Member Article

Latimer’s Seafood finalist in the national 2018 Autism Professionals Awards

Latimer’s Seafood Deli and Café in Whitburn has received national recognition ahead of hundreds of other nominated businesses after becoming a finalist in the prestigious 2018 Autism Awards to be held in Harrogate in March.

The well-known seafood business run by husband and wife team Robert and Ailsa Latimer was nominated by the Gray family in the Award for Most Supportive Employer category.

The Gray’s daughter 18 year old Sophie has worked at Latimer’s for the last two years. Sophie and her 13 year old sister Chloe both live with Asperger’s syndrome which can make social interaction challenging on a daily basis.

Sophie said: “Working at Latimer’s has really helped me develop; before I worked here the thought of social interaction could be very daunting.

Partly as a result of the support I’ve received from Ailsa and the Latimer’s team I am now considering my future, although I have the qualifications required to go to university, I am instead choosing the apprenticeship route, I am not afraid of ‘work’ because I know there are supportive employers out there.

“My Asperger’s doesn’t define me, Ailsa has given me confidence and shown me I don’t have to hide the person I am, I need to embrace the positive aspects” The girls’ mum Victoria said: “Ailsa has worked very closely with Sophie to identify what she is good at and drawing it out of her, whilst being sensitive to her needs working in the retail environment which is obviously socially demanding.”

“As part of her condition Sophie struggles to read body language and being socially overloaded can be overwhelming for Sophie and her sister.

“Ailsa and other members of the team at Latimer’s have been brilliant at spotting the signs, giving Sophie the opportunity to step back and perform other tasks, like working online, that don’t involve being social.

“As a parent you worry that employers will not recognise these areas or give her the extra attention she might need. At Latimer’s they have taken a very positive approach, looking at what Sophie can do and how to develop her confidence.”

Ailsa said: “Sophie has a particular aptitude for technology and she is also very creative so it’s been easy really to ensure she can focus on these aspects for our business. She still works front of house with customers but we are also aware that she can experience being socially overloaded and the trick is to vary her duties so that this doesn’t happen.

“As well as dealing with the public regularly she is also able to support our social media platforms and has been instrumental in developing our new mascot Claude the Crab of which she has created a polymer character.

“She is very creative and making Claude the Crab figures has been an excellent way for her to combine a hobby with her work.

“This toy will be used as part of our marketing campaign in 2018 in conjunction with social media therefore combining two of Sophie particular skills.”

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