Social Club for teenagers with Asperger's Syndrome
In response to the extreme isolation experienced by young people with Asperger's Syndrome Lothian Autistic Society launched, in September 2007, our first Social Club. The Club runs every Wednesday evening and is currently attended by young people (12 to 18 years old) with
Asperger's Syndrome from across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The Social Club has proved to be a great success. It provides a safe environment in which social skills can be developed and confidence raised, while at the same time providing the young people with an opportunity to develop relationships with their peers on the spectrum in an environment where they can ‘relax and be themselves'.
The Social Club acts as a 'rehearsal' and 'transition' space that enables the young participants to:
We aim to:
- meet and socialise with their peers once a week independent of parents/carers
- interact on their terms in a comfortable and safe environment
- access a range of different activities geared towards social interaction
- have fun, aiming to build confidence and self-esteem
- develop not only social but independent living skills, for example, going shopping and learning about money
- discuss issues that are important and relevant to them independent of their parents/carers
- move into a mainstream club, should they wish to, when some skills and confidence have been developed
Our Social Club runs every Wednesday evening from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Scotland Yard Adventure Centre.
If your son or daughter is between 13 and 18 years old, has Asperger's Syndrome and would like to attend our Club, then please contact us on 0131 661 3834 or office@lothianautistic.org to register your interest.
''Crucial Chaos Crew" LAS Primary Social Club
Club Aims:
- To enable young people with AS or HFA to meet and socialise with their peers once a week independent of parents/carers.
- To enable the young people to access a range of different activities geared towards social interaction.
- To develop a programme based around the wishes of the Club members.
- To develop activities and outings geared towards building members' friendships, co-operation, confidence and self-esteem in various environments and social situations.
- To develop links with other youth groups throughout the city to encourage integrated activities from time to time.
- To enable to children to widen their social circle beyond school, developing contacts and enabling networking with other young people.
- To develop the confidence of the children attending and prepare them for major transitions.
For more information or to register your interest please contact:
Coleen Kelly(Project Coordinator) on 0131 661 3834 or email c.kelly@lothianautistic.org