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THE AUTISM CHARITY AsIAm is making an urgent appeal for public support, saying that autistic people and their families are experiencing significant challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking on World Autism Day, AsIAm CEO Adam Harris said the autism community requires “routine, structure and predictability, all of which has now vanished”.
“Autistic people suffer anxiety easily, and so this has become quite extreme for many at this time,” Harris said.
April is World Autism Month, and Harris has said that the charity has experienced a loss of revenue of nearly €300,000 due to the cancellation of a series of autism month activities.
“More than most, more than ever, we need your support now,” Harris said.
“With more funds we can continue to handle queries, make representations on behalf of individuals and families, give regular seminars providing key skills and information to the autism community and provide more online training and support resources for the Covid-19 emergency,” he said.
“The Covid-19 emergency will end but the need for autistic people to be included in school, communities and the workplace will not.”
The charity has been working to support autistic people and family members through the crisis by offering online support.
This has included a special webinar with dealing with change and the creation of a series of social stories to explain different aspects of the Covid-19 response, such as testing and self-isolation.
AsIAm has said it has committed to a series of further actions to support the autism community.
Some of these include:
People can text ASIAM to 50300 at a cost of €4 to support the charity.
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Not being able to go out and about in the usual places is the biggest challenge. The “attractions” within 2km just not cutting it.
@John Quill: The 2km limit is there for everyone’s protection. Granted, some people are luckier than others with what’s near them, but lifting that restriction before we’re through this would be a bad idea.
@A2 Poster: I know why it’s there.
@John Quill: You don’t seem to understand. Some people (children and adults) have very inflexible routines and they may want visit the same place every day, if they don’t get to do their routine they can have a meltdown. Remember Rainman and 1 minute to Wapner?
It’s true…
Here’s Martin Finn, who was on Autistic Superstars a few years ago. He’s non-verbal but is a brilliant singer. His parents had to bring him to same places at same time every evening, where ever he wanted to go they went, it was “to keep the peace”…
@David Jordan: my child has autism , I understand completely.
@David Jordan: think you @ the wring person there mate. John seems to understand perfectly. And may suggest not using rain man as your only point of reference for autism.
@John Quill: Sorry, about the misunderstanding. I’m on the autism spectrum myself and my sarcasm detector is missing, I thought your first sentence framed the issue and your second sentence was sarcastically trivialising the problem framed in the first sentence. If you think about it you might see how I made that mistake. My nephew is autistic and I was joking just the other day with my bother that he will have to build a duck pond and train station the back garden. It’s something I understand.
@David Jordan: I suppose my initial comment was taken up incorrectly and I should have explained my situation more clearly. I have a child with autism that needs his daily routine that involves going for spins , town , playground , visits to granny etc as he is a big sensory seeker. And while I totally understand the measures taken by the government it doesn’t make life any easier and he’s finding it tough going.
Its a struggle for everyone at the moment. Lifting restrictions for any one particular group would be crazy.
@Alan: We are not asking that restrictions are lifted for our autistic family members. The point is simply being made that these restrictions are even tougher for them to deal with than for everyone else.
@jzT: as they are for lots and lots of people. Why highlight your group is feeling the effects harder? What are you hoping to achieve?
@Alan: Wow. What an insensitive comment. Go away.
@Harleen Frances Quinzel: please… it’s a comment section. We are all entitled to an opinion without being told to ‘go away’. Moron.
@Harleen Frances Quinzel: yes he’s commenting on a subject he has absolutely no knowledge or experience of. I wouldn’t waste your time replying to a moron like that
@Simon Labong: wrong. I am directly involved. And as a parent of child I dont attempt to make out my experience is any worse than anyone else’s. It’s not helpful and actually only causes further divide. We are all in this together. My life is very hard right now – but so is many peoples. Articles like this are of no benefit to anyone.
@Alan: Lies. In your above comment to someone else you quoted autistic people as ‘Your group’ so you distanced yourself from that ‘group’,pathetic really making up lies now. If you were a parent of an autistic child you would never have said ‘Your group’ …liar
@Alan: I smell utter bulls&*t and if not, wow!!
