The book covers the diagnostic process, concerns of parents, coping strategies, teaching methods, behaviour strategies, research being carried out on the subject, recognising educational needs, my child’s developmental history and my approach to Autism. It also talks of finding an appropriate educational environment and offers practical guidance in this area. It offers guidance in teaching body awareness, developing life skills, building an understanding of the environment and everyday situations.

I gave up my career as an Interior Designer in Dubai to devote my time to Steven and used my creative skills to produce materials to further encourage his learning. I educated myself on the various strategies and the subject of Autism. Seeing some progress in Steven’s abilities, I returned to the UK hoping it was the correct decision for him. Unfortunately, I have found that what I had hoped for Steven from the UK educational system wasn’t what it turned out to be. I battled with the Local Education Authority to obtain the provision that Steven needed and felt frustrated at the lack of educational support that he received. Steven has been in an educational setting provided by the LEA for the past eight years and made no progress. Therefore, I have decided to teach him at home myself again on a full time basis. This is not an easy option for me but I feel that the system has failed him and I wish to provide Steven a chance to live and to show how much he is capable of achieving.

I will be picking up from where we left off when he was taught at home at the age of seven and through this book I want to help other parents to appreciate what they can achieve with their children through perseverance and love.

Sandy Howarth

On 22 April at 9pm, BBC3 will launch a new season of autism programmes. The season has come about due to the popularity of ‘The Autistic Me’, a documentary first broadcast last August.
 
The first film is a follow-up to ‘The Autistic Me’, called ‘The Autistic Me: One Year On’. It revisits the people who were in the original documentary to see how their lives have progressed.
 
Scenes in the documentary include a meeting with MP Theresa May at Westminster to discuss the NAS ‘Don’t Write Me Off’ campaign and a session at the National Autistic Society Hertfordshire Resource Centre. 
 
Other programmes include:

The Autistic Driving School: Thursday 29 April, 9pm
Autism, Disco and Me: Thursday 6 May, 9pm
Autistic Superstars: Thursday 13 and 20 May
 
For more information about the BBC autism season,visit the BBC website.

Young, Autistic and Stagetruck

‘Young, Autistic and Stagestruck’, currently airing on Mondays at 8pm on Channel 4, follows a group of young children and teenagers with autism as they are brought together to produce a drama production. It also follows them and their families at home and while going about their daily lives. 
 

You can find out more about ‘Young, Autistic and Stagestruck’ on the Channel 4 website.

The Government’s vision is that ‘All adults with autism are able to live fulfilling and understands them. The first autism strategy for England states – They can get a diagnosis and access support if they need it, and they can depend on mainstream public services to treat them fairly as individuals, helping them make the most of their talents.’: The strategy for adults with autism in England (2010)

The Autism Act started out as a Private Members Bill, drafted by The National Autistic Society (NAS) and taken forward by Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan. The Bill was backed by a coalition of 16 autism organisations and had overwhelming parliamentary support, being backed by all the main political parties. 

The adult autism strategy

Download a copy of the Autism Act here

The Autism Act will guarantee the introduction of the first-ever adult autism strategy, which will set out how local services should be improved to meet the needs of adults with autism.

The strategy will cover a range of issues including health, social care, employment and training and, crucially, will be accompanied by guidance which places a legal obligation on local authorities and NHS bodies to meet certain requirements.

The strategy will be published by April 2010 and the accompanying legal guidance no later than December 2010.

Download a PDF of the adult autism strategy for England here. 

The strategy sets out a number of key actions and recommendations for central Government as well as for local authorities, the NHS and Jobcentre Plus.

In particular, we welcome the following aspects of the strategy.

■Improved training of frontline professionals in autism.
■The recommendation to develop local autism teams.
■Actions for better planning and commissioning of services, including involving people with autism and their parents/carers in this process.
■Actions for improving access to diagnosis.
■Leadership structures at national, regional and local levels to support delivery.
■Proposals for reviewing the strategy to make sure that it is working.

About World Autism Awareness Day
The United Nations declared April 2nd World Autism Awareness Day, to increase and develop world knowledge of autism. By bringing together autism organisations all around the world, we will give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help. Please join us in our effort to make this possible.

