You may be interested to know of this very worthwhile cause very dear to some of our parishioners hearts – Helping Hands Autism Support Centre, Dundonald.
We wish you all the very best Alison!
Hello Everybody.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Alison. I am Mummy to two wonderful boys, Henry 11 and Toby 9. Both boys are Autistic and each have their own glorious unique personalities and also their own individual challenges. Helping Hands Autism Support Centre, Dundonald is very local to us and both boys have been attending weekly for several years.
Helping Hands has been such a blessing to our family and many others. Providing a safe and secure environment for Autistic children to play and interact, a wealth of knowledge, warmth and support from volunteers and parents, a time for fun for the kids and restbite for parents.
So with thankfulness to Helping Hands in my heart I would like to attempt to raise funds and donate 100% to Helping Hands that could go towards a new item of equipment, art and craft supplies, a games console or even for heating and electricity in the centre. Every little bit counts right?!
Toby is the child that is full of questions “Why mummy?” “What’s that mummy?” “Can I mummy?”! Henry is semi verbal at home. He has selective mutism and therefore will not speak at all when outside home or when we have visitors.
This got me thinking……. How does it feel to not be able to communicate as others do? To not have the tools to communicate? And the frustration that must come with that. So with April being Autism Acceptance Month I plan to experience the world as a non verbal person to raise money for Helping Hands.
For 7 full days (April 8th 8am to April 15th 8am) I will have non verbal communication only. I will have my mobile phone on me but will not use it as a tool to communicate (unless it is an emergency or an urgent appointment). School runs, filling the car, food shopping, coffee dates, visitors, phone calls, everything …….Silent & Non verbal only.
Hopefully there are people out there that will sponsor this venture and fund raising attempt. Next year maybe I will do 2 weeks, then 3 weeks, then perhaps the whole month of April! Would love for others to become involved and join me. Every single penny raised will go directly to Helping Hands so that they can continue to give fantastic support to our amazing children and their families.
Many Thanks, Alison
Click here to go to Alison’s fund raising page.