Card scheme to put autistic people beyond suspicion

CHRIS Hunter is autistic. He is not a criminal, yet he is regularly stopped by police.

Speaking to strangers is difficult, even traumatic for Mr Hunter, but his evasiveness often brings him to the attention of officers who suspect him of criminal intent.

He is not alone in this experience - now so commonplace a special identification card has been launched by Strathclyde Police, enabling autistic people easily to explain their behaviour when stopped.

It is just another hurdle, exposed in a series of articles by The Scotsman, faced by the growing numbers of people diagnosed with the condition.

Mr Hunter, 21, from Govan in Glasgow, said: "The police stop me and ask me if I am on drugs or if I have been drinking, because they think I walk past people funny.

"I just tell them I've been playing on my computer for too long and needed to get some fresh air. It's very frustrating."

His mother, Ann, said: "He spends a lot of time on his computer so he likes to go out about 10pm for a walk around the block. They ask him where he's going and what he's got in his pockets.

"He comes in raging that he's the only person in the street who gets stopped."

Mr Hunter believes the identification card issued by Strathclyde Police would help him explain to officers, who are trained to make eye contact, that many people with autism dislike direct gaze and can feel stressed or threatened by strangers.

People with more severe autism may be unable to respond verbally and can become noisy or agitated if asked to deviate from their regular routine.

To counteract the problem Mr Hunter has been improving his communication skills through a social group organised by the National Autistic Society Scotland (NAS).

The group has become his lifeline to the world after a major setback when he was forced to drop out of college because lecturers suspected he might be autistic.

He said: "I loved doing economics and I felt angry and frustrated because they could have discovered my autism at high school or primary school, not in the middle of a course."

The blow saw him retreat into himself, shunning social situations and rarely leaving home.

He said: "I liked the computer and watching DVDs and that was it. But in the group I have friends I can talk to. They are the same as me and they understand what I am going through.

"Other people say they know but they just don't understand - I find that very frustrating.

"Now, I can actually talk to other people, although it is still quite hard."

The group of under-30s meet monthly for activities such as pool, speed-boat trips, visits to a climbing wall or meals out.

Mr Hunter said: "I enjoy it. I think it is important because I have got more confidence and I can talk to a lot more people."

He has a groundskeeping job at a hotel in Renfrew but would like to return to study.

He said: "Eventually, yes, but the social group is very important because I can go out and have a life instead of being stuck in the house twiddling my thumbs."

Sandra Buckley , social programmes manager for the National Autistic Society Scotland, said: "I cannot believe how different this boy is.

"When I met him 18 months ago he wouldn't make eye contact, and he certainly wouldn't chat with you. It has given him confidence."

His mother added: "He's gone from being a wee quiet boy to going out and talking to people. I just wish the group was more often than once a month."

The social programme has been running for two years and has groups in Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Ms Buckley said: "Social groups are for people over the age of 16 who have high- functioning autism or Asperger syndrome, or those currently seeking a diagnosis. Membership is free but they are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.

"It can be a lifeline for many people as it can be their only social interaction each month.

"The social group can be their first step to gaining independence - it gives them confidence, helps them develop independent travel skills, and creates chances to get out and socialise.

"It also gives parents a chance to relax."

She supports the identification card and hopes other forces will follow Strathclyde's lead.

She said: "I would be happy to talk to any police force.

"People with autism are seven times more likely to come into contact with the criminal justice system as a witness or a suspect because they are seen to be acting differently.

"I encourage all my members to have these identification cards so if they cannot explain how they feel, they can show the cards."

The NAS launched a campaign this week urging people to "think differently" about autism and to raise £7 million in five years to enable them to continue to support people with autism.

Just £39 could pay for someone like Mr Hunter to be part of a social group for a year, which may be their only social interaction from month to month.

All the money raised by Scotsman readers will help fund NAS Scotland services and programmes such as this one.

Log on to www.justgiving .com/scotsmanthinkdifferently and make a donation, to help make a positive difference to even more people living with autism.

Study pinpoints police problem

RESEARCH in the United States found that people on the autistic spectrum were seven times more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system.

The report created by the US Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services discovered lack of awareness often caused police officers to mistake as impudence autistic traits such as echolalia - the need to repeat a question to understand it.

Similar extensive research has yet to be conducted in the UK but police and autism charities believe suffers often become victims of crime because of their lack of social awareness.

They can also become innocent suspects because their unusual behaviour, such as an inability to understand indirect questions and unwillingness to make eye-contact, which can be misconstrued as suspicious.

To tackle the problem, police in Strathclyde created training materials for all officers, and worked with the National Autistic Society Scotland (NAS) offering identification cards people can show to explain their behaviour if they are stopped .

Councillor Paul Rooney, Convener of the Strathclyde Joint Police Board, said: "It is a sad fact that people with autism deal with the police more often than the rest of the public.

"But through the availability of the alert card and greater awareness among police officers we help can minimise any upset and difficulty they may experience."

Inspector Roddy Newbigging works in the criminal justice unit at Strathclyde Police.

He served on an autism working group created with NAS Scotland in Glasgow to tackle the growing problem. He said that with an estimated one in 100 people in Scotland being autistic, he expects they will increasingly come more to the attention of officers.

He said: "If people exhibit unusual behaviour it is likely that someone with autistic spectrum disorder would attract attention to themselves or become a victim," Insp Newbigging said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

YOU can help the National Autistic Society with its bid to raise £7 million in five years.

Why not challenge yourself to raise £1,000? You can raise it however you wish, perhaps with sponsored events, jumble sales or car boot sales, and there's no time limit. Sign up as an individual or with a group of friends and help NAS Scotland to support even more people living with autism.

The charity is appealing specifically to The Scotsman readers for their help.

As well as raising money yourself, you can sign up to a petition calling on the government to act.

Just £1,000 could allow NAS Scotland to train a volunteer with the Advocacy for Education Service, on education law, rights and entitlements.

That person could offer four hours of support to parents each week, helping to empower them to obtain the best education for their child.

All the money raised by readers of The Scotsman will help fund such NAS Scotland services and programmes.

If you make a donation, you know that your help will make a positive difference to even more people living with autism.