Just Jordan Feb by "JUST Jordan"

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JUST Jordan

Wed 1 Feb IN THIS ISSUE

Introduction Hello everyone and welcome to my Valentine Special edition of “Just Jordan”. by Jordan Fernando Again am elated with the response about my “JUST Jordan” group and newsletter, so thank you all from the bottom of my heart! It’s been wonderful having so many of you asking to submit articles and responding with such wonderful feedback too, thank you. I’ve continued with a similar layout with a romantic touch so here’s hoping you are in for yet another treat! As always please do keep your feedback and messages coming, it’s a pleasure hearing from each and everyone of you! Once again I’ve worked very hard on this Newsletter and I hope that

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you will enjoy and tell all your friends & family about “JUST Jordan”.

You will find information on my “JUST Jordan” Facebook/Twitter page and how to contact me details are also enclosed. As always I look forward to your feedback, submissions and questions for my March edition. See ya,

Jordan Fernando xx

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Art Corner More Art work submitted by you my fab members.

Relationships Happy Valentine’s Day Ross.

“ “JUST Jordan” Poet – Kerry McGinn

Review

Latest Interview – Youth Vision

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RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships on the spectrum can be difficult which is why I decided to write this article in this month’s edition of JUST Jordan. It can be a bit of a taboo subject with not many coming forward to discuss it but I feel it very important to write about relationships on the spectrum as communication is vitally important.

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impossible, infact I think it just makes us more determined to make it work so I wouldn't say it was a disadvantage, more of an advantage in many ways. We have the advantage of learning and developing together and enjoying the relationship to the fullest and should anyone encounter problems along the way then the best advice I can give is to simply sit down with your partner and talk it through. Communication is key!

People have contacted me regarding a few various topics regarding intimacy and 'touch' was pretty high up on the topic for discussion but like I said everyone is different regardless of being on the spectrum so working out any issues openly with your partner is key, as being able to understand what each others likes and dislikes are will only I grew up surrounded by a loving family make you stronger and ultimately bring so was used to hugs and affection but you closer together. not everyone on the spectrum is, so Remember I'm no expert and can only go when suddenly faced with on my own thoughts, experiences and this it can be quite daunting and can take what I've learnt over time so I hope it a bit of getting used to. helps some of you. Autistic people can take a while to show any interest when it comes to Some people on the autism spectrum relationships but not the same for dislike physical contact or feel they need everyone, as I started dating my large amounts of personal space, but wonderful boyfriend Ross last year when that can go for anyone I think and it's just I was 18. not true of everyone. The autistic friends I know of people through my volunteer I have are actually way cuddlier than my work and JUST Jordan who didn’t date neuro typical friends. I love hugs, being until their 30's and 40's and they are now wooed and can be very affectionate happily married with beautiful children. when I want to be but like anyone I do It can take us autists longer to develop sometimes like my own space or the confidence and social skills needed 'quiet time'. to work at and keep a meaningful Say I've had a stressful day or am a bit relationship, but that does not mean it's anxious and don’t want to be touched or

held but simply left on my own for a wee while, and that's not because I don't love my family, friends or loved ones it's just my way of coping at that time. I get like that sometimes because I think my senses are heightened, and any form of physical contact will result in my body tensing up and overloading on adrenalin, why? I've no idea it just does. If you are unsure whether somebody on the autism spectrum will be comfortable with physical contact, just ask permission before you touch them. Other times all I need is just to be held and cuddled (especially from my boyfriend Ross) for a while as that's what I need to cope with whatever am going through, it can vary. I will always try my best though to communicate how am feeling and what I need as the last thing I want is too upset those around me and have them thinking I don't want to be with them or am angry with them when am not. Does that make sense? At the end of the day all relationships are different and what works well for one couple may work differently for another. Trial and error my Mum always says and it's true..... I do enjoy socialising however sometimes I still find it very difficult when trying to interpret people’s body language, facial expression and other forms of none verbal communication. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy socialising as I love chatting with my friends and going on dates with my boyfriend. I just need to make sure I allow myself plenty of time to recuperate afterwards as it can be really exhausting for me. Does anyone else feel that way? Please do feel free to comment on my JUST Jordan Facebook page or twitter account. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2130 71952427706/ @JustJordan2016

