Autism West Midlands – Parent Workshop & Activities

Here is a summary of what Autism West Midlands have coming up in early 2014 for families with children on the autism spectrum, including their half term activities and a parent workshop on teenage issues.

Full details are on the website links.

NEW – Producing music workshops (using a professional music studio) on Saturday afternoons in Oswestry for 10-18 year olds. Starting 8 Feb 2014: http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=382715

Games and Lego for all ages in Shrewsbury Monday 17 Feb 2014: http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=382735

Please also remember that the Saturday Board Games Groups are still meeting each month in Whitchurch and Market Drayton (9-18 year olds). Contact Hilary McGlynn if you would like more information: 0788 110 9586 or hilarym@autismwestmidlands.org.uk

Photography workshops at half term for 10–18 year olds at Attingham Park. A choice of a full day on 19 February or a half day on 20 February 2014: http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=382725

Stay and Play for under 5s in Shrewsbury – Fridays 10.00am-12.00 pm on 24 January, 21 February, 25 April, and 30 May: http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/index.php?page=event&event_id=907663

Workshop for parents “Teens on the autism spectrum” Saturday 22 March, 9.30am to 12.30pm in Shrewsbury:              http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk//events/index.php?page=event&event_id=919485

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Autism West Midlands – NEW parent/carer course and Music Workshops for young people

Practical Interventions Course for parents/carers

Please find details of a new course which takes place over 5 weeks (Tuesday evenings) in November/December. The course is aimed at parents/carers of children on the autism spectrum who have to physically intervene with their child to manage their challenging behaviour. The course will be delivered by one of our AWM training team using the Studio III approach http://studio3.org/about/

Parents/carers need to contact Autism West Midlands for a booking form. Due to the nature of the course there are only 12 places so they will be booked on a first come first served basis on receipt of the booking form and course fee (£20 for all 5 sessions). Similarly because of the limited number of places we are asking parents to be sure that they are able to attend all session dates before they book.

We are very grateful to Shropshire Council/Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group for the opportunity to bring this training to Shropshire. For this reason the course is only open to parent/carers of Shropshire children under 18 with autism/autistic traits.

Please contact Hilary McGlynn at Autism West Midlands for a booking form or more information: 01743 210940 or email hilarym@autismwestmidlands.org.uk

 

NEW! ‘All In’ Music Workshops

“Exploring Sound” Music workshops for 11-18 year olds on the autism spectrum with Penny Burns

Thursdays 5.30 to 6.30pm

5 weeks – 10th, 17th, 24th October and 7th, 14th November At Claremont Baptist Church, Shrewsbury town centre, SY1 1QG (near old Argos )

£10 per young person for all 5 sessions

•Meet others and have some fun

•Express your creativity, and develop skills

•Small group, maximum 10 per workshop

•Experienced and qualified workshop leader

•Supported by Autism West Midlands staff

For more information or to book a place please contact Emma Hegenbarth on 0788 110 9480 or email emmah@autismwestmidlands.org.uk

ASD Parent & Carer Information Pack

What is Autism? Where to turn next?

During the time of assessment and diagnosis of autism it can be difficult to know what questions to ask and where to go for answers

The Telford and Shropshire ASD Parent & Carer Information Pack is a useful starting point as an introduction to Autism and provides you with information on local services:

• For further information on Autism Spectrum Disorder;
• Signposting to both local and national support services;
• Register you on the co‐ordinator’s local mailing list to keep in touch with what’s going on in your local area, or;
• To speak to someone about the information pack… Please Contact…

For Shropshire families:

Rachael Jeavons, Shropshire Autism Project Co‐ordinator

T: 01743 450800.

E: Rachael.Jeavons@shropcom.nhs.uk

W: www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/autism

 

For Telford families:

Michelle Troth, Telford Autism Co‐ordinator

T: 01952 567356.

E: Michelle.Troth@telford.gov.uk

W: www.telford.gov.uk/autism

Shropshire’s Family Information Service – The Rainbow Pack is now available as an ebook!

