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Autism News - May 2003
I would like to start this months edition on a good note (for a change) by saying a big "Thank You" to the Little People Nursery for raising £300.00 and donating it to the Wakefield Support Group for Autism.
Also I would like to thank Adila Rao for raising £200.00 and donating it to the WSGA.
Perhaps you’ve noticed some changes/ appointments on the "Committee" page, truth is I bet you haven’t! This being the one page we rarely pay any attention to. Unless you’re too old for Cheeky Monkeys of course.
Firstly I’m very pleased indeed to tell you that Fiona Westwood is our new " Group Honorary Secretary", well I believe that is her correct title. Her sister, Rae-Michel Bright will officially help her. I’m certain you will all join me in welcoming both to the post and help them both in any way possible.
Secondly, before you even think about welcoming Norma as she steps up from Deputy Chair to Chair and consider what grammatically awkward terms they both are (to me at least), please join us in thanking Andrea Rycroft for serving us in the senior post for the past year and a half, many thanks Andrea!
Better still, thank all four ladies in person yourself at our May meeting, details elsewhere in this issue.
jrc
My apologies if you’ve tried to look in on our site in the past few weeks for some news or information to find little new or informing.
The truth is that during the past few months the company hosting our site has proved ever more unworkable and time consuming and I’ve honestly lost patience with trying to work it. Sometimes it would take two and a half hours to post two or three activities and toward the end of this period even this laborious task was not possible, so completely unworkable was their system.
Therefore it has been my plan for some months now to move hosting to another company when our group’s annual renewal became due, I thought in May. This would give me the luxury of time to properly build a new site in time for the transfer. However when, due to a financial jumble (yes, I know I’m the treasurer) our site was taken off line by our hosting company this plan now has to be amended – drastically.
So now, subject to our committee’s agreement we will register our new site as "wsga.org". This seems to me more appropriate than the present ".co.uk" which sounds to be a company, also our former hosts might want paying to part with the existing title. Also because of time problems we may have to start with a basic site giving (say) activities and news, adding less essential stuff when time permits. But, as I said these are merely possibilities until actual decisions and actions are taken.
So, until you know for sure, keep an eye on both addresses!
John Clayton
If you are a ‘carer’ (and they define the word as "one who gives help to a relative or friend who is ill, disabled, elderly or who has a mental health problem") you can obtain a confidential information, advice and support service from:
Wakefield & District Carers Association
25 King Street,
Wakefield
WF1 2SR.
Tel No: 01924 305544
Fax No: 01924 305348
E-mail:
wakecare@btclick.com.They can supply information on equipment, services, benefits, illnesses, disabilities and ‘Breaks for Carers’ (although the Association does NOT provide or arrange short breaks themselves). They also organise training for carers and can offer training and awareness raising for professionals who work with carers.
If you are interested in speaking to them, they suggest you either ring for an appointment or drop-in any Tuesday morning between 9.45 am and 12.00 noon - alternatively a Support Worker will visit you at home. Information sessions are also held regularly in Pontefract, Castleford and Hemsworth.
Carole
Thank you to Dave Dolan, our guest speaker at last month’s Monday Meeting, for providing excellent information and advice regarding benefits and also details regarding the Northern College.
The College offers short courses which include free residential accommodation, childcare and meals. For further information contact:
Course information on:
Tel: 01226 776010 or
E-mail:
registry@northern.ac.uk orWrite:The Registry
Northern College
Wentworth Castle
Stainborough
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S75 3ET
P.S. Northern College is an amazingly beautiful place set in landscaped peaceful surroundings.
So go-on…treat yourself and the children…It’s free and very worth while.
Fiona
At a recent Funding Information Evening I attended with Norma and John, we were given an Information Pack from the Special Abilities Self Help & Support Organisation (for Parents/Carers of a Special Needs’ Child).
This organisation is a family with a daughter who has cerebral palsy. They point out that, whilst they are not medical professionals, they do have hands-on experience as parents/councillor. Having learned a lot about different aspects of the needs of a child with special needs, they decided to compile a booklet containing information which would be helpful to families who have children with special needs. They give details of:-
Perhaps many members have already read these booklets but, if you haven’t, I think you may find them interesting. Contact details are:- Special-Abilities, PO Box 360, Wakefield WF2 8WG. Tel: 07796 038291
Email Special@abilities.fsnet.co.uk - Website www.abilities.fsnet.co.uk
(I will try to get our group details included in their next issue - Carole)