Autism sufferers and their families face uncertain futures as Autism Bay of Plenty considers closure due to lack of funds.

The Tauranga-based branch of Autism New Zealand is desperately seeking financial assistance to keep its full-time field officer and coordinator.
Together they work with over 500 families in Tauranga, Waihi Beach, Whakatane, Opotiki, Kawerau and Rotorua.
The office costs about $120,000 a year to run, including wages, rent and travel. About seven per cent of this comes from government, with the rest from funding applications to charitable trusts, which co-ordinator Vickie Cooksley says have dried up.
'We are struggling to get funding, so we are appealing to the community for help,” says Vicki.
'We're getting to the point where we will have to close down pretty fast.”
The BOP branch has been operating for 17 years but its field officer service was stopped about two years ago due to lack of funding.
A new field officer, Jenni O'Neill, was employed about 18 months ago, and her future is now under threat.
'People with autism don't like change. Jenni has built up a rapport with the families and it would be sad to see that stopped.”
Autism New Zealand runs support groups for families and people with autism.
Autism BOP donation phone line, 0900 88288 or post donations to Autism NZ Inc, Historic Village, Box 841, Tauranga 3140 or email [email protected]