- Gratham college is offering free adult learning courses. They include leisure and community courses. There are also some distance-learning options. See: article (2022)
. 
Tour de France: 2022: This year Le Tour takes place Friday Jul 1st to Sunday July 24th. See Official guide . Daily highlights 7-8pm. To stream tour stages see ITV hub. new See viewing options if ITV Hub is not working well.
.- Money for nothing – Dire Straits trubute band in Bourne, 12th Apr 2019. Bourne CiCLE feltival men’s road race, 1st Sep.
. - Queen on scheduled train: This year, 2018, the queen caught a regular rail service to Norfolk for her Christmas break at Sandringham. See pictures In 2017 she recreated the first rail journey by a British monarch – Queen Victoria.
. - Tour de France: 2018: This year Le Tour takes place Saturday July 7th to Sunday July 29th, Did you know that one of the teams are using disc brakes on their bikes?
. - General election, Thursday 8th June 2017 – Easy read manifestos
. - Tour de France: 2016 coverage: Stage 7 win. In the end Chris Froome notched up his third tour win for Britain and the Sky team. See: Pictures Official guide Froome on 2016
. - New Eurostar trains
Eurostar are replacing their original French built train sets with new German Siemens trains. There are plans to extend services to destinations in the Netherlands and Germany. “In September 2013, Eurostar announced that its new service between London and Amsterdam, intended to begin operation in December 2016, would be operated by the trains. The first Class 374 set entered service in November 2015, ahead of the full launch of the new type; the receipt of the safety authorization from the Intergovernmental Commission was received earlier than expected, allowing Eurostar to begin utilizing the type on a small number of services for in-service testing.”. See Wikipedia for more information.
. - “Einstein’s gravitational waves ‘seen’ from black holes.” “Scientists are claiming a stunning discovery in their quest to fully understand gravity.” See article complete with video clip and pictures. In 1916 Albert Einstein predicted that gravity might be found to work like a kind of wave. See: PHD Comics Wikipedia.
. - Chris Froome wins the 2015 Tour de France cycle race. See: The finish The day before. The young Columbian runner up might be one to watch next year.
. - A NASA space probe sped past Pluto in July 2015. See: article – with pictures from the probe and illustrations.
. - Steve Morse joined Deep Purple in 1994, and this recording of Smoke on the Water has a particularly good version of the guitar solo. In the 1970’s most teenage boys knew the solo, and pretty much most of them with a guitar had a go at playing it.
Category Archives: Adults
About Us
Grantham Autistic Information Network (GAIN) is dedicated to supporting parents and carers of children and young people on the autistic spectrum. It is a not-for-profit voluntary group based in the market town of Grantham, in the rural county of Lincolnshire, in the British Isles. It is Tax Registered as a Charity with HMRC.
Our story
Our founder member, Jane Emery recognised the absence of one-to-one support for those struggling with (or without) a diagnosis of this condition. She became our first GAIN chair, when she set up the support group in 2006.
After Jane stepped down, due to ill health, Christine Barrs was promoted to serve for several years as chair. With the help of her committee, Christine did a great deal to put GAIN on the map. There was Picnic in the paddock each autumn, a Christmas party each year and quite an extensive series of speaker meetings from people involved with autistic support. She put a lot into building the team that took over from her, standing down in 2013.
Edward Mayes was then elected as chair and developed our range of events for children, which he had already started with cinema screenings. See events for more about these.
Our events
Mainstream events are not always suitable for children with autism. Click icon to find out why we put on events.
Some of the venues provide support for children with autism in their personal development. We held coffee mornings at Belton Lane children’s centre before Covid, and other events at Ambergate sports college a good few years ago. We keep in touch with both of them.
See events for other venues.
Our donors
Thanks to all our kind donors, including: Autism Support Network 2021 Harrowby Utd Fox & Hounds Newton House Nursery Start Right Nursery Sunrise Rotary Meridian Daylight Lodge Sleaford Funday Girl Guides Co-op branch Firefighters Walt Disney Cinema.
