Ms County Durham Galaxy, Ashleigh Craggs, has launched Beyond the Puzzle, a free, comprehensive guide designed to help parents, guardians, and autistic individuals easily access the wealth of support services available in County Durham.
After months of research and hands-on experience with local resources, Ashleigh, who is from Ferryhill, compiled the colourful and informative book to ensure that families receive the guidance they need.
The book was officially launched on Friday, 14 March, and is now available free of charge through Little Treasures Autism Charity sessions and from Ferryhill Town Hall.
“When my son Carter was first diagnosed,” said Ashleigh, “a book like this would have been a game changer for us.
“There are so many incredible resources out there—it’s just a matter of finding them and being informed about them.”
Due to the overwhelming demand for Beyond the Puzzle, Ashleigh is now working on transforming it into a dedicated website to expand its reach.
In addition, after discussions with town mayor, Cllr Carole Atkinson, plans are in place to further develop and grow the project to support even more families.
“I’m absolutely thrilled by the response the book has received, she said.
“People truly needed it, and it’s a beautiful thing to be able to provide this kind of support. I want to extends my heartfelt gratitude to those who helped bring Beyond the Puzzle to life: Ian and Stuart Trotter for their help in publishing and illustrating the book.
“My son, Carter, for inspiring this entire platform, Alisha Cowie for photography, Party Forever for decorations, Lee Jewitt for the beautiful floral arrangements and Cakes at Six Lilly for providing cakes at the launch event.”
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
