Good Friday was World Autism Awareness Day and the beginning of World Autism Awareness Month. More importantly, it was also JP Taaffe’s 16th birthday which was yet another reason to celebrate during the Autism Support Louth&Meath Youth Club’s Easter Camp.
Excitement levels were high among the children as the Easter camp kicked off with an Easter Egg hunt in the playgrounds and sensory garden at Drogheda ABACAS School.
The Autism Support Louth&Meath (ASLM) youth clubs take place on Saturdays and are attended by children and teenagers from schools all over Louth & Meath.
“We are very lucky that Drogheda ABACAS School allow us free use of their facilities for our youth clubs and camps said parent Sonia Callaghan” said organiser Jacinta Walsh.
“We are also very lucky that our fantastic staff and volunteers who come from Drogheda ABACAS staff, Teaching and Social Care Students and staff from other schools in the town also.
The ASLM Easter Camp is running for nine days with over 40 children from a number of different schools attending.
“We would also like to highlight our Facebook private support group for parents said Tara Bradley, parent of Alex who attends the older youth club. CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE A PARENT AND WOULD LKE TO JOIN.
ASLM is a safe forum where parents can chat to other parents in the area asking questions ranging from services, schools to where to get ear defenders and the perennial query about where to get i-pad screens replaced quickly, it currently has 289 members.
“It is an important avenue for support from other parents who “get it” says Tara, “sometimes you just need to talk to others who understand the situation you are in without explanation or judgement.
“For newly diagnosed parents it is a great source of information and support especially during these covid times when we cannot meet up in person.
“We are very proud that we have been able to keep the youth clubs running since June 2020. We went to Zoom quizzes, gaming and movie clubs last March and still carry out many of these activities remotely” Jacinta said.
“For many of the children we support online does not work, so being able to provide them with onsite face to face clubs, camps and activities has been invaluable to the children and also provides respite to families.”
