Charity to open autism centre

The service will cater for youngsters over 16 who currently have to travel to Wakefield or beyond for specialist day provision.

It is being opened by local charity FiND (Families for Individual Needs and Dignity) which was set up by parents in 2002 and which already runs two programmes for young people with learning disabilities, known as FiND1 and FiND2.

The latest project is focused on young people with complex needs resulting from autism spectrum disorder.

The charity says it will provide structured programmes of activities for at least a dozen young adults.

Plans include turning an annexe into a “real life” bedsit, where youngsters can learn valuable skills like cooking and homework.

One of the parents closely involved in setting up the new service, Heidi Anholm said: “It is vital that our youngsters develop the self esteem to do tasks for themselves, even if they do need a lot of additional support.

“But we will need to do some modifications and we will need a lot of equipment, such as kitchen units, a washing machine, cooker, sink unit, bed and bedding. And that’s not all. Art equipment, computers, musical instruments will all be required.”

The project will eventually be self-financing as local authorities meet Government requirements for people to be given individual budgets to buy services. But work to modify the building and buy equipment will need help from funding from grant applications, donations and fundraising.

The National Autistic Society estimates there are over half a million people in the UK with autism, a life-long developmental disability which affects how people relate to others and the world around them.

Yet two-thirds of adults do not have access to the support they need.