The National Autistic Society (NAS)
Key Facts
Location
Project Criteria
Project funding
£92,225
Funding round
Established in 1962, The National Autistic Society is a charity that promotes the rights and interest of all people with autism. It works to ensure that they and their families receive the services they need. We run a wide range of services for people with autism and their families.
Because of their condition, children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often have difficulties with some of the most 'basic' aspects of living. Issues such as eating, sleeping, playing, behaviour management, bullying, sexuality, and moving into adulthood often present them and their parents with real difficulties. For example, with regard to eating, children often have very restricted diets. Some may refuse to eat vegetables, or only eat foods that are a certain colour. Many children with autism have to eat a gluten and casein-free diet to help with their behaviour. Such a diet can be very difficult to manage in a family setting, and it can be difficult to ensure that nutrition levels are kept at a suitable level. Sleeping can also be a real problem. Many children with autism have extremely erratic sleeping patterns, and are up and about for much of the night. Many also have bedtime rituals which parents have real difficulty with. For example, some children may only fall asleep when in the living room, cuddled up to their mother. As a result, many parents of autistic children have not had a proper night's sleep for years.
To address these issues we will run 'Help! 2' in the Shire Districts of Caradon, Kerrier and North Cornwall. Help! 2 is a series of short support and advice sessions (typically running for two hours) dealing with practical aspects of parenting a child with an ASD. We will consult parents within the three districts as to which specific areas they need help with, and then arrange for specialist speakers to address those issues. Parents will be shown how best to manage their child's behaviour, teach them new living patterns, and so help them to break away from habits or ways of doing things that are unhelpful or problematic. Furthermore, parents will learn what autism-specific services are available to them and their children in the locality, and how to access them. They will also be able to meet and talk to other parents who are facing the same challenges as they are. Talks will be held in the evenings as well as during the day, enabling either parent to attend.
A Project Co-ordinator will also be available for a minimum of 2 hours per week to provide support and advice on-line or via the telephone to parents in the three districts.