@Simon Labong: Sorry but your wrong, and to suggest someone would lie in such a way to prove a point? Is more of a reflection on your thought process than mine.
@Alan: It’s Autism awareness day. Highlighting the effects of many situations is the point of having an awareness day.
@Alan: actually Alan, kids with Autism would find these time a thousand times harder than most. You would know that if you had a child with autism. I do. That’s him on my knee in my pic. Daily tantrums and head banging from loss if routine. Non-verbal, lashing out. Trust me on this, they find it very difficult. Harlem, Simon and Edward are within their rights to challenge you and your obvious lie
@Alan Heanue: And many adults find it harder too. My son, who has autism and id, won’t get out of bed during the day. He normally walks 10 – 15kms a day, goes out for dinner once a week, to the pub with my dad(who is now cocooning), to the cinema, for coffee, and has support from an adult service for several hours. He walks for 30mins at night now to avoid contact with anyone. It’s been an incredibly long road to get him to where he was and it’s gone. It’s not as simple for him as just picking up again when things reopen. I don’t know if he will ever regain his small measure of independence. I hope he will but it feels a little unrealistic right now.
@Alan Heanue: again the point is missed. You dont think my day is difficult. Its unreal. I’m not out looking to make out my situation is any worse however. This is not the time for that. It creates divide and an us and them situation which is pointless and unhelpful.
@Carol Oates: you’re 100% right Carol, it must be very very difficult when they become adults. I’m only speaking from experience because I’ve only been I this situation for four years. I hope you can get this this unscathed and your son manages to get back to some kind or normal as soon as possible x
@Alan: yes I understand what you’re saying, But it’s a post about Autism Awareness day. Everyone has problems, you’re been vague about yours while trying to make out that not just people with Autism are struggling. Our argument is from speaking from experience and this day in particular. By the by, I’m not even forty but has multiple sclerosis which is what I meant by everyone has problems. I wasnt trying to be a dick.
@Alan Heanue: Likewise, I hope your family finds ways to cope. Who knows, maybe people will come out of this with a bit more empathy for people with additional needs and the future will be brighter.
@Carol Oates: we can live in hope Carol. Mind yourself, your family and keep strong
To all of you who think autistic people just need to get on with it. I’m autistic let me give you an insight into my daily life before covid 19. This is what gave me structure in my day to day life.
Monday: work+gym+plus visit shannon airport on my way home to see what’s around. I’m a planespotter.
Then at home
Dinner
Home and away
Eastenders
Then ps 4 for the rest of the night
Tuesday : same
Wednesday : same but no eastenders
Thursday: same
Friday : same
Saturday: planespotting at shannon airport. All day.
Big dinner at home followed by a movie with my mam
Then PS4 for the rest of the evening
Sunday: similar to saturday.
And back to the top.
Thankfully, my secondary school aged family member with autism isn’t suffering at all from this. No school placement has its perks, I guess.
None of those proposed actions will do anything at all to help me at home. I laughed when i was told that my son’s care worker was not going to be able to come and bring my son out for his community service ( one on one, non group) but that there is a phone number which i can ring if i need support! lol. Thanks. While his care worker is redeployed to a care home to wash and cook, we at home are dealing with the unbearable situation because our son cannot manage these changes. He is suffering, we are suffering. The cat has packed her bags! So instead of looking for money to set up useless help lines, or information pdf’s, look for ways that you can actually help. The care service for my son, is an essential service, for us and him.
Just highlighting the lack of funds over the loss of awareness events and such in the month of April . These funds are needed to help individuals and families deal with the changes in routine . I’m on the spectrum . I’m most comfortable at home and away from people so it’s better for me not having to go out to work and just work from home. Children and teenagers are a different matter and parents need support such as the webinar mentioned . That’s all. The restrictions are there for everyone . That’s understood .
@Ellen Day: I think these measures will change the way we structure our lives, as a whole, after this is over. I hope your work will allow you to continue working in a way you are most comfortable.
Is it possible that Special Needs Assistants who are used to working with students with autism continue to keep in contact with them remotely … obviously with a second adult present and parental consent? At least some parents are asking for this support.
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