ASC Info

Information for people with ASCs

World Autism Day

Monday 2 April 2012

with

Dr Wendy Lawson

Bss, Bsw (Hons), Gdip (PsychStud) Gdip (Psych)

Wendy is an adult on the autism spectrum and a world famous speaker who has been sharing her knowledge and experiences over the past 15 years

and

Zaffy Simone

Zaffy is an autistic artist/illustrator, public speaker and trainer and has lifelong experience of the autistic sensory and nutritional systems

also

see the launch of the new MAIN brand

Venue: Beverley School, Saltersgill Avenue, Middlesbrough TS4 3JS

Costs: Parents/carers £15 (including one free child place at our Beverley holiday club on 2 April 2012, subject to availability); Professionals £30

Lunch and refreshments provided

For bookings and further information please contact the telephone number/email address below.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to see these two amazing experts speaking together at these unbelievable prices!

All profits from this event go towards improving the lives of individuals and families on the autism spectrum.

Telephone : 01642 277450
e-mail : nick@themainproject.co.uk
w: www.main-hub.org.uk

Around the north east, all the local authorities have an action plan for autism which is intended to improve the services provided by local authorities and health for young people and adults with ASCs.

Every action plan in our region contains the priority to engage with local people with ASCs. There has been a variety of different ideas about how this can be done. Some areas already have a user-led "support group" or a sub-group from their Learning Disability Partnership Board whose members have Learning Disability and/or autism. Some areas have no reliable way of listening to the views and experiences of local people with ASCs. The NEAC project manager, Pam Lawrence, is available to talk to individuals or existing groups about how they can feed into the work of the Local Autism Working Groups.

Why is it important for you to do this?

The local autism action plans have been created because of the national autism strategy "Rewarding and Fulfilling Lives" and legal guidance about the services and support that local authorities and PCTs must do to meet the needs of people with ASCs. The Local Autism Working Groups and Autism Service Development Groups are chaired by senior managers or commissioners in the local authority. Other decision makers or fund holders also come to these meetings from health (PCT), education, Connexions, children's services etc. These groups are also making links with housing providers and the criminal justice system amongst others.

All the important priorities and plans are decided at these meetings and it would be very bad practice if the people on the receiving end of services are not properlly engaged in helping to design and review services and plans.

If you would like to talk about this more, please call (0776 042 0251) or email Pam Lawrence

The National Autistic Society (NAS) has established a ground-breaking partnership with Remploy, the UK's leading provider of employment services for disabled people, to help increase the number of people with autism entering mainstream employment.

AUTISM new resources available from SCIE
SCIE has produced a new guide on how to improve access to social care for adults with autism, based on research by the University of Sussex. There is a full guide, an at-a-glance summary, and an easy-read of the summary. This builds on other SCIE work on autism, including a briefing on the implications of personalisation, a research briefing, and two Social Care TV films on working with adults with autism. All of the resources can be found here: http://www.scie.org.uk/topic/careneeds/autism

Finished at School

A new campaign launched by Ambitious about Autism, which aims to secure more and better educational options for all young people with autism aged 16 – 25 to enable them to develop skills, gain employment, live more independently and ultimately live the life they choose. Amongst the issues it raises, it calls for a clear legal right to educational support up to the age of 25 for young disabled people and a funding system that gives young people and families more information, choice and support. http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/page/who_we_are/news/article/index.cfm?articleId=88

Next autism friendly film screening: The Muppets (Sun 19th Feb @ 11.30) and John Carter (Sun 11th Feb @ 11.30)
ODEON have agreed to continue the partnership with Dimensions and screen a different film each month at even more cinemas across the UK. ODEON will be publicising the exact date of the cinema screening near you next week so please keep checking the Dimension's website.

Overcoming social work barriers to person-centred care

NICE diagnostic guidance for children and young people with autism

Scrutinising Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for Children with Autism

Launch of Critical Friends Project

What do people who use mental health services in the north east really think about personal budgets and direct payments? We want to hear your stories and experiences. For more information, click here.

Click here for more details.