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Many schools and clubs in the Dundee area offer out of school clubs and care facilities but very few, if any, can offer ASD specific care.
A need was highlighted for out of school term time provision in the form of a play scheme run in an autism-specific way.
Also, during school holidays, children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders often have great difficulties because thier routines are disrupted. There are very few activities available which they can benefit from. Therefore Spectrum, a parent led support group for familes in the Tayside area who are affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorders, established a play scheme.
Spectrum has taken on a Monday to Friday after school club and a youth group on Wednesday evenings, providing parents and carers of children with an ASD specific facility where children can benefit from staff who are familiar with thier need for structure and routine within play.
The groups are open to all nursery, primary and secondary school pupils with an ASD diagnosis and each child is offered a place specific to what they will achieve within the group through a combination of group and individual play. The Spectrum play scheme now caters for appoximately 30 children between the ages of 3 & 14 years. It operates for 1 week in Easter, 5 weeks in Summer and 1 week in the October holidays.
Spectrum is involved in a number of fundraising events that benefit the club, these vary from sponsored events to quiz nights and raffles, in which all donations are welcomed, and any fundraising ideas and offers of help are always appreciated.
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