New partnership sees Aberdeenshire become Scotland’s first ‘autism-friendly’ region

The Autism-Friendly Aberdeenshire project will take place over one year, and strives to increase public understanding of the condition, help facilities in the area become more accessible, and develop new groups to meet the needs and interests of autistic residents.

This comes as The National Autistic Society Scotland’s new report, Too Much Information: why the public needs to understand autism better, revealed how poor public understanding is pushing autistic people and their families into isolation, and in some cases making them feel trapped in their own homes.

Jenny Paterson, director of The National Autistic Society Scotland, said: “This is a really innovative and exciting project. We’ll be working with autistic people in Aberdeenshire and their families to develop support and interest groups, and identify facilities in the area which should become more accessible.

“We’ll also be working with residents to help them understand the condition. We have some really interesting ways of doing this – which include using virtual reality equipment!

“It is unacceptable that autistic people in Scotland feel they have to shut themselves away for fear of being judged by the public. I’m really pleased Aberdeenshire Council is working with us to make the area autism-friendly. It’s a hugely important first step to Scotland becoming an autism-friendly nation.”

Philip English, head of adult services and criminal justice at Aberdeenshire Council, said: “We have seen the difference dementia-friendly communities have made in areas of Aberdeenshire where they have been introduced, and we want to create a similar environment for autistic people.

“Aberdeenshire Council therefore tendered for a provider to deliver the ‘Autism-Friendly Aberdeenshire’ project and we are pleased to be working with The National Autistic Society Scotland on this initiative.

“The aim of this project is to build capacity as well as sustainable processes in communities across Aberdeenshire which will allow autistic people to have improved access to services.

“We also hope it will lead to a better understanding of autism and to break down some of the barriers faced by autistic people on a daily basis.”

The Autism-Friendly Aberdeenshire project launched in April with a Pop-Up Shop and Spring Fayre in The National Autistic Society Scotland’s Ellon office.

For more information about the project and upcoming activity, please contact Steve Mayes on [email protected]