Scottish Autism

We had a lovely chat with the ladies from Scottish Autism ( used to be the Scottish Autistic Society, I think) yesterday afternoon in the showroom :-) They talked about their plans for the future and the services they provide to people on the Autistic spectrum and their families and friends, and the tough times ahead for all charity service providers and agencies, as well as the struggle to raise awareness and fundraise for what is sometimes a really hidden condition.

Now its easy to understand the devastation this lifelong condition can have on people and families. Those affected often look no different from anybody else on the streets of our towns and cities, but when you know a little more about Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Aspergers Syndrome, you start to realise just how it impacts on everybody connected to the person affected. Most often, care is provided by these families with little or no outside help and little or no funding ! Indeed, the families save the government millions of pounds annually by providing this care with little respite from the daily struggle it can sometimes become.

Imagine not being able to leave books, magazines, or paperwork anywhere because your child rips it up, removes the pages, and rearranges them in reverse order. Or insist a on straightening up all the DVD's and CD's inside their cases before leaving home everyday...