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Another point I wanted to raise about relationships was that autists are not limited to just other people on the spectrum, I heard someone mutter that the other day and it really annoyed me, infact my gorgeous nuerotypical Sister shall we say just to make my point, is infact dating a wonderful young guy who is on the spectrum. And yes they have had to overcome and deal with a few issues along the way but with support and reassurances in all the right places it is proving to be a magical relationship blooming everyday and I for one am very happy for them both. It is a rediculous assumption to suggest autistic people should only date others who are on the spectrum!!

to their bedroom, not expressing affection towards others because they felt it would make them vulnerable. Thankfully they say “I love you” all the time now. They never stopped loving them; it was just difficult to express that love at that time.

We all cope in many different ways. After speaking with some autistic friends I’ve realised this kind of emotional shut down is quite common in times of crisis, particularly when the person in question is a teenager. Some don't talk, some have tantrums, some have allergic reactions and so on. I cannot imagine how difficult this is for I imagine there are a few downsides to our loved ones, whether it’s spouses, ANY romantic relationship whether both dates, friends or family. parties are on the spectrum or not. What I want to reassure anyone reading Yes we may often think in black and this is that we will never stop loving you white terms and can struggle to see even if we don't show it sometimes. things from other people’s perspectives sometimes, and yes an argument could **Sometimes, it’s just so hard be between two people who could not to express that love in words see the others point of view, but crikey and actions.** doesn't that happen anyway! I’ve already encountered this situation with many of my friends, family etc but I thrive off my routine’s they just make every aspect of my life feel safer, we communicate with each other and including my relationship. work it out (or at least come to a compromise lol). One of the symptoms of autism can be 'routine' (to the point where any changes I am very capable of love and affection, sometimes am not so good at expressing to that routine may cause a it but in time and with plenty practise am great deal of anxiety). This isn’t sure I'll get better, and isn't the practise necessarily a bad thing. Growing up if my routine changed whether at school or rather good fun anyway ;-) home, my parents would constantly remind me that I'd be ok once I got into a There are a lot of people out there who seem to think autists are not capable of routine again, having that reassurance love, maybe they need to look closer to from them helped me immensly. And once I’d found the right routine, I home rather than mouthing off about was ok. If you are dating someone with those they know nothing about. I have autism, try to establish a regular date friends who were bullied at school and they later told me that they struggled to night, where you see them at the same say ‘I love you’ to their parents and rarely time each week and do something fun hugged them. They felt the only way to together. This will increase a sense of deal with the bullying was by retreating stability and help you both relax. There

will be times when circumstances beyond your control force you to change the date routine but that's life. It would be unrealistic to expect this to cause no anxiety to someone on the autism spectrum, just remember it’s nobody’s fault. When I met my boyfriend Ross many people would comment that he liked me, (for a good year actually) I had no idea what they were talking about and was hopeless at recognising signs of flirting but he eventually did ask me out on a date and the rest is history, but what I will say is that sometimes we may not be good at certain things in a relationship (afterall nobody's perfect right) but we are excellent at being loyal, caring and affectionate. To me flirting is a complex aspect of socialising that relies on the ability to successfully interpret body language, facial expression and other none verbal communication so unless you come right out and tell me how you feel or what you want I won't read the signs let alone your Mind! Autism is a social awareness and communications disability, so we're bound to find this difficult. Sustained eye contact also seems to be an important part of flirting, and is something else some autists not all can struggle with.

**Although we may suck at flirting, that doesn’t mean we won’t be loyal, affectionate and caring partners.** If you’re curious about whether an autistic person fancies you, don’t rely upon a confused interpretation of their body language. Just ask them.

