Well-planned holiday activities are crucial to ensure families of children with autism get the support they need, says a charity.
The National Autistic Society (NAS) says parents can struggle to find autism-friendly activities during the six-week summer holidays.
Sarah Lambert of the NAS: believes that activities are vital to help families get through the holidays
Sarah Lambert is the head of policy and public affairs at the NAS. She said councils have a duty to provide a mix of short-break provision for families of disabled children.
Holiday activities ‘important’
Lambert said: “The NAS believe that the availability of well-planned holiday activities for those with a range of needs is important to ensure that families are well supported and their children are able to take part in the same activities as other children.”
She added that although councils don’t have to provide all of these services, they should ensure they are available.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education said empty schools could be used as summer camps for children with autism and disabilities.
But the decision on how best to use schools during the summer rests with councils, said the spokesperson.
Using schools could help
Parent Tonia Gonzalez, 47, believes using schools could help families.
Lab technician Gonzalez, from Plymouth, said it makes sense to use schools because they are set up to facilitate activities for children.
However, Gonzalez, whose 14-year-old son Alfie Kelly has autism, believes finding staff could be difficult.
She said many people who work in schools have children they need to be at home with during the summer holidays.
“Most people that work in schools, work in schools because they need the summer off to look after their kids,” she added.
Autism Eye approached the Local Government Association, but it declined to comment. However, it has pointed out that councils are in line to lose £5.8bn of funding by 2020.
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Published: 29 August 2017
