From the BBC:
“Sign cleaning gives Chatteris
'teenager with autism focus'”
A 15-year-old boy with autism has
been cleaning a town's road signs and cutting back hedges to keep him
"focused" during and after lockdown. Joseph Beer, who also has
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has been cycling around
Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, tidying things up. Residents have raised almost £800
for him to buy new equipment. Joseph said: "A lot of people have said
'well done, thank you' and told me how much of a difference it's making." Joseph
was forced to spend more time in his neighbourhood due to the coronavirus
lockdown and began to notice road signs that were either dirty or blocked by
trees and hedges. He uses a trailer he made with his dad, Mark, to carry a pair
of branch cutters and some cleaning equipment, and goes out on his bike most
days. Joseph said it was "amazing how overgrown and untidy" the town
was before he started. "It's incredible how much of a difference it makes,"
he said. His mum, Lisa, said she was "incredibly proud" of what
Joseph had done. "It's something that has been keeping him focused and
given him plenty of challenges during lockdown," Mrs Beer said. "We
are seeing significant changes around the community and we are having people
approach us and thank us for his hard work and community spirit."
(Joseph has also cut back hedges, saying it can double the size of the pavements)
Joseph has posted some of his
before and after pictures on a Chatteris Facebook group and has received
support from local residents. A fundraising page for Joseph set up last week
has raised £780 and he has also been offered new tools from a supplier. Joseph
said he would continue with the tidy up and "keep
^ This is so nice to see people –
especially young people – do these things to better their community and to have
something to do. I’m really glad his town pitched-in to get him new tools since
it shows they care too. ^
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