A booklet compiled in liaison with the Autism and Communication Service. Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) Autism & Asperger s Syndrome

Transcription

1 A booklet compiled in liaison with the Autism and Communication Service Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) Autism & Asperger s Syndrome

2 Introduction Having an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) means that children and young people have difficulty in communicating and socialising. A diagnosis of ASC usually means that your child or young person may need some additional support at home or school or both. Parents/carers, brothers, sisters and the wider family might also benefit from support to understand what this means for them and the family. In this leaflet you will find some useful information about the kind of support that is available from Health, Children and Young People s Services (Education and Social care) and the voluntary sector, whether or not your child has a diagnosis. If you feel that your child may be on the autistic spectrum, the first step is to talk to your GP and/or child s school SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator). 1

3 Diagnosis There is a formal process for diagnosis through referral to a multi-agency team which involves the following practitioners: l l l l Doctor (Paediatrician or Psychiatrist) Speech and Language Therapist Educational Psychologist Information from your GP and child s school or pre-school setting The views of other practitioners, ie CAHMS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services) may be sought, as appropriate. Following diagnosis, a Paediatrician will usually stay involved with pre-school children. Follow up of older children can be by a Community Children s Nurse, if required. If there are no medical issues of significance, follow up will be with the GP. Further referral to the Paediatric Service can be requested if necessary. Support for Young Children Early Bird Programme (for pre-school children) This has been developed by the National Autistic Society (NAS) to help parents of newly diagnosed pre-school children learn more about autism and Asperger s Syndrome. The programme combines group sessions with individual home visits to give parents a better understanding of how they can best support their child at home. 2

4 Early Bird Plus (for children aged 5-9 years) As above, for parents of children aged 5-9 years and their teaching assistants. This is a ten week course. To find out more about the Early Bird or Early Bird Plus Programmes or to obtain a place, contact Barbara Mills, Early Bird Co-ordinator. Tel: For general advice about the Early Bird and Early Bird Plus Programmes, please visit Portage This is an educational home visiting service for pre-school children whose development is significantly delayed. After an initial visit by an Educational Psychologist, a specially trained home visitor will arrange to visit you and your child once a week to work on activities you can do at home to stimulate his/her development. Senior Portage Home Visitors may support the transition from pre-school settings into school. For more information, speak to the Head of your child s pre-school setting or your GP or Health Visitor. You can also visit the National Portage Association at 3

5 PERSCEY PERSCEY (Portage Early Response to Social Communication in Early Years) is a service offered to parents and families to support children with social communication conditions. Senior Home Visitors deliver a 9 week cycle of visits to support you, your child and, if appropriate, their pre-school setting. The PERSCEY Programme will work with you to produce a bespoke programme which acknowledges your child s individuality, develops their strengths and meets their identified areas of need. If you would like to know more please contact: Jo Toomey - PERSCEY Co-ordinator on: Office Mobile JToomey@somerset.gov.uk Children s Outreach Team (CAOT) This team provides support to families, post diagnosis, often following on from Early Bird and Early Bird Plus courses. The team also works with families in their own homes and provides a variety of activities for the whole family. For further information contact Barbara Mills (as above). Support in Pre-School Settings Every pre-school has access to support and guidance from an Area SENCO. These are trained and experienced teachers who can support practitioners in practical strategies and ways of adapting the learning environment to meet the needs of children with special or specific needs. 4

6 Early Years Area SENCo Team Jane Barnett Lead Area SENCo Judi Hayes Mikaela Jauncey Karen Marsh Sandy Robertson Wendy Toy Chandos House 6 Castle Street Bridgwater TA6 2JD West Somerset The Holway Centre Byron Road Taunton TA1 2JD South Somerset East /Yeovil Morley House, 26 West Hendford, Yeovil, BA20 1XE Sedgemoor Highbridge/ Burnham Chandos House, 6 Castle Street Bridgwater TA6 8DB Taunton The Holway Centre Byron Road, Taunton TA1 2JD South Somerset East /Yeovil Morley House, 26 West Hendford, Yeovil, BA20 1XE Ann Trippick Louise Shaw Mendip Shepton Mallet Frome Chilcompton Somerset County Council PO Box 5176, Shepton Mallet. BA49BD Mendip - Street Glastonbury Wells Bruton CastleCary Somerset County Council PO Box 5176, Shepton Mallet. BA49BD Early Years Educational Psychologists Sedgemoor Taunton and West Somerset South Somerset Mendip

