ASD Work in Monmouthshire

byTeresa James ASD Coordinator

About me…• ASD Co-ordinator

• Work across Health, Education, Social and Housing Services and Voluntary Sectors

• Work Part Time, Support 3 Parent Carer Support Groups and an Adult Social Group

• Involved with a number of Groups some of these include Family Support Group, Transition Project Board, Inclusive Play Advisory Group, Training Development Group, Adult Aspergers Team, ASD Gwent , Regional and National groups. I work across the age range children , young people and adults

• Stolen the World Autism Awareness Day Logo 2nd April every year , it’s Autism Awareness Day every day here in Monmouthshire, because it’s my favourite subject

Terminology…ASD

Autism/Autism Spectrum/ High Functioning Autism/ Autistic/ Atypical Autism/ ASD/ ASC/ AS/ Aspergers Syndrome/ Classic Autism/ Kanner Autism/ Child-hood Autism/ Infantile Autism/ Autism Traits and Pervasive Development Disorders not otherwise specified.

You are all Individual people first and foremost

There is an estimated 860 people living here in Monmouthshire

In the beginning there was…

In 2009 we were asked to:

•Appoint an ASD Lead •Local ASD Action plan•Identify Gaps •Stakeholder Group•A priority for Monmouthshire •Children and Young People Plan•Health, Social Care and Well-being Strategy

2010 Training… We have provided 32 training days for 220 people and for more than 50 organisations

•Basic Awareness•TEACCH •Visual Timetables and Social Stories •Older People •Understanding the Autism Spectrum •ASD Assessment Diagnosis and Co- morbidities•Strategies in the classroom•Understanding and Managing Behaviour•Trouble Shooting Workshops •National Autistic Society Help 2 Managing Anger •Leisure and Play

Leisure and Play…• We held an ASD and Leisure Conference

• We have provided basic awareness training across SE Wales

• Mark Foster our Disability Development Officer has adopted the passport system already used in Secondary Schools now available for Leisure and Play settings

• I have nearly made some Picture Exchange

Communication (PECs) Packs for our 4 leisure centres, this is to help Children and Young People with their independence skills such as getting dressed

News…• Children with Disabilities Team has an ASD champion

Sam Francis who has also trained to run a Help 2 Managing Anger course for Parents/Carers

• Adult Aspergers Virtual Team working really well

• Autism Cymru Emergency Card Scheme extended to ambulance and fire service

• Set up a Task and Finish Group to work on developing a blue print/business plan for a Language and Communication Resource for Secondary School age Pupils. Andrew Powel is helping us to develop this.

More News…• Helping to develop a mobile phone app. for adults

with HF ASD underway, I phone and android platforms, Sequencing, diary and social skills content

• Post Diagnostic Pack nearly ready • GP Surgery Training 80 people • Bought a range of Autism books, DVDs, Socialeyes

and Being Me resources, to share across Education and Social Service Departments

• 14-25 Transition Project has been extended for another 2 years. Next phase is to implement what we have learnt.

New 3 Year Action Plan… • 4th October we held a multi

agency ASD planning event to develop our new ASD Action Plan 2011-14

• 24 different agencies attended, each providing partnership commitment including parents and carers

• We used your feed back from last years information day this feed into the new action plan

• We have listened to you

New web resource

Awareness Raising Booklets… • Homelessness• Employment• Advocacy• Primary Healthcare• Education• Criminal Justice• Leisure and Play

• Families and Family Support• Dentists and Opticians• Residential and Day Care• Older People• Religious Faiths• Housing

Best bits over the last 2 years…

• Partnership working and sharing information

• Involving Individuals, their Families, and Carers

• Seeing Autism awareness improve dramatically

Thank you for listening “I would like to live an ordinary life with a bit of help from people who understand Me”