About DAAS
Our Aims & Objectives
To support adults with Asperger’s syndrome and their carers, families, friends and supporters in the Dorset area by:
- Sharing the experience of living with Asperger’s syndrome from all perspectives.
- Providing and researching information, advice, and assistance.
- Identifying and highlighting gaps in service provision and campaigning for positive action for change.
- Co-operating with other agencies and developing partnership working to promote understanding and the development of appropriate interventions.
- Listening to, encouraging and supporting people with Asperger’s Syndrome and, in particular, their carers
- Raising awareness of the condition in the wider community to promote better understanding and acceptance.
- Taking part in the consultative process with public and statutory bodies to improve access to help and support and to facilitate independent living.
- Providing a collective and representative voice to influence positive change towards the achievement of fulfilling and rewarding lives.
- Raising funds to help to achieve these objectives and to support the efforts and activities of the volunteers in running the group and realising the aims.
We regularly review our aims and objectives and welcome input and discussion from our regular supporters
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A Brief History
- 2007 an Asperger Syndrome Conference was held at the Lighthouse in Poole where many carers realised “we are not alone”
- 2008 John Downing arranged monthly meetings in which carers and the adults with Asperger’s Syndrome shared their experiences of lack of support
- 2009 With money from Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust we went Pan Dorset collecting more and more carers and cared for who needed support
- In late 2008 DAAS was set up as a Not for Profit Company
- 2009 Monthly meetings were extended to two locations, Dorchester and Bournemouth/Poole
- 2010 A new Community Adult Asperger Service (CAAS) was set up to cover Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset and DAAS was invited to take part in the quarterly consultation process to monitor progress and identify needs. The first consultation meetings were held in July 2010.
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Who We Are
DAAS currently has 4 Volunteer Directors who run the organisation on a daily basis (on a shoestring) We are without a Chairman for the moment since the first, and so far only, person to hold the post, Will Coussell, resigned in Autumn 2010 after working hard to establish the group on a sound footing.
Our Current Voluntary Directors are
Brian Cox (Acting Chairman and Treasurer)
I am a carer. My daughter was eventually diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2007 when she was 29. Having a diagnosis, although late in the day, was helpful for both her, and my wife and I. However, it soon became apparent that although there was a lot of information about the condition itself, there appeared to be very little practical help or support for her, as an adult. Our family were really concerned that when we were no longer around, would she be able to maintain her independence, or know who to turn to, locally, for help if she had a major problem? It was with that in mind that myself and a few like minded carers set up the Dorset Adult Asperger’s Support Group (DAAS) in order to share knowledge about what support was available and raise awareness about the condition and its challenges.
Pat Cave (Joint Secretary)
My involvement with DAAS came about as I have an adult son with the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. I have been involved with the group for the past 2 years, during which time I have been Voluntary Director and Secretary.
Martin Hedley
I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 34 after a life long history of depression, anxiety and panic attacks. The diagnosis changed my life and led to me choosing to turn away from under achievement, follow my love of music performance and composition and gain a BA and MA. Since then my life has been transformed. With effective support I am able to become active and involved in issues I feel passionate about and, amongst other things, this includes my work with DAAS and my participation in AS related consultations and strategy development work with local government and NHS organisations.
Diane Waters (Joint Secretary)
I "discovered" Asperger's in 2006 when I became closely involved in the life of my cousin who was diagnosed with AS 20 years ago. In supporting him I realised the widespread need for better services, greater awareness and clearer, more accessible information about the condition. I was able to bring skills and knowledge gained in my working life to the tasks of helping him deal with problems of complex bureaucracy and a dearth of practical help and advice. I realised these same attributes could also help others and I became a Voluntary Director of DAAS in 2010 and act as Joint Secretary.
In April 2011 DAAS became a membership organisation and we started the process of inviting applications for membership. We hope that having a dedicated membership will provide stability and commitment for the organisation and will help us move forward towards achieving our goals for the future. Details about membership and an application form can be found elsewhere on this website. Membership Introduction and Membership Form
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2011 Plans and Priorities
The passing of the Autism Act in 2010 and the development of new guidelines for local authorities and the NHS provide challenges and opportunities for significant improvements to be made in the way services are delivered.
The introduction of CAAS in Bournemouth, Poole & East Dorset has been a positive step forward but we now need to address more fully the issue of what happens to all those who are diagnosed? What support is available to help those with Asperger’s Syndrome to live independent and fulfilling lives and to relieve carers of the worry about what will happen to their loved ones in future years? We want to work towards:
- Sharing of good practice amongst health professionals, including GP Practices, on how to support those diagnosed
- Encouraging consistent levels of support in Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset
- Identifying and campaigning for the development of appropriate opportunities so that those with Asperger’s Syndrome can begin to lead independent lives
- Sharing of good practice and better information and understanding amongst all services to reduce the risk of provocation in challenging situations
We consistently find that Social Services, despite commitment, have little funding to provide the help that is needed. Needs Assessments can be unsatisfactory and can fail to recognise or provide additional support. We would like to see:
- A pan Dorset web site to let Carers know whom to contact on specific issues – housing, employment etc
- Specialist help available to provide support in a crisis
- Targeted training to enable Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome to be able to lead independent lives, gain productive employment and to develop or improve their communication and social coping skills
We believe that people with Asperger’s Syndrome have many positive qualities, attributes and skills and have much to offer to their communities, to society and to their families and friends. We want to celebrate the differences which spring from thinking in a different way, recognise the challenges which are frequently met with courage and perseverance, and raise awareness of the benefits of an all-inclusive society which can better appreciate and understand this perplexing and multi-faceted condition.
If you can identify with what we are trying to achieve, or if you need support in your own situation as a carer or as a person with Asperger’s Syndrome, we invite you to contact us and join us in our meetings and our endeavours.
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