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Adapting the environment to help support people with autism and neurodiversity is important. Parents/carers, teachers, professionals and anyone coming into contact with autistic people can use the SPELL framework:
Parents/carers may wish to attend a parent group such as Cygnet. They can access this through the Early Help team or the Barnados website on the links below:
Parents/Carers can contact Kent Autistic Trust to investigate the support, which is available to parents locally. Kent Autistic Trust
The National Autistic Society website is an excellent resource for children, young people and their families. National Autistic Society
We run regular psychoeducational autism workshops with our clinicians which aim to provide information for parents/carers around a range of topics relating to Autism. For example, sessions may focus around sleep, anxiety, or behaviour. All our workshops take place online using Microsoft Teams.
Our upcoming workshops are:
You can join the clinic on the date and time above by using the meeting link below:
We also run regular autism drop-in clinics which offer an opportunity for parents/carers to come and ask clinicians any questions regarding support available in the local community. We are also joined by members of the local community including IASK and KCC who are able to answer more specific questions relating to their background. All our drop-in clinics take place online using Microsoft Teams.
Our upcoming drop-in clinics are:
You can join the clinic on the date and time above by using the meeting link below:
Parent/carers may in time wish to complete their own learning and research about Autism. There are a number of authors who write about this subject from the perspective of autistic people. For example, environmentalist Greta Thunberg has advocated for greater understanding of neurodiversity, as has naturalist Chris Packham. Documentaries by Chris Packham can be found on BBC IPlayer.
Autism is a difference in how people think and behave, it is to do with how people understand and communicate with other people, the to and fro of communication between people and special interests, habits and sensory needs. Everyone’s brain works in a different way. Having a unique way of seeing the world can help us contribute something different to our family, school and community.
The assessment has 2 parts:
We try and record the assessments to help us to write reports and to make sure we are completing them correctly. You can choose whether you want us to record it. The assessors will try and learn all about you and at the end of the process they will try and give people information about how to help support you.
It is important that the child or young person consents to having an autism assessment and feels able to consider whether they would like to complete this. It can be helpful for young people to know the following information:
Some of the advantages of a diagnosis may be:
Some of the challenges of the assessment and a diagnosis may be:
Having a diagnosis does not change you as a person, some people find that it helps them to feel understood and find like-minded people. Other people feel that it has not led to changes that they wish to see. We would encourage you to talk to your family about the assessment and make sure you would like to proceed.
We recommend that you talk to your child’s school about your concerns and see what can be put in place to adapt the environment for your child as soon as possible. Educators may wish to use Autism specific strategies to help to promote development of social skills and alleviate any social difficulties. Strategies such as having social skills groups and buddies and mentors may also be beneficial in promoting peer interaction.
Parents/carers and educators may wish to use autism specific strategies to help to promote development of social skills and alleviate any social difficulties. Strategies such as having social skills groups and buddies and mentors may also be beneficial in promoting peer interaction. Psychologist Jed Baker has developed some excellent resources to help develop children’s social skills and emotional regulation skills. The Talkabout books are also excellent resources. Parents/carers can contact the Information Advice and Support IASK if they have any concerns regarding his/her educational needs or placement: I Ask
If there are concerns regarding your child or young person’s emotional well-being, mental health, or if you have immediate concerns call 0800 011 3474, NHS 111, Option 2, or 999 in an emergency.
If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, please access help and support available to children and young people through Children and Young People’s Services.