An Outsider's view

On the 14th November, I had a chance to visit Hollyrood one of the Disabilities Trusts' Autism Specific Homes near Lindfield in Sussex.

Vicky and I were greeted by Sue Stopa, the manager of Hollyrood who welcomed us into her office and explained how she came to be working at Hollyrood, and her desire to be part of the team when the home was first muted in the 1990's.

Sue explained about the main house and the link houses that are within the main grounds of Hollyrood and the other two community support houses in a nearby village. Even though they live apart from the main complex the residents spend a great deal of time up at the main house joining in activities and workshops. Also bringing their washing, down to the laundry room in their own named baskets, and picking up their clean washing at the same time.

I spotted Vicky and David's daughter Naomi walking outside the window of Sue's office. This was the first time that Vicky had seen her daughter just going about her daily tasks at Hollyrood, other than having a regular family visit. Naomi did not know her mum was observing her from the windows in the offices, but Vicky came back thrilled, because she could see Naomi was so happy with life. Naomi looked so well, with pink flowers in her hair. It was great to see Vicky's daughter who I feel I know because of her picture on the front of our leaflet, which we give to the authors and publishers when we meet them, telling them why we do what we do!

Sue explained that they have residents at different points on the Autism Spectrum. Some of them have strange coping mechanisms, which depending on what they are, Sue and the staff have to re-educate them in to a better way of coping with their difficulties. She was telling us of one person, who has a key ring with tags on it which tell him what to do if his train does not turn up at the station, or to walk away when someone shouts verbal abuse at him. He may not always look at the tags on the key ring but it is in his pocket if he gets really flustered by a situation, including the telephone number of Hollyrood if he needs picking up because there is no other transport.

Our host Sue asked, if we would like a tour of Hollyrood so that I could see some of the work they do with their residents and how they live. Martin from the day centre came up and took us for a walk around the complex.

I was absolutely stunned by what I saw. We started out from just behind the back of the office building where they have a work shed where the residents make beautiful garden ornaments - like squirrels - single and groups; a large tortoise, otters and hedgehogs with wheelbarrows, and decorative paving stones for the gardens around the big house, and also for sale to the public. Next door to this was the pottery room with some wonderful examples of work done by the residents - Martin pointed out a mug with Dr. Who on done by Naomi.

We then set off through the first of two sensory gardens in which the clients have made the paving stones, that weave around the garden to the Greenhouse at the end, where many plants have been bedded out inside to protect them from the winter frosts.

We had the chance to look in two of the link houses within the grounds of Hollyrood and see how each person has their own name on the door of their room, and how they have each added their own personality and stamp on them. One person has a fascination for clocks and old fashion loo chains! Another has an amazing sensory room with what look like old hub caps polished up, and placed in the shape of a square and lots of lights around the room. One of the lounges in the homes was very plush but the other was what I would call home from home - somewhere just to sit and relax. and chill out. They have paintings on the walls done by residents and some of them were exceptional and very pleasing to the eye.

WE had a tour of the grounds in which they have a very large trampoline, a sandpit and also a gymnasium with proper equipment and had just taken delivery of rubber floor mats which as yet have not been laid on the floor, which will be much more comfortable. They even have a small garden shed where one resident who likes to spend all his time outdoors, shelters from the rain.

We then continued up into the Day Centre where you can see the work of the residents was in various stages of completion. From arts and crafts to everything in between. Within the day centre they have a music room with an amazing range of different instruments that they can use together or on their own.

From the day centre we went in to the room that fascinated me the most. It was a room filled with all sorts of lights and textures; buttons to push that give you music, different kinds of lights a spinning lamp in the ceiling of the room with different colours spiling out of it. Three giant tubes that have bubbles of water going up and down - which to me is really my idea of relaxing. They have a massage mattress, and a rug on the floor that lights up with different coloured twinkling lights when you stand on it. Buttons to press which let aromatherephy oil scents spill into the room. If I could have bottled that room and bought it home with me I would have done!

With that we returned to the main office and Sue asked me what I felt about the place; I said I understood why Vicky and David talk about it as being a little spot of 'heaven on earth', I would have to agree. What the Disabillities Trust, and the staff are doing for these residential adults, and the pressure that has being taken off their famillies, by the knowledge that their family member is being so well looked after is a wonderful bonus. Family members with autism, are so badly understood, because nobody talks about autism and it's effects on everyday living, and the way that this can disrupt home life. But these adults at Hollyrood are learning to cope in todays mad world.

I must end by saying, that Hollyrood is the most wonderful, heaven on earth home for adults with autism and I just hope that we can make others understand why our fundraising is so vital.

We are doing it because there are so many young people that need to be understood and have the support, when they leave school and become part of the adult world.

So once again I say a big thank you to Sue Stopa and her team, and may I ask you to dig deep and support us in our misson to raise awareness and funds for the care of Adults with Autism, so that we can continue to support this special heaven on earth. with more homes, so that others can also experience the wonderful life of Hollyrood.

Because children DO grow up.

Jane.