Autism Argyll Chairperson Report AGM 14th September 2016

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1 Welcome to our 16th AGM As always Thank You for taking the time to attend our AGM. This year we thought a change of venue from Inverary to Arrochar would be interesting and we would be pleased to get some feedback on which venue you would prefer for any future events. We also are delighted to welcome Professor Richard Mills, who has been central to the Autism in Pink research and Helen Ellis who participated in the research. I am sure they will give us some fascinating and informative food for thought following the AGM business. Membership: Our membership has increased this year and we now have 198 members on our database. It is important to know that the database is password protected and never shared with anyone or any organisation. Library: The Autism Argyll Library is hosted by Argyll and Bute library systems and can be accessed by anyone with a current library card. We have gifted 248 titles and this year 64 titles were borrowed. This is down a little from last year but we will be promoting the library with updated posters and through the Get Set 4 Autism awareness events which I will tell you about shortly. If you have any suggestions for particularly good autism books or resources then let us know and we may be able to purchase them for the library. Website: This is certainly the most common way for us to share information and for people to access the group and the monthly visits to our website have continued to increase year on year. The average monthly hit is The website is updated monthly with local and national news and resources related to autism. Activities: We continue to receive approximately ten first contacts every month from parents and professionals across the authority seeking information and advice about autism. There has been an increase in the number of adults contacting Autism Argyll for information and this is likely to be due to the formation of the Adult ASD Diagnostic Service. 1

2 Over this year we delivered six presentations to 70 people which is an increase on last year. These presentations were delivered to a variety of organisations including Homestart, and Carr Gomm staff and Argyll College students, as well as Dalintober school staff. We also delivered a presentation on the Impact of Autism on the Family to classroom assistants undertaking their Professional Development Award. We have done this activity for a number of years now and it is always well received. In February this year we held an event here in Arrochar where Dr Peter Vermeulen attracted around 100 delegates. Peter is an autism consultant, lecturer and trainer at Autisme Central in Belgium. His presentation looked at the difficulties people on the spectrum experience with communication and understanding and how they can be helped. This was a fascinating, thought provoking and thoroughly enjoyable day. We were delighted Peter agreed to the event being filmed and this will be available on an Online Learning Resource currently being produced by Scottish Autism for the Get Set 4 Autism Project. Funding: We currently have no requirement to apply for external sources of funding because of the gift from a bereavement resource two years ago. We continue to thank those who fundraise on our behalf -your help is very much appreciated. Special thanks to Norma Litster and Dan Robertson, who raised 700 at Lochgilphead s very own Strictly Come dancing event. Get Set 4 Autism: The project is very definitely up and running and making a difference across the authority. I will give a little resume of the project to remind you what it covers. Big Lottery agreed to a five year funding package for Scottish Autism to provide free of charge, post diagnostic support to parents or carers of children and young people recently diagnosed on the autism spectrum across Argyll and Bute. It blends face-to-face support delivered by an experienced Autism Advisor with online resources including the Right Click programme. There is also an accompanying booklet for parents of recently diagnosed children available to download from the Autism Argyll and Scottish Autism websites. 2

3 Forty-seven families across the authority have now accessed the Project which I think is fantastic. These families will be better informed and hopefully more confident about their child s and their families future. As I mentioned earlier Scottish Autism, as part of the Get Set 4 Autism Project, are developing an Online Learning Resource for professionals across Argyll and Bute (and beyond). Our thanks to the Autism Argyll parents who have already taken part in filming for the resource where they talked about the things that they feel would be helpful for professionals to know when dealing with their families. This is a really exciting development with potential to make a significant difference. Over the winter there are a series of seven Get Set 4 Autism Awareness Event across Argyll and Bute. Maureen will give you further information. Joyce Munro and Maureen were the Autism Advisors initially appointed for the Project and both Autism Argyll and Scottish Autism were distressed when Joyce died in February. Joyce was a warm and empathetic person who clearly understood the families she worked with and we were saddened by her untimely death. Autism Advisor Clare Young has very ably filled Joyce s position, Meetings: Since forming in 2000 Autism Argyll has had very close links with Scottish Autism. I am Vice Chair of Scottish Autism and being involved at that level in a large autism specific organisation keeps me abreast of national initiatives and high quality research and developments in autism best practice. I have continued my membership of one of the subgroups of the National Autism Reference Group and attend quarterly meetings. It is hoped some of the information brought back to Argyll can be used in the implementation of our local autism strategy. In 2012 Autism Argyll was the organization that was the catalyst for the formation of the Argyll and Bute Autism Strategy group and our representation at meetings has been consistent, committed and, at times, deeply frustrated. Whilst knowing it would not be straightforward, never ever did I think it would be as difficult and tortuous a path! 3

4 In last years Chairs report I likened progress to wading waist deep through treacle. However- I am pleased to report that progress is being made and the group is currently working through a draft implementation plan for our local strategy. What has made the difference? There is now intellectual engagement around autism by sufficiently senior management. Allen Stevenson (Head of Adult Services) has been appointed as Chair and Gordon Murray (Learning Disability Services) has been allocated dedicated time to work on the Autism Strategy. Allen has expressed real commitment to move this agenda forward and there is now some momentum and more strategic thinking around how the strategy will mesh with the local authority integration agenda. The elephant in the room is always Finance however there are always low/no cost improvements that could be made. Time will tell whether real and tangible progress is made in improving the lives of individuals and families living with autism in Argyll and Bute Thanks: My thanks as always to Maureen and the Autism Argyll committee for their continued hard work and commitment. Thanks to Eleanor Bell for her financial input. This is Autism Argyll s 16 th year and although a very small organisation with Maureen as our one very part-time employee we continue to punch above our weight. When writing these reports I always find it sobering to reflect back on what we have achieved and sometimes, what we had hoped would be achieved. There is no doubt that knowledge and understanding of autism has developed positively over the years. We know of many professionals across the authority who are doing their best for individuals and families but may be to be constrained by the processes and systems around them. I also ask myself Is life improving for individuals and families living with autism in the authority? 4

5 For those receiving a diagnosis we can say Yes because of the impact of the local Diagnostic Services and the Get Set 4 Autism project for families. It remains a complex and very mixed picture where gaps and inequalities remain across the authority, across the spectrum and across the age span. Therapeutic interventions, Appropriate supported education services from nursery to secondary and including quality transitions, employment, housing and community supports. These are need now and more will be required. Will implementing the autism strategy change this? Time will tell. We all can, and all must, do better. Thank you Alison Leask Chairperson, Autism Argyll 14th t September