Thanks also to our individual donors.
Follow us on-line
Website address: www.gain-grantham.co.uk
1. It is easier to browse Facebook if you register but you can view posts for specific events, without interruption, just by clicking on the links on this website’s home page.
2. It is even possible to browse Facebook Home or Events pages without registering – though they will ask you to do so from time to time.
No need to register or log in to browse Twitter.
Just click the icon on the left and away you go.
Publicity
Click preview to view our 2022 introductory poster. See also: Events updates
Specialist Services
Options Autism
This is the new name for Options Group. They accept referrals for specialist autistic services in North Lincolnshire. They offer:
- Community-based transitional service. Social and domestic skills developed at: Options Applegate house
- Longer term adult residential care: Options Watermill Thorpe House updated
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NHS services
Lincolnshire NHS offers a range of services to support people over 18 with learning disabilities and/or autism in the community. Click icon for their web page. The Lincolnshire Family Services directory has a series of pages covering that range of services . See: Introduction and notice links to specific services at the bottom.
Occupational therapists
Occupational therapists may be able to help children and adults on the autism spectrum with sensory issues. Where can they be found? Click icon to help find out.
Floating services
Framwork’s floating support aims to promote the kind if skills and confidences needed for young people aged 18-25 in Lincoln to live independently. Self-referrals can be made. Click icon for more information.
Cauldwell Autism Services
Cauldwell Children’s Centre was opened at Keele Science & Innovation Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5NT, in 2019. Click icon to find out about autism services. The page has a service guide download. Autism services cater for ages 4 – 11. See also: Home FAQ apply map.
Family graffiti
Before Covid, Family Graffiti was putting on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based workshops in Sleaford and Boston for parents – including those with an autistic child. Children learn via their cognitive process. They are constantly receiving and retaining information from everything they see, do, hear, witness, touch, taste… but children are psychologically ‘tuned in’ with their primary carer. Therefore, cognitive behavioural therapy is quicker, more effective and longer lasting when it is delivered via the parent. Click icon to see if anything is happening now.
Earlybird
The National Autistic Society (NAS) Early Bird Programme is a three-month programme designed to help parents and carers understand their child’s autism and find ways to communicate, interact and generally make contact. See Family support to find out more.
Advance
Advance offers support and housing across Lincolnshire for young people with a learning disability. Their support is primary delivered in the Boston area. Anyone can contact them.
Family Action Support
North East Lincs Family Action Support Team (FAST) is a specialist service for families with children with attention and behavioural difficulties, including Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other complex needs, aged 3-17 years.
Linkage
Linkage supports children, parents and carers where the children are aged between the age of 5-18 and have special educational needs, learning disabilities /difficulties across the whole of Lincolnshire. The service is free. They can:
- Provide guidance and reassurance in completing referral, benefit forms and support in following appeal processes and attending tribunals.
- Provide support on strategies that can be used in the home or in school.
- Support young people and their parents getting the right support in school, preparing to leave school or college, training courses, colleges, supported internships and supported employment and day activity opportunities.
- Planning for the future – work, supported accommodation, available leisure activities.
- Meet children and families at home, liaise with the school.
Click icon for more information,
Autism East Midlands
Autism East Midlands aims to to ensure people with autism can live their lives with dignity, choice and independence. The nearest services to Grantham are in the Nottingham area. They offer:
Short breaks
Lincolnshire County Council has a Short breaks team.
Related Calendar
Dysart Park Fun Day
GAIN will have a stall at The Dysart Park Fun Day this year, on Sunday 3rd July 2022, 11am to after 4pm. See:: Journal map.
We would be grateful for any donated tombola prizes – old toys, books, food/drink, plants, trinkets, toiletries, teddies, etc (we won’t turn anything down). Please contact GAIN at
01476 600 074 to arrange a collection or to drop off. You may need to leave a voicemail message.
