Category Archives: Adults

For adults with autism, their parents or carers

Employment

Job interview

Here is a good article about job interviews for people with Asperger’s, with analysis and examples.       Click icon to view.       Also:

  • This article describes and illustrates the problems on both sides of the interviewer’s desk.
  • So what can you do?       Here are some tips for people with Asperger’s attending a job interview.

Evenbreak

Evenbreak advertises jobs for disabled candidates.       The employers on Evenbreak are actively aiming to attract such candidates.       Click icon to find out about them.        To check that you qualify for their support see: FAQ.       See their home page to search for jobs.

Work from home

Working from home may sound good but finding your way into a genuine job may be difficult.      Click icon to find out more about the ins and outs.       new

Also here is a clearly presented Which guide to job scams and employment fraud.       Getting a genuine job that allows you to work from home requires extra care.

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Resources

The National Autistic Society has several pages of resources for employment related issues.        Click icon to browse.       Ambitious about Autism is running a project which aims to get more people on the spectrum into work.      Find their employment resources and look for their toolkit.

Auticon

Auticon is a company, with a presence in the UK, that seeks to nurture autistic talent.        They are an international IT consulting business working with software and data.        Click icon for their website.        Have a look at careers

Adult life

Eric from Singapore has written some handy guides to adult life as someone with Asperger’s.        He addresses aspies everywhere in a readable style with insightful tips.         Click icon and browse under the Real life menu:   Basic work rules          Staying employed         Freelance jobs         Financial literacy        Working with money         Insurance discrimination

For anyone interested in the freelance jobs page, be sure to check points 1 – 3 at the bottom of the page.       Earning a bit of pocket money while living with one’s parents may be straight forward enough but it would be wise to consider the potential risks of going freelance carefully before relying on it in a big way.        Here are is a more mainstream view of avoiding  the risks.

Employment for Disabled People
Social Obligation or Individual Responsibility? 

Some people are at the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum have achieved remarkable things, e.g. Richard Branson and probably Isaac Newton to name but two.     A significant proportion of university lecturers are said to be in a similar category.     But whatever your level of potential the law offers some protection against discrimination in the work place.

The research paper referred to below might be said to offer useful insights to those with disabilities, indicating where they stand in relation to the world of work.      The full article is pretty heavy going though, so the link below takes you into a brief outline.      Click icon to view.

Tips

If you are preparing for the world of work you could probably do with some one-to-one advice and guidance, but here are a few pointers that might help:

  • If you are high-functioning this may be reflected, to some extent at least, in your qualifications, like GCSEs.      Technical work might be right up your street.
  • Whatever your level, it looks good if you can get some work experience – however small and straight forward.     This shows to yourself and possible employers that you are getting somewhere in the world of work.       Voluntary work can be a useful start.    Anyway, it might be wise to start small to begin with and see how you go.
  • There may be some things to avoid:  maybe too much stress or work that requires particularly good people skills.   For example, teaching might not be a good idea for you.
  • If your health affects your fitness for work your GP may be able to issue you with a Fit note, stating the limitations of what you can do.      For example you may need to limit the hours that you do.

For help and advice contact the National Careers Service.       They have:

  • useful things like a CV builder etc.
  • a free phone helpline,  0800 100 900.       They seem to have a calm and relaxed manner, with no pressure.
  • online chat.

Support for carers

Carer’s assessments

Carers FIRST have produced  an introduction to carer assessments to see what practical support a carer needs.       Click icon on the left to view.        First point of contact is the County Council’s Customer Service Centre: 01522 782224       carersservice@lincolnshire.gov.uk       updated

Carers UK has produced a more detailed carer’s assessments guide – click icon on the right to view..      There is a factsheet to download.      It has a chapter about adult carers (over 18 years old) who are caring for another adult who is disabled.        updated

  • A carer’s assessment is an opportunity to discuss with the local council what support or services you need.
  • Are your needs the result of you providing necessary care?
  • Does your caring role have an effect on you?
  •  Is there, or is there likely to be, a significant impact on your wellbeing?
  • If you, or the person you are looking after, are assessed by the local council/trust as needing support, then you or they have a right to ask for a direct payment instead of having the support arranged by the local council/trust.