7 Special Educational Needs Support Services Educational Psychologists and specialist teachers from the Autism and Communication Service can support schools to adjust provision to meet the needs of children with special needs. The SENCO from your child s school will have regular contact with support services and can ask them for help if this is appropriate. Sedgemoor Chandos House 6 Castle Street BRIDGWATER TA6 3DB Tel: Taunton & West Somerset The Holway Centre Keats Road TAUNTON TA1 2JB Tel: Mendip Somerset County Council PO Box 5176 SHEPTON MALLET BA4 9DD Tel: South Somerset Morley House, 26 West Hendford, Yeovil, BA20 1XE Tel: The Autism and Communication Service This Service provides regular training and support to schools, parents and other practitioners by offering advice on practical strategies and ways of adopting teaching materials so that it is easier for your child to understand. Specialist teachers for autism and communication are located in area bases. Referrals to the Autism and Communication Service can be made, whether or not a child/young person has a diagnosis. If you have concerns, please discuss with your school/pre-school SENCO or health practitioner. For more information, contact the Manager of the Somerset Autism Service. Tel:

8 Support at Home Social Services for Children with Disabilities Social Workers can support families who are under stress, including dealing with a child or young person with an Autistic Spectrum Condition and complex learning difficulties. A social worker can advise you on different sources of help in the community, eg local support groups, suitable holiday play schemes and may help with risk assessments and adaptations in the home. For more information, call the Children and Young People s Services at Somerset Direct. Tel: Health Services Integrated Therapy Service (ITS) A local service for children and young people aged 0-19 years with physical, occupational and speech and language difficulties in Somerset. Services are mainly provided within community settings, such as schools and children s centres, in patients own homes or in one of the community hospitals across the county. The team consists of Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists. ITS Helpline No: (9am-12 midday Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays excluding Bank Holidays) Website: 7

9 Children s Paediatric Teams in Somerset (Paediatrician and Community Children s Nurses) Taunton, Sedgemoor and West Somerset and Mendip Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset TA1 5DA Tel: (main switchboard) To - if you know the name of the person you wish to you can do so by using the following format: name.surname@tst.nhs.uk Paediatrician: Dr Anna Baverstock Community Nurses: Jane Wynne and Fareda Fakhari South Somerset Yeovil Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4AT Tel: (main switchboard) Paediatrician: Dr Michael Fernando East Mendip (clinics in Frome and Shepton Mallet) Sirona Care and Health, Bath NHS House, Newbridge Hill Bath BA1 3QE Tel: Paediatrician: Dr Diluki Kevitiyagala Specialist Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) This service provides specialist help with social communication difficulties for children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, Autism and Asperger s Syndrome, who are experiencing behavioral difficulties which are significantly affecting them, their education and/or their families. You should contact your GP or Paediatrician if you think your child needs help from this team. Tel: for more information. 8

10 Useful sources of information National Autistic Society. The leading UK charity for people with autism (including Asperger s Syndrome) and their families. NAS Helpline: NAS Somerset Branch. Provides a wide range of quality, personalised support services for people on the autism spectrum and their families and carers in Somerset. Tel: or somerset.service@nas.org.uk Autism Somerset: A comprehensive website based directory and forum for families, health, education and social care practitioners and providers. Supporting all those affected by autism and associated conditions. Citizen s Advice Bureau: Will advise you on what benefits you can claim and help with filling out the forms, including those for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and young people under 16 years of age and Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) for people 16 years of age and above. Somerset Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support (SENDIAS): This service offers impartial information and support to parents and carers of children with special educational needs. This can be provided through individual one to one support, telephone help-line, enquiry line, website or leaflets covering a range of SEN topics. The Service also offers information and training sessions on a range of topics relating to SEN for parent and special interest groups. For more information, call , Info@somersetsend.org.uk or visit the website:

11 Useful sources of information Somerset Parent Carer Forum: A parent-led forum which is committed to finding out what parents and carers think, listening to what parents and carers have to say and getting parental/carers views and voices heard by the Local Authority, Health and Government. Tel: info@somersetpcf.org.uk Website: Parent Support Groups Please visit for further information and list of Autism Parent Groups across Somerset.

12 Portuguese Estes documentos também se encontram disponíveis em Braille, letras grandes, fita ou disco e podem ser traduzidos para Português. Polish Ten dokument jest także dostępny w wersji Braille a, pisany dużym drukiem, na kasecie lub dysku kompaktowym i może być przetlumaczony na język polski. If you need any further help or information please contact: Somerset Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support (SENDIAS): The Holway Centre, Byron Road, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2JD Tel: info@somersetsend.org.uk Website: September 2015 Information correct at date of print Working together for equalities This leaflet is available in large print on the Somerset SENDIAS website: To request this document in an alternative format, please contact us. Funded by Somerset County Council