What a brilliant day REACH for Change had yesterday at the Scottish Crime Campus performing a scene from their play that focuses on how an autistic person could become a part of the criminal system without ever having committed a crime. Fantastic partnership working with Police Scotland and a HUGE thanks to our friends there Chief Inspector Elliot Brown, Officers Hazel Dale and Kirsty Boyd (who are part of the official play - Oscar worthy performers😀)and Officer Stephanie Rose who not only coordinated the day but stood in last minute to take on Officer Dale’s role and did a grand job! They helped to create an amazing opportunity for the youth and are pivotal in trying to move towards a police force and criminal justice system who “consider autism”. We were delighted to meet individuals from Scottish Prison service, Children’s Reporter. Scottish Courts service and many more all of whom want to change things and meet the needs of the autistic people they come into contact with. A truly invigorating and inspiring day and we’re excited to see what the future brings with our partnership work. Thank you all! To purchase tickets for the full performance on 27th April at The Beacon Theatre Greenock 1pm and 7pm see below https://uk.patronbase.com/_BeaconArtsCentre/Productions/2A0/Performances

Here’s a few words from the lovely Janis who is a special guest star in our play. She is so brave for putting herself out there and we love sharing this experience with her! To buy tickets https://uk.patronbase.com/_BeaconArtsCentre/Productions/2A0/Performances

Our next adult social evening is Friday 20th April from 7-9pm. We hope you can join us for some fun and a chance to relax. There will be a small charge of £3 to help cover our costs. There will be pool, air hockey and darts as well as the chance to use the art studio, music room and sensory room. Carers are welcome to come along and have a cuppa in the cafe. We look forward to seeing you 😊 You don’t need a diagnosis to come along. You’ll be made very welcome.

We still have some tickets left. This will be a great night out whilst helping raise some much needed funds 😊 Comment below or pm if you’re interested.

REACH for Change in FOURTH PLACE!!!! Last 24hrs to vote for REACH for Change in the #epicawards 2018. Please get behind these amazing local young people and help them spread their message about autism! https://www.voluntaryarts.org/epic-awards-reach-for-change

Shared from Waterfront Cinema. Thank you to everyone who came along to our Fun Film Club! We hope you all enjoyed watching the Disney classic 'Pinocchio'😊 Join us next week to see the highly popular new movie 'Peter Rabbit' at the same times of 11:00am for our regular screening and 11:30am for our Autism Friendly screening. Tickets are priced at only £2.50 per person!!🎉 We do anticipate this particular screening to be busy so we advise that you book in advance in order to avoid any disappointment AND skip the queues! To book now go to www.waterfrontcinema.co.uk https://youtu.be/mYxx3aXzDdg

The Autism friendly film club movie this week is Pinocchio, showing at 11.30am tomorrow costing £2.50 per person. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bumzQMHQUgc

Celebrating Autism Awareness Month through sharing the experiences of autistic individuals and their families. Today we highlight "Beyond Expectations" by William Rice, a wonderful man who in spite of great challenges and traumas throughout his life, still manages to engage , uplift and inspire us. William wants this short story to give you hope for the future and help us realise that no one truly knows what another is capable of and we should never place limits on anyone. Enjoy!! Beyond Expectations On Saturday 6th December 1997 I made my first public speech, at the Renfrewshire Autism and Asperger Syndrome Group conference in Paisley, to an audience, of two hundred. I would go on to make a further eleven speeches in the following twenty one months. I spoke about being diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome on November 1996, less than three weeks after my twenty fifth birthday. I was to learn that I had actually been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in July 1995 but had not been told about it at the time. The diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome explained all of the difficulties that I had endured during the previous twenty five years. In January 1997 I started to attend the Psychiatric unit at Inverclyde Royal Hospital as a day patient. The aim of being there was to get me out and about. I had no friends and only spoke to my parents on a daily basis. Two months after I began attending the hospital, I had a conversation late one afternoon with Anne who was one of the nurses. I had never even come close to having a girlfriend, which hurt immensely every moment of every day and night. Anne said that at twenty five I had plenty of time for that. I replied that I didn’t think I had. When asked why I felt that way my answer was “My very limited diet”. Fresh white rolls and wholemeal bread each day with mixed fruit jam, plus biscuits, chocolates, crisps and water. The day that I started school I knew that the “phase” my G.P kept telling my parents I would grow out of was no “phase”. Despite repeated attempts to expand my very limited diet, my extremely sensitive tongue could only tolerate a small selection of foods. On the rare occasion that something new made it beyond my tongue I would start vomiting. My parents thought that this was deliberate. It wasn’t. I was as terrified as my parents, regarding how long I would live for, but I could never tell them. It is very difficult being an eight year old when you are worrying that you might not be around for your sixteenth birthday. Anne made a referral for me to speak to a dietitian. The outcome was a large multi-vitamin tablet that I have taken every day since April 1997. That conversation with Anne is the most important one I have ever had and it is almost certainly the reason I’m still here. It is a conversation that would not have happened if I had not been told about being diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. In June 2000 my dad died very suddenly and I started my first paid job with the Co Operative Insurance Society in an administrative position. In November 2000 my sister died also very suddenly. In November 2001 I began my second paid job with Barclays Bank. Within four weeks of this the uncle I was closest to had died and my mum was lying barely alive in a hospital bed and in a permanent state of severe disability following a massive stroke. In October 2006 two days before my thirty fifth birthday my mum died in hospital. I had never been in a relationship and now my dad, sister and mum had all died. I was now completely on my own. A few weeks earlier in September 2006 a stunning siren crossed my path (Margaret) whilst I was undertaking voluntary work in the P.D.S.A charity shop. In June 2007 four months after I had asked Margaret out, immediately telling her about my very limited diet and my Asperger Syndrome, I asked Margaret if she would do the honour of being my wife and allowing me the great gift of being her husband. On the first of November 2017 I celebrated my forty sixth birthday with Margaret my wonderful fiancée of ten years, despite receiving a copy of my medical notes in 2000 which contained a report from one of my social workers saying in clear blunt terms that I would never have a girlfriend because of my Asperger Syndrome. Margaret is so amazing. She has given me someone to love in every way for the person they are. Just as Margaret loves me in every way for the person I am. Margaret really is the greatest most wonderful precious gift ever to happen to me the brightest light of all. In April 2015 I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. Two months later I had emergency surgery on a hernia during which 25cm (10 inches) of inflamed bowel went into the hernia which was an unexpected complication. As my senses are all extremely sensitive, I have had to overcome my immense fear of needles. My Crohn’s medication requires me to have blood tests on a regular basis and I also have some of my medication given through an intravenous infusion every eight weeks. During 2017 I had cataract surgery on both eyes, a consequence of sixteen months of steroid medication for the Crohn’s. I know that Margaret joins me in our heartfelt thanks for all the immense support that everyone at REACH for Autism have given both of us and for making both of us feel welcome. The help and support really has been a lifeline and we cannot thank all of you enough. Since the sunrise on Saturday 6th December 1997 the things I have done and the challenges that I have overcome, really have been Beyond Expectations. William Rice March 2018 Inverclyde, Scotland

We’re delighted to announce that the amazing Bobby Spears will be joining Mattie and friends to entertain us. He has played with lots of big names in the music industry! Tickets are available from Reach. Comment below or pm if you would like any tickets. Thank you Mattie Collins for once again supporting us by arranging this fundraiser. We hope you can come along. It’s going to be a great.