A NEW service has been launched in Wiltshire to help raise awareness of autism.
The Wiltshire Autism Diagnostic Service (WADS), launched by the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, aims to work with organisations and the public to help people recognise the signs of autism. Only about 15 per cent of people with autism currently have a job, which means they can miss out on a lot of the usual things that people get by going to work.
A spokesman said: “That’s significant because one in four of us meet our partners in work; 55 per cent of us meet best friends at work, and around 75 per cent of people go out with friends from work at the weekend.
“So if you don’t have a job and aren’t 'part of society' then you miss out on an awful lot.” “Without a diagnosis, many people are going through life feeling they don’t fit in and failing in some areas without understanding why. Once they’ve received a diagnosis it makes it easier for them to get the help and support on offer.”
For more information go to awp.nhs.uk.
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