Could autie-friendly brass band concerts catch on? If you pop in to your local supermarket or discount store, some chain stores have what is known as an ‘Autism Hour’. Each Saturday from 9am to 10am, your local Morrisons store turns off the background music. The lighting is toned down to avoid sensory overload triggers. Some…
Category: Autism Spectrum Conditions
Tameside’s Autism Hour, 05 – 12 October 2019: Ashton Review of Shops Extra
Which Tameside shops are taking part in the National Autistic Society’s Autism Hour? If you have an autism spectrum condition, a trip to the shops can be a daunting prospect. One issue could be the bright lights, another could be the background noise. In a supermarket, even the sheer variety of items can be overloading….
The Return of Pablo: Series Two Starts Next Week
How the second series of Pablo will make thinking differently cool again Was it really two years ago when Pablo hit the screens? On the 01 October, Paper Owl Films‘ and Kavaleer Productions‘ part-animated part-live action series broke new ground when it was aired on CBeebies and RTEjr. It is the first television series to…
On The Road With Ewing School: Midweek Minibus Trips
A look at the weekly environmental excursions that were part and parcel of life at Ewing School in the 1980s With the start of a fresh school year and an online reunion with a former fellow pupil, I too have ‘returned to school’ with this post.
Around the Houses: A Look at My Co-Written Pablo Episode
Or: can you get a bus from Station Road to Market Street via Dizzy Heights and Dangerous Corner? In October 2017, yours truly wrote about the start of a new series entitled Pablo. It is a part-animated and part-live action children’s television series by CBeebies and RTEJr. One that I have had the joy of…
Pablo: A Look at CBeebies’ and RTEJr’s Autie-Friendly Animation
Why Pablo draws upon the experience of people with autism spectrum conditions Before I start this entry, I would like to declare an interest. Over the last year, the creator of this blog has been involved in the production of CBeebies’ and RTEJr’s exciting new children’s television series. Entitled Pablo, it is a groundbreaking new…
Sleepless Near Settle: Sleeplessness And My Childhood
Or: Why the creator of this blog is very much a night person You will be wondering “why on Earth is The Chase’s Ann Hegerty in an East of the M60 article?” Well, the story behind this picture takes us to December 2014. After meeting her with (Tremendous Knowledge) David Rainford at The Water House in Manchester…
Christmas Comes Early for Oldham Mother
Stagecoach Manchester awards carer announced as Greater Manchester’s Unsung Hero Here’s a nice Christmas story for you regarding a charitable Oldhamer. That of full time carer, Marie Carslaw. In a Stagecoach Manchester competition, she has been announced as the region’s unsung hero.
The Autie Friendly Guide to Booking Taxis
From booking to boarding and tipping drivers A useful primer on the joys of using minicabs and taxis for people with Autism Spectrum Conditions If you’re the proud owner of a concessionary pass of some description, there’s every chance you’ll find it useful for accessing local services or your nearest shop. As part of any…
From Grey-Green to Party Scene: Ashton Lad Turns Leyland Lynx to Fun Bus
Late-1980s vehicle converted to mobile playroom When I was young, I quite fancied having a Leyland Atlantean outside my front door, so long as it was a GMT standard. The nearest I got was a collection of models, which takes up far less room. Probably a good thing because it would have rusted till I got my…
