|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 2008 EVENTSVisit Longstock Park Water Garden RUNS AND MARATHONSNEWSOUR SUPPORTERSRESEARCH UPDATEOTHER NEWSAutism friendly film screenings Community Channel science programme If you have any comments or would like to submit an article for our newsletter, please contact:
|
AUTISM SPEAKS' EVENTSWith our most exciting calendar yet, 2008 is going to be a busy year. We have TWO walks featured in the North and South of England and have also secured running places at a number of major events and would love to hear from you if you or someone you know can run for us. For more information about any of the events listed below, please go to our events page or contact Lynn Hart, Head of Events at or on 01491 411569. |
Monday, 10th March, The Rachel Elbaz Fashion Show and Gala Extravaganza |
|
Sunday, 6th April – Longstock Park Water Garden |
|
Sunday, 4th May - Walk for Autism Research, The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
|
|
Friday, 13th June - Hitting the Target for Autism Research, Royal Berkshire Shooting School Will Carling, Mike Teague and David Sole are the rugby stars who have said they will come this year – we have more exciting auction prizes and of course, the best venue for clay shooting in the country. Why not get a team together and join us for a great days shoot in June? This is a great opportunity for some serious networking and some superb shooting. |
|
Tuesday, 1st July - Ladies Lunch at Cliveden |
|
Sunday, 12th October 2008 – Walk for Autism Research, Swinley Forest’s Lookout Centre, Bracknell |
|
RUNS AND MARATHONSPlease get in touch with Lynn Hart if you would like to run for us - or tel: 01491 411569. |
|
Reading Half Marathon, Sunday 2nd March 2008
|
|
Sunday, 7th September – Ladies Hydro Active 5k Challenge in Hyde Park, London
|
|
Sunday, 5th October – Great North Run – Half Marathon |
|
Sunday, 12th October – Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, London.
|
|
AUTISM SPEAKS' NEWSHugh Lake
We would like to thank Hugh for all his hard work and enthusiasm. He will be missed. |
|
Trusts Support Hilary Gilfoy, UK Chief Executive, Autism Speaks hands over grant cheque to Professor Mark Johnson of the Baby Siblings research project at Birkbeck. |
|
Nikken – Autism Speaks Corporate supporters
With every sale of Nikken’s magnetic sports bracelet, a donation is made to Autism Speaks. Since the launch of the bracelets in the summer, they have been selling like hot cakes and to date, a fabulous £33,766 has been donated to Autism Speaks. We are extremely grateful to Nikken for their generous support. |
|
AUTISM SPEAKS' LOCAL GROUPS & SUPPORTERS
Back row (from left): Jayne Woodroofe, Louise Thompson, Kirsty Thompson, Karen Gray. Front row (from left): Carole Milstead, Shelly Marthant and Jo Evans
North East Local Group members (from left): Jill Lamb, Kath White, Trish Ramshaw, Ian & Janis Stuart If you would like to get involved in this supportive and growing community, please email Philippa Stannard or telephone her on 01189 016876. |
|
The staff thought this was an excellent idea of raising funds and will do it again next year. Perhaps you could do this at your work place next year? Kirsty is mum to Christina (pictured) and you can read their story on our website |
|
Autism Speaks Grandparents NetworkOur growing network of grandparents is keeping in touch through our Autism Speaks web forum. If you would like to join the forum, please please email Philippa Stannard or telephone her on 01189 016876 |
|
AUTISM SPEAKS' RESEARCH UPDATEAutism Speaks project seeking twins!
Dr Tom Lavender, Clinical Research Worker on the project says: ’We are hoping to study both identical and non-identical twins. Identical twins share 100% of their genes, whereas non-identical twins typically share about 50%. Because identical twins share the same genes, or DNA, differences between them are likely to be caused by differences in what happened to them when they grew up, or their environment. We want to see how the brains of people with ASD compare to their twins, and whether any differences in brain anatomy are related to their particular characteristics and abilities. We do this using a modern scanning method, called ‘magnetic resonance imaging’ (MRI). It uses powerful magnets to get an accurate picture of what the brain looks like and how it works. This should enable us to identify the brain systems – both brain regions and the interconnections between them, that may underlie the features found in autistic spectrum disorders, and to what extent genetic or environmental factors may play a part in causing them. This information will help us to understand how the environment and genes together affect the way the brain develops, and hopefully to develop new medical treatments in the future. We will then be in a better position to help many people with ASD. We are currently inviting male twin-pairs aged between 6-45 to take part in our study. If you might be interested, or would like further information please email me, Dr Tom Lavender, or telephone on 0207848 0939" |
|
AUTISM SPEAKS' OTHER NEWSThe cost of autism
It reports that the national cost of autism to the UK is a staggering £28 billion a year. To download this important report, visit the Learning Disabilities website |
|
Autism friendly film screenings The Picturehouse cinema group have monthly autism friendly screenings. Regal Cinema, Henley-on-Thames - 0871 704 2064 |
|
