A VALUABLE self help group is providing a much needed voice for Tavistock women with a social communicative disorder.

Formed in 2013, TAD AS — Tavistock and District Asperger's Support Group — aims to raise awareness of the needs of adults with Asberger's Syndrome (AS).

The group runs a monthly small friendly group called WAVE, Women With Asperger's Voice Exchange, at different locations in West Devon for coffee and a chat, run by Wendy West.

Wendy wanted to establish a local group to help people over the age of 18 who may need help and advice on Asperger's.

She said: 'There are many adults who have not had a diagnosis.

'Children are now getting referred for possible diagnosis, but many people in their 20s or older were not picked up as children or they were told incorrect information.

'There are many adults struggling with everyday life who are not getting the diagnosis they need to understand themselves, also there is a specific problem for diagnosis of women.'

Creating a safe environment and enjoyable experience for the group is a major priority for Wendy.

She knows how difficult it can be for people living with Asperger's and wants to make sure there is always someone available to answer anyone's questions or concerns, whether it's to do with them personally or a family member.

Asperger's Syndrome is a form of autism, which is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people.

Autism is often described as a 'spectrum disorder' because the condition affects people in many different ways and to varying degrees.

The syndrome is mostly a 'hidden disability', which means that most people can not tell if someone has the condition from their outward appearance.

All people with the condition have difficulties in three main areas — social communication, social interaction and social imagination.

One person with AS described difficulty with social communication as 'understanding conversation is like trying to understand a foreign language'.

They could have difficulty understanding gestures, facial expressions and being very literal in what they say and not understand jokes.

Difficulty with social interaction could be struggling to make and maintain friendships, finding people confusing, becoming withdrawn and appearing uninterested in other people.

With social imagination, people with AS can find it hard to understand or interpret other people's thoughts, feelings or actions and have a limited range of imaginative activities.

Many people with AS also have sensory issues — over and/or under sensitive reactions to the world around them.

This has only recently started to be recognised, even though it can cause many problems with everyday life.

More than half a million people in the UK have an autism spectrum disorder — around one in 100 — and it appears to be more common in men than women, for reasons which are still unknown.

Wendy's main aim is to raise the awareness of Asperger's Syndrome and the TAD AS Group, and of WAVE.

Wendy said: 'Many women with AS struggle for years before getting a diagnosis.

'Support and understanding is so important that a local self help group for women with AS was formed by women with AS and enables us to meet and share our experiences and solutions.

'I am always learning something from the other members and we are all supportive of each other.

'Next year the social group is planning to expand to include men also, as several have shown an interest in joining the group.

'If you are an adult with AS, please contact us.

'Even if you do not want to join our group, we are interested to find out how many of us live locally. This will help us when we campaign for services this side of Devon.'

Providing a local free place to meet is hard to find, and the group activities cost money, so the group started approaching local companies asking if they could have a collection box for used stamps and old keys and more.

The group was surprised when on the same day as sending out an email, Tavistock-based Claro Learning not only agreed to have a collection box in its offices but also offered to make a donation to the group's funds of £250.

Wendy said: 'We were totally overwhelmed by the very generous offer from Claro.

'The money means we can provide more support for local adults with AS. We will now be able to subsidise some of the requested group activities, allowing more members to take part.'

Money from Claro's donation made it possible for the group to enjoy a day out at the Garden House in Buckland Monachorum.

• To contact the group, call Jo Madgwick, group treasurer, on 07707 301316 (noon to 2pm most days) or email Wendy on [email protected]">[email protected]