Diversity and inclusion: Autism Guernsey training team

THE Autism Guernsey training team have been nominated for the RBC-sponsored Diversity and Inclusion award.

Autism Guernsey is an independent charity set up in 2012 to assist and support people on the autism spectrum in Guernsey.

Nominator Julia Watts commended the team for their open approach to supporting those with the condition.

She said: ‘Autism acceptance training is facilitated by a service manager and delivered by a team of three individuals with expertise by experience.

‘Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people.

‘It also affects how they make sense of the world around them and face issues and challenges daily.

‘Everyone with autism will have different challenges, however many have difficulties with social communication, social interaction, social imagination and sensory difficulties.

‘The sessions provided by the team do not focus on theory of autism or discuss the condition in depth.

‘They focus on questions and answers between the facilitator and a person with autism.

‘Questions are invited from participants and the sessions are effective.

‘The sessions are interactive and, given the challenges that people with autism face, this is a significant achievement for the team.’