Disability: ‘I started a club to make autistic friends’

Declan’s special interest is cars, others at the Colwyn Bay club love talking for hours about gardening, films or even Thomas the Tank Engine – without fear of judgement.

In Abergavenny, it is her love of time-travel fiction that Emma dreams of sharing with potential new friends.

Together with local councillor Kyle Elridge, who also lives with autism, Emma is starting the Abergavenny spectrum social.

They have struck an agreement with a local café to turn off the music and turn down the lights for their group when they meet once per month.

If successful, it will be the eighth group in Wales, with plans by NAS to roll the project out in England shortly.

“It’ll be super special and cosy,” said Emma.

“I’m hoping I’ll just grab a few drinks and talk about really weird stuff.

“None of that normal support group kind of stuff. It’s going to be really fun, an opportunity for people to be themselves.”