism Advice Line on 01259 720 044.