YOUnited Neurodevelopmental Help for Families

Waiting lists for assessments are very long across the country, but you don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to start helping your child. If you think they might need further support at school you should contact your child’s teacher and/SENCO or your GP.

You do not need a diagnosis to apply for an EHCP and organisations like SENDIASS offer free, independent advice in Cambridgeshire - Cambridgeshire Online | SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

• Jump to Pre Diagnostic Support
• Jump to Post Diagnostic Support 

 

Post Diagnostic Support

1. Families can access this Post Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis Workshop.
2. Cambridge Community Paediatrics host an excellent series of websites entitiled: After assessment of ASD
3. Families can access www.teachmeaboutautism.com for useful resources about autism.
4. Healthy living advice: https://bedslutonchildrenshealth.nhs.uk/neurodiversity-support/a-whole-person-approach/.
5. Visual resources are also available at https://do2learn.com, including a social skills toolkit. 
6. The National Autistic Society at www.autism.org.uk offers support and information for individuals diagnosed with autism and their families.
7. School may wish to seek advice from the Peterborough City Council Autism and ADHD Specialist Advisory Teacher Team. A parent/carer consultation service operates via a pre-booked appointment by telephoning 01733 863689.
8. You can contact the SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) for support around education matters email sendiass@peterborough.gov.uk.

 

Additional resources

1. Family or school can access the Peterborough City Council Autism and ADHD Advisory Teaching Service for additional advice and support. A parent/carer consultation service operates via a pre-booked appointment by telephoning 01733 863689.
2. The National Autistic Society (NAS) have also produced a video called “Amazing things can happen” to help explain autism and autistic peoples’ experiences - https://youtu.be/RbwRrVw-CRo.
3. The Autistic Young Experts is a YouTube channel where autistic young people talk about their experiences of being autistic - https://www.youtube.com/@autisticyoungexperts7988.
4. The SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) ) can offer support around education matters via email - sendiass@peterborough.gov.uk or confidential helpline open during term times: Call Peterborough on 0300 365 1020.
5. You can access further information about neurodiversity - https://bedslutonchildrenshealth.nhs.uk/neurodiversity-support/a-whole-person-approach/.
6. SOS SEN is a service that provides a range of information, advice, and support for parents in relation to the process of accessing support for children with additional needs – https://sossen.org.uk/.
7. The family may wish to consider applying for DLA (disability living allowance) and the Family Fund - https://www.familyfund.org.uk/.
8. Romsey Mill’s Aspire delivers youth clubs and support for autistic children and young people. Their clubs aim to reduce social isolation and improve the mental well-being of those who attend. They currently support young people through local clubs and 1:1 support. Further information can be found at - https://www.romseymill.org/aspire. To access Romsey Mill’s Aspire a child needs to: have a formal autism diagnosis; be on roll at a mainstream school, and in year 5 or above (up to age 18); and live in Cambridge city, South Cambridgeshire, or Peterborough city. If you would like more information or are looking to refer an autistic child or young person to these services, please contact the Romsey Mill Aspire team on admin@romseymill.org or call the Romsey Mill office on 01223 213162.
9. The Teen Sleep Hub offers advice and resources around sleep for teens and their parents, including videos, eBooks, and other downloads. They can be accessed online at: https://teensleephub.org.uk/.
10. Embrace Child Victims of Crime provide practical support and face-to-face, telephone, and online emotional support and counselling in schools to children who’ve witnessed or been victims of crime, including domestic violence, neglect and abuse - https://embracecvoc.org.uk/.

 

Useful books and further reading for the young person and family:

Primary age

1. Fiona Bleach, “Everybody is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters with Autism”
2. Sienna Castellon, “The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide: How to Grow up Awesome and Autistic”
3. Jennifer Elder, “Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes”
4. Gemma Geir, “The Abilities in me: Autism” (3 years and up)
5. Carol Gray, “My social stories book”
6. Kathy Hoopman, “All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum: An affirming introduction to autism” (3 years and up)
7. Penny Kershaw, “The ASD Workbook: Understanding Your Autism Spectrum Disorder” (10 years and up)
8. Mark Scarborough, “Angus the Angry Gremlin”
9. Robyn Steward, “The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods” (10 years and up)
10. Elizabeth Verdick & Elizabeth Reeve, “The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (and Their Parents) (Survival Guides for Kids)”

 

Secondary age

1. Carolyn Brock, “I’m a teenager get me out of here: A survival guide for teenage siblings of young people with autism”
2. Mark Haddon, “The curious incident of the dog in the night-time”
3. Luke Jackson, “Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence”