Wairarapa’s locally owned community newspaper
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019
INSIDE: Meet your local r ugby clubs P25-36
P3
Take a sound bath ARE YOU A VIP CUSTOMER? Read ‘Garden Yarn’ on Page 9 to find out if you’re one of our
LUCKY DAILY $50 VOUCHER WINNERS!
Peter & Jenny Giddens
FLAIR
24 hour personal service to all districts
Phone: 06 3797616 Carterton www.richmondfuneralhome.co.nz Personalised funerals, based Traditional Values Personalised funerals based onon traditional diti di tionall values al l es
FOR ALL YOUR FLOORING NEEDS See our advert in Wairarapa Property 97-101 High St North, Carterton Ph 06 379 4055
All about autism Emily Ireland One in 66 people in New Zealand has Autism Spectrum Disorder. With Wairarapa’s population, that equates to about 650 people living with autism – and a local organisation, Autism Wairarapa, is doing its part to support affected individuals and their families with the challenges they face. This week is Autism Awareness Week, running until April 7, and Autism Wairarapa support coordinator Wendy Lowe is hoping to shed light on the disorder locally, and the support they offer. World Autism Awareness day was April 2. Autism Wairarapa Charitable Trust was set up in 2014. As support coordinator, Wendy runs monthly support groups for parents, a kids’ gym programme, and designs resources for parents wanting to teach their child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) a new skill or behaviour. Wendy, who is the mother of child with ASD said people needed to be educated about autism and have an understanding of how it impacts on everyday life. According to KidsHealth, ASD is a developmental disorder that affects communication, social skills and behaviour. Children with ASD interpret the world and what is happening around them differently than other children. “It takes a village to raise a child – that is so true – particularly for our children,” Wendy said. But sometimes, running public errands can be a daunting task for kids who have
autism, and their family. “The whole supermarket experience for example is such a sensory experience – there’s music going, lights, business, trolleys and beeping, things on the shelves. “It can be overwhelming for our children.” She said this feeling of being overwhelmed often resulted in a “meltdown” “When I talk about meltdown, it means when they are in a state that is uncontrollable – you just need to ensure that they are safe. “It would be great for people in the public to be aware … it’s unbelievable what people say to our parents like – oh you have a naughty child. “What you see isn’t always what you think.” Wendy said getting access to services was a “challenging area”. “We have limited services in the Wairarapa, but in terms of when you are in crisis and would expect someone to be there for you that day, not five weeks down the track, there’s a gap. “This is the dilemma some of our parents are facing.” An early diagnosis is the best start a child with autism can get, Wendy said. Early signs of autism in 1-3-year-olds includes: having difficulty continuing eye contact, not responding to a Continued on page 4
Wendy Lowe, Autism Wairarapa support coordinator. PHOTO/EMILY IRELAND
www.facebook.com/southeys