Advice on autism at Rotherham Libraries

Families seeking information about autism will now be able to find more advice in Rotherham's libraries thanks to a donation from the local branch of the National Autistic Society.

At 10 am on Thursday, July 5, Rotherham Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism, Coun. Amy Rushforth, will receive approximately 300 books from Donna Booth, Branch Officer, and Russell Wells, Press Officer, of the Rotherham branch of the National Autistic Society.

Branch members suggested the donation to local libraries because they will be accessible to far more parents and carers of autistic relatives than just those members who attend the monthly support group meetings.

Russell Wells, the branch's Public Relations Officer, explained that the original funding for the range of books came from NHS Rotherham and a local autism group no longer in existence.

He added: "They are taken to the monthly support group meetings but branch members felt that if they were available in local libraries it would give more people the chance to access vital advice and information.  Martin Kimber, the authority's Chief Executive, put me in touch with the Rotherham Library and Information Service and it very kindly agreed to accept the books.

"I am really pleased that the Library Service has taken ownership of these books. One out of every 100 people has autism and we estimate that some 2,546 people may have this lifelong disability within Rotherham. This means that many more individuals and families across the Borough area also affected. So, instead of collecting dust in a box they will out on shelves and be available to all members of the public."

Coun. Amy Rushforth said she was delighted to accept them on behalf of the Library and Information Service saying they would provide a valuable addition to the authority's book stock of 295,169 and its audio visual stock of 38,933. She added: "They will be much appreciated because autism, by its very nature, is very complex as well as being hugely challenging and demanding for family members and carers. Information is vital and so I am sure these books will be hugely beneficial to the general public if they visit one of the Borough's 16 libraries."

* Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Asperger Syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger Syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

Note to News-Editors: You are welcoming to send a photographer to the presentation of books, which will take place at 10 am on Thursday, July 5, at the Central central.library@rotherham.gov.uk, Main Street, Rotherham. For further information please contact Russell Wells, PR Officer for the Rotherham branch of the National Autistic Society, on 07531134117.