The Hoffmann Foundation Art and Craft Studiosoffer a fashion design service to all of our service users. It is targeted at the minority of females with Autistic Spectrum Condition who may be marginalised by activities, unconsciously designed with a male ASC population in mind. Nevertheless, it has been found that male service users as well as females have enjoyed and benefitted from their work with fabrics and the opportunity to sew and design fabrics is open to all.

Earlier this year, the Art & Craft Studios began to produce small pieces of furniture for sale, made by our service users. The processes of production and the entailed manufacturing activities carried out by our service users, are designed to accommodate people whose executive skills are dominated by their condition. The project, which is a retail sales project, was conceived, promoted and designed by Leila Chouiks in liaison with our service users and it is intended that it will become financially independent.

The annual drawing and painting competition has been a huge success and will be repeated every year as long as funding permits. About 50 entrants from the UK and Europe competed last year for valuable awards in an attempt to establish a consistent theory of art by those who have an autistic spectrum condition. This year (2011) we are calling for CAD in response to a suggestion that conventional media may not always be the most appropriate for this group.