Students On Board To Raise Autism Awareness

Conwy sixth formers are ‘on board’ to help raise awareness of the issues and difficulties facing children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To mark Schools’ Autism Awareness Week [14-18 March 2016] Conwy’s ASD Outreach Team have been meeting sixth formers at local secondary schools to share information and resources produced by the National Autistic Society about autism. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thanks to a generous donation of bus and driver time from Arriva Wales Rhyl, the ASD Outreach Team were able to visit Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, Ysgol Creuddyn and Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy on the same day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The sixth form students were invited onto the bus at each school to find out more about Autism and to collect resources they’ll be able to use in workshops and school assemblies over the coming weeks, as they help spread the word amongst their fellow pupils about why it’s so important to understand and accept autism. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cyng Wyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Education said, “The ASD Outreach Team are part of Conwy’s Education Service and they support children and young people with autism to access mainstream schools. A major part of integration is to help other people in the school community understand that autism is a spectrum condition that affects each person differently. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This week’s visits to schools, followed by the workshops and assemblies organised by the sixth formers themselves, aim to help pupils understand the barriers that people face and how these barriers can be overcome with the right adjustments and support.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Schools’ Autism Awareness Week: 14-18 March 2016.
• World Autism Awareness Week: 2-8 April 2016.