A new group for adults with autism in the upper Calder Valley will meet for the first time next week.
The Upper Valley Autistic Adults group will hold its first meeting at Hebden Bridge Town Hall, St George’s Street, on Thursday, February 27, from 7pm until 8pm.
The group is run by and for autistic adults anywhere on the autism spectrum, with or without additional disabilities.
Those attending will have the opportunity to meet other local autistic people, share experiences, learn from and help one another with such things as diagnostic processes, ongoing support needs, and sensory issues, and to be proactive together on local and national autism issues and service provision.
Ruth Lavender, who has established the group, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us as autistic adults to create and develop our own safe space, and to learn about and influence how autistic people can best be supported and appreciated in our local communities and beyond.
“I hope we will come together to be positive about autism and autistic people, to appreciate both our difficulties and our skills and interests, and to show ourselves and others that we are capable and willing to get together in spite of our social and communication difficulties.”
Ruth said that as group situations are not easy for autistic people, every effort will be made to accommodate communication difficulties and any need for time out from the main meeting.
For more information about the group and next week’s meeting, contact Ruth on 07742 534590 or email k.genyin@googlemail.com.