Charity marks Autism Awareness Day with £5,000 donation to Care Agency

To mark Autism Awareness Day today, Autism Support Gibraltar has donated £5,000 to the Care Agency.

Autism Awareness Day would normally see ASG marking the day with an event and a flag day, but this year, given the Covid-19 pandemic charity has decided to make a donation instead.

“We know that the Care Agency does a great deal of valuable work at the best of times,” the charity said.

“Now more than ever they are doing little miracles every day, supporting families who are finding these times particularly difficult, we want to help the Care Agency to help all of us.”

“This donation is in keeping with the objects of our charity and with the intent of our many donors as the agency is giving close and much-needed support to autistic people and their families and carers.”

“These families might be living through increased feelings of fear and anxiety.”

“We are all subject to disrupted routines, which can have a more acute impact on autistic people, who take comfort in routine and in being able to plan their future.”

The charity added that, for autistic children and young people, school closures can also mean further disruption to routines, interruption of trusted personal relationships and a pause to important provision of therapies.

“All of this can lead to a greatly increased emotional and psychological burden on autistic people and their families,” the charity said.

“We encourage autistic people and their families to do what they can to establish new routines, maintain connections with trusted people, and take reassurance that the pandemic will come to an end.”

The charity advised families to “lean on” the support available, such as the schools' worries helpline on 20012499, Covid-19 support through 20041818 and the Community Mental Health Team on 20078807.