Support for carers

Lincolnswhire Council offers a broader range of support for carers.      Click icon to browse.      It includes breaks for carers.      See also:  Support and benefits for carers on the NHS website.       new

The people at Lincolnshire Customer Service Centre can help you directly or point you in the right direction as appropriate.
Phone:  01522 782224

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Carers UK

For comprehensive information on a range of benefits to which carers might be entitled, click icon and select which benefit looks interesting.

Benefits for carers

The NHS publishes a clear and easy to follow guide to benefits for carers, including Carer’s Allowance.       Click icon to browse.       See also:  Government      Carers UK       National Autistic Society

Planning for the future

Parents may have concerns about financial provision for the future.      The National Autistic Society offers a wills and trusts phone service staffed by solicitors.       Click icon to find out more.

Money

Welfare benefits

Carers FIRST is the new name for Carers connect.      Click icon for their welfare benefits page.       More broadly, to find out how Carers FIRST fits in with Lincolnshire Carers Service see Families.       updated

Contact has several pages about benefits.      The Disability Living Allowance (DLA) page may be the most interesting but there are others listed in the left margin too.

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See also Money 16+

Turn 2 us

Turn2us is a national UK charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially.      Click icon to browse.      Look out for their benefits calculator.

Official information

Personal Budget

If a child or young person has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, or who has been assessed as needing an EHC plan, then a personal SEND budget can be requested.      Click icon for a factsheet from Contact.       See also NHS guide.

Housing

Housing benefits or Council tax support may be available if someone in your household is on a low income.      Click icon for specifics.

Money Matters

This is a guide for parents of disabled children who want to know what financial help may be available to them and what arrangements they may need to make to manage their children’s finances from birth and as they get older.

Family Fund

They provide grants to low-income families with disabled children.        Fill in their application form and post it to their office in York.        For more information click on the icon below.Family fund logoA representative attended a Lincolnshire Parent Carer Council coffee morning in Grantham, in 2012, to promote the scheme.

Save

NHS reforms

Transforming care

In 2015, NHS England published a new national plan under the ‘Transforming Care‘ agenda, called Building the Right Support.
The plan was for autistic people not to live in inappropriate inpatient units, such as assessment and treatment units or other mental health units.
Instead they should be supported in their communities, closer to their families and friends.       Click page icon for a National Autistic Society (NAS) 2016 article or PDF icon for the 2015 NHS plan.      See also comment on the funding plans.

Parliamentary debate

Progress of the agenda was debated in parliament in 2018.      Several MPs raised the challenges faced by autistic people who are stuck in mental health hospitals, highlighting that the number of autistic people in these hospitals has increased during Transforming Care.      Click icon for article

Interview

A 2019 interview with Carole Buckley may be of particular interest.       She is a retired GP who has and autistic son and is the Royal college of general practitioners clinical representative for autism.       Click icon for interview.

Updates

  • A report by the Children’s Commissioner for England in 2019 says that too many young people are being admitted to secure mental health hospitals unnecessarily and are spending years in them.       See ITV News
  • The NHS has announced that autistic adults will be included in a new and expanded learning from life and death reviews programme (LeDeR), which aims to improve health and care services.       See  article      2021

  • Number of autistic people in mental health hospitals.       See  latest data      2021

Casework service

Due to on-going difficulties with mental health services, in 2020 the NAS launched their own Autism inpatient mental health casework service.      It offers confidential advice and support for autistic people at risk of going into inpatient units or stuck in them.      Click icon to find out about it.

Fatigue

ME/Chronic Fatigue

Here is the NHS guide to Chronic Fatigue (CFS/ME).      Click icon to browse.

It seems to have taken a good few years for ME to become widely recognised across the medical profession as a genuine and debilitating condition but things seem to have improved a fair bit in that respect.      This has been in no small part due to the work of groups like the ME Association.      They are a UK national support group for people with ME.      Click icon for their website.