In the UK
we must persuade governments to recognise autism as distinct from other conditions, deserving urgent strategic planning, policy development, and dedicated resource allocation.

http://www.autismeurope2010.org/

The Congress aims to diffuse the most up-to-date evidence-based scientific knowledge and reliable information in the field of autism and influence policies and care within a contemporary approach to disability.

A new generation of researchers and operators in the field of autism will once again have the opportunity to present the features of their work in group poster presentation sessions chaired by keynote speakers.

As such, Autism-Europe is calling for original papers characterized by their scientific content and significance, social value, originality and impact on the quality of life of people with autism and their families.

Congress Topics:
Neurosciences & Cognitive Functioning, Neurobiology, Epidemiology & Genetics, Treatment, Education & Services.

Keynote Speakers:
David Amaral, Simon Baron-Cohen, Thomas Bourgeron, Ernesto Caffo, Eric Fombonne, Joaquin Fuentes, Patricia Howlin, Ami Klin, Catherine Lord, Franco Nardocci, Giacomo Rizzolatti, Sally J. Rogers, Sebastiano Russo, Sir Michael Rutter, Renato Scifo, Rutger Jan van der Gaag, Fred Volkmar/

Visit the Congress website for more information about the rules for abstract submission and online abstract submission.

 Just to let you know that Autism2009 – the latest in Awares’ annual international online autism conferences – opens on Monday, November 30, 2009, and runs for a week. This event – which Professor Simon Baron-Cohen has called “the finest online conference of its type on the planet” – is run once again by Adam Feinstein, editor of Awares, the pioneering website of Autism Cymru, Wales’s national charity for autism.

Yet again, more than 60 of the world’s leading autism experts will be taking part, as well as thousands of delegates. Among those who have already agreed to participate are:  Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor Susan Leekam, Dr Gary Mesibov, Donna Williams, Dr Wendy Lawson, Dr Susan Folstein, Dr Darold Treffert, Stephen Shore, Thorkil Sonne, Dr Manuel Casanova, Dr Connie Kasari and Dr Pamela Heaton.

Topics of discussion will include:  education, behavioural issues, language impairments, neurology, genetics, immunology, Asperger’s syndrome, autism in adolescents and adults, employment, sensory issues, socialising difficulties and related conditions.

This conference is open to anyone with an interest in autism:
parents, carers, teachers, clinicians and other professionals, as well as individuals with autism themselves.

Don’t this miss this unique opportunity to put your questions directly to some of the world’s top autism authorities. You can register for
Autism2009 right now at www.awares.org/conferences

For further details, contact Adam Feinstein at:   adam@autismcymru.org

Best wishes,

Adam Feinstein
__
Adam Feinstein
www.awares.org/conferences

The Autism Act started out as a Private Members Bill, drafted by The National Autistic Society (NAS) and taken forward by Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan. The Bill was backed by a coalition of 16 autism organisations and had overwhelming parliamentary support, being backed by all the main political parties. 

The adult autism strategy

The Autism Act will guarantee the introduction of the first-ever adult autism strategy, which will set out how local services should be improved to meet the needs of adults with autism.

The strategy will cover a range of issues including health, social care, employment and training and, crucially, will be accompanied by guidance which places a legal obligation on local authorities and NHS bodies to meet certain requirements.

The strategy will be published by April 2010 and the accompanying legal guidance no later than December 2010.

Visit The National Autistic Society

What the service does well:
A warm and welcoming atmosphere is evident on entering the care home and
we can see that people using the service and staff maintain good relationships.
People using the service tell us that they are very happy living at the care
home and that they enjoy their lives and the activities that they do.
Before people are admitted to the care home an in depth assessment process
takes place to make sure that staff are able to meet people’s needs.
Staff actively listen to and support the decisions and choices of people using
the service in order to improve their quality of life and promote their independence. They have individual and flexible lifestyles, which meet their
needs, preferences.
People using the service are supported by staff to take risks as part of an
independent lifestyle.
People using the service receive personal support in the way that they prefer
and their health care needs are assessed and monitored to ensure that they
remain well.
People using the service are assured that their concerns will be acted upon and
that they are protected from abuse.
People using the service live in a very well maintained and comfortable
environment.
People using the service are supported by a well trained staff team who are
aware of their roles and responsibilities.
People live in a home that is well managed and run in their best interests
What has improved since the last inspection?
Not applicable as it is a new service.

Read the report at