‘Don’t take our lifeline away’
Fears over the future of Perth Autism Support
Alison and Mike Carlin with seven-year-old son, Samuel
She said: “We noticed something was a little bit different when he was two and he got referred to PAS through the NHS.
“He comes here to relaxed kids and to a sensory class, and he was non-verbal before he came here. Now he is putting sentences together and talking to the children here, he has made such good friends with everyone.
“Through the clubs here we keep a routine which is brilliant. It will affect us a lot, because he won’t understand why he is not coming here anymore.
“We are very early on with Taylor because he is only four but he fits is so well and they really helped to support me to understand it all as well. You know they are always there, they are amazing.”
Alison and Mike Carlin’s seven-yearold son Samuel attends Dunbarney Primary School in Bridge of Earn
Mum Alison said he was looking forward to playing in the football group this term.
She continued: “When he was diagnosed, that’s the end of it and you don’t know what to do. You are left at a loose end and we felt totally lost, but we went and made an appointment the same day at PAS and we have never looked back. The support has been incredible, right from the beginning.
“There is nothing else, that’s the thing. Sam has just picked his activities and he wants to do football and the social group - this is the only place he can come for activities because other place’s can’t handle him. This is his safe space where he can come and not be judged. Sam has made some incredible breakthroughs here, the activities are terrific.
“PAS have given us all the tools to help Sam communicate his emotions, and helped us to communication as a family. They come with us to meetings at school to support Sam there too. We couldn’t believe it when we were told, Sam just sat and cried.”
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire visited the families at PAS on Frida to reassure them he is doing all he can to help support the charity.
He said he was not prepared to see 650 families deprived of the support they need, and he is working to get the service back on track.
Glencarse resident Morag Gaskin explained that her son Andrew (9) had thrived under PAS’s help.
“When we received the diagnosis we were handed a sheet of paper by the NHS Tayside CAMHS team which gave us websites to look up on autism,” she said.
“Since PAS came along it has been a tremendous source of support and advice for my family. It’s our safety blanket and at the moment it feels like that’s being taken away.
“PAS has brilliant, knowledgeable workers who are specialists in autism and this is backed up with the staff at RDM School where Andrew attends. The PAS parent sessions and events are so important, we know we can trust them.”
And Brandon Hunter (18) from Crieff says he fears for other users’ futures.
The teenager was among the first to use PAS’s services and told the PA it had transformed his life.
“Before PAS I was anxious about going out, I couldn’t board buses, I would not be able to go to school. But their staff took me on buses and helped build up my confidence.
“I think if PAS hadn’t been there for me I wouldn’t have done as well as I have. I am considering going to college to study and would love a job in the outdoors.
“There are other young people like me, but to think that PAS might not be there to help them...I don’t think people realise what is under threat.”
Kirsteen Bishop from Braco, whose sons have been helped by PAS, said: “I think without PAS being there so many things for me would not have been possible, I’m a single parent and what PAS does for me has got us through difficult times.
“PAS is not just a charity, it’s actually filling the void left by the NHS and the council for after diagnosis. By doing that PAS is saving the public sector so much money and much more than the £120,000 figure for the core costs.”
Taking this service away is being thrown in at the deep end to deal with it yourself, which is very challenging