Fermanagh Branch
Fermanagh Branch is an active group with the emphasis on the needs of families living in the county.
The Branch meets twice a month, on the 1st Monday in the morning and on the 3rd Tuesday in the evening, in the Clinton Centre, Enniskillen.
The meetings are a mix of chat, advice and information, everyone is welcome. We regularly have grandparents and babies at our meetings. The group organise monthly activities for the children, with the whole family attending. These are a chance for the children to make new friends and parents to gain support from other parents.
The group is also very involved with the society campaign for Legislation to protect the future of our young people and families, and was instrumental in the formulation of the Western Strategy for Autism. The Branch also have very strong links with local schools, health professionals statutory and voluntary agencies thus ensuring that Autism NI (PAPA) Fermanagh continues to grow and support families affected by ASD in the West of the region.
What’s happening way out WEST?
Hi from the Wild West, lots to tell, we recently held a Champagne reception and screening of ‘Mozart and the Whale’ a film starring the gorgeous Josh Hartnett as Jerry Newport. The film depicts Jerry’s life with his wife Mary and their struggle to
Deal with the intricacies of relationships whilst having Asperger’s Syndrome. It is a fantastic film and was well received by those present.
The event didn’t go without a hitch even though I (Celina) and our Treasurer Ruth Watson worked tirelessly to make sure it was a good night. At the last hour we discovered that the DVD of the film would not play on our equipment because it was from Australia. Little did it occur to me when I purchased the film from EBay that Australia had a different system to ours, after much head scratching and a few rude words we managed to run it via a Laptop computer. So let that be a lesson to you all, check where things are coming from when you shop on line!
Our gorgeous Lord Maginnis came to support us and we even roped him in to be our auctioneer, things were not all glamorous because I ended up getting changed in the toilet of the theatre in the dark as I could not find the light switch, but it was fun and we made many good contacts for future events.
We have also won two awards for our services locally from the Fermanagh Rural Community Network this month, it’s nice to be appreciated. And we have been nominated for another award with The Nationwide Building Society, so I will keep you posted as to how we do. I’ve also included a poem by one of our mums, her son has Aspergers:
I am in the middle of a crowd, yet I am all alone,
Why do I feel as if I am on my own?
I look at the many faces around me,
And try to figure out
What exactly it is they are talking about.
I want to join in and laugh with them,
I want to share in their jokes and be a friend.
This world is a confusing place to be,
So many faces and sounds seem to surround me.
I’ve so much to offer this world,
Just you wait,
There could be something out there that I’ll create.
But most of all, I have so much love to give
It’s in my smile and my thoughts,
Just look at how much happiness I have brought.
By Sophina Whitely
