Advice event for autism families

Parents of children with autism or learning disabilities are to be given advice in dealing with their child's transition to adulthood at a talk.

The charity event, backed by Bracknell Forest Council in Berkshire, is aimed at ensuring families are aware of what support is available in the borough.

Autistic adults often need individual support across health, social care, housing, education and employment.

The event will be held at Easthampstead Baptist Church next month.

'Invaluable opportunity'

It has been organised by the charity, Dimensions, which currently supports 2,000 people aged between 14 and 25, with a broad range of learning difficulties.

Kate Jackson, from Dimensions, said: "This is an invaluable opportunity for parents, who often feel that they are out there on their own.

"Many are not sure what options are available to their children once they have left school and are moving into adulthood - a period often referred to as 'transition'."

There are about 400,000 adults in the country with the autism, split evenly between those with a learning disability, sometimes known as low-functioning, and those without one, known as high-functioning.