Family dog workshops
How pet dogs can help families that have a child with autism. Dogs for Good has workshops planned for September 2022. Details to follow.
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The events on this page are chosen because they may be of interest to a child and/or adult on the autistic spectrum. See also Local Groups for autism support groups in the South Lincolnshire, in the UK, and beyond. They put on events in their area.
Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum
Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum, host a range of Zoom online meetings. Wed 8th June 2022 – Local offer workshop. Click icons to for more information.
EHC plans
Lincolnshire autistic society has booked IPSEA for their next training day on Wed 2 Mar 10am-:30pm on Zoom. The topic is Reviewing existing EHC plans. Click icon for details. Please email: enquiries@lincolnshireautisticsociety.org.uk to reserve a place – subject to availability.
EHC plan workshop
IPSEA legal training for parents on Tuesday 25th Jan 2022. The course is now entirely free. Click icon for course outline. It will be on Zoom, so participants need access to a laptop. Please email: enquiries@lincolnshireautisticsociety.org.uk to reserve a place.
Ron’s gone wrong
Stamford arts centre, St Mary’s St, PE9 2DL, will be putting on their relaxed screening of this Disney animation on Wed 22 Dec, 2021 at 2pm. It is about an awkward boy and his computerised robot. Click image for details and to book. See also the film and scroll down to video preview.
Audience members are asked to wear face coverings and follow the signage. Box office: 01780 763203.
Jack and the beanstalk
Polka Dot Pantomimes will be performing the 2021 pantomime at the Guildhall Arts Centre, St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, NG31 6PZ on Saturday 18 Dec 2021 This particular performance will be sensitive to, and accepting of, audience members on the autistic spectrum. Click image for details and to book. Box office: 01476 406158.
Green Synergy
Green Synergy are putting on events at Hillside Garden, in Lincoln, for people with mental health issues from April – June 2021. This is part of their Better together partnership project to offer pre-employability opportunities. Click icon on the left to find out more.
See also their website
They are also running their popular Get Into gardening course as part of their Move employability project for people interested in becoming self-employed gardeners. Get in touch with them before 15 April for this course. Other options may also be available. 
Click icon on the right to find out more.
They have also launched a project for 10-14 year olds who want to do more for the environment and their community. Their Green Influencers learn new skills and gain experience and confidence. The scheme aims to make environmental social action a regular, habitual part of young people’s lives. Sign up with Brodi: brodi@greensynergy.org.uk Tel: 07586 777623
Virtual workshops
Check out the online workshops from Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum, on the left. They are free to members. Contact workshops, on the right. are free to all. Some workshops seek to address issues related to autism, others to foster wellbeing.
Worsening health
The NHS is putting on free virtual training during March 2021 to help family carers Identify early signs of worsening health in a person with a learning disability. Click icon to find out more.
Virtual workshops
Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum are arranging two free series of workshops on Zoom. One is aimed at friends, relatives and carers of children or adults with additional needs. Dates range from 5 Jan – 10 Feb 2021. It is called Waving not drowning! Click icon on the left for Waving not drowning!
They are also putting on LPCF week of SEND. – from 25 Jan – 29 Jan. These are aimed at parents and carers of children with additional needs and professionals who work with them. Click icon on the right for poster.
More workshops
Contact has quite an extensive range of virtual workshops for families with additional needs in Jan – Feb. See workshops for more information.
Positive behaviour
There were a few places left as of Tue afternoon for a Promoting Postivie Behaviour and Autism Workshop. The workshop will be on Fri 4 Dec 2020 at 9:45am and it will be online. Click icon for details.
Lincoln conference
PAACT is taking bookings for the 22nd Lincoln annual autism conference, Mon 16 – Fri 20 Nov 2020. Click icon for details.
