ASD: Support for Children and Families
On this page, we hope to provide you with useful information and services which can offer support. You might find all or a few of the links helpful, if not right away, maybe later on
If you would like some support, to work out who to contact first, or what to tackle first, then please call the NDP ASD Team Advice Line on: 0121 466 6825.
Understanding Autism
- All Age Autism Support Service
- Autism West Midlands
- Contact for Families with Disabled Children
- NAS Amazing Things Happen: a film about what autism is.
- National Autistic Society
- Resources for Autism
Understanding an Autism Diagnosis
You may wish to explore some books which may help in considering how best to talk about this new diagnosis – examples include:
- I am Utterly Unique: Celebrating the Strengths of Children with Asperger Syndrome and High-functioning Autism by Elaine Marie Larson
- Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes by Jennifer Elder .
An information sheet for the family regarding sharing an autism diagnosis is also available on the National Autistic Society website.
The website for Autism Education Trust has information in a range of formats, including film blogs of young peoples’ experiences of receiving their diagnosis.
Females on the Spectrum
- Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know About the Pre-Teen and Teenage Years by Shana Nichols
- Aspergirls: Empowering Females With Asperger Syndrome by Rudy Simone
- I am Aspien Girl: the Unique Characteristics, Traits and Gifts of Females on the Autism Spectrum by Tania A. Marshall
- Asperger's and Girls: World-Renowned Experts Join Those with Asperger's Syndrome to Resolve Issues That Girls and Women Face Every Day! by Tony Attwood, Temple Grandin et al.
- Life on the Autism Spectrum - A Guide for Girls and Women by Karen McKibbin
- Parenting Girls on the Autism Spectrum: Overcoming the Challenges and Celebrating the Gifts by Eileen Riley-Hall
- Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age by Sarah Hendricks
The Girl with The Curly Hair by Alis Rowe. A project to support people on the autistic spectrum and those around them. Alis has written a series of books which include:
- Asperger's Syndrome in 13-16 Year Olds: by the girl with the curly hair: Volume 2 (The Visual Guides)
- Asperger's Syndrome and Anxiety: by the girl with the curly hair: Volume 8 (The Visual Guides)
- Asperger's Syndrome Meltdowns and Shutdowns: by the girl with the curly hair: Volume 3 (The Visual Guides)
- Asperger's Syndrome: Social Energy: by the girl with the curly hair: Volume 5 (The Visual Guides)
National Association of Special Educational Needs: NASEN has produced a free useful guide which identifies key issues for girls on the spectrum and provides practical school-based support strategies.
Children's Physiotherapy
The Physiotherapy Advice Line Number is 0121 466 5193 ,
The line is open between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm, so that parents can receive clinical advice and support for their child over the telephone in the first instance.
For other queries regarding appointments, or cancellations, please contact the Soho Service on 0121 466 5203.
Education
- Autism Education Trust: AET is a not for profit programme led by two national autism charities – the National Autistic Society and Ambitious about Autism. Established and supported by the Department for Education, the AET promotes and supports partnerships throughout the education system to improve educational access, experience and outcomes for children and young people with autism.
- The Birmingham Local Offer: this is Birmingham City Council's website for all of their SEN services including educational support and information. Here, you will find help, advice and information for children or young people with a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND). You can also find information on Education Healthcare Plans (EHCP) and Communication and Autism Team (CAT) on this site. Please note, you can select the language displayed by using the drop-down in the top left-hand corner of the site.
- Birmingham Communication and Autism: resources and support for transitioning children and young people with autism back into their school/ setting after COVID-19 lockdown.
- School Transitions: many autistic children find transitions difficult, especially the transition from primary to secondary school. Careful consideration should be given to what support they may need before, during and after the transition. This can be discussed with the SENCO at your current school and the SENCO at the new secondary school, once this has been identified. Transition support may include extra visits, visual supports, any summer school activities offered etc In relation to secondary transition, there is a very useful document entitled Children with Autism Accessing the Curriculum at Key Stage 3 and 4 , which can be downloaded free and contains subject-specific guidance (this can also be found by a Google search for the document title).
Financial and Charitable Support
- The Birmingham Local Offer
- Turn2Us: a national charity that helps people in financial hardship access support services, benefits and charitable grants.
- The Family Fund can provide families with a once a year payment to help with the purchase of essential items such as a washing machine etc.
- Contact for Families with Disabled Children
- DLA Disability Living Allowance: to get a DLA form either follow the link or ring 0800 1214600.
Food
For more specific support consider contacting the BCHC Occupational Therapy Team who may be able support you if your child’s difficulties are sensory related: OT Helpline: 0121 683 2325..
