1989

• A Social Worker in Lisburn, Co. Down brought a group of parents together for mutual support because their children had a “rare” condition which she thought was Autism.

1990

• “Parents and Professionals and Autism Northern Ireland” [Autism N.I.] received charity status and regular meetings were held in Wallace Avenue Adult Day Centre and then Friends School, Lisburn. Parents from all over Northern Ireland began to attend and the partnership ethos with professional colleagues was established.

1991

• The Stranmillis College (Q.U.B) conference. This was the first of what came to be an annual conference initiative with Barnardos until 1996. We then developed a separate workshop/seminar/conference programme of events. The aim was to invite world experts in Autism to N.I. to give us direct access to information. Autism N.I. were gifted a donation via a legacy left to The National Autistic Society from a family in Northern Ireland.

1992

• The first staff appointment was made for Autism in N.I with the post of Autism N.I Development Officer. This was a six month part time post with no clerical support. The first Development Officer was Arlene Cassidy, now the Chief Executive.

1993

• The TEACCH conference – The first ASD specific intervention came to N Ireland.
• Department of Health and Social Services core funding was secured for a 3 year term for a part time Development Officer and some clinical support.
• The Department of Education funded TEACCH training for SLD schools in N.I. The network of Autism NI Branches (Parent Support groups) was initiated with the establishment of Autism NI (Derry) branch.

1994 - 96

• DHSS funded Autism N.I to co-ordinate an independent evaluation of TEACCH.
• Autism N.I and Down Residential Project developed Ardcora ( the first N.I residential service for people with Autism)
• Autism N.I and Barnardos / Positive Futures initiated a lobby to highlight the lack of diagnostic expertise locally. [Ref: Glenavna Hotel Conference 1996 with Dr. Judith Gould.]
• Lisburn Branch was established in 1996. [N.B. Access to TEACCH was limited to children with a clinical diagnosis of ASD. To access a diagnosis many parents were travelling to England to access private diagnosis.]

1997 – 98

• Autism N.I lobbied DHSS regarding lack of diagnosis. Funding was secured to provide evidence of need.
• Autism NI lobbied DHSS regarding lack of Diagnosis. Funding was secured to provide evidence of need NI Diagnosis Scoping Study

1997

• Autism N.I and the N.I Child Health Organisation agreed to work together to access training for local paediatricians in the diagnosis of Autism. Training was secured from Dr. Judith Gould (Director, Centre for Social and Communication Disorders, London) who developed training in N.I to 23 professionals in 1997 and 1998.
• Division TEACCH (N. Carolina) grant Autism N.I “Licence to deliver five day TEACCH training model in N.I” alongside existing Down Lisburn/SEELB training site.

1998

• The first local wave of ASD Diagnostic Clinics were established, led by Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust and followed by Homefirst and Foyle Trusts. N.B this development was driven by committed professionals who secured clinic time at a cost to themselves and genetic services.
• Autism N.I first annual strategic planning weekend to further democratise the Charity.

1998 – 2000

• Autism N.I developed links with Autism Initiatives, Son – Rise Program, Dr. Lovaas (ABA) and the Higashi Institute. Autism N.I premises were used to facilitate parent’s co-ordinating AIT (Auditory Integration Therapy) and Secretin Therapy.
• Autism N.I published parents guide to interventions (Journeys: Choices Not Solutions)

1999

• Autism N.I secured “in year” funding from ten of the Health and Social Services Trusts to employ two development officers to oversee the development of family support and the Branch Network. Staff members totalled three at this point and the branch network consisted of ten groups across the province that organised monthly meetings and family fun days.
• Autism NI (Derry) Branch and Derry City Council publish research “Community Access” on how Council facilities can become “Autism friendly”.

1999 – 2002

• The Keyhole Early Intervention Project was coordinated by Autism N.I to address growing concerns about the lack of practical support for children and families post diagnosis. The Keyhole partnership of parents, statutory and voluntary agencies designed an intervention package promoting the three core elements of:
  
  
  1. Parent Training [ACCESS Workshops]
  2. Professional Training (KEYHOLE for early years training course)
  3. A six month Home Visiting Programme based upon TEACCH, PECS, HANEN and ABA principles. N.B Keyhole is the (University of Ulster evaluated) ASD Early Intervention methodology adopted by SHSSB (2002) and WHSSB (2004).  

2000

• The National Autistic Society (U.K) set up a duplicate service to Autism NI in N.I breaking an earlier partnership agreement. An enquiry was launched by NAS Board and Autism N.I’s complaint was upheld. The NAS withdrew the following year due to funding difficulties in England.

