If you have any knowledge and experience of living with autism, you’ll know what a struggle it can be to manage every day tasks that most other people can do with out even thinking. Symptoms can range from difficulty understanding social cues or facial expressions, taking figurative language literally, preferring strict daily routines, experiencing intense specialist interests, and having heightened or reduced sensory sensitivities to light, sound, or textures in adults as well as limited eye contact, not responding to a name, delayed speech, and repetitive movements like hand-flapping in children.
A group of Merseyside friends are taking on the challenge to help raise funding and awareness of the difficulties people face when they suffer from autism. Chris Reilly who is a Liverpool content creator, his partner Billie-Jo and their friend Ian Radcliffe are taking on the Miles That Matter charity walk. If you haven’t heard of this it’s a fund-raising event in which people take part to raise awareness and funds to improve research and treatments for people with autism. The group will be walking round the Isle of Man spreading the word about the difficulties people face when they live with the condition.
Chris and Billie-Jo have a ten-year-old son who suffers from autism and ADHD so any money they raise will be going to help an autism charity based on the Isle of Man. The challenge will begin on the 10th August and finish on Sunday 16th August. When the group step off the ferry back in Liverpool, they’ll have walkers, a band and a live singer waiting to welcome them back at the terminal before setting off on the final three miles at 10am.
When they reach the finish line, the trio will be putting on a free event for children and adults with disabilities and their families. This will include live entertainment, DJ, inflatables, huge obstacle course, food, popcorn, candy floss, hot dogs and more. Families don’t pay for any of it. People are invited to reach out and share their own stories and the whole journey will be documented and shared on social media to reach as wide an audience as possible.
Current research shows that no medical treatments cure core autism traits. Standard care relies on behavioural and educational programs like speech and occupational therapy. Recent large reviews find little proof that alternative diets or supplements work, while new studies test targeted drugs and genetic profiles. However, there are some specialised treatments which can help manage the condition adequately and ensure that symptoms are kept at their minimum or helped to improve. These include:
Speech and Language Therapy: Focuses on improving verbal and non-verbal communication
skills. Occupational Therapy: Teaches daily life, fine-motor, and sensory adjustment
skills. Early Start Denver Model (ESDM): Targets toddlers aged 12 to 48 months using play-based developmental
strategies. Social Skills Training: Helps individuals navigate group interactions and recognize emotional cues.
The funding raised by completing the challenge will go to a charity called Diverse Minds which is a charity that supports families and children with disabilities based on the Isle of Man. They offer a wide range of training and consultancy services to help support those in need. Thet recognise that wellbeing and mental health is the backbone of a positively productive workplace. By upskilling staff, managers and senior leaders systemic change can be made that benefits everyone.
The training comes in the form of many different courses that can help upskill your team to provide support for those in need.
If you’d like further details on this event they can be found on the Miles That Matter website and by searching for the hash tag chrisreillypics.
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