The Riverside Museum helps celebrate World Autism Awareness Day

The Riverside Museum: Scotland’s Museum of Transport and Travel will open its doors to Scottish Autism, Scotland’s Autism charity, for an hour on Friday 6 April (10am – 11am) to help celebrate WAAD (World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April 2012). Scottish Autism’s service users will have exclusive use of the museum during these times.

The Riverside Museum is a favourite of people with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), and two of its staff - Catriona Hamilton and Robert MacGregor - recently attended a Scottish Autism “Open Minds” meeting to help provide a warm and friendly environment for visitors with autism and further increase the museum’s overall commitment to becoming an even more ASD friendly venue.

Catriona and Robert are also involved in fundraising for Scottish Autism, with Robert taking part in the “Clyde Slide” on Sat 24 March, raising £350.

Catriona said “Everyone at the Riverside Museum is really looking forward to welcoming Scottish Autism and its service users to help celebrate WAAD; we know that we provide a great environment for people on the autism spectrum to enjoy. We are thrilled to be taking this step forward in our long term initiative to set standards of best practice and provide improved service to our ASD Visitors.

I am also developing an “autism friendly route” around the museum which will be ready in the near future to further enhance the experience for people with autism.”

Scottish Autism’s service users are coming from as far afield as Biggar, Lanark, East Kilbride, Alloa and Fife, as well as Glasgow.

Charlene Tait, Development Director at Scottish Autism said "Scottish Autism is delighted by the invitation from the Riverside museum. A core objective of our organisation is to enable people with autism to access daily opportunities and experiences. Some individuals need support to do this as part of a very gradual and individualised process. This opportunity will enable many of our service users to increase their confidence in new situations and has the added benefit of being interesting and enjoyable."

For more information, please contact Scottish Autism on 01259 720044 or go to www.scottishautism.org.


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