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Reading romantic signals again can be difficult for anyone regardless of being on the spectrum or not! This is probably the main reason dating can be so difficult for those of us on the autism spectrum though. Huh, get this, apparently asking someone back for a coffee after a party or nightclub can mean an invite for sex, well NOT in my book it bloomin doesn't so whoever made up that rule needs their head seeing too! All I will do is urge people to be more direct about these kind of propositions and just be honest about what you want. Not everybody has the social skills you take for granted. With time I'm getting a little better at guessing when someone in the family is feeling a little under the weather, sad or ill but this can be a real problem with both friendships and romantic relationships. I remember one occasion when I had said something to upset a friend at school, and she didn’t tell me. For several weeks she just carried on as normal, expecting me to realise I had upset her through subtle indications in her body language and vocal tone. Of course, I had no idea what was going on. I just didn’t have the skills necessary to interpret how she was feeling or what I had said would affect her. To me, non verbal communication is like a foreign language sometimes of which I only know a few words. The best advice I can give, is to be very explicit when explaining how you’re feeling to an autistic person, and remember it doesn’t mean we don’t care, we’re just bad at interpreting non verbal communication sometimes.

Happy Valentine’s Day Ross Love Jordan xxxx

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Kids Zone by Jordan Fernando

More in the Kids Zone next month!

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Art Corner! My turn this time folks as I thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d draw something romantic and related to The Legend of Zelda as my Sis loves it! Happy Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Everyone. Love Jordan xx

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Aidan, The dankest (most handsome) man I've ever seen, I hope this Valentines is spent eating great food, gaining affection and becoming more in sync with each other. (Yes, that was a Pokemon reference, deal with it.) I love you lots! (So much) ^~^ ~ The wizard Aari. (P.s. Let's stay together forever, kay?)

Jordan When we first met I thought we were going to be good friends, then we became really good friends! I soon realised it was something more as I fell deeply in love with you. I will always love you to infinity and beyond. Thank you for being the one! X Ross X

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Our regular JUST Jordan poem submitted by Autist Kerry McGinn 19, Stevenston, North Ayrshire.

What is Love? From my point of view There are different kinds of love Like the one you have for family and friends And the kind for the person who makes your heart soar like a dove When you find that special someone The chemistry between you will crackle and fizz But now I’m going to share my opinion On what I think love is Love is putting someone else’s Needs before your own Love can be music to your ears Like listening to pop or even hearing a ringtone Love is what makes the world Go round and Round Love is a precious gift That cannot be bought for a pound Many people wait for romance And that wait is a bit long for some But if you’re patient enough Then one day that special someone will come

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#SmearForSmear Last month Mum and I took part in the annual #SmearForSmear campaign supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. We both travelled down to London for the official photo shoot and I actually enjoyed our busy day out despite the noisy traffic on occassions. I’ve been supporting my Mum and her many campaigns to raise awareness of cervical cancer for as long as I can remember and will continue to do so. Can I please ask all my readers to take a few minutes to watch the video we made during our own #SmearForSmear Party and feel free to share on your social media as the more people we can reach the better. I watched my Mum go through her Cervical Cancer diagnosis and treatments and even to this day she still has internal problems, which is one of the reasons I continue to support her as I never want another child to go through what I went through. I am one of the lucky one’s whose Mum eventually survived but there are so many children who lose there Mum to this horrible disease and no child should grow up without there parent. Cervical cancer can be prevented! https://www.facebook.com/Suzanne060672 https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AaronFernando Video Footage of our #SmearForSmear campaign. https://youtu.be/Wjj8uiiHsX8

https://www.jostrust.org.uk/

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Youth Vision

I met up with a wonderful and inspiration young man named Steven Alexander Middlemass and interviewed him about his volunteering role at Youth Vision. This is how it went.

