AUTISM is an issue which has devastating effects on people’s lives but awareness still has a long way to go.

That is the overwhelming view of support groups and relatives of sufferers of autism who gathered at the town hall for an awareness event. 

Autism is a lifelong development disability and people on the autism spectrum are affected in very different ways. 

While some are able to live relatively “everyday” lives, others need a lifetime of support. 

Social interaction and socialising does not come naturally to them, with unwritten social rules often a struggle.

One group present at the awareness day was the Autism and Aspergers Society, which is the selected charity of current mayor Geoff Pearl. 

The group is set to move into new facilities at Tontine House, Church Street in May and offers a range of activities and support for adults with autism in the area. 

“There are 1.4 per cent of people who have been diagnosed nationally but that’s a conservative figure and it’s more than likely at two per cent,” said Trevor Adams, committee member of the Autism and Aspergers Society. 

“We’re just starting up and hope to be up and running by the middle of May. One of the things about autism is it’s not noticeable on the outside and does not affect your IQ.

“It’s a massive spectrum and getting a job is so hard and only 15 per cent of them are in full-time or part-time employment. 

“They are highly underestimated people and given the right job they would do really well and are very loyal people.” 

Karen Byrne, from Bold, whose 16-year-old son Matthew was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, was at the town hall, said: “I think people are becoming more aware, it’s an ongoing process. My son was diagnosed when he was eight and it had a big impact on his education. 

"He has difficulty with social interaction and making friends at school. 

"He has difficulty reading people’s faces and making eye contact.”

Julie Doyle, whose son James suffers from autism, added: “The difficulty is when they leave education. James found Carmel College a really positive experience but when he left he did a year at another college but found it really difficult. It’s hard to get employment with the issues that he has got.”