Shropshire’s Family Information Service (FIS) has launched its first Kindle, tablet and smartphone-compatible ebook for families of children with disabilities.

The Rainbow Pack is the first ebook published by the FIS and is available to download to a Kindle, iPhone or iPad from Amazon for just around £0.77 pence, which covers the cost of hosting the ebook on Amazon.

Research shows that parents of children with a disability face additional barriers to accessing accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive information to support them in their role as a parent.  With this in mind, the Family Information Service is keen to make information available through as many routes as possible to make it easy for parents to access the information they need.

The Rainbow Pack includes information about local and voluntary agencies, and is divided into seven main sections:
•    People you may meet
•    Benefits and money
•    Having fun
•    Early years and childcare
•    Education
•    Rights and responsibilities
•    Organisations that can help.

Shropshire’s Family Information Service is a free and confidential service providing impartial information, advice and guidance on a wide range of subjects relating to children and young people aged 0 to 19, and covering all aspects of family life. The FIS can support parents/carers with information and also practitioners who are working with children, young people or families.

The Rainbow Pack ebook is available at Amazon by clicking here.

If you don’t have access to a Kindle or an iPad or iPhone, hard copies of The Rainbow Pack are still available free of charge. To obtain a copy, please call the Shropshire Family Information Service on 01743 254400 or email ShropshireFIS@shropshire.gov.uk.

 

Personalisation Event & Threshold Criteria Information for Professionals & Providers

Personalisation: ‘Leading the Change’

An event for children’s providers and voluntary and community organisations is being held on 11th June to prepare them for the roll out of ‘Personalisation’ in September 2014.

This event will give providers an opportunity to start looking towards the future and the provision that may be required for families.

The event will involve Andrew Tyson from ‘In Control’ (expert organisation on Personalisation) giving some background on Personalisation and the opportunity for providers to ask any questions they may have. There will also be an opportunity for those attending to work together to create an action plan for Shropshire Council in terms of providers and Personalisation.

• Date: 11^th June 2013
  
• Time: 10am-4pm
• Venue: The Dogs Trust, Roden Lane Farm, Shrewsbury, TF6 6BP

Lunch & refreshments will be available

For further information or to confirm your attendance please call Miriam Parker on 01743 250190 or email Miriam.parker@shropshire.gov.uk

 

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Multi-agency Guidance on Threshold Criteria to help support Children, Young People and their Families in Shropshire

The threshold framework, “Accessing the Right Services @ the Right Time” is a guide for practitioners and managers in every school and agency that works with, or is involved with children, young people and their families. Its aim is to assist practitioners and managers in assessing and identifying a child’s level of need, what type of services / resources may meet those needs and what processes to follow in moving from an assessment to a provision of services.

The “Accessing the Right Services @ the Right Time” Multi-agency Guidance on Threshold Criteria to help support Children, Young People and their Families in Shropshire, has been fully endorsed by the Shropshire Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) and is now available on the New SSCB Website.

The SSCB Threshold document can be accessed by clicking here

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Autism West Midlands: Workshops & Advice sessions

Free workshops in Shrewsbury for family carers living in Shropshire

Autism West Midlands are running “Rising to the Challenge” parent workshops again this year with 3 sessions before the summer holidays and 3 sessions after. There is a choice of day time or evening sessions.

The 6 sessions are FREE and for family carers of children with autism spectrum conditions who live in the Shropshire Council area (it’s ok if your child is not diagnosed so long as autism is being considered)

Bookings are being taken by email or phone and priority will be given to families attending for the first time and booking on all six sessions. If families have attended previously but missed a session or would like to attend again please get in touch.

For further information about the workshops including how to book a place please click here.

 

Advice sessions for family carers and professionals

Autism West Midlands are also offering advice sessions in various locations across Shropshire. Parents or professionals are able to book a slot to meet a member of the team for a one to one appointment.

For session dates and times and to book an appointment please call the Autism West Midlands Information Helpline on 0303 03 00 111 or email info@autismwestmidlands.org.uk