Lincoln Castle
Only Lincoln Castle grounds are open to the public until 2 Dec. Click page icon to see visitor update. Exclusive autism-friendly Explorers sessions at the castle have not yet re-started, though, as of Sept 2020. Next one may be in the evening. Click castle icon for background information.
The Groove
The Guildhall Arts Centre has a few virtual events and on-line resources but The Groove has not re-started as of Sept 2020. Click page icon to set what they have to offer.
Dysart Park Fun Day
Unfortunately Dysart Park Fun Day has been cancelled for 2020. Click icon and scroll down to find the post cancelling all their events.
Makaton course
The Makaton course for Friday 20 Mar at Belton Lane Children’s Centre, Grantham has been cancelled
Messy
Zoo Co presents a visual story with original music, puppets and tap dancing. Performed by a deaf and hearing cast. This relaxed performance, created in partnership with ADHD Foundation, will be at the Guildhall Arts Centre in Grantham on 17 Feb. Click icon for web page or poster thumbnail.
Signposting
Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum (LPCF) will be putting on a general signposting event on Fri 31 Jan in Hubberts Bridge, near Boston.
It will be free to parents and carers. Click icon and scroll down for details. See map
Mental health engagement
Give Lincolnshire NHS your feedback on mental health community rehabilitation. Click icon for dates in January around the county.
Cinderella
Polka Dot Pantomimes are performing another season at the Guildhall Arts Centre theatre in Grantham. Click icon for information about relaxed performances. They are scheduled for 2nd Jan 2020 at 2pm & 6:30pm. Phone the booking office using (01476) 406 158 for available seats at: 6:30pm (2pm seats sold out.)
Farm quiet hour
Rand Park Farm, near Lincoln, will be putting on a quiet hour for children with additional needs and their families. Date: 14th Dec, 9 – 10am. See map
Making sense of the senses
Free conference with Dr John Biddolph on Wed 4 Dec at The Fleet, Peterborough. Click icon for more information including booking details.
Autism Conference
PAACT is taking bookings to attend and for information stands for annual conference in Lincoln on Tuesday 19th Nov 2019.
The venue will be The Showroom, Tritton Road, Lincoln, LN6 7QY. Click icon for poster. See also map
Lincoln Castle Explorers
An exclusive opportunity outside of opening hours for children and adults on the autistic spectrum to visit with their families. Lincoln Castle Explorers, 2nd Nov, 9am – 10am. Click page icon for event details and to book or castle icon about autism-friendly opening. See map.
Makaton course
An early years specialist will be running a Makaton course on Friday Oct 4th at Belton Lane Children’s Centre, Grantham. It will run from 9.30 – 12.30pm and then 12.30pm until 3.30pm with a working lunch. She will cover Level 1 in the morning and Level 2 in the afternoon. The cost is £15 per level payable to the trainer on the day. Morning session recommended for parents. If you would like to attend contact: ella.mayfield@lincolnshire.gov.uk See Speech & language about Makaton.
Signposting
Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum (LPCF) will be putting on a general signposting event on Wed 30 Sep in Market Rasen, Click icon for details. See map
Harrowby football match
Harrowby vs Cottesmore football match on Saturday 14 Sep at Harrowby United’s Dickens Road Community Stadium, Grantham, NG31 9QY. Free entry for under 16’s and carers with Carer’s Allowance letter. See also map.
Dysart Park Fun Day
GAIN will have a stall at The Dysart Park Fun Day again this year, on Sunday 7th July 2019, 11am to after 4pm. See:: Facebook map.
We would be grateful for any donated tombola prizes – old toys, books, food/drink, plants, trinkets, toiletries, teddies, etc (we won’t turn anything down). Please contact GAIN at
(01476) 855 070 to arrange to drop off or collect. Thanks to everyone who has already donated prizes, including: Poundland, Home Bargains, The Works and Subway.
