SWINDON’S businesses and schools came together yesterday in support of autism awareness by wearing onesies for Onesie Wednesday to raise money for the Swindon and District branch of the National Autistic Society.

Volunteers for the branch were in The Brunel Centre raising awareness of autism and providing people with information on obtaining a diagnosis, as well as giving advice to people who had already received a diagnosis.

Sixty adults and children also gathered at the Empire Cinema in Greenbridge for a special autism-friendly screening of the Lego Movie. Many autistic people of all ages often find themselves more sensitive to light and sound, so the sound was lower, adjustments were made to the lighting and children weren’t restricted to staying in their seats.

Children with an autism diagnosis from Tregoze Primary School, Holy Family Catholic Primary School, St Catherine’s Primary and St Francis CofE Primary were invited to the visit, organised by the Swindon Autism Resource Centre, and filled the cinema screen in eager anticipation of the film.

Other companies who embraced Onesie Wednesday included personal trainer Les Slinn, PR and marketing agency Vox, which attended all meetings dressed in onesies, vehicle body repair and restorers The Project Shop, mechanics L &S Autos, Labour party parliamentary candidate Anne Snelgrove, Basepoint Business Centre and The Brunel Centre.

Oriana Morrison-Clarke, Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist on the SEQOL Autism team and Branch Officer for the NAS, said: “The support we’ve received from Swindon has been outstanding. ”

To donate to the Swindon branch of the NAS, visit www.justgiving.com/SwindonandDistrictBranch.