Hampshire Autistic Society

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Welcome to the Hampshire Autistic Society, our mission is to give choice, opportunity, professional advice, education, support and care to all those affected by autism so as to enable them to fully achieve their potential.

Autism is not life threatening, but is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them.

People with Autism have impairments in social interaction, social communication and imagination. They are unable to relate to others in a meaningful way and their ability to develop friendships is impaired as is their capacity to understand other people's feelings. People with Autism often have accompanying learning disabilities and everyone with the condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world.

Autism covers a wide spectrum, from those living a near normal life in the community to those needing a constant, very high degree of support. There are varying degrees of autism, there is also a disability called Asperger Syndrome, which is on the autistic spectrum and has a number of similar characteristics, but also others which are unique to Asperger Syndrome. People with Asperger Syndrome most often are of average or above average intelligence.

Statistics show that males are 4 times more likely to be Autistic than females and it is generally accepted that 91 out of 10,000 people (0.91%) are on the Autistic spectrum with 5 out of 10,000 (0.05%) at the acute end of the scale.

The causes of Autism are as yet unknown and there is no proven cure at present.

Autism touches the lives of over 16,000 people in Hampshire alone.

Domiciliary Service

The Society is committed to a person centred approach in all of our services; we have signed the Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership Boards charter for person centred approaches and commitment to person Centred Planning.

Our Assessment and Domiciliary Support Service is the Society's response to the growing understanding and recognition of the diversity needs, of people affected by autism spectrum disorders. We recognise that people need and want specialist support, provided by skilled staff that understand and respond to their specific needs and perceptions, brought into their environments to support their personal fulfilment.

We offer a person centred and flexible and range of services to people within the autistic spectrum this includes:

providing support to people living at home with their families
supporting people in their own accommodation (Supported Living)
supporting people in the work place
supporting people to access education
supporting people to take part in social/leisure activities

The nature and extent of this support will be determined by individual assessment, agreed support plan and agreed funding. If necessary as a "Registered" Domiciliary Service with the Commission for Social Care Inspection, we are able to support people who may on some occasions need personal care.

Referral
Anyone can refer themselves or someone on the autistic spectrum to the service, however there needs to be a funding commitment and an assessment of support needs to ensure the service we offer is appropriate. Wherever possible we would involve the person being supported in the recruitment of the member of staff providing support.

Alert Card

Hampshire Autistic Society, in Partnership with Hampshire Constabulary, is pleased to announce the introduction of a new Alert Card Project. The Card will be launched at a Criminal Justice Conference hosted by Hampshire Autistic Society to be held at The Guildhall, Winchester on the 7^th October 2008.

Research has shown that people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are seven times more likely to have contact with the Criminal Justice System than someone not on the spectrum (Curry, et al, 1993).

The Alert Card Projects aim is to support people with ASD should they find themselves in any type of contact with the Police. The Card should be carried at all times and shown to an Officer in the case of an incident or situation. The Police would be able to support the person in an appropriate manner and contact a named person listed on the back of the Card to assist with supporting the person during their time in Police care.

Hampshire Police will be undertaking Autism Awareness courses through Hampshire Autistic Society to support the implementation of the Card and it is hoped by the Partnership that this will be the start of improved support for people with ASD during contact in the first stages of the Criminal Justice System and will lead to greater awareness of the condition.

Application packs will be available following the launch in October and are free of charge.

Information will be on the website leading up to the launch date so keep an eye out for more information!

If you require further information on the Alert Cards, or any other information, please call Outreach Department on 023 80 633951

Fundraising is about having fun!

Raising money can be hard work, but also very rewarding and lots of fun.

There are many ways in which you can help us to continue to provide the vital services for people and their families coping with the affects of autism.

Organise a fundraising event such as a walk, concert, fun day or a sporting challenge.
Enter a sponsored event for the Hampshire Autistic Society, such as The London Marathon or The Great South Run.
Persuade your local pub to support us or your company/place of work to adopt us as a charity for the year.
Become an office volunteer.
Invite us to talk to your school, group or company about autism.
Donate old mobile phones or printer cartridges.
Leave a legacy in your will.
Become a collection box co-ordinator in your local area.

These are just a few of the ways that you can become involved in fundraising for the Hampshire Autistic Society. For further information call Gemma on 01489 880881 ext 208