2001 – 2002

• Task Group on Autism Report (Dept of Education). Autism N.I served on the working group of this Report which was the first government funded review of services for children with Autism.
• Autism N.I began its strategic lobby with the N.I Assembly. A year of individual briefings with ministers, politicians, as well as presentations to Assembly Committees also witnessed the first two debates on ASD at a political and legislative Assembly in N.I. In November 2002, each of the N.I Political Parties nominated representatives to act as N.I Assembly Autism Ambassadors.

2001

• DHSS agreed to establish Autism N.I as a strategic N.I ASD Training Agency. In 2004 a letter of commendation from DHSS was awarded to Autism N.I’s Training Department.

2003 – 2004

• DHSS “Priorities for Action” document (a guide to public spending) referenced Autism for the first time. In 2004, the first health sector funding for Autism was released to address the need to develop assessment, diagnostic and early intervention provision. Incremental increases were halted after this initial year, leaving services devoid of development money for the next few years.

2003 – 2006

• Autism N.I’s lobby to promote the development of early intervention services continued with the securing of funding to develop a practical early years home learning resource – Rainbow Resource Kit. The project has produced a training package and resource books and materials. These can be accessed through Autism N.I Training Department. (Research Report: Connecting with Autism (CWA), University of Ulster, 2006).

2004 – 2008

• Autism N.I developed a partnership with WHSSB to pilot and provide an Early Intervention Service funded by The Children’s Fund (N.I Executive Funds). This service has been evaluated by the University of Ulster Health Services Team led by Prof. Roy McConkey who led earlier evaluation of “Keyhole” and Rainbow Resource Kit Project. He was also involved in the N.I Diagnostic Scoping Study of 1998/99.

2004

• Dr. Lorna Wing and Dr. Judith Gould were our official guests at the opening of the Autism N.I Offices at Donard. The premises contain a training suite to enable the charity to further develop this core service.

2005

• Autism N.I was recognised by the House of Commons as N. Ireland’s National Autism Society. (Early Day Motion 467)
• The NI Children’s Commissioner (the late Nigel Williams) commends the role of Autism NI

2005 – 2007

• These are the years of developing and maintaining partnerships, e.g.
  • Autism Cymru and Autism N.I launched their political lobbing partnership for U.K legislation for Autism and produced the first political lobby report for ASD in the U.K. “Government and Autism: Opportunities and Solutions.
  • SPEAC (ABA education provider) joined this political lobby.
  • NIPPA – The Early Years Organisation joined the lobby.
  • Autism Initiatives and Autism N.I signed a formal partnership agreement aimed at promoting positive co-operation and quality provision.
  • NIPPA [The Early Year’s Organisation], Barnardos and Autism N.I are partners in the promotion and delivery of Keyhole Early Years Training Programme launched by Lord Rooker (Children’s Minister) in April 2006.
  • “Employment for Autism” is an E.U funded project led by The Orchardville Society. Autism N.I is a partner agency.
  • Dept of Education’s evaluation of Early Intervention services was carried out by University of Ulster and Autism N.I .
  • Young people with Asperger Syndrome. Research has been initiated by the Children’s Commissioner and was completed by the Birmingham University ASD Research Team. (Autism N.I served on the Steering Group).
  • European Autism Information System (EAIS) and European Autism Alliance [EAA]. Autism Cymru and Autism N.I are collaborating parties in this E.U funded project to effect standardisation of the definition of Autism across Europe and to establish a professional Autism Lobby.
  • Parent contact service with SHSSB following on from their Children with Autism Strategy 2005 recommendations.
  • WHSSB Autism Strategy 2006/07. The decision to develop this strategic approach to Autism development was prompted by a sustained lobby from Autism N.I culminating in the securing of Speaking Rights at the Executive Board (WHSSB) Autism was introduced as one of the Board’s 15 key priorities.
  • DHSSPS commissioned “NI ASD Training Strategy” Study (UU/Autism NI) 2007.

Our Finest Hour?

At the March 2006 Whitehall Launch of the Autism Cymru/Autism NI partnership and the publication of the “Government and Autism” document, the Secretary of State (The Rt Hon Peter Hain) listened to Autism NI and:

• Overturned the Bamford recommendation that the “organisational responsibility for Autism” should sit within the Mental Health Programme of Care.
• Requested a meeting with Autism NI to understand the status and progress the profile of Autism within N Ireland.

We have successfully defended Autism from the ill informed retrograde designation of Autism in N Ireland as a “mental illness” instead of a developmental neurological disability!

We are grateful to all our parent and professional and political partners who combined to achieve this following two years of consistent and accelerating lobbying.

We need each other still. We stopped “Autism provision in Northern Ireland” going into reverse. Now we must refocus and continue our campaign for social justice as we strive for equality.

2007: The Lead up to ASD Legislation January

• The Northern Ireland Transitional Assembly Debate – unanimous support for the Northern Ireland Autism Act.
• The Welsh Assembly Launch of the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership (Autism Cymru/Autism NI/Scottish Society for Autism)

June

• The Northern Ireland Assembly Launch of the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership (Autism Cymru/Autism NI/Scottish Society for Autism/Irish Society for Autism).

