MANY parents wonder what their children will do when they grow up. Simon Macaulay lies awake at night worrying about it.

Simon’s son James has Aspergers and Simon and his wife Kate are fully aware of the difficulties that are part and parcel of this condition.

James is 13 and his parents wanted to share their worries and hopes for his future with others, particularly other parents of children with Aspergers and similar conditions.

They moved to Malvern from Manchester with their three children and have started a support group. It is for families like their own where a child has been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome or any other Austistic Spectrum Disorder, or ASD.

They wanted to reach out to families coping with the joys and frustrations of bringing up a child with ASD by forming a mutually supportive group.

Chilidren diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder can have difficulties with social skills and communication or unusual thought patterns and behaviour. Usually picked up during childhood ASD does not simply go away when children grow up and leave school.

The restless nights worrying about his son’s future have prompted Simon to consider starting a business that employs adults with special needs in order to give these young people a chance of employment. For adults with special needs, employment prospects are grim, with only a small percentage finding work even when they do have the right skills.

The support group, which meets at St Andrew’s Church at Poolbrook in Malvern, already has around 30 members and hopes to grow and attract more local parents. As well as parents the group has some members with professional experience of varying kinds who want to support it.

“The aim of the group is to stop families feeling so alone,” explained member Kimberley Wiggett, whose own teenage son was diagnosed with ASD eight years ago.

She said many parents had a hard time with either schooling or in the community because people did not understand the needs of their children.

This isolation is particularly difficult for parents without supportive families and the group wants to offer families a safe and accepting environment, useful information and advice.

As well as meeting regularly the group has plans for its own website with a forum for chats and for social events where families can relax with their children safe in the knowledge that they are among friends who understand their children’s condition.

“A child with ASD may look like they are running riot and behaving badly. It can make days out uncomfortable because people don’t undertstand that it is part of their condition,” added Kimberley.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder is a range of related development disorders that are picked up during childhood and persist through into adulthood. There are three broad catagories: *Problems and difficulties with social interaction.

*Impaired language and communication skills.

*Unsual patterns of thought and physical behaviour.

Spectrum indicates that the disorder can vary from mild to severe. ASD is more common in boys than in girls and it is estimated that 1 in 100 children has an ASD condition.

“It can feel very lonely bringing up a child with ASD. The group will help parents realise they are not alone,” explained KImberley.

She said she was grateful to Simon and Kate for getting the group started and in turn they are grateful for the support they have received from the friends they have made at St Andrew’s Church.

“We all want what is best for our children and we all worry about their future,” said Kimberley, adding that the group wanted to offer something positive to parents to counteract the negative reactions they and their children often face.

She said the group had attracted families with young children through to teens.

The group meets at St Andrew’s church hall on Church Down Road, Poolbrook. For the date of the next meeting contant Simon and Kate Macaulay on 01684 564183 or email Kimberly Wiggett at demondazzel@hotmail.co.uk.