JUST Jordan: Hi Steven, Firstly thank you very much for agreeing to take part in this interview for my newsletter. I'd love to share more information about Youth Vision with my readers and get to know you a bit better. Why not start off by telling us a little about yourself and what you do. Steven: Hi Jordan and can I say thanks for asking me to feature in your monthly newsletter I am actually very excited about it but also a wee bit nervous so please be gentle with me (lol) Well I'm 27 years old now and currently reside in Edinburgh where I enjoy spending my time as a Youth Support Volunteer with Youth Vision. At 5 years old I was diagnosed with Adhd and a few years later with Aspergers Syndrome around the age of 8. Growing up was particularly difficult for me especially at school as I suffered heavily at the hands of bullies and was even hospitalised a few times with head injuries. Despite the traumas I faced I still managed to complete 3 years worth of exams though, I think I did well but to be honest I've never really understood the results....I mean who does right? I was just proud of myself for getting to the end of school and college as it really was the worst time for me, I thought leaving school and moving onto College would be a fresh start and new beginnings, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I just felt that the education system simply wasn't prepared for anyone with mental health issues and as a result of this I struggled again with coping, fitting in and the course work and eventually was forced to leave. I'd like to think that's all changed now for young students but who knows.

JUST Jordan: Since leaving College how do you spend your days?

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Steven: All my time is spent volunteering and fighting the relentless hounds at the job center. I met the Founding Manager at a Willow Weaving course and she told me all about Youth Vision and what it could offer me. Time passed me by and I still struggled to find work so I had a look around Youth Vision and fell in love with the idyllic and remote location which inspired me to apply. I haven't looked back since.

JUST Jordan: Tell me about Youth Vision Steven. Steven: Youth Vision is a programme offering young people aged 13 to 18yrs support, we help them as they transition into adulthood. We teach them about the history and archaeology of Threipmuir Steading. The Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting Youth Vision to protect and rebuild the 18th Century farm steading and our ultimate goal will be to completely restore the buildings. Our weekday programme is offered to Midlothian High Schools and we pick up groups of 6-8 pupils and transport them to our base in the Pentland Hills. They spend one day per week for ten weeks following the Youth Vision programme, doing some work around the cottage and taking part in our activities before being taken back to school at the end of the day.

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We will also provide a follow-up programme which includes additional counselling and support when required for any young people who have completed our programme. We also offer a Saturday programme which is open to any young people interested in learning more about themselves and nature which is where I come in as I work in the garden and teach others too. I generally work with 18+ adults as a Volunteer Garden and Grounds Coordinator and everyone seems to really enjoy it. More importantly though we are a very friendly bunch and welcome all newcomers with open arms, we're like a wee family it's just wonderful. If you enjoy the great outdoors, remote locations and tranquility then Youth Vision is definately worth trying! â&#x20AC;&#x2122;The photo opposite is with our newest member Aidan with me in the background.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

JUST Jordan: It sounds wonderful and am really pleased to be writing about it Steven. You've had a rocky start in life like most of us I'd say but your no quitter and that's what inspired me to feature our interview. You've never given up, you get right back up again after each knock and you've kept trying and I for one am very proud of what you've achieved. Well done Steven, you offer children and young adults support, hope and a future to look forward to. Tell our readers what you love most about volunteering with Youth Vision. Steven: I pride myself in being able to adapt to most situations. I've taken on roles as a Youth Worker, Gardener, Fundraiser, Website Editor and I won't stop there Jordan. I'll continue to educate, support and to further myself in as many ways as I possibly can. I'm happy and enjoy my life now and if I can give something positive back to the community then job done!

JUST Jordan: Steven it has been an absolutel pleasure meeting you and I wish you every success for the future, you truly deserve it.

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If you'd like to find out more about Youth Vision just follow these links: https://www.facebook.com/YouthVisionscotland/ http://www.youthvision.uk/ For more information on being bullied at school: http://www.bullying.co.uk/bullying-at-school/ https://youtu.be/YUgmmLrhS18

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Review Time Look out for special reviews next month on Film, Cartoon, Music & Anime right here in “JUST Jordan”

