AIMing High for Autism

AIM believes that Sunderland needs a Family Autism Centre. A one stop information shop for parents, carers and adults with a diagnosis of autism. We want to provide hands on help with DLA forms, a drop in service on a regular basis so that parents and carers can access information and support as and when they require it.

If we had a Family Autism Centre we would have a base from which we could create, organise and coordinate activities for our children and young people who are autistic. We want to improve the quality of life for families and enhance the life chances for children and young people with a diagnosis of autism. We want to build an ASD specific playground where our families can take their families to play with the confidence and knowledge that their children will be understood and safe. We want to offer therapies and interventions to children who attend mainstream schools as well as those who are in a Special School setting. We want to create sensory and mood rooms maybe even an internet café. We want to be able to offer confidential parent counselling services. And we would also like to offer a service for our children where we can support our children’s emotional wellbeing in school.

We would also like to offer a training facility which parents, could if they wish to, access training programmes to enable them to better understand autism and empower them.

We realise that this will be a massive project and so we have joined forces with ASK (Autistic Spectrum Kondition) also an autism support group based in Sunderland. ASK are already running a successful youth group in Sunderland for young people aged 11 plus and in July 2007 ran a very successful summer camp.

We need to know what you would like to find in a Family Autism Centre. Would you like to help us to fund raise and build our centre? As well as using our website for up to date information about our project we have created this blog to keep parents as up to date as possible with our progress and to enable parents to be interactive with this project.

We have also opened an online AIMing High Yahoo Group for anyone who is willing to actively help us to fulfil our dream. If you would like to join us please contact us here aim1voice@btinternet.com