Dr Charles Shepherd talks about his experience of ME in what is ME?       See also:  symptoms & assessment       what you need to know

Managing

Here is a friendly guide to managing the condition.       Click icon to view.

One approach to managing the condition is graded exercise.       This description incorporates insights into avoiding the push-crash cycle.      There has been disagreement related to this approach, though, in NICE’s draft guidance as recently as Aug 2021.     new

We, at GAIN, are not qualified to give advice, but if it seems difficult, perhaps making the amount of exercise more consistent from one day to the next may be worth a try.      new

Autism and ME/Chronic fatigue

Autistic burnout seems to be an informal phrase used in the autistic community.      Click play button to watch a video by Amythest Schaber.      She seems to have a clear understanding of the issues and presents them well.       Also:

  • They thought I was lazy … when I was just actually autistic.      This is one of many perceptive reflections on life through one female Asperger’s lens.      See article.
  • Is it just me, or do other people with autism feel tired all the time?      See autism & tiredness to view article.

Related Calendar – Time2talk

Time2talk

Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum, will be holding their next Zoom online meeting for parents of children with additional needs on 23 Aug 2021 from 7-8pm.      John will be hosting it.      Click icon for details.

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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 and beyond.        They put on events in their area.

Green Synergy

Green Synergy are putting on events at Hillside Garden, in Lincoln, for people with mental health issues from April – June.      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 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 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.

Family dog workshops

How  pet dogs can help families that have a child with autism.       Dogs for Good has workshops planned for 2020.
Click icon for locations and dates e.g.  10 Jul – Lincoln,  21 Jul – Leicester.      Check again nearer the time for Coronavirus updates.

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        farm layout

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.

Neuro-diversity

Neurodiversity

The idea behind neurodiversity is that  brain differences with conditions like autism are normal and can be beneficial.       Click icon for an introduction to neurodiversity.

To get an idea where it might be heading as a movement have a look at this research article.       It says that autistic people have been speaking up for themselves since the 1990’s and that this has led to the development of the Neurodiversity movement.      It outlines current debates about the nature of autism and helps to dispel one or two common misunderstandings of what Neurodiversity means.

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This page is dedicated to publications from the viewpoint of people who do not fit in with today’s prevailing norms, notably Asperger’s Syndrome – and those close to them.

Steve Silberman

Steve Silberman is an award-winning science writer and has a lot to say about autism.       Click icon to browse his website.       In particular, look for the video in the right column: The forgotten history of autism.       See also Profile

The man who wants us to embrace autism

See Guardian article,        It explores his views and insights.       For example, Two further developments, thinks Silberman, make life much brighter for people with autism today.      One is social media: “In face-to-face, real-time interactions, people on the spectrum are often overloaded.       Conversation, eye contact, body language, all the little social signals – that can get too much.       Whereas, on the computer, at their own pace, it’s often much more natural to them.”   

He is the author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity – see Amazon.       

Autism as a mode of being

Dan Edmunds is a psychotherapist in Pennsylvania.       He is involved with the autistic rights movement.        He seeks to understand the autistic person rather than trying to change him or her.       Click icon for his article about Autism.        How does this work out in practice?

Difference or disorder?

There are two ways of thinking about disability.      It seems to depend on how you look at it.        Click icon for an article.

Also, this forum post sets out how the writer sees legislation based on the social model of disability working out.

Amythest Schaber 

Amythest Schaber is an artist, writer, public speaker and advocate.         In her blog called Neuro Wonderful she offers insight into autistic life, put across in her unique style.        Click play icon to see her range of videos.       For example:  What is autistic burnout?
Something new!

Stories from the spectrum

What is it really like to be an autistic adult?       The National Autistic Society has collected together stories from a variety of people across the autistic spectrum.       Click icon to browse and see what they have to say.

Also, ITV has produced an autism awareness series.       For example, Professor Ian Walker shares his story.
He is a retired university lecturer who was only diagnosed with autism at the age of 71.      Click link below to see article and video clip.       Find more interviews from the series at the bottom of the ITV page.

