Autism Post-Diagnosis Support

• Provide Speech and Language Service
• Leeds Community Health Care –  S&L therapy resources
• Hertfordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care – Speech and Language Therapy resources 

Good Beginnings – This is a course for parents/carers who have a child aged 5 years and under who have social communication difficulties and/or a diagnosis of autism.  This is a free course.

The Maze Group –  Based in Ipswich this support group offers courses to help parents understand their child’s diagnosis and their additional needs (there may be a charge for this)

Rainbow Course – They can offer individual and group support for parents/carers and have various packages with varying costs. 

• ARFID awareness
• Dietician Instagram 

• Essex Local Offer
• SENDIASS
• School transition support – Limpsfield GRANGE and SNAP charity
• LEANS – Learn about Neurodiversity at School
• Autism Central 
• Multi Schools Council 
• Essex Autism Portal 

Executive Function consists of a number of different processes that help individuals to manage everyday life.  There are three core areas that make up executive function: working memory (holding information in your head), cognitive flexibility (reasoning and problem solving) and self-regulation (controlling attention, behaviour and thoughts).

How your brain’s executive function works — and how to improve it | Sabine Doebel

• Rosie King (role model) 
• Limpsfield Grange (school for autistic girls) 
• Puberty

Autistic Burnout

Autistic Masking

SET CAMHS

Available through the NHS for children/young people  up to 18 years old (up to 25 years for special educational needs).  Referral made via GP, paediatrician or direct request.

Telephone:  0300 953 0222 (9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday)

Urgent help or out of hours: 0800 995 1000

Young Minds

National charity dedicated to improving emotional wellbeing and mental health for children and young people including those who may have autism.

Helpline: 0808 802 5544

Mid and North Essex Mind

Local mental health charity for those finding life difficult.

MindEd

Free online educational resource to improve understanding of mental health problems in children and young people.

Kids Inspire

Kids Inspire provide mental health and trauma recovery support for children, young people and their families

Books:

• ‘Strong Female Character’ by Fern Brady, ‘My sister is autistic’
• ‘Autism is my SUPERPOWER!
• ‘Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap: NT is OK!’ by Clay Morton.
• ‘Isaac and his Amazing Asperger Superpowers’ by Melanie Walsh
• Girl Unmasked: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life by Emily Katy 

TV programme:

• BBC – Inside our Autistic Minds, Chris Packham

Useful social media group/channel:

Facebook:

• SEN support Chelmsford and SEND Reform England (or SEND in the Dengie)
• Autism Anglia Community Group and PiNs SEN Parents in need of support Chelmsford
• Ronnies Way.

Instagram:

• autisticgirlsnetwork 
• neurodivergent_lou 

Peer educator support from Autism Central

Mindjam –  Mentoring through Xbox

Internet Safety

Witham Soccability

Families in Focus – hold a weekend activity club one of them is in Chelmsford.

Short breaks – also have different support groups and access to beach huts and other tickets.

Bright Futures Essex – Autism Parent Support Group

• Provide Occupational Therapy 
• Sensory difficulty training video

• Sleep Scotland 

Sleep/relaxation apps

• Headspace: How to help kids sleep better
• Moshi – Sleep and Mindfulness
• Sleep Scotland 

• Provide Continence and Enuresis Service
• Bladder & Bowel UK – bladder and bowel problems information and advice
• ECC Health and Wellbeing Services 
• On Autism and Toileting 
• ERIC The children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity

Groups

The MAZE Group

For families of children and young people with additional needs who live in North Essex.  Services include free monthly drop-in sessions, specialist weekly programme, workshops and parenting groups.

Telephone: 07708 873023

SAFE

Support group for individuals and families affected by Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism (Autistic Spectrum Disorder).

Play and Recreation

POP Essex

Stay & play and respite sessions in Braintree, Essex for 0-19 year olds with SEND, their carers and loved ones.

Telephone: 01376 528999

InterAct

InterAct run short breaks, activities and club opportunities for children aged 8-18 years old.

Spectrum Gaming

Offer a safe space for children to game, organise opportunities for young people to meet up and join in activities.

Families in Focus 

Run two SEND family activity groups at weekends, in Chelmsford and Colchester. The activities includes crafts, badminton, table tennis, board games and trampolining. 

SEND Sensation 

SEND Sensation has come together to provide venue-based clubs and community-based activities with specialist staff and facilities to support children and young people with learning disabilities and autism, physical and sensory impairments, and special educational needs and disabilities.

Resource Sheet

A guide full of useful resources for your child.

• Organisations

  The National Autistic Society

  Leading charity for autistic people and their families.  Source of information covering a wide

  Autism Anglia

  Regional charity providing advice, care and support for children, adults and families affected by autism.

  Telephone: 01206 577678

  Special Needs and Parents (SNAP)

  Charity for Essex families with children and young adults (up to 25 years old) who have special needs or disabilities.

  Telephone: 01277 211300

  Families in Focus

  Chelmsford based parent-led organisation offering holistic care for families of children with disabilities and special needs.  Services include assistance with Disability Allowance applications and independent support on educational issues.

  Telephone: 01245 353575

  NHS Choices (Autistic Spectrum Disorder)

  UK health website giving information and sign-posting for autism

   

Using Photos to Help – Information Sheet

Visual Support – Information Sheet

• Autism understood
• Wrong planet: A web community designed for individuals with autism and other neurological differences. It provides a discussion forum where members can communicate with each other as well as giving access to articles and resources.
• Autistichat: A place for people with autism and related disorders to chat online. The channel is also open to the parents, friends and family of individuals with autism.