STRETFORD and Urmston MP Kate Green has endorsed a new support group for children and young people with Asperger's syndrome.

The group, which is being set up by parents, carers and professionals, will meet for the first time at 7.30pm on March 20 at the Better Tuition Centre, 1 Crofts Bank Road, Urmston, M41 0XH (entrance on Flixton Road).

"We hope that parents and carers of young people with Asperger's Syndrome will attend the meeting and help shape the group," says Jayne Dillon, herself a parent of two children with Asperger's Syndrome.

"We don't want anyone to be excluded, so a formal diagnosis of the condition is not essential."

Jayne has appeared on TV and newspapers across the world, speaking about how her cat, voted Cat of the Year 2012, helped her son Lorcan overcome selective mutism, which can be a feature of Asperger's Syndrome. She is currently working on a book about this.

Asperger's Syndrome is a form of high-functioning autism, a developmental disorder that affects communication and language functions.

"Young people with Asperger's Syndrome often go under the radar in schools," says Christine McLaughlin, a SEN teacher who owns and runs the Better Tuition Centre in Urmston.

"They often perform well academically and because they tend to be socially withdrawn, their behaviour does not pose a problem in lessons. Diagnosis is therefore often delayed and intervention in school can be patchy. There is often crippling shyness, a phobia of interacting with others, and an inability to pick up on social signals and all of this can lead to severe depression."

The group aims to have two strands: - helping primary school aged children with social skills.

- providing teenagers with a forum for support and socialising.

"We know that there is a desperate need for support in the area and we hope that by coming together we can make a huge difference to children and young people with Asperger's," adds Jayne.

To learn more about the as yet unnamed group, email traffordaspergers@yahoo.co.uk. There is also an internet forum which can be found at www.traffordasd.com/.