National Autistic Society (NAS) www.nas.org.uk We champion the rights and interests of all people with autism and aim to provide individuals with autism and their families with help, support and services that they can access, trust and rely upon and which can make a positive difference to their lives. Autism Helpline 0845 0704004
Parent to Parent Line 0800 9520520
Advocacy in Education 08450704002
Service for professionals 020 79033599 ‘Signpost’ – for personalised advice and information about your child’s ASD and useful resources http://signpost.autism.org.uk/
Parenting Support Programmes www.nas.org.uk/earlybird NAS Early Birds (0-4) Early Birds Plus (4-8) Barnardos - Cygnet (8+). Training programmes involving sessions and home visits and is run by local professionals, locally co-ordinated by Westfield Technology College The programmes are autism-specific and have three 'threads': 1)Understand your child's autism. 2)Get yourself into your child's world: make contact; find ways to develop interaction and communication. 3)Learn how to analyse and understand your child's behaviours; and How to use structure, so you can pre-empt and cope with problem behaviours.
Early Bird, Early Bird Plus and Cygnets are currently co-ordinated by; Trish Brooks & Alison Crawford, Westfield Technology College; Weymouth 01305833518
and are also run through;
Ros McGill, Beaucroft School; Wimborne 01202 886083
Clive Padgett, Yewstock School; Sturminster Newton 01258 472796
Helen Farnell, Mountjoy School; Bridport 01308 458664
OAASIS (Office for Advice, Assistance, Support and Information on Special needs)www.oaasis.co.uk offers advice and information for parents with a child with special educational needs. We have a helpline, email enquiry service and many information sheets, available on our website. We are also the information service of Cambian Education Services and can provide prospectuses and other information about their seven residential schools and colleges for children/young people with autism or Asperger Syndrome. Helpline: 0800 902 0732 (Mon to Fri, 10am to 4.30pm) Email: oaasis@cambiangroup.com
Talk About Autismwww.talkaboutautism.org.uk The online autism community hosted by TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education. TreeHouse is ambitious about autism. We believe that through appropriate education, it is possible to transform the lives of young people with autism and the lives of their families. Together with our sponsor TalkTalk, we have created this space for parents and carers of children with autism to share their experiences, in a safe and reliable environment. The site is moderated by trained staff.
Autism Help www.autism-help.org This site provides help with over 350 fact sheets of autism-related information, with an emphasis on practical strategies, as many families cannot afford the more expensive interventions, or may be geographically isolated and cannot access autism support services.
Autism Education Trust www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk
The Autism Education Trust (AET) was launched in November 2007 with funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. It is dedicated to coordinating and improving education support for all children on the autism spectrum in England.
It is estimated that one in 100 children is on the autism spectrum. Their education is the primary concern for most parents and carers. The Autism Education Trust aims to create a platform for voluntary, independent and statutory providers to plan and develop appropriate autism education provision across all education settings, including early years.
The Wessex Autistic Society (TWAS) www.twas.org.uk The Wessex Autistic Society is a leading voluntary organisation delivering education, support and care services for people on the autistic spectrum. We operate services in Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, and outreach to anyone else who may need us, regardless of where they may be. Contact Nicky Woolley at the Dorchester office on 01305 213130 for information on Outreach and support services.
Disability Wessex www.disabilitywessex.org.uk/view/view.php?item=57 ASD Information and Advice Service – in partnership with TWAS and Disability Wessex 01202 312085 Children with Autism Respite and Development Service (CARDS) – through TWAS. This service seeks to provide practical support to families with a child on the autism spectrum and/or a learning/developmental disability to maintain the child within the family and enhance the whole family’s quality of life. With focus on the individual child and his/her family, the service can provide: Respite care in the family home or out within the local community, Strategies and support in behaviour management for the family and/or other agencies, Holiday play schemes. Referrals to the service require the support of a social services, education or health representative, unless a family wishes to pay privately for the service.