"Even the texture of the yarn and the feel of the needles or hook in hand can be a part of the positive experience for autistic people."

In 2023, Lauri joined Reachout with Arts in Mind as a member looking to meet new people while learning new creative skills.

"I had moved to Scotland from Canada four years before but struggled to make connections and friends in Alloa due to being autistic and having social anxiety issues. I was welcomed with open arms. My creative interests and experience are in the textile and fibre arts.

I have a background in Early Childhood Education and experience working with children with autism, ADHD, and other learning and behaviour challenges—as well as raising four neurodivergent children of my own. I draw on this, along with my experience teaching knitting and crochet to all ages, to ensure the Crochet and Knitting group at Reachout is welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.

I love leading the knit and crochet group at Reachout and supporting members as they learn new skills. There is no pressure when it comes to how a person would like to approach their learning. A couple of members have said that they appreciate being able to work on the same technique over and over, for however long to takes them to comfortably move forward. Others are looking for more challenging techniques as they progress. There are no deadlines or pressure to learn more difficult stitches, which autistic individuals often find frustrating.
I have been told by members that they look forward to the group each week because it helps them feel less depressed, less alone, and more relaxed because they are learning and doing a craft at their own pace while being in a social setting, also on their own terms. Some members prefer to work quietly, while listening to the other members chatting away. Some find it easier to participate in conversation while their hands are busy.

There is no pressure to make eye contact with anyone while speaking. The rhythm of the knitting needles or crochet hook relaxing and concentrating on the stitches makes time go by quickly. I like to think of knitting and crochet as some of the original fidget activities. Even the texture of the yarn and the feel of the needles or hook in hand can be a part of the positive experience for autistic people.

Personally, I find all these things to be true for myself, as well. My goal as the leader of the knit and crochet group is to give each member of the group a positive experience while meeting them where they are. They might even come to love knitting and crochet as much as I do. Being at Reachout makes that possible."