News Archive
Highlights of 2009
December - Here's to Scott and Bob
Scott Wilson (left) and Bob Young completed a gruelling five day hike up the Atlas Mountains in Morocco to the peak of Mount Toubkal - the highest mountain in North Africa - in order to raise money for the Society. They trekked their way up to the 4165m high summit through some remote terrain where they encountered wild goats, Berber villagers, ancient shrines and slept underneath the stars. They beat their target and raised £1005!
November - Running can be fun!
All our Big Fun Runners have kindly sent in their sponsor money after completing their runs in every venue in Scotland - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth and Aberdeen.
Thank you to everyone for taking part and raising over £1200 in total! This is a great effort as it was the first time for everyone! Big Fun Runs are taking place again in 2010 every weekend in July- just 5km. More. Pictured are Christine Garcia and her son, Ryan (13), in the Edinburgh race.
October - Glass Trophies created by Art Opportunities
As reported in the Stirling Observer, 23 October 2009:
Stirling Management Centre is this year's overall winner of the Forth Valley Business Diversity Awards. The awards are of a unique design and were made by srevices users in the Scottish Society for Autism Art Opportunities workshop in Alloa. Find out more about Art Opportunities.
This is the fourth time Forth Valley Supported Employment Network have celebrated the awards which recognise employers who have made a significant contribution to the recruitment or retention of employees from the six strands of diversity - gender; religion and belief; age; disability; ethnicity and race; sexual orientation.There were four categories - Recruitment, Retention, Social Firm and Overall Winner.
Neil Boyd, Director of Forth Valley Supported Employment Network said: “It is great to see how these awards have developed over the last four years. They give recognition to the excellent work employers do in supporting people who often face a range of barriers in accessing and sustaining employment."
Stirling Management Centre took the top award while others went to: Recruitment: ASDA Stenhousemuir; Retention: Capita Life and Pension Service, Stirling and Social Firm: Candies Cuisine, Alloa.
SQA Approved Centre
After many years extensive development, the Society is now an approved Scottish Qualifcation Authority Centre. Our teams are qualified to deliver a range of courses within the Society. More
Read report on www.ccpscotland.org
Trekkers arrrive at Petra after 110km in five days
The scorching temperatures of the desert and rocky terrain did not deter 14 trekkers who completed their challenge in Jordan on Saturday 10 October. Reaching the ancient city of Petra carved out of rock was a real reward for the team after five gruelling days, sleeping in a Bedouin tent every night with a basic shower and no toilet. Their loyal support of the Society over several years adds up to a major contribution to the charity's funds. From this trek alone, around £18,000 will be donated to the Society. If you would like to take on a challenge for the Society or join in any other fundraising ventures, find out more here
September -Dundee family pedal for the Society
The Gibson family from Dundee chose the Scottish Society for Autism as their charity when they joined in with hundreds of cyclists in Claverhouse Rotary's Dundee Cyclathon on Sunday 13 September.They set off on the 26 mile route in the hope of raising almost £500 for the charity. "We are always delighted when people choose to the support the Society which was the first charity set up specifically to support people with autism and their families in Scotland. It was founded in 1968 and now supports around 500 people on the spectrum in Scotland. Donations mean we can continue to develop ways of helping people with autism live fulfilling lives," said Carolyne Nurse, events officer with the Scottish Society for Autism.
July 2009
Kris Baillie tours UK by coach
Having been supported by the Society for 13 years, Kris Baillie, who has Asperger's Syndrome, set himself the challenge of travelling over 3000 miles by coach from Scotland to Cornwall in less than a week. Check out the timetable here. Kris hopes to raise £1000 for the Society and starts his challenge on 2 August and anyone who would like to sponsor him can go to www.justgiving.co.uk/kris-baillie
July 2009
This is some of the marvellous work a group from Royal Bank of Scotland have done for the New Struan Sensory Garden. This was part of a charity initiative from banking group and was led by John Welsh, who is the father of one our day pupils. The completed garden is an absolute delight with many thoughtful features including a water feature, a swing seat, wind chimes, herb troughs and decorative butterflies.
