SUPPORTING people with autism in taking ownership of their own life and future is the goal of a Belfast-based charity whose philosophy is to celebrate the qualities of each individual.
Founded in the early 1970s in Liverpool, Autism Initiatives has been established in Northern Ireland since 2002.
"We are very much about creating and promoting independence. Being person-centred means we understand that every person with autism is unique, and that their autism impacts on them differently. It's about tailoring the services around the person rather than tailoring the person around what programmes we have," says Alexa Brown of Autism Initiatives Northern Ireland.
Now enjoying life and learning to live with autism, 24-year-old Noeline McLucas began her partnership with Autism Initiatives by living in their supported houses in Lisburn – one of a number of 'community living' options the charity offers. She had a work placement with the charity’s previous social enterprise Chocolate Memories. Since then Autism Initiatives has supported Noeline to live independently in her own flat.
Now she is proud of the fact she is no longer a service user but an employee of Autism Initiatives – working two days a week as an assistant administration officer at the charity’s Belfast headquarters. The charity describes her as the epitome of what it does – truly supporting people with autism to live independent lives.
Noeline found independent living both challenging and liberating: "It was great that I didn't have to be a stickler to time and coming home late didn't matter."
The charity helped her develop independent living skills: "We talked through managing finances and looking after the house, but also looking after yourself and supporting you in what you wanted to do," Noeline recalls, though she admits that she still isn't keen on hoovering.
The support she received even extended to freestyle wrestling classes – "I just felt like trying it at the time," said Noeline, who ended up winning a silver medal in the Irish championships.
Having entered the care system as a teenager, Noeline didn't get an autism-spectrum diagnosis until her late teens after being referred a staff member in the children's home she was living in.
She admits that due to her lack of social skills, school life was difficult at time: "I just wasn't very good at it. However, English was more my strong point."
Embracing her autism, she writes poetry and is a massive gamer, in particular fan-fiction games – she has already booked a week's annual leave next February to coincide with the release of 'Persona 5' – her dream being "to work for the games industry writing scripts for urban fantasy games".
Her other big interest is origami – during our interview she shows me a beautiful paper swan, which she describes as “the pinnacle” of her origami so far. It is made using 60 pieces of paper – representing the 60 times in a week she needed to distract herself in order to regulate her thinking.
Noeline's work with Autism Initiatives includes visiting current service users and she was influential in the development and design direction of the organisation's forthcoming website.
"I advised on the need for it to be more visual and icon driven. Even if you're not on the spectrum, who wants to go through boring backgrounds and walls of text?"
She has also introduced Hues and Shades, a monthly social group for adults on the autism spectrum who identify as LGBT.
Supported by LGBT organisation the Rainbow Project and Belfast music and arts venue the Black Box, this peer-support group for adults is an opportunity to meet up and chat, increase confidence and make friendships in a social setting that has been tweaked to meet the needs of people with autism – small crowds and no background music or distractions.
"The staff here were very understanding when I ‘came out’ about my own sexuality but I noticed there was a lack of support available for those with an autism-spectrum condition who were questioning as well as for those who wanted social opportunities," Noeline says.
While exploring sexuality is different for every young person, it can be especially challenging for those with an autism due to their difficulties processing feelings and emotions.
"That's why I also wanted to make it clear we welcome anyone who is experiencing confusion about their sexuality and gender as well," Noeline adds.
She is now back in contact with her parents, who have told her that they are proud of what she has achieved. Her advice to other young people with an autism spectrum condition who are worried about the future is: “Go at your own pace and celebrate those small little victories that are steps towards your independence."
:: For further information on the services offered by Autism Initiatives, including early intervention support services for families and social skills workshops for children with autism visit autisminitiatives.org.
