Group of young adults with autism enjoy holiday abroad without their families thanks to Christchurch charity Autism Unlimited.
A GROUP of young adults with autism have been able to enjoy a week’s holiday abroad without their families thanks to a Christchurch charity.
Six learners from Autism Unlimited’s Futures programme aged 18 to 26 spent a week in Gran Canaria.
They volunteered at a retirement home, where they helped elderly residents, fed animals at a farm, made cheese and assisted on a banana plantation. They also visited a coffee plantation.
Futures Manager Tilly Larment said: “Futures empowers neurodiverse people to reach their full potential, through working and being active in their local communities. This gives them the confidence to independently pursue their passions and hobbies.
“Up until now, travelling abroad is something most of our learners have only been able to do with their families, if at all, and one of our learners had never been on a plane. So, what they experienced and achieved during this Independent Living Experience (ILE) Abroad was simply incredible.”
The group stayed in a self-catering villa with four Futures staff, where they shopped, cooked and cleaned for themselves enjoying independence as well as the chance to hone their communication, collaboration and compromise skills.
The experience was funded by the Department of Education’s Turing Scheme, and the group was hosted by the educational organisation Eat that Frog.
Other highlights of the week included Spanish lessons and a visit to a cave restaurant to try tapas.
Fae Rowe, whose son Jack, 20, was part of the group, said: “Since arriving home Jack already seems more independent and confident, and I think he will have much more to tell me as he processes the whole experience in the coming days and weeks.
“As his mum I was a little nervous at the thought of him being abroad. But I knew I had nothing to worry about. Since being with Futures Jack has come on in leaps and bounds and is achieving so much, all while being perfectly supported.”
Prior to the trip the learners were given an assisted tour of Bournemouth Airport, experiencing check-in, security and boarding to give them all opportunities to ask questions and address any uncertainties or fears.
