Improved Support Announced For Autism Sufferers

By working with our Celtic cousins we can learn to give Scottish autism sufferers the best support possible, First Minister Alex Salmond said on a visit to the New Struan School – a Centre for Autism in Alloa.

Welcoming the work of the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership, which draws together national autism charities of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the First Minister said sharing information and skills would improve services across nations.

The New Struan School, run by the Scottish Society for Autism, is designed to provide a positive, caring environment that promotes the development of pupils. Pupils have access to speech, drama, music and dance therapy services and enjoy the use of a specially designed playroom and heated swimming pool.

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“All children in Scotland, including those with special needs, deserve an equal opportunity to a quality education. That’s why the work of the New Struan School is so important and why I am delighted to be back here again to learn more about its work.

“I want to see cutting edge education services delivering fair outcomes for all Scottish pupils. Here we find a lot of good practice and tailored approaches to teaching that I hope can be shared with other local autorities and our Celtic cousins.

“The co-operative approach adopted by the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership is shared by the Scottish Government in its work with the British-Irish Council, the recent meeting with Northern Irish Minister and indeed with all our partners across Scottish society.

“I am convinced that by working together and drawing strength, innovation and experience from each other we will be able to make Scotland a smarter and fairer place to live.”

Autism is a disorder in which people with the condition find difficulty in communicating with and understanding their surroundings. The National Autistic Society estimates up to 50,000 people in Scotland have it.

The aim of Celtic Nations Autism Partnership, a partnership of Autism Northern Ireland, Autism Cymru, the Scottish Society for Autism and the Irish Society for Autism, is to establish an alliance of interested parties to work with Government.

Situated on the Bradbury Campus, on the outskirts of Alloa, the New Struan School – a Centre for Autism was opened in September 2005 following a £5 million fundraising initiative. An architect with family experience of autism, who understood the nuances that can affect children with this condition, designed it. As a result the School includes a number of specific features, such as indirect, although natural, lighting, wide corridors, a specific use of colour and purpose-built classrooms.

The Scottish Society for Autism (SSA) is an independent Scottish charity and is now the leading provider of services for persons of all ages living with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has a strong relationship with the SSA. On February 15, 2008, the Scottish Government awarded the SSA a Social Work (Scotland) Act, Section 9 Grant of £301,813, over the three year period 2008-11. The award will enable the Scottish Society for Autism plan to deliver the two ASD-Specific Higher National Units from the SQA-validated Professional Development Award in ‘Supporting Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders’.