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review By Autist, Aidan MacDonald I’d like to begin by thanking Just Jordan for this opportunity. Remastered games for newer consoles are always nice, with my friends constantly recommending I play the updated PS4 edition of “The Last of Us”, or Nintendo fans enjoying certain Zelda classics originally on the GameCube with the Wii U’s HD features. For me, however, I was sold on “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition” when I heard Bethesda were offering it for free to PC gamers who had the original with all the DLC. So essentially, best £2 ever spent. The gameplay is exactly the same as it was in the original 2011 release, only now the graphics have been enhanced with the more powerful hardware running inside the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (and your PC if you’ve upgraded it at all since then). This means that you can go and explore Skyrim however you like just how you did when it was first released. For those who skipped the original Skyrim and have come straight from the likes of “The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind” and “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion”, however, you may find that the controls, gameplay and interface have been changed. Whereas Morrowind and Oblivion had separate buttons for attacking and blocking, this is changed slightly – you can still do this, but you can also equip weapons to what would usually be the shield button now, allowing for “dual-attacking” in a sense (personally, I tend to use this for dual-wielding swords, or having two buttons to quickly heal myself in case my health starts running low). How the player character’s attributes and skills are also changed from previous Elder Scrolls games, too, having been simplified from over 10 categories that remain constant, to 3 categories that can be easily changed at any time. The music is just as engaging as ever, too, with all the music from the original game returning. One thing to note about the gameplay and music is that the music can be turned off, and the gameplay’s difficulty can be changed from “casually sailing through all the quests and storylines” to “Zelda 2 on the NES, but in 3D” (in other words: Ever heard of “Dark Souls”?)

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The quests are just like they are in the original game, right down to the scripting, nothing’s changed at all. Those who splashed out and bought the game and all the DLC may be either disappointed to find there’s nothing new, overjoyed to see that it’s still just as golden as it was when they first ventured through Skyrim, or both. All the DLC quests are included in this updated release, so those who missed out on vampire-hunting with the Dawnguard, or taming and riding dragons across Solstheim Island, will be happy to know that all that and more is now packaged as standard. Oblivion planes are also featured throughout the game, but bad news to Cyrodiil players, these aren’t the same locations as in Oblivion, these are all new. But of course, the one thing that drew countless PC players to Skyrim, is the endless possibilities of downloading custom-made mods to the game to change your experience. This includes better textures, custom music (I have a mod installed that allows me to play through the game with Zelda music playing), brand new locations and stories to explore, widening the host of possible companions to join you on your adventures, “fix” certain quests whose outcomes you’re not fond of, and so much more. For reference, an “unofficial patch” exists online that you can download with ease, which can help fix some bugs and errors in the game. This time, however, it’s not just PC users who get to enjoy mods, but those on the Xbox One and PS4 can also download mods to enjoy and widen their Skyrim experience, too! Bear in mind, however, that since the Special Edition is a recent release, there aren’t as many mods as there are on the original, and bad news for Thomas the Tank Engine fans, not only is the famed “Really Useful Dragons” mod compatible with the remaster just yet, but I also heard that said mod has been C&D’d due to copyright.

Final thoughts: Now I’m not saying that “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” is the textbook definition of the “perfect game”. But I’ve dedicated nearly 200 hours in the game already and my girlfriend keeps nagging me to play Mario Kart with her instead. With mods, the game’s even better, and while it may not be appealing in price much for those who’ve already played the game on Xbox 360 and PS3, if you can get it for as cheap as possible, it’s worth every hour you sink your attention into it for. Rating: 6/5.

La La Land Review by Dale Garton I went to see La La Land on Saturday 14th January at the Cineworld in Renfrew Street, Glasgow. I was looking forward to seeing it as it has been up for some awards. It was a musical/comedy/drama film with lots of singing which I really enjoyed. The two main characters Seb and Mia were played by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. The film followed their stories from trying to make it in LA as a jazz pianist and an actress. The pair meet randomly before decided to support each other and start a relationship. Mia goes for a lot of acting auditions, but fails meanwhile Seb makes it into a modern jazz band and starts to tour. The film then follows the next few months where the pair grow apart following their own directions of fame. Mia does a play and gets called to take part in a film in Paris, whereas Seb is still touring with

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the band and looking at jazz clubs to buy. The couple then decide to split up and go their separate ways. The film then skips forward 5 years and the two main characters then meet again randomly in Sebâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jazz club in LA. The film shows the struggle of following your dreams and supporting each other. I really enjoyed the film and would give it 5/5. I am going to see Trainspotting next week so will review it for the March newsletter.

