15892/1The world of autistic Oscar Blackler has been transformed by Springboard Nursery but his place is under threat as Zo Mills reports

AN overwhelming sense of relief swept Greg and Katie Blackler when their treasured only child Oscar was diagnosed with autism in July.

It may sound strange, but the couple were grateful to finally put a name to the symptoms that had been affecting the three-year-old.

"Rather than being gutted, it indicated that we hadn't been imagining it," said Mr Blacker.

A year before, when the cheeky chap should have been learning to string sentences together, Oscar could still only say a couple of words.

He'd also became fond of switching lights on and off to the point where it was almost an obsession.

"It was gradual rather than a sudden realisation," said Mrs Blackler. "But the big giveaway was his speech. He was very behind.

"By the time he was three it was glaringly obvious that something was wrong. He wasn't playing imaginatively like his friends. Rather than pushing a train along the floor and pretending to be the driver, Oscar would just spin the wheels repetitively. It was worrying behaviour."

Thanks to a visionary GP, Mr and Mrs Blackler, of Orchard Crescent, Chippenham, were told Oscar had autism at a relatively young age.

"It's made all the difference catching it at pre-school age," said Mrs Blackler. "If his speech improves, there's no reason why he shouldn't go on to lead a fairly normal life."

Oscar started attending Chippenham-based Springboard, north Wiltshire's only pre-school for children with special needs, last September, and despite a distrust of new situations, he quickly settled in.

"It was quite surprising," said Mrs Blackler. "You can usually guarantee the first time we go somewhere new he will get very upset and suspicious.

"But he was part of the group at Springboard straight away and really feels at home there."

In his short time at Springboard, Oscar's speech has improved dramatically. "It's amazing we can't believe the difference in him," said Mrs Blackler. "He's gaining in confidence day by day. It's really unleashed his potential."

Oscar loves Springboard, but his place there is one of those under threat because of shortage of funding, which the Gazette appeal is trying to address.

"He drags me along the road because he just can't wait to get there," said Mrs Blackler. "And when I pick him up he's always had a great time."

Although he won't start school for another year, his parents hope it will be a mainstream rather than special needs setting. "Springboard has meant the difference between him not having a chance whatsoever and there being a distinct possibility," said Mrs Blackler.

She added: "We were just normal parents who knew nothing about autism. It was a daunting prospect but Springboard has made it not such a huge hurdle in life to get over.

"We're so grateful."