Makaton course
An early years specialist will be running a Makaton course on July 5th at Belton Lane Children’s Centre, Grantham. It will run from 9.30 – 12.30pm and then 12.30pm until 3.30pm with a working lunch. She will cover Level 1 in the morning and Level 2 in the afternoon. The cost is £15 per level payable to the trainer on the day.
Healthy Conversation
The NHS will be holding public engagement drop in sessions around Lincolnshire during May and June. They want to take soundings about the future of local health services.
Family dog workshops
Workshops for families with children diagnosed with autism in Lincoln on 7 Jun. Click icon for details. See Growing up about Dogs for Good.
Signposting
Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum (LPCF) will be putting on a general signposting event on Wed 22 May in Lincoln,
Overcoming trauma
Hesley are putting on a free event for parents about overcoming trauma and building resilience for people with autism. It will be on 8 May in Nottingham. Click icon for details and to book.
Easter Quest
An exclusive opportunity outside of opening hours for children and adults on the autistic spectrum to visit with their families. Alice in Wonderland Easter Quest at Lincoln Castle. Follow the white rabbit and seek out the clues to solve the Mad Hatter’s riddle and claim your chocolate reward. Sat 20th Apr, 9am – 10am. Click icon for more information.
East Midlands events
Workshop for parents of special needs children – Coping with Challenging Behaviour. Wed, 3rd Apr, 10am – 12pm. 25 FREE places available for parents. At Voluntary Action Rutland, Rutland Community Hub, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6RB. To book your free place email westmids.office@contact.org.uk with your name, address and telephone number. Please also state the age of your child with special needs, and the nature of his/ her disability. Click poster preview to view.
Education, training & volunteering
For ages 16-19 (24) see: College & University Colleges
Training
- Fish 4 Development offer training courses in Skellingthorpe, East of Lincoln – including ITC skills, like MS Word. See website.
- Gratham college is offering free adult learning courses. They range from professional and technical to leisure and community courses. There are also some distance-learning options. See: article (2022) new
- With learndirect you can learn online. They offer courses in ITC basics for example. See also: Contact us website
Volunteering
Volunteering might offer opportunities to gain experience. Click icon on the left for the Do it volunteering website. There may not be many opportunities for under 18’s. The advanced search option helps to narrow things down.
Here is the website for the Lincolnshire Community Volunteer Service (CVS). Their South Kesteven office is in Grantham. They can take you through opportunities on the Do it website. At LCVS we understand taking the first steps into anything new can be daunting, volunteering included. That is why we do everything we can to support you through the process. Extra support and mentoring may be available in your area.
MOOCs
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are said to offer a way to acces higher (University) educatuion free of charge. The University of Derby offer a few such courses for example.
The claims made for MOOCs are being questioned, though. This looks like a well considered review.
Technical
Web links
If a text link has a line through it like this, 
. it means that the link might be broken. That is the page might not be there anymore.
PDF files
When you click a PDF icon the text may sometimes appear uneven, as shown on the right. Simply click the 
icon at the top of the display once or twice and it should become much more readable.
The icon above is by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay.
https://pixabay.com/vectors/adobe-pdf-application-acrobat-icon-24943/
This version of the Icon is by Ethandcltd – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48198391
Site safety
Security plugins
This site uses the WordPress website development system. It benefits from the rich choice of security plugins available. The development of the WordPress core system and plugins is an on-going process, and they are regularly updated.
This site has one of the better security plugins which is updated more often than most. The developer encourages the active engagement of the site administrator in setting up the plugin. It provides the site with an extra layer of protection against unauthorised tampering from hackers. .
Visitor identity
This site collects very little visitor data. Click thumbnail to see the data held about visitors by the statistics plugin used on the site. It is pretty anonymous.
This site does not ask for any visitor identification – such as name or email address. The facility for visitors to this site to leave comments is switched OFF, which makes it easier to keep it safe. It avoids the need for visitors to log in.
You can leave comments on our Facebook or Twitter pages. See Contact us for our email address.
