George Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle recently visited Spectrum, a leading provider of specialist care services for people with Autism, learning disabilities, associated conditions & challenging behaviours in Cornwall.
Spectrum provide residential care for adults and children, education and outreach support by engaging with individuals to support them in making decisions about their lives and futures. The charity was formed in the early 1970s, when a group of parents with children diagnosed with autism were very concerned to find that no appropriate education facilities existed for them in Devon and Cornwall. This small group of parents, supported by enthusiastic friends, formed a charity, the Devon and Cornwall Society for Autistic Children.
At the end of the 1970s, they turned their attention to the problem of providing care for their children when they reached adulthood. The name of the charity was changed to the Devon and Cornwall Autistic Society and in 1982, after much hard work fundraising, they purchased an old rectory at St Erme, near Truro.
After initial refurbishment the first care home for adolescents and adults was established. In order to run this service it was decided to form a subsidiary organisation, the Devon and Cornwall Autistic Community Trust, which later became a charity in its own right and which is now known as Spectrum.
Since its incorporation in 1982, the business has grown and now operates 25 residential units, provides education at its own independent specialist education centre and provides training, both internally and externally.
Today the charity is continuing to support autistic adults and children in all the work that they do.
George said, "It was great to meet staff at Spectrum and see the work that they do every day in supporting adults and children who have autism, learning disabilities, associated conditions & challenging behaviours. The work that the staff do in supporting individuals and helping them make decisions about their lives and futures by promoting independence and in a positive and safe environment is truly commendable, and we're lucky to have such a fantastic charity here in Cornwall."