September

• Northern Ireland Assembly ASD fact-finding delegation to Washington
• Autism NI witness historic documents Signed & Hilary Clinton endorses links.

October

• “Walk for Autism” to Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast.

2007 – Future Services to meet growing need?

• The future is inevitably committed to political action aimed at securing the necessary resources to effect quality service development at local level.
• The future must include the development of Autism N.I’s capacity to meet local need, primarily through its family support and specialist training services, in partnership with relevant agencies.
• The future will therefore include a higher profile for the organisation as we position ourselves credibly to represent the real opportunities and solutions that are possible if we achieve our three key lobby aims :-
  • An ASD Programme of Care
  • A Northern Ireland ASD Strategy
  • A Northern Ireland Autism Act

2008-2009

• Family Support – After 20 years of providing a voluntary service, Health & Social Care Trusts agreed Service Level Agreements with Autism NI to provide a Community Development based Family Support Service linked to Statutory Transition Teams.
• Training Department – Criminal Justice System, Social Health & Social & Life Skills have been added to team provision. Accreditation of courses by AQA progresses. E-Learning Module on Autism in Partnership with University of Ulster has been established and is underway.
• Research.
  1. Family Support - 2 Research Projects were commissioned. The first is a review of Autism NI’s provision and the second is original research regarding the traumatic impact of Autism.
  2. Social & Life Skills Project.
  3. Health Awareness.
• Fundraising – Programme of Treks at home (Ben Nevis) and abroad (China) were launched alongside a series of Cuppa Aid events (Lobbying Funds) and non-uniform days.
• Lobby – Autism NI provides the Secretariat to the All Party Assembly Group on Autism (Established January 2008).

March 2009 - Keith Stands Up for Autism

• March 31^st saw parents, members and friends of the Autism community coming together at the ‘Stand Up for Autism’ rally, organised by Autism NI which was held at Parliament Buildings, Stormont in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day (2^nd April).  It also acted as a platform to call on politicians across the province to recognize the need for Autism-specific legislation in order to protect the rights of the 20,000 people affected by Autism within Northern Ireland.  Amongst those lending their support was members of the our Branches and Support Groups as well as Keith Duffy from Irish pop band, Boyzone.  Read more (Keith Stands up for Autism)

May 2009 - Health Committee Hold Meeting at Autism NI

• The Northern Ireland Assembly saw at first hand the vital work of two local Autism charities, which provide a range of services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.  Read more (Health Committee Hold Meeting at Autism NI) 

October 2009 - Successful Launch of Alert Card

• The Reducing the Risks Conference in October gave the audience and speakers the opportunity to share and disseminate good practice and hear about other work being carried out in relation to this area.  Read more (Successful Launch of Alert Card)

February 2010 - Voyager Award for Autism NI

• Autism NI has won a prestigious Voyager Award in recognition of our leadership role in the area of political impact for social change.  The Voyager Leadership Awards, established by CO₃ (the professional organisation of Chief Officers in the 3^rd Sector) to celebrate excellence in leadership in the Voluntary and Community Sector, were presented at a glittering ceremony on the evening of Thursday 4th February.  Read more (Voyager Award for Autism NI)

April 2010 - Launch of the ‘Hidden Community’

• A report on a model of effective family support ‘Autism in Northern Ireland—A Hidden Community’ was launched in April at the Long Gallery, Stormont.  The report highlighted many positive elements in the model none moreso than its main  building block of having parents in the role of professionals which enables them to use their specialist knowledge and expertise to support other parents and carers.  Read more (Launch of the "Hidden Community")

June 2010 Night at the Museum – Autism NI 20th Anniversary

• Our 20th Anniversary event at the Ulster Museum in June was a night of nostalgia, celebration and entertainment.  We had members of the organisation who were there from the outset, the Laura Millen Award for Speech and Language, the introduction of our new patron and the screening of ‘Mozart and the Whale.’  Read more (Night at the Museum - Autism NI 20th Anniversary)

September 2010 - Launch of study ‘Is Anyone Listening?’

• Autism NI revealed crucial findings from the key research report ‘Is Anyone Listening?’ at the recent launch at the Long gallery at Stormont Buildings.  These findings provide an in-depth insight into the levels of stress and trauma experienced by families supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and also the professionals who work with those families.  Read more (Launch of Study "Is Anyone Listening?")

October 2010 - 20th Anniversary Ball

• The Autism NI 20th Anniversary Ball was held at the La Mon House Hotel on the 8th October.  The Ball had a Black and White theme and was attended by many parents from throughout the 20 years of the organisation’s existence.  We would like to thank all those who attended the event and the many businesses and organisations who attended and provided spot prizes and auction items.