The Black Balloon (2008) Film Review by Suzanne Fernando

A teenage boy called Thomas is about to turn 16, has had to adjust to a new neighborhood, a new school, new friends , as well as having to cope with his unpredictable family too. His autistic older brother Charlie suffers from ADD and attends a special school on the days that he actually chooses to go. His father is an enormous cricket fan who is prone to holding intense discussions with his teddy bear. Am sure a film many can somewhat relate to however be aware there is very strong language throughout. I would give the film a rating of 4/5

Please do keep your requests coming in and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do my best to feature them in next months edition of JUST Jordan. To submit your entries please send to : Jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk

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Dear Jordan…… Ask me anything and I’ll be as frank with my views as Coleen is on Loose Women!! I can be your straightest-talking agony aunt, giving advice on relationships, bullying, early diagnosis and any life problems you may have…..xx

Huge thanks to everyone who submitted questions for “Dear Jordan”

“Dear Jordan: A girl at my school has autism and I want to know what to do when she is around me. I try and be nice to her but I don't think she understands that I'm just trying to be nice. I want to get to know her and help her make friends as she seems a bit of a loner but I don't know how. Can you help?

It is really nice that you are trying to make an effort to get to know the young girl in school. She will find school a very frightening place to be and direct contact from someone she does not know well, may frighten her even more. You could approach your guidance or support teacher and explain that you have noticed that the young girl spends a lot of time on her own and is there a way for you to befriend her and get to know her with your teachers support. The likelihood is that the young girl has a good relationship with one teacher and will be more comfortable with you if this teacher is around initially. Finding a common interest is also another way to know someone. If you knew more about her hobbies, then you could research these and this would give you something to talk about. This is always a good way to start!

You could also start to learn more about autism and what this means and this will also help you start to think about how to build relationships with people that have a communication disorder. The best website to find more information out about autism is – http://www.autism.org.uk/ Follow my Just Jordan facebook page as people post lots of useful articles and information on the page! Hope this helps ! Love Jordan xxx

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“Dear Jordan: Does having Asperger’s syndrome make puberty more difficult?

Puberty affects everyone differently. Having Asperger’s syndrome may certainly make some topics more difficult to understand or process. If you are struggling with puberty at school, you could talk to your support teacher or guidance teacher who could put you in touch with someone who can help you. “Talking together…about sex and relationships: A practical resources for schools and parents working with young people with learning disabilities) by Lesley Kerr-Edwards and Lorna Scott “All About Us” (Textbook and CD-ROM): Available online from FPA. Puberty & Sexuality for Children and Young People with a Learning Disability (A supporting document for National Curriculum objectives) (PDF document) www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/document.php?o=328 You can also find more information from the National Autistic Society about puberty at this website address – http://www.autism.org.uk/sexeducation Hope this helps ! Love Jordan xxx “Dear Jordan: I have autism. How do I make new friends?

Making new friends can be challenging when you have a tough time reading social cues, I certainly understand your pain as I've been there on many occasions, what I struggled with in particular was figures of speech, body language, hand gestures and facial expressions. My parents helped me a lot though and we went right back to basics by trying to understand what a friend is, sounds basic, right? But starting with the basics is critical for developing social skills. For example, I would ask myself, “Do you like to spend time with somebody who calls you names?” And “Do you like to spend time with someone who is nice to you?” Once I understood the basics of a friendship I'd start by asking a person’s name, introduce myself if they didn't already know me and perhaps ask what their favourite hobbies or school subjects were. Gradually the conversation would escalate and sometimes not. I'd join a group I thought I'd enjoy in my area and I'd often make friends that way too. Groups like chess, art, and drama for example. Finding something everyone enjoys is a great conversation starter — and a fun setting for social interaction too. Hope this helps ! Love Jordan xxx POLL: What would you like to read about in “JUST Jordan”? Let us know by contacting us via email: jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk or suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE. If you would like to submit an article, picture, ask a question or offer support in next month’s newsletter please contact me via email: jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk or suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On in Ayrshire

