Nua Healthcare Services provides crucial specialised residential, respite and day services to individuals and currently employs over 120 full time staff in the Kildare and Laois areas.

Asperger Syndrome, which is part of the Autism Spectrum, is believed to affect roughly 1 in 300 people. The condition typically affects a person’s ability to socialise and communicate effectively with others. Individuals with the condition are four times more likely to get bullied during adolescence than the general population which can often lead to total withdrawal from social opportunities.  As a result of these social difficulties, these individuals are significantly more likely to develop mental health problems such as anxiety disorders and depression.

Edward Dunne, Chief Executive of Nua Healthcare is delighted to be opening his 14^th facility in just six years. He said “This additional facility is much needed and the first of its kind in Ireland. Our approach at Nua Healthcare is to prepare individuals in a supported environment to live independently in the community. This unit will act as a 'stepping stone' from care to independence for residents”.

The six purpose designed log cabins are on a seven acre site on the outskirts of Co. Laois. Each cabin has one master bedroom, a guest bedroom, a bathroom and kitchen/ sitting room. There are currently x residents living in the Taliesin facility following referral from the HSE. It is hoped that all residents will be placed in ‘normal’ jobs in the local community; the objective is that the residents will build up a level of independence attached to the community i.e. they will go to university, attend further education and gain part-time employment. A comprehensive training program is also delivered whilst residents are living in the complex incorporating general and necessary living skills such as money management, cooking, laundry, social skills and employment preparation.

Nua Healthcares approach is to design a service around each person as opposed to trying to fit a ‘square peg in a round hole’. Each individual with Asperger Syndrome can have very specific interests which need to be supported. Some activities of interest include gardening, art, computers, cooking and music.