A GROUP of support workers set up a stall in a bid to increase awareness about autism.

As part of Autism Awareness month in March, workers at the National Autistic Society set up a stall in Shotton job centre to increase awareness about people with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

The National Autistic Society works with people on the autism spectrum and helps them develop valuable life skills, such as getting a job.

Kris Hughes, has Asperger’s syndrome which is a lifelong development ability that affects how he perceives the world and interactions with others and he has always had difficulty finding work.

He started work with the Autism Society after being out of work for several months, as he said employers mistook his nerves for his Asperger’s Syndrome and they could not see past it.

The 26-year-old added: “Finding employment can be a challenging thing for anybody but for someone with Autism this challenge can be amplified.

“After being knocked back time and time again over a number of years, this made me really unhappy and I just felt completely worthless.

“Even when employers have given me an opportunity, I have felt that the working environments I’ve been in were not very supportive of someone with autism, meaning I felt anxieties every time I went to work.”

The Autism Society offered Kris a job and have since helped him gain more confidence in everyday life.

The society runs residential, supported living, community day hubs, social groups and employment services.

As well as a stall, they had a cake sale and a bake off amongst their staff, of which Kris won.

Dawn Hughes, support worker, said the event was very successful.

She added: “We wanted to show that people with autism and Aspergers can still get into work but we also wanted to show people how to work with people with autism.

“It went very well, all the new people we chatted to it went really well.

“It was a successful day and we have plans to do it all again in other areas.

“On a daily basis we help people with autism and Aspergers do things in society that people take for granted, such as going to the pub.”

For more information about the National Autistic Society, call Maria Cross, team leader on 01352744056.