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Friday, 3 February 2012

Autism Education Trust creates 'Awesome' superheroes


A new set of comic book characters, The 100% Awesomes, has been created by Doctor Who Adventures and Blake's 7 audio adventures writer Simon Guerrier for the Autism Education Trust to promote awareness of difference and autism.

The superhero characters are the stars of new teaching materials aimed at pupils in years five to seven.

The 100% Awesomes characters have been devised in consultation with the AET Youth Council, who decided how they should look and what super powers they should have. Written by science fiction writer Simon Guerrier, who has written Doctor Who novels, short stories and comics, and illustrated by William Potter, who has created comic strips for Doctor Who Magazine.

The four superheroes are The Moth, Alley Cat, No Beard and Tricksy Richard. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses and two of them have autism. One does not speak and uses an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to help her.

The Autism Education Trust is dedicated to coordinating, supporting and promoting effective education practice for all children and young people on the autism spectrum.

Launched in parliament in November 2007 with support and funding from the government, the AET is the only umbrella organisation working specifically on autism education across the voluntary, public and private sectors. It's funded by the Department of Education and was founded by Ambitious about Autism, The Council for Disabled Children and The National Autistic Society.

The AET helps raise awareness of the importance of appropriate educational provision for children and young people on the autism spectrum through a range of dedicated events, information sharing conferences, web based resources and ongoing research and project work.



The 100% Awesomes teaching pack includes a complete lesson plan, the comics, character cards and a teacher-guide DVD showing films of classes taking part in the lesson and interviews with teachers and pupils, as well as suggestions for follow up activities. During the lesson, students complete the comic strip adventure and solve the problems it presents. They must consider their own strengths and weaknesses and learn to celebrate differences in others.

The 100% Awesomes lesson whole class resource pack for schools,  including DVD guide is priced at £14.99. To order your copy call the AET on: 020 7903 3650 or email

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