We are a group of parents, carers, friends and family campaigning in support of the Autism Outreach Team connected to Gay Elms Autism Resource Base in Bristol. Gay Elms is amalgamating with Merchants Academy in Bristol and while the school itself is not affected, the Outreach Team are not going to be operating from September 2012.

The Outreach Team are presently Local Authority funded and are a vital liasion between mainstream schools, Autism Resource Bases, Local Authorities and most importantly FAMILIES of children with Autism or on the Autistic Spectrum. Gaining the correct support and education for your child is VITAL for those children with ASD.

The Outreach Team help in so many ways - here are just a few

• Assist ASD children in mainstream settings, helping teaching staff in those settings
• Give strategies to those teachers, enabling them to cope better with ASD behaviour
  
• Provide vital parent-school communication
• Guide and assist parents with SEN Statements and Benefits
• Are just THERE at the end of the phone to answer any worries you have

By removing the Autism Outreach Team many ASD effected families, those already with a diagnosis and those who are waiting and those who as yet do not know their child is on the ASD Spectrum are going to lose a vital link and support network.

Please add your name to the petition so that the parents' (and childrens') voices can be heard!