What is it really like?

Autistic UK

Autistic UK aim to equip autistic people with the tools to self-advocate.      They also help to equip education, health, and support services to become more accessible to all on the spectrum.      Click icon for their website.

As a community interest company (CIC) they are expected to reinvests surplus profits to do more of their work but can also pay a proportion of this out to the owners or investors.

Autistic not weird

This is a website by a special needs tutor with Asperger Syndrome.       Click icon on the right to browse.       For example:  Being different

Why advertising falls flat

This article considers the possibility that people with autism might be savvier consumers.        Click icon to see article.

Autistic Allies

This is a discussion group for members.       They stress that it  is NOT a support group.      Their goal is to eradicate stereotypical images of autism, and to promote an autism-positive stance.        Click icon for Facebook group.        You have to join the group to see content.        See also Austism-positive.

NeuroDivergents

Monique Craine is a blogger, activist and campaigner for NeuroDivergent (ND) rights, AKA Human Rights.          She says, This video was inspired by a Powerpoint presentation which I delivered in the past – which people claimed ‘opened their eyes’ to autism.          It has been receiving praise from the autistic community, autism professionals and parents.          Click play button to watch.

Non-speaking / low-functioning?

I am autistic, non-speaking. I am also labeled “low-functioning”.      This label is a pre-judgment based on what I cannot do.       It makes people look at me with pity instead of trying to get to know me, listen to my ideas.

Facbook small iconAutonomous Press

Owned by disabled workers, Autonomous Press seeks to revolutionize academic access.                  This can refer to a lot of things, e.g.  access to higher education, inclusive class environments …           See About for more information.

Neuro-cosmopolitan

This website could be a treasure trove for the gifted academic or teacher.

  • Here is one of the author’s more accessible articles: Advice to Young Autistics I did learn to navigate the neurotypical social world. But I didn’t approach that task with the intention of trying to change myself in order to “fit in.” I approached it as an adventure in learning my way around an exotic foreign culture.
  • This could be a good starting point for further reading: Neuro-what?

OutlookBe awesome

These links are all from the Ollibean website.         If you are always questioning things, maybe a bit of a non-conformist, this site could be a useful starting point.

  • Attitudes  –  We need to start to change how non-disabled people see disabled people, and then we can begin demanding a change in attitude.        We have enough true allies to join and support us, and we can demand what we decide we need to live a fulfilling human life.
  • Be awesome   –  Ableism – discrimination against disabled people, often unconscious/implicit.        Ableism brought forth by pity is frustrating.        It gets in the way of possibilities.
  • Universal design  –  When more people participate, everyone wins because human beings learn from each other –   e.g.  Captioned videos, films and TV help with literacy, including literacy of non-disabled people.
  • False choices  –  e.g.  Is autism a disability or a difference?

Original and tribal minds

What started out as an explanation for autistic behaviour has with twelve years of obsessive thought become the basis for a profound shift in thinking about psychology.       See introduction.

Key words

Ableism:  quick          detail
Autism-positive:       article
Aspie:                description
Neurodiversity          article

Take part in research – Just dance

Just dance

Researchers at the University of Essex are currently working on a new project that involves autistic children playing the exercise game Just Dance with their parent or primary caregiver at home.      Online taster session on 15 September 2021.     Click icon to find out more.

GAIN was contacted by Phoebe Morris (MBPsS). PhD Studentship at the University of Essex.

Cambridge research

Would you like to register with the Autism Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Cambridge, headed by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen.   They aim  to understand the biomedical causes of autism spectrum conditions, and develop new and validated methods for assessment and intervention.      They are looking for adults and parents of children with an autism diagnosis. 
Click PDF icon for poster or twitter icon for updates about taking part.
See also:  website        volunteers

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Archive

School environment

This is a study of the ways in which a changed school environment has affected primary school children with ASD.    Would any parents/carers with a child aged 5-15 who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorder like to take part in three online questionnaires?       Click icon for a letter from the researcher and a link to the first survey.

