AT VAC WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN ASSISTING AUTISTIC YOUNG ADULTS IN THE AGE GROUP 25 YEARS AND ABOVE TO  DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. RECENT RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT MOST AUTISTIC ADULTS LACKS THE SOCIAL SKILLS TO APPROPRIATELY  INITIATE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS INCLUDING THE OPPOSITE GENDER. AS A RESULT MANY OF THEM EXPERIENCE FEELINGS OF HOPELESSNESS, LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION TO THE EXTENT WHERE THEY CONTEMPLATE COMMITTING  SUICIDE AND OVERDOSING ON PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION IN-ORDER TO DRAW ATTENTION ONTO THEMSELVES. AT VAC WE HAVE KNOWLEDGEABLE  AND EXPERIENCED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO WILLINGLY MAKES THEMSELVES  AVAILABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH AUTISTIC ADULTS WHO FIT INTO THIS CATEGORY. oUR TARGET GROUP HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS OR CHOICES AS TO HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEIR FAILINGS AND WISHES. MOST PREFER TO SPEAK ON THE TELEPHONE, SOME ARE HAPPY TO DO A SKYPE, ZOOM OR WHATSAPP VIDEO CALLS. OTHERS WANT TO HAVE A FACE TO FACE MEETING IN A SMALL  OFFICE ENVIRONMENT .  WE TRY OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE OUR CLIENTS WISHES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. MOST OF OUR CLIENTS GETS VERY TEARFUL AND EMOTIONAL AS THEY TRY TO EXPRESS THEIR EXPERIENCE OF REJECTION AND DESIRE TO CONTINUE WITH THE RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE THEY CARE FOR. THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR US TO DEAL WITH, IS WHEN ONE PARTNER IS READY TO SETTLE DOWN AND EVEN HAVE A BABY WHILE THE OTHER PARTNER  IS SAYING HE OR SHE IS NOT YET READY FOR THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT OR RELATIONSHIP. WE THEN HAVE THE TASK OF EXPLAINING THE IMPORTANCE OF WAITING UNTIL THE OTHER PARTNER IS 'READY'. WE HAVE TRIED ENCOURAGING DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. WE  ARE CONSTANTLY SUGGESTING TO OUR CLIENTS TO SOCIALISE IN SMALL GROUPS RATHER  THAN AS COUPLES WHICH MOST OF THEM ARE INITIALLY RELUCTANT TO DO. HOWEVER EVENTUALLY THEY AGREE TO OUR IDEA.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS FREQUENTLY NECESSARY TO ASSIGN TWO MEMBERS OF STAFF TO ACCOMPANY THEM TO SOCIAL EVENTS SUCH AS CINEMA, OUTINGS TO THE SEASIDE, MUSEUMS, RESTAURANTS OR TO OTHER PLACES OF THEIR CHOOSING. THIS APPROACH HELPS A GREAT DEAL BECAUSE THE STAFF CAN THEN ASSIST, EXPLAIN AND MODEL POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR WHEN SPEAKING WITH EACH OTHER OR WITH STRANGERS WHO HAVE APPROACHED THEM OR WHEN THEY HAVE SEEN THE NEED TO APPROACH A STRANGER THEMSELVES. TRAVELLING AROUND IN A GROUP OF SIX IS OFTEN DIFFICULT SO WE HAVE FELT THE NEED TO HAVE OUR OWN MINI BUS DRIVEN BY OUR OWN DRIVER. THIS PRIVILEGE  WILL GIVE US FLEXIBILITY  AND THE FREEDOM FOR OUR ADULT CLIENTS TO TRAVEL WHEN THEY WANT TO AND TO PLACES OF INTERESTS OF THEIR CHOICE. VAC STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE A BURNING DESIRE TO ALSO HAVE OUR OWN BUILDING WHICH SHOULD BE BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE ALL OUR PROJECTS IN THE SAME BUILDING. OR UNDER THE SAME ROOF WITH A SELF CONTAINED FLAT WHICH OUR OUR CLIENTS MAY USE WHEN THEY HAVE THE DESIRE TO HAVE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR USUAL ENVIRONMENT BUT UNDER THE CARING GAZE OF TWO OF VACS CAREFULLY CHOSEN STAFF AND VOLUNTEER.