George Reid at Struan
The Rt. Honourable George Reid kept his promise when he visited New Struan during his tenure as The Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. In this capacity, he represents the Queen and was therefore accompanied by an entourage, including his Purse Bearer, ADC, Lady in Waiting and Chaplain.He was welcomed to the School by the Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire, Mrs Sheena Cruikshanks and introduced to the Society’s Director of Education, Jim Taylor and Board member, Paul Prescott before touring the school with Head Teacher, Janet Stirling and meeting some of the senior pupils.
Bowling Night Out
The White Heather branch of the Foresters is the community arm of one of the Scottish branches of the US-based financial organisation, Independent Order of Foresters. The branch supports Clannalba and the latest initiative, following a £1,000 donation earlier in the year, was to take all the service users and the staff, ten-pin bowling.
Parents wanted for Online Research
Glasgow Sleep Project invites parents to take part in an online research project on beliefs about children's sleep problems - find out more here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=oSh0DPXg2tXJ_2bihvARgVQQ_3d_3d
or contact the researcher, Jane MacQuarrie - parents.views.on.sleep@googlemail.com
Working Healthy Lives Award for the Society
The Society was awarded the Bronze level award by Dr Andrew Cubie at a recent ceremony held in Dunfermline recently and the picture shows Lesley Dow, Ann Marie O'Donnell and Fiona Hamilton receiving the award.
New Professional Development Award
Pictured above are the 37 Autism Practitioners who are the first to have successfully completed PDA (Professional Development Awards) in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (SCQF Level 7). Having received funding from The Scottish Executive in 2008 for three years, we anticipate many more Autism Practitioners will benefit from this valuable award. The three core modules are HN Working with Autism; HN Supporting Indivduals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and SVQ Unit HSC369. For more information contact David Harkins 01259 728425.
April 2009
World Autism Awareness Day
The United Nations has declared April 2nd World Autism Awareness Day, to increase and develop world knowledge of autism. By bringing together autism organisations all around the world, we will give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help. Please join us in our effort to make this possible.
Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown gives a message on autism to the world - visit www.autismspeaks.org.uk/waad/
Latest issue of Jigsaw
January: Rugby Coaching in Glasgow
Sport Relief has awarded a grant of £1,986 to the youth section of Cartha Queen’s Park RFC to carry out coaching sessions for children with ASD. The project will consist of two 12-week series of coaching in the Spring and Autumn.
This project builds on a very successful research and pilot project undertaken a couple of years ago with £9,800 of funding from Communities Scotland, described as a ‘visionary piece of work’ by John McDonald, the chief executive of the Scottish Society for Autism. Parents also derive considerable advantages from meeting other parents of ASD children in a club environment.
The grant is funded by Sport Relief, an initiative of Comic Relief.
January: Donation from Police College
One of the more unusual donations recently came from the Scottish Police Women’s Development Forum. The Forum’s Annual Conference was held at Tulliallan Castle, Scotland’s Police College, and as the ‘chosen charity’ for 2008, the Society was invited both to show details of its services and to provide a speaker.
Highlights of 2008
Youngsters Head for the Heights
In October, ten young fundraisers, some as young as eight, joined us on this adrenalin packed challenge in October, raising over £300! Starting on level 5 in the Ratho Climbing Centre Atrium, they were clipped in, over the safety bannister, with nowhere to look but down. Dangling high, they slowly made their way down to the atrium floor. Parents and grandparents watched from below as these young fundraisers learned to control their speed down the 25m drop.
Short Breaks Guide available
Published in August, the guide highlights existing good practice in the range of short break services for people with autism in Scotland and the UK and suggests partnership opportunities for improvement and the more effective, efficient and economic use of resources. View Online ( Adobe Acrobat required)
Modernisation Programme - Relaunch of Musselburgh Services
The redesigned service now offered from our Musselburgh Centre involves an extended range of activities and interventions to support adults in learning for life as well as engagement in local community activities. The base for the day service has been completely revamped, to upgrade and improve the accommodation for the delivery of services. The revised service was launched on 2 June by Alex Neil MSP with an event attended by parents, service users, partners from other organisations and members of the Board of the Society.