Autism Conference News – Communication: the key to successThis conference is a collaborative venture between Pontville School and Edge Hill University. Pontville School is an independent School for communication impaired children and young people. Edge Hill University, nominated for The Times Higher University of the Year Award, provides exceptional support for students in high-quality learning environments Targeted towards professionals, parents and carers of children and young people with High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders [ASD] or Asperger’s Syndrome. Communication is a key factor in addressing the needs of such young people and by addressing this issue, windows of opportunity are opened. This enables young people to progress, in terms of furthering their education and employment options, by improving self–esteem and confidence or simply by offering an opportunity to feel included in society, to feel valued and understood. Key note speaker - Professor Temple Grandin, an accomplished professional who hasn’t let autism prevent her from living life to the fullest and has helped to redefine the perception of what is possible for autistics. Temple has been featured widely in the media and is a prominent author and speaker on the subject of autism. She presently works as an Associate Professor at Colorado State University. For more details visit the Edge Hill University website. |
|
The Community Channel – What can science do for me? The community channel broadcast a programme about five year-old Stian Jeppesen, who has autism. Unable to speak and alternating between disruptive behaviour and being withdrawn, Stian’s autism has had a massive impact on his family. At Cambridge University, the family meet Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen, world renowned expert in Autism, at Trinity College, Cambridge. You can watch this programme online and clicking on the ‘What can science do for me’ link. |
|
And finally....Please let us know if you change your email address by emailing John Coombes at Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks. North Lea House, 66 Northfield End, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, RG9 2BE. Charity Registration No. 1107350. Registered in England. Company No: 5184164. Tel: 01491 412311 |
|
This very glamorous evening is being held in the Ballroom at The Dorchester Hotel – champagne reception, fashion show, live music, dinner and dancing until 2am! Tickets are £225 per person. 
Longstock Park Water Garden, Stockbridge, Hampshire is owned by John Lewis and is only open 12 days in the year to charities –
For the second year in a row, we are returning to The Alnwick Garden for a Sponsored Walk! The Alnwick Garden is one of the most beautiful water gardens in the country – do come along and join us for a series of really stunning walks. 
Following our hugely successful Charity Clay Shoot last September, we simply had to aim high and do a repeat performance! We have booked Friday, 13th June with the Royal Berkshire Shooting School. 
Following the success of our Ladies Lunch in 2007, we are returning to the French Dining Room in this stunning 5* Hotel set in 400 acres of National Trust Estate. If you have never been to Cliveden, you really have missed out. We hope we have a surprise guest star to speak too! Details of this to follow. Tickets include a champagne reception, 3 course lunch and wines – just £95 pp. We offer a 10% discount if you book a table of ten; why not bring your friends for this memorable and thoroughly enjoyable day? 
By popular demand, the Walk for Autism Research returns to the South of England. The Swinley Forest and Lookout Centre is a superb venue with walks through the golden leaves of the forest and there is a picnic area & children’s playground at The Lookout. Do register for our sponsored walks, enjoy a family day out and raise funds for Autism Speaks. Contact 
We are also looking for volunteers to act as marshall on the day! The timings for volunteers is arrival at the Madejski Stadium by 8.00am on race morning and then whether you are based on site or allocated a position on the race, it will be over by 1:30pm. Please get in touch if you can help out.
Why not join us in Hyde Park for the biggest all-women's running event. You don't have to be super fit to take part in this event - you can run or walk - it's up to you. 
We have 5 guaranteed places – if you are interested in running for Autism Speaks, please get in touch with 
This is a brand new run, which we think will become very popular. Sstarting and ending in Hyde Park, 12,500 runners will race through four Royal Parks, taking in superb views of Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Marble Arch and the Royal Albert Hall.
We sadly say goodbye to one of our Trustees, Hugh Lake, who is retiring due to health reasons. Hugh chaired our very first Walk for Autism event and has been a firm supporter of our work.
Autism Speaks is delighted to report that we have been awarded £60,000 per year for three years from the Henry Smith Charity and £50,000 per year for three years from the Baily Thomas Charitable Trust. These generous donations are to support the baby siblings research project, led by Birkbeck College, London. 
‘Getting involved with Autism Speaks enables us to raise awareness within our community of the problems our children with autism face. As the only charity who raise much needed funding to enable continuing biomedical research into autism, by setting up a local Autism Speaks support group we know that our efforts can further support this. This year our group are hoping to organise many fund raising events including a parachute jump for the more insane amongst us! We are also hoping to get the support of local businesses, groups etc to make this years walk one of the most successful’
We have had a good response from our supporters who have volunteered to get involved with setting up local groups across the country. With groups becoming established in Berkshire, Lancashire, North West of England, London and the West country, we intend to raise awareness about autism and the importance of our work, as well as much needed funds, so that we can continue to fund pioneering research. 
The TWIN AIMS (Autism Imaging Multicentre Study) research project at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, are interested in studying how the brain develops in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). To do this they are currently carrying out a study of twins with Autism and Asperger’s syndrome. 
The Foundation for people with Learning Difficulties published this report, which was funded by The Shirley Foundation.