Zoom in
If the mouse pointer turns into the magnifying glass icon above on a picture or image just click to zoom in.
Images
Pixabay is the source of many of the images on this website. Hover over image to see credits. Image file names often include credits as well.
Error messages
On rare occasions visitors to this website may get an error message like the one on the left, for example. This is a problem at the computer centre that hosts our website. It does not mean there is a problem with your computer. It might be wise to wait an hour or so before trying to view the GAIN website again. Everything should be fine before too long.
Have you seen?
The good doctor
This is a TV series from the USA. It is about Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism. It started in 2017. Click icon for trailer. More extracts: Airport scene Video clips The series: Introduction Watch in UK
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See also TV/Radio blog Viewing options
Hannah Gadsby
Hannah Gadsby is an Australian comedian who talks about her autism in her act. Click play button for a video clip about a classroom experience. See also: Wikipedia
Muppet
Triumph of the nerds
This is the story of how Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and their mates changed the world of computers during the 1970’s and 80’s. Also, how did the IBM PC come to be cloned? Click video icon for a list of episodes on Youtube.
Also, click article to read about what really happened when Steve Jobs visited Xerox PARC.
Surprisingly complicated
This is a comedy series shot on Staten Island, USA. It is based on a mum’s experience of bringing up twin boys who have autism. Click icon for the back story and a video preview. Watch: Episode 1 Episode 2. See also their Facebook page.
If you spend time on Facebook regularly you might be able to save quite a bit of broadband usage – see our Using Facebook page. If you are not sure about the PAL DVD format see Viewing options .
Autism Rocks
Meet the boys from UK’s premier autistic rock group The AutistiX.
Chasing Shadows
How does someone with Asperger’s fare in the workplace? This drama was shown on ITV in September 2014. It might give you some idea.
It is a gritty drama about a maverick who starts work at a missing person’s unit. You can view a trailer and probably find a free version via Google starting with: Chasing Shadows – Part 1. There is also a DVD version.
Holby City
Have you noticed the character Jason Haynes in the TV hospital drama series Holby City? The National Autistic Society has been actively working with researchers, producers and writers. Jason was introduced into the story line via his aunt Serena.
The actor who plays Jason has a unique insight into what makes Jason Haynes such a special character, as he himself is a young man with Asperger’s. See article. In an interview he also highlights employment issues for people on the spectrum.
Atypical
Netflix has given a straight-to-series order to “Atypical,” a dark comedy about a family with an autistic son, set to star Jennifer Jason Leigh, Variety has confirmed. “Atypical” landed an eight-episode order for the first season of the coming-of-age story that follows an 18-year-old with autism and his search for love and independence. See Intoduction about Atypical. See also viewing options about Netflix.
Me and my Asperger’s
A personal blog from Lincolnshire. “Life in a strange world. Me! They call me odd, huh. Anyway welcome to my page. Feel free to post comments, share your thoughts and/or page.” Click icon to browse:
Temple Grandin
Here is a film dramatising the life story of a lady with high-functioning Asperger’s syndrome who made an academic career for herself. She has an unusual name, Temple Grandin. Click icon for preview.
For the complete film, see Amazon Video and click the More Purchase Options link. Then, unless you have a high-definition display chose the Buy Movie SD option.
An oral history
Here is a brief animated video of a talk about her own development as a person with Asperger’s Syndrome that Temple Grandin gave at Colorado State University in 2008. Click play button to watch.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures
See also Speech & language for The Girl Who Thought in Pictures, an illustrated story book about Temple Grandin.
Doc Martin
This has proved a popular TV drama, with repeats showing on ITV1 or ITV3. The signs of Asperger’s in the character of Dr Martin Ellingham are hard to miss. They are outlined and analysed on this blogspot and you can see them illustrated with a video clip from the TV series.
Opinions differ, though, as in discussion 1 and more so in discussion 2. According to the series author, he was supposed to have the condition but to work on changing himself for the sake of his relationship with his wife and young son. Also, the scripts are written for entertainment, so things will not be entirely realistic.
