ASD POST DIAGNOSIS WORKSHOPS
Following diagnosis, parent/carers have many feelings and thoughts and conflicting emotions. No two people are the same, but some of the common themes we often hear include:
- Relief that this is not something we parents/carers have done wrong.
- Relief, that there may be some help for you and or your child.
- Questions about what it will mean for your child.
- Questions about what it will mean for you as parents and any other children
- Sadness, at the loss of the future you may not even have been aware you expected for your child.
- Anger, about people who thought your parenting was causing your child’s behaviour or people who have treated you, or your child, badly.
- Fear for the future
- Vindication – people did not take your concerns seriously.
- Confusion about what to do next.
- There must be some mistake.
We understand that parents and carers need a period of adjustment, but also that there is a need for support, as early as possible, after diagnosis. We are therefore offering parents with a recently diagnosed child the opportunity to attend a workshop. This short session is intended to help those who need it, to understand a little more about the autism spectrum and to sign post you to support that is available locally and on line, if and when you feel you need it.
In The first part, Karen explains some terms you may have heard and gives some practical strategies to help communicate with your child, and in the second part Juli and or Stacey share information about resources and support you can get, local to Bexley and also Nationally.
This workshop has been designed for parent/carers who live in Bexley. If you live in a neighbouring borough, please contact your local National Autistic Society branch and or your local Parent Carer Forum to find out what is available for you - this information should be available on your area's Local Offer. This should be searchable on the internet. You can find links to some of Bexley's neighbouring Local Offers on the Bexley Local Offer home page.
Who are we?
- Juli Atkinson is Treasurer for Bexley NAS (the local branch of the National Autistic Society), Parent Participation Coordinator for Bexley Voice and has a son on the Autism spectrum.
- Karen Upton is a retired Bexley GP with family and friends on the autistic spectrum .
- Together, we have been providing these sessions for the past 4 years.
- For 2022 we are joined by Stacey Yusuf, Project Coordinator for Bexley Voice, Bexley Mencap Trustee. She has relatives on the autistic spectrum
The workshops are held in various locations and we try and offer a combination of day and evening workshops.
For 2022, we are delighted to be joined by Stacey Yusuf, which we hope will enable us to increase the number of workshops available and introduce an age range, to help us tailor information a bit more. Please note the age ranges are a guide to how the session will be focused and we leave it to you to determine which would be best for you.
Please refer to the booking form below for dates, times, venues and age range for each workshop.
Please pay particular attention to which Christchurch Venue the workshops are held at and note if it is Bexleyheath or Sidcup.
For face to face sessions, please arrive 10 - 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow for registration and refreshments.
Location/Venues:
- The Annex, Christ Church, Main Road, Sidcup. DA15 7HE
- Pincott Hall, Christ Church, Broadway, Bexleyheath, DA67BT
- Zoom sessions - from your home, you will need to download the app to your laptop or phone.
If you would like to attend a workshop, complete the on-line form below.
If you would like more information about the workshop, email Karen at kracken@btinternet. com.
If you are unable to attend any of the dates offered but have a specific question, please email juli.atkinson@live.com.
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE REFERRED TO IN THE ZOOM SESSIONS AND CAN BE DOWNLOADED IN ADVANCE IF YOU WISH
Karen's Slide presentation click here
Karen's ASD Mind Map click here
Karen's Adrenaline Mind Map click here
Karen's Resources List May 2020 - click here
Karen's ASD Mind Map click here
Karen's Adrenaline Mind Map click here
Karen's Resources List May 2020 - click here