School for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to be built in Manchester

Written by James Gadsby-Peet 8th February 2010

A £14 million school and training centre for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is to be built in Manchester.

Grange School, which is currently situated on Dickenson Road, is to be relocated to the new site on Mount Road in Gorton.

There are currently 80 pupils aged between four and 19 at the Grange, but the new facilities will be able to accommodate 150 students.

A number of features appropriate for children with ASD have been included in the building designs, such as non-reflective surfaces, non-flickering lights and tactile experiences.

Work is to begin on the site in June and the school is expected to be open in January 2012.

According to the NHS, ASD can be difficult for parents to detect but children begin to show signs and symptoms when they are between six and 18 months old.

One such sign is if a child rarely, or never, makes gestures such as pointing or waving.