Parents' anguish

FAMILIES with autistic children have been devastated by the news that a charity is to close down a lifeline service it provides for them at Rustington, due to a lack of funds.

Parents whose children use the Sussex Autistic Society's play and respite sessions at The Laurels day centre broke down in tears whene told of the news on Saturday.

Around 60 families who have come to rely on the service, known as the Southdown Family Centre, as a lifeline, arrived as usual on Saturday, only to be told that it would be the final session, after more than 11 years.

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The charity, based in Hassocks, runs centres for 500 members across Sussex, but faces an immediate cash shortfall of 20,000 and needs a further 5,000 a month to run the service at Rustington.

But families say this is a tiny amount when compared with the tremendous help it gives them as they struggle to cope with an autistic child.

As well as providing fortnightly cookery, art, computer classes and a multi-sensory room, the centre is an opportunity for parents to meet, chat and support each other.

One of those parents, Jane Yos from Arlington Crescent, East Preston, said she didn't know what she would do now the centre was closed.

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Jane's 15-year-old son Nathan suffers from autism, Down's syndrome and has severe learning difficulties. He has visited the centre twice a month for eight years.

"I just don't believe it at the moment," she said. "I think I'm in denial.

"It's more than just somewhere for Nathan to go. It's where I go to meet other parents in similar positions as myself and can discuss problems with people who understand them.

"It's a centre of knowledge for autism, not just from the parents '” the staff there are amazing. They even have books on coping with autism that you can take away."

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Another parent, Sarah Slade of Sandfield Avenue, Littlehampton, has two sons, 14-year-old Adam and 10-year-old Ryan, with autism who have also used the centre for eight years.

Autistic children do not like change and for Adam, Ryan and Nathan, the closure will be a major blow for them and their families.

Mrs Slade said: "For my boys the centre is a big part of their life and if it's taken away from them they will find it very hard.

"They get stressed if they have to leave the house unless they know they are going there.

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"I can't really explain how hard this will be for us. There is no other support for us like this in the area."

But unless the charity can find 20,000 in the next six weeks to plug the funding gap, this crucial service will no longer run.

Lisa Perks, head of family services at the Sussex Autistic Society, which is now in its 25th year, said: "Operationally we have had the most successful year ever. We recently had an Ofsted inspection and were classed as outstanding in every separate area and as outstanding overall.

"We are almost victims of our own success. We launched the respite service and demand is now so high that the costs have also risen dramatically. We can't raise enough money to provide the service that is needed.

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"When everything is running so well, to take that service away concerns me hugely. There are more and more diagnoses of autism every day and people ned help now more than ever.

"Some families have had support from the centre from the day their child was diagnosed and will now have nowhere to send them.

"There are lots of excellent provisions for special needs in the area but the difference with us is that we are specifically experts on autism."

"I can't believe that such a wonderful resource can go down the drain when it's so needed," said Mrs Yos. "I think Social Services should support the charity more. It's such a crucial service to so many families that we can't lose it."

For more information on the Sussex Autistic Society or to make a donation, call 01273 846846.

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