Health
- Birmingham Forward Steps: supplies information for all health and wellbeing services for children aged 0-5 in Birmingham.
- Local NHS Community Services, including Health Visitors. A wide range of services for children.
Tel: 0121 466 6000 (main switchboard - ask for the service you require)
Information and Resources for Schools
It will be important for your child’s school to have a good understanding of the difficulties associated with autism in order to offer targeted support and ongoing skills teaching. This should include adapting staff communication, using visual supports, providing structure, routine and consistency with particular consideration of planning, preparation and support that might be needed around less structured parts of the day, change and transitions. For example, she may need particular support at the beginning and end of the day and may benefit from the opportunity to go to a small relaxing room with a familiar adult or group of children at these times to engage in an activity she enjoys in a calming environment before the busy school day begins.
Passports
It may be helpful for you and your child to complete a ‘passport’ which will act as a brief summary of your child’s needs and preferences. If your child is transitioning to or already in a secondary setting you may request that it is copied to all staff involved with their care and education.
- Call Scotland have a range of examples and templates on their website.
- National Autistic Society produces a Passport to individual autism support, which may be useful for young adults transitioning to college settings or training and a Hospital Passport for those who may need hospital treatment of some form. ]The use of autism specific resources such as visual timetables, social stories and comic strip conversations are likely to be particularly helpful. It is also important to recognise the potential impact of sensory processing difficulties in coping with the school environment and information and guidance is available on the National Autistic Society
School Transitions
- School Transitions: many autistic children find transitions difficult, especially the transition from primary to secondary school. Careful consideration should be given to what support they may need before, during and after the transition. This can be discussed with the SENCO at your current school and the SENCO at the new secondary school, once this has been identified. Transition support may include extra visits, visual supports, any summer school activities offered etc In relation to secondary transition, there is a very useful document entitled Children with Autism Accessing the Curriculum at Key Stage 3 and 4 , which can be downloaded free and contains subject-specific guidance (this can also be found by a Google search for the document title)
Teaching Girls on the Spectrum
National Association of Special Educational Needs: NASEN has produced a free useful guide which identifies key issues for girls on the spectrum and provides practical school-based support strategies.
Teaching Resources
- National Autistic Society: there are many excellent documents for schools outlining good practice for support for pupils with autism in mainstream schools and details of these can be found on the National Autistic Society.
Other Useful Links for Schools:
- Children's Information and Advice Service (CIAS): a free, confidential and impartial advice, support and guidance on all aspects of child care and a wide range of services that support children, young people and families.
- Resources for Autism: a charity providing practical service for children and adults with a diagnosis of autism and for those who love and care for them.
Learning and Communication
Hanen: helpful information and tips for parents
The following Hanen videos are aimed specifically at parents of younger children:
- Hanen - Games to help your child with Autism Communicate:
- Hanen – Why Interaction Matters Part 1
- Hanen – Why Interaction Matters Part 2
The following Hanen video is aimed at creating more learning opportunities for your child with Autism:
There is a ‘Twinkl Home Learning Hub’ for different age categories (starting at 3-5yrs) offering free access to all their resources for a limited time period:
Parents and professionals can access Speech and Language Therapy advice on 0121 466 6231.
Sensory
- Hanen – Sensory Needs in Children with Autism: a short video.
- National Autistic Association: sensory differences.
- Autism West Midlands: provides information on all aspects of hair care.
- BCHC Occupational Therapy Advice Line: 0121 683 2325.
- BCHC Occupational Therapy: search 'Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service' in the A-Z of services)
- BCHC Occupational Therapy.
- Twinkl: for visual resources, lots of prompt cards for anger management/calming down, visual timetables.
Sleep
Well-Being and Tips for Self-Care
Emotional Support for Children
- Forward Thinking Birmingham: support for emotional psychological needs.
Looking after yourself
- Autism West Midlands Helpline.
- Samaritans: someone to talk to about anything that may be getting to you - tel: (free) 116 123.
- Birmingham Carers Hub: info and advice - Tel 0333 006 9711, email info@birminghamcarershub.org.uk.
- Birmingham Connect to Support: online advice guide and community directory.
Tips for Self-Care
1. Do not be too hard on yourself
2. Keep in touch with your friends
3. Find time to relax
4. Do not be afraid to ask for help
5. Avoid taking on more than you can cope with
6. Try to take regular exercise and eat a well-balanced diet
7. Identify when you have a problem and seek help
8. Try not to bottle your feelings up, talk over things with someone you trust