Donation to Lothian and Borders
Rachel Fourie of Lothian and Borders was invited to speak to The Cramond Kirk Wednesday Group in June and was delighted to receive a generous donation of £2,350 from the group. Pictured in one of the original entrances to the Kirk are some of the group’s members - Sue Ledingham the Group’s Treasurer, Marion Campbell, Isobel Barclay, Morag McCurrach and Janette Roy - with Rachel and Kevin from the SSA.
1968-2008 40th Anniversary Celebrations
Hear the 40th anniversary message from John McDonald, SSA Chief Executive - listen now!
New Guidelines for Commissioners
Read the Scottish Government's new guidelines for commissioners here.
World Autism Awareness Day - 2 April 2008
Read the message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Message
Visit from the First Minister
Keeping a promise made some months ago, Alex Salmond returned to New Struan on 5 March to spend more time touring the school and meeting staff and pupils.
Specialists in Autism from Zagreb tour New Struan
(left to right) Bozica Simlesa, Head of City Office for Education, Culture and Sport; Ivica Dokleja, Assistant Director of Centre for Autism,; Ankica Pavlovic, architect; Jasmina Freyskrinar, Associate Professor, Education and Rehabilitation Sciences; Marinka Bakula, Assisant Director of City Office for Health and Social Services; Jasmina Stosic, Assistant at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences with John McDonald.
Highlights of 2007
Swinney visits New Struan
John Swinney spent time with staff and pupils at the Society's state-of-the-art school, New Struan, in Alloa in December.
Cheque presented to Fife
The Fife-based processing plant of Exxon presented a £600 cheque to the Cowdenbeath centre in early November. Pictured Kelly Calvert and Wayne McHardie with some of the Exxon team.
Trial of new Alert Card under way
The Autism Alert Card has been launched by ARC in Glasgow as part of an initiative with Strathclyde Police to improve their understanding of autism. The Card can be carried by a person with autism and enables them to identify their needs in situations where they may find communication difficult.
The ARC is a partnership between Greater Glasgow Health Board (GGHB), Glasgow City Council, The National Autistic Society, the Scottish Society for Autism and the Strathclyde Society for Autism.
Minister Visit
An October visit from Public Health Minister Shona Robison and Keith Brown, local MSP(far left) with John McDonald (second left) and JimTaylor from the Society.
October 2007 Autism Around the World
With the launch of the Scottish involvement in the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership (CNAP) taking place at Holyrood in November, Hillary Clinton has a message of support for CNAP - read Clinton's Statement here and the Memorandum of Understanding here (Adobe Acrobat required).
September 2007 Luke Beardon's latest research - click here.
September 2007 New leaflet on SSA Services available. Find out more about the services offered by the Society in this leaflet (Adobe Acrobat needed).
September 2007 What's so special about Autism Spectrum Disorders?
Read Professor Rita Jordan's article in the current issue of SEN, The Journal for Special Needs.
September 2007 First Research Conference for Wales
Autism Cymru, Wales national charity for autism, has joined forces with specialist autism research charity, Autism Speaks, to host the first conference dedicated entirely to autism research to take place in Wales. It is at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff on Friday 9 November 2007 - see programme here (you will need Adobe Acrobat).
August 2007 New fundraising group for Fife and Tayside
Fife And Tayside Support Organisation (FATSO) is a new group dedicated to raising funds for social activities and short breaks for groups of service users, parents and carers. The next date for the diary is Wednesday 20 December when a Christmas Party is being held in Cowdenbeath. New helpers and ideas are welcome - to find out more, please call 0845 300 9273.
July 2007 Award for After Thomas
After Thomas has won the Grand Jury Prix for a TV Film at the Shanghai Film Festival. Find out more : www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Shanghai_International_TV_Festival/2007
June 2007 Clinton speaks out
Senators Clinton, Allard Unveil Autism Legislation
Find out what Hilary Clinton said in March 2007 about Autism Legislation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzhtCGPc26c
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