Tadley ambassador for Autism Society

Tadley man takes on the role in the society's 50th anniversary year.

A TADLEY man is seeking local support for The National Autistic Society as it celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

Richard Charlick, aged 44, of Crookham Close, has taken on the role as an ambassador for the society, a registered charity, which he says has come a long way since a group of parents met around a kitchen table, frustrated at the

lack of help available for them and their children.

“There are now over half a million people in the UK with autism, which equates to around 1 in 100, and if you include their families, autism touches the lives of over two million people every day. The NAS works tirelessly to improve support and services for these families,” said Mr Charlick, who hopes to set up an adult asperger's group in Tadley.

However he said there was still “an incredibly long way to go,” to make sure the right support reached autism sufferers.

“I am trying to act as a beacon of example for people locally who feel they have no place in society,” he said.

A Tadley resident since 1999, Mr Charlick (pictured), diagnosed with autism in 2009, said he had experienced employment and training issues due to his condition.

Despite a high IQ and having obtained a masters degree, he said his condition had prevented him from getting a decent, full-time job. He currently enjoys working at the West Berkshire Museum in Newbury one of the volunteers assisting with checking exhibit information and helping to protect exhibits before they are moved to a safe storage place while the museum undergoes repair. He hopes to gain further work experience with the Citizen's Advice Bureau and train to become a lawyer.

Mr Charlick criticised the lack of therapies locally for those with autism and said the cost of seeking treatment some 70 miles away in Kent meant he eventually had to abandon it, as he could not afford it.

Mr Charlick is to give a talk at Headington School in Oxford entitled: Sensory Issues and Aspergers.

The talk is at 10am on Saturday, January 21.