Sleep study

The University of York is running a project charting the early sleep patterns of infants at risk of developing Autism Spectrum Disorders.     If you have a baby with an older brother or sister with Autism they would love to hear from you.     This project explores sleep patterns in infant siblings through the use of sleep diaries.     Click icon for poster.     See also official project information.   The university will provide all items and materials as needed.       (Posted Oct 2017)

Child study

Are you a woman with autism?      Are you pregnant?      Click icon for the study poster.       Here is the study summary.     See also the website associated with their email address.

Carer technology

Would you be interested in taking part in a 3 month trial of a technology package to assist in co-ordinating home care?

1.      It provides the person being cared for with greater social interaction with their friends and family as well as reminding them to take their medication.
2.      Gives Carers the peace of mind with information about the person they are caring for such as through movement sensors confirming that they have visiting the toilet, opened the fridge door or medicine cabinet.         This is done by setting up various sensors and equipment, such as blood pressure monitors that can be linked to the technology.

See:   Technology       Letter        Form         Everyone website – emerging from Lincolnshire Carers & Young Carers Partnership (LCYCP)

Button - playNon-compliance behaviour

Could you spare some time for a telephone interview for a research project.            Click button for a video introduction.

Here is a little bit of background information about the project, that could be posted up to accompany the video:

We are researchers at the School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast and our project focuses on children’s non-compliance behaviour.
Non-compliance behaviour is when a child:

  • Ignore your requests…
  • Tries to talk their way out of doing things
  • Directly defies you
  • Says “no” a lot

Almost all children show some of these behaviours, but some children with autism seem to struggle especially with these sorts of behaviours.
Surprisingly little research has been carried out on why some children particularly struggle with non-compliance.    We aim to find out more about the factors that can influence the non-compliant behaviour children show so that we can start to develop bespoke helping strategies specifically designed for these behaviours.

We would like to hear from you if you are a caregiver of a child aged 5-11 years old who frequently shows the behaviour described above, and who behaves like this across different settings and where you feel the behaviour may be having a negative impact on the child and/or on the family. 

In this initial study, we would like caregivers to take part in an interview over the phone to talk about the behaviour.      Everyone who takes part will receive a feedback report about what we have found when this initial study is finished and we will update any families who wish with information about our ongoing progress in this project and future participation opportunities.

If you are interested in hearing more about the study and would like more information, please contact:

  • Katherine Grady:          kgrady01@qub.ac.uk                07926 076 790 
  • Luke McCann:               lmccann32@qub.ac.uk
  • Kate Woodcock:            k.woodcock@qub.ac.uk            028 9097 4886

The interviews are due to be completed by the end of June 2016.

Self-Injurious Behaviour

This was an on-line survey.      The project leader said, We have developed two new questionnaires which measure beliefs about suicide and nonsuicidal self-injury.        Dr Andy Siddaway

See also  Support sheet       Stirling University

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Not getting out

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.

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Introduction

Just a quick tip:  perhaps you could try using one of the following statements:

  1. “I can be anxious and still deal with the situation.”
  2. “I’ll just let my body do its thing. This will pass.”
  3. “This anxiety won’t hurt me, even if it doesn’t feel good”.
  4. “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 detailPanic attacks etc

  • 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
  • Can virtual reality help with not getting out?      Video           Text           Research

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Interest News – Tour de France

  • Tour de France: 2021:   This year Le Tour takes place Saturday June 26th to Sunday July 18th.        See  Official guide       For ITV4 coverage see  TV schedule       Daily highlights 7-8pm.       See viewing options if ITV Hub is not working well.
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  • Money for nothing – Dire Straits trubute band in Bourne, 12th Apr 2019.       Bourne CiCLE feltival men’s road race, 1st Sep.
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  • 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.
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  • 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?
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  • General election, Thursday 8th June 2017 – Easy read manifestos
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  • 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
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  • New Eurostar trains       Eurostar - Valero e320Eurostar 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.
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  • “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.
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  • 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.
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  • A NASA space probe sped past Pluto in July 2015.      See: article – with pictures from the probe and illustrations.
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  • 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.