Wild Kelburn Forest School Forest school activities are wild! With lots of variety in our woodland there will be plenty to enchant our young explorers both at Forest Tots and at Junior Rangers. Our aim is to promote learning in the outdoors through activity, exploration, individual and group challenges while nurturing a relationship with nature. Please contact Jo Turner, our Head Education Ranger at: jo@kelburncountrycentre.com or call 01475 568 685

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Artastic is a family venture launched in Kilwinning, Ayrshire on the West Coast of Scotland. An arts and crafts centre for family fun days out. https://www.facebook.com/artastic.co/

Edinburgh Night Ride Places Available! Fancy doing something a little different to raise funds for Autism Initiatives this year that will also help you to get fit? Well, we have just the thing for you! By taking part in the Edinburgh Night Ride you can see the nooks and crannies of Edinburgh like never before during this magical moonlit cycle ride of Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital. The ride takes place 20/21 June 2015. For more information and to book your place today contact Holly.Child@aiscotland.org.uk now!

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Children’s Craft Club – Prestwick Library Friday, February 24 at 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Prestwick Library, Prestwick KA9, UK Suitable for ages 5-11years. Free event, but booking essential. Tel 01292 476769

**HAPPY KIDS/TEENS AYRSHIRE Special Needs Discos** Our monthly discos are for children and young adults with significant special needs to give them the opportunity to socialise in a safe, non-judgmental environment in a family friendly venue in Ayr. Wheelchair friendly. Our discos have reduced volume in music, no mascots and no balloons. Numbers are limited to make the experience more enjoyable for our youngsters and Karaoke is proving to be a great success at both discos. The age 7+ disco .. £6 on entry includes a buffet dinner. The age 12+ disco .. £4 on entry has a tuck shop. Contact Christine McIlwraith https://www.facebook.com/DameCree

Creating Connections Event 1 - 5pm Thursday 9th February 2017 Kilmarnock Campus, Ayrshire College, Hill Street, Kilmarnock KA3 7AT Cost: FREE Creating Connections is an event that provides information to parents, carers, professionals and teachers on how to help young people with additional support needs (ASN) into work after they leave school. You will have the opportunity to attend optional workshops and speak to employers, training providers and partners, about advice on support that is available to help learners with ASN to enter the world of work, including looking at what the options are after age 16yrs, optional information sessions on funding, career management skills and how to support people with ASN in the workplace. Please contact Uuganaa Ramsay for further information and click on the link below to BOOK your FREE tickets. Tel: 01563 527165 or 01563 558538 Text: 07917 214728 Skills Development Scotland 55 John Finnie Street Kilmarnock KA1 1BH Event Brite – Creating Connections tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creatingconnections-tickets-29568754942?aff=es2

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Irvine Judo Club Beginners classes on Saturday morning 11.00 till 12.00 Irvine Judo club for past and present members of Irvine and surrounding judo clubs. The club meets every Mondays and Wednesday at 6.30 pm in the Parterre Hall For more information Call 07515626185 or email g.brawley@sky.com https://www.facebook.com/Irvine-Judo-club-178335222180931/

Read my latest feature online at Reach. Reach is Enquire’s service for young people. Enquire can help you understand rights to extra support in school. https://reach.scot/autism/jordans-story-autism-school-friends-life-lessons/

And finally I am proud to share such wonderful news with you all, I’ve just been informed that I have reached the finals of this years Autism Professional Awards so I’ll let you all know next month how it goes. You can read all about the finalists here and biography. Wish me luck! http://www.autismprofessionalsawards.org.uk/finalists.html

Copyright of Jordan Fernando Jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/groups/213071952427706/ @JustJordan2016 https://issuu.com/justjordan19 Disclaimer: All articles and information in this newsletter are of the writers own personal experiences and opinions.

JUST JORDAN | Issue #