University raises awareness of autism

02.04.2009

Today marks World Autism Day and staff and students at Trinity University College have teamed together to organise a range of events to raise money and awareness.

Students’ Union Disability Officer, Hannah Nash has arranged for a team of students to do a sponsored climb to the top of Pen-Y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons to raise money for Autism Speaks.

There will be a range of activities in the Students’ Union including a colouring competition and prizes, as well as information videos displayed on the sub TV station.

“Autism affects an estimated 30,000 people in Wales, which is the first country in the world to have created a national strategic action plan for autistic spectrum disorders” said Clare Scott of Trinity’s Student Services Department. “In Great Britain there are 500,000 people with autism. The spectrum of autism, which includes Asperger’s syndrome, is a lifelong condition affecting communication and ways of relating to others. There is a difficulty with social interaction and imagination”.

Autism Cymru website notes that the common difficulties for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder include:

the social demands of others might cause them anxiety and lead to aggressive behaviour;
they may behave in socially inappropriate ways;
they may cause offence without being aware that they are doing so;
they may appear aloof, rude, egocentric and insensitive;
they may not know how to react to certain unknown situations and other people's feelings;
they may have difficulty understanding and using non verbal communication;
they will take things literally;
they will not understand implied meaning or follow a long set of verbal instructions;
they may not like to be touched in any way and
they may have an extreme intolerance to certain sounds and smells.

www.awares.org
www.autism.org.uk/cymru

Eleri Beynon
Press Office
(01267) 676790 / 07968 249335
e.beynon@trinity-cm.ac.uk

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