Roy Cropper
Have you seen Roy Cropper on Coronation Street?
He feels at home with trains, particularly steam engines from times past. After Hayley’s passing, Stephen found him at a museum, where he showed an encyclopaedic knowledge of the early steam engines on display.
Since his return to his flat, his friends have found him shut away with his model railway. It obviously means a great deal to him.
The Fandom page for the Coronation Street character describes him as, remarkably intelligent, but socially naive. The page also suggests that Roy has Asperger’s syndrome. This has not stopped him from making a go of his life, though.
The actor who plays Roy is married to an additional needs teacher and she suggested giving Roy Asperger’s. Doing so transformed him into a character with long term potential.
His life with Hayley has been an enduring and popular feature of the street. Click on slide show for a quick review of their story. On the slide show page, click on the row of miniature pictures of the couple under the large picture. Left and right arrows will appear to scroll to more pictures.
Roy’s people skills are actually quite good in some respects. He and Hayley earned Fiz Brown’s appreciation having fostered her. He acted as a mentor to Fiz’s brother Chesney. Anna Windass, who works in his cafe, also gets on well with him. Recently she confided in him that she was carrying a secret that she felt unable to share with anyone and he advised her that it would eat her up if she did not tell her boyfriend, Owen.
Getting help with employment
Scope service
Scope offers a range of employment services. Click icon to find out about them. Support to work and Online advice and support are the services that extend to our part of the country. Here is an example of how it works. See also: Finding and staying in work
Scope wants a society where all disabled people enjoy equality and fairness. See: about us
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Advice about work
The National Autistic Society website has a page about work related issues. Click icon to find out about NAS services & support for:
- Looking for work
- In work
- Students
- Employers
Remploy
We can support people who are out of work and claiming the above benefits. But it doesn’t end there …. Click icon for their website. See also: About Finding work & support
Shaw Trust
Specialist support for people with disabilities to find and stay in work. Click icon to go to their website. Shaw Trust does not have an office in Grantham but they do have one in Lincoln.
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Shaw Trust
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Shaw Trust
Unit 8
Allenby Business Village
Crofton Road
Lincoln, LN3 4NL Check at: Address
Topical information
Moving House
Children on the autistic spectrum can find the idea of moving house unsettling, but there are things could do that might help. Click icon for an easy reading guide for parents.
Here are some basics from a support group in Philadelphia. It links to a more detailed guide.
Using social stories seems to be widely recommended and are said to be helpful to all young children with autism. Here is a social story template for children from Kidsmunicate – the speech therapy people, also in the Philadelphia. They also offer an accompanying guide to making your own social story.
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For key websites see Information.
Simon Baron-Cohen
Here is a nuanced article about Simon Baron-Cohen’s views on autism, written in 2011. He is a professor and director of Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre. Click icon to view.
In this more recent article from 2020, the emphasis seems to have shifted a bit from understanding and addressing difficulties with autism to setting out the potential of the autistic mind. It reviews the book in which he describes autistic people as pattern seekers.
Lincolnshire Autism Partnership
The LAPB is designed to try and improve support for autistic people. Have your say. Click icon for more information. See also history Email: Autism.Partnership@lincolnshire.gov.uk They launched a monthly newsletter Autism Lincs early 2017. See Issue 1 and click Past Issues at top left of screen to find all issues.
GP register
NICE is recommending that GPs in England keep a register of patients with autism in order to improve the care they receive. The guidance from NICE needs to be accepted by NHS England before it is put into practice in GP surgeries in England. See also NICE.
For those worried about data security see Should people register? The information is stored at the NHS data centre and can only be seen with permission. People have to explain why they need your information and what they plan to do with it. This means that agencies such as social services, schools etc should not have access to this information.
Carers UK
Carers UK is a charity which works to help carers by providing information, advice, support and by campaigning for change. Click icon for their website.
