Lunch time meeting - 12.55pm - Liza Quinn Founder of Autism Rocks Fife

On Thursday 23^rd March 2023 President Brian Johnson took the meeting as he welcomed 10 Rotarians and 2 guests Liza Quin and Colin Davie to this our lunch time meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel, Glenrothes.

President Brian mentioned that due to increasing food costs that our weekly meals will be going up by a £1.

Our speaker today was Liza Quin, who has a 19-year-old daughter. At the age of 5, her daughter was diagnosed with Autism and Global Developmental Delay. And in 2019 was diagnosed with a Learning Disability.

Liza originally  set up Autism Rocks (Fife) as a Facebook support group, due to the lack of any kind of support in Fife, for families and kids/adults with Autism.  She said that there are no social activities or places that the children or adults can go where they are not judged, stared at or bullied. Nowhere can they be themselves, the person who they want to be.
She then decided that having a support page would be a good place to start with, offering help, advice and support for other families who are just starting out on this amazing journey and for the families who have been through, what most are going through, to give their experiences to help others. The best and most effective support are other parents. Since she started this venture, the membership numbers have grown rapidly. And we now support over 2350 families.
Liza’s goal was to open an Autism Support Centre in Fife, which would be the first of it's kind in the area - a place where there are no age restrictions or limits. The centre will be open for all Autism families. A safe, secure, inclusive place to be who you want to be. To learn from and educate each other.

They achieved this goal by opening Kaleidoscope in 2016 and have had many thousands come through their doors. And the numbers continue to grow. They have a teen and adult social group on a Friday evening from 6pm till 8pm for 13 years old and upwards. They have family days every Saturday which gives the whole family the opportunity to come along and meet other families while the kids get to know each other too. In a relaxed, safe and non-judgemental environment. They hold family days on a Saturday at Kaleidoscope in Buckhaven Parish Church Hall on Randolph Street in Buckhaven from 10am till 1pm. This gives families a chance to come along, lets the kids have fun and lets the parents meet others going through the same processes.

The Rotary vote of thanks was given by Geoff Sampson.

Next week Thursday 30th March 2023 arrival by 6.15pm commencing at 6.30pm with our speaker Andy Foster from the Fife Deer Centre.

If you were interested in supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome.