Recently I have been given the opportunity to help a group of children and teenagers simply by giving a few days of my life. These children are just like me or you except from they have been diagnosed with autism. Autism is a lifelong disability which affects they way in which a person communicates and is able to relate to those around them. Autism includes symptoms such as speech difficulties, lack of eye contact and no fear of danger. These difficulties with everyday social interaction and the ability to form friendships is due to their limited capacity to understand the emotional expression of others. Therefore it is greatly appreciated both by the children and their parents and guardians when volunteers like myself offer to spend some time either with a group of autistic children or even spending one on one time with a particular child. I know of this appreciation because my younger brother, Conor, has been diagnosed with ASD and attends this group once a week and loves it. Sometimes it is better for children like Conor to have a couple of hours every week where they can spend time with friends and helpers taking part in a range of activities including sports, puzzles and games.
Personally as a volunteer I have been involved in a range of events which both I, and the children involved have enjoyed. The first is the simple weekly gathering of children which I frequently attend along with Conor and our parents. As well as this though there are a range of other activities available for those who want to attend such as play schemes which any child can attend. These usually take place during school holidays and give volunteers such as myself a chance to spend one on one time with a child. Here us volunteers are encouraged to talk to the children and watch over them and join in with what they want to spend time doing.
Finally there is the monthly trip club which unfortunately often clashes with my Saturday job leaving me unable to attend. However on the occasions when the trip club falls on a Sunday I am more than willing to help out. These events involve taking children out to activities such as the cinema, ice skating and a range of eateries. The previous trip club which I was able to attend was highly enjoyable as a group of about fifteen children with five or six supervisors went to Leeds, first calling at the Red Hot World Buffet before going to watch the latest Disney film, Frozen, at the cinema. These events give the children and us volunteers a chance to get out of the house and have fun while being able to socialise and get to know each other.
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