- They offer a wide range of Help & advice including information on the range of financial support that is available to carers through the benefit system.
- For information about Carer Support specifically for carers of children under 18 and young carers see Carer Assessments.
- For more detaied information see resources. Having the right information at the right time can make a huge difference for the carer and the person they care for.
- Have a look at Talk to us about their Advice line including advice line hours: 0808 808 777.
For information specifically for carers of adults see adult Care & Support.
Family Court
If you need legal support for a case about your child, maybe to do with care or adoption, you may want to know about CAFCAS. It stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. Their website has menus for both Young people and Grown-ups. Click icon to browse.
Here are some Top tips for dealing with CAFCAS from Net Mums. Also, it might also be worth bearing in mind that the people at CAFCAS may not know how to deal with a child on the autistic spectrum. This link to the National Autistic Society web page About autism could be useful if you wanted to print off some explanations that might help them to understand your child.
Things seem to have Improved according to Ofsted since 2008, when they found Progress inadequate, The Guardian reported on apparent Success in 2012 of a management initiative to make the “health and wellbeing of social workers a priority in the workplace”, which, the Guardian said, includes CAFCAS. Then in 2018 Ofstead published a glowing report.
Cereba
This UK based website offers a wealth of information. It is a national charity that strives to improve the lives of children with neurological conditions, through research, information and direct, on-going support. Click icon for their website. They have an Advice & support page. Topics include legal, education and emotional
They also produce a toolkit that aims to support disabled people and carers, as well as their families and advisers, who are encountering difficulties with the statutory agencies in relation to the provision of health, social care and education support services. It was developed at Cardiff Law School. Click icon to view.
Learning Disability Partnership
The Lincolnshire Learning Disability Partnership Board aims to make sure that different people, organisations and agencies work together to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. Board members include: people with a learning disability, parents and carers.
Click icon for more about them. Email: Marie.osullivan@voiceability.org 01522 706 580 This group is quite separate from the Lincolnshire Autism Partnership.
Different not less
Steve Silberman puts some flesh on the bones of this slogan with hard-headed analysis and vision. Click icon to view article. It has a 14 minute video at the bottom of the page that explains his thinking.
Not getting out
Introduction
- Is not getting out, or Agoraphobia, related to Asperger’s? Quick answers Thorough answer
- What is Panic Disorder? Panic attacks & Asperger’s Agoraphobia & anxiety These links cover treatment too.
Just a quick tip: perhaps you could try using one of the following statements:
- “I can be anxious and still deal with the situation.”
- “I’ll just let my body do its thing. This will pass.”
- “This anxiety won’t hurt me, even if it doesn’t feel good”.
- “This feeling isn’t comfortable or pleasant, but I can accept it.”
Experiences
Click icon to find out how others have found their way through panic attacks. Also, someone with high-functioning Asperger’s describes their own experience dealing with anxiety.
More detail
- What is the range of symptoms?
- Can people with high functioning Asperger’s be severely effected by
anxiety? It seems so:
– High functioning autism is associated with anxiety disorder.
– A discussion of the link between high IQ and anxiety - Here are some tips on tackling fear from Psychology Today. new
- Can virtual reality help with not getting out? Video Text Research
Learning a new skill
How do you learn to go out of the house when you’ve got agoraphobia? Click icon to listen to a radio interview with Ellie.
NHS
The NHS section on not getting out, or Agoraphobia, gives us a pretty clear picture of established scientific opinion. Click icon to browse. There is a link to treatment – including self-help tips.
National autistic society
Searching the National Autistic Society site for agoraphobia leads to a page on anxiety. Although it is aimed at professionals It may provide some useful context. Click icon to view. Under the sub-heading Are autistic people more likely to be anxious? they include fear of open spaces and crowds.
They also have a handy article on Anxietyy in autistic adults. It provides links for autistic adults and parents.
