7th february 2017

7th February 2017 - The Work of Scottish Autism’s Clannalba Respite Centre, Lamington

Fiona Hamilton

The President welcomed members and guests to our Open Meeting on Tuesday 7 February and introduced our guest speaker Fiona Hamilton who spoke eloquently on the work of Scottish Autism's Clannalba Respite Centre at Lamington. Autism was first properly reviewed during the war years of 1943 and 1944. Hans Asperger's definitive study on the condition written in German was not translated into English until many years later. It wasn't until 1990 that Asperger's Syndrome was categorised as group within the Autism Spectrum. Fiona explained that autism is a life long developmental condition that affects how a person communicates with and relates to others. Autistic people see the world differently with sensory impairment having a major impact on their lives and yet there is no real explantion as to what causes it. With some seven hundred thousand people affected by autism across the UK, Respite Centres such as Clannalba offer breaks of varying lengths tailored to meet the needs of the individual and the family concerned. There followed a lively question and answer session with Bill Allen giving the vote of thanks to Fiona for her most interesting talk. The next meeting is on the 21 February starting at 10.30 when we meet to hear of A Moving Visit to Terezin, Auschwitz and Birkenau given by Bob Copeland.

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