The Saint Helena Autism Awareness and Support Charity has a long and dedicated history on our island, beginning well before its formal incorporation as a grassroots support group. Originally, it served as a monthly meeting point for parents to share experiences, whether they were raising Autistic children or had just received a new diagnosis. Today, having officially become a charity in 2024, the organisation now operates with a formal constitution and membership to provide even more focused support for our community.
A major goal for the charity is to update how we think about autism. In years past, children who struggled in school might have been unfairly labelled as “slow learners” or simply “odd”. The charity is working to replace those old myths with a new understanding: being autistic is not a “problem,” but a lifelong condition present from birth.
In fact, many within the charity refer to autism as a “superpower”. Because autistic brains are wired differently, individuals often see the world through a unique lens, picking up on small details others might miss and experiencing deep levels of empathy.
Living on St Helena brings unique challenges for neurodiverse families e.g. some things as simple as managing “Food Jags”: Many autistic children rely on specific brands or textures of food, such as a particular type of chicken nugget.
Every April, St. Helena turns blue to celebrate Autism Awareness Month. This month has already kicked off with a bake sale to provide the community with awareness merchandise like t-shirts, pens, and bags.
You can keep an eye out for other upcoming local events such as mufti day on Friday 17th April, where all schools and workplaces on the island “dress down” in blue or wear their official autism shirts to show solidarity and raise funds. Lighting up High Knoll Fort is an annual tradition, when it will be illuminated with blue lights throughout the entire month. A music bingo on Saturday 18th April is a fun, interactive new event organised by friends of the charity to bring the community together for a good cause and on Sunday 26th of April a forest walk will take place to highlight different needs, one calm and mindful for relaxation, and one more active for those who are “sensory seeking”.
Don’t forget and be sure to stop by the Canister in Jamestown to see the informational display detailing this year’s theme throughout April. There is also an invitation-only lecture being delivered by Chair of the St Helena Autism & Awareness charity, Nicola O’Donnell. She will present ‘Understanding Autism in relation to neurodevelopment and what this means for St Helena’ on 16th April.
Through awareness and support, together we can ensure that every neurodiverse member of our island family has the tools they need to thrive.