Families Together

Autism NI

• Major provider of Unique Family Support Training for all family members.
• Model of best practice.
• Externally evaluated by the University of Ulster.

“Autism isolates not only the child but the entire family”

ACCESS Parent Discussion Workshops - Aimed at Parents and Carers who have received a recent diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder for their child.

The ACCESS Workshop is a doorway to enable parents and their families to recognise their existing skills and strengths and to obtain the practical and emotiontoall support they require. It is aimed at better equipping parents/carers to understand their child, his/her Autism and the ‘shape’ of services he/she will require. The format is one of facilitated peer group discussion over a three-week period. Transitition to Autism NI’s family support network is offered as an option during the final session.

Parent quotes:

“..the whole course gave me hope for the future of my child”.

“.. I really enjoyed being among people who understood and loved the learning curve”.

“.. sharing knowledge and listening made me feel more in control of my own personal situation”.

“Thanks for helping me to understand my daughter better and for helping me to get my head around the way she lives her life, so different from the rest of the family. You made it easier for me to cope and work with her.” 

“Thanks for all your wise words”

A Father’s Perspective – Understanding Your Child with Autism

Often fathers are not seen as the main carer of their child and at times can often feel isolated. This workshop is a unique chance for fathers to come together in a supportive environment to learn about Autism and enhance understanding and how this affects their child and wider family circle.

Parent quote:

“.. thank you Autism NI for the change you gave me in doing this course, you gave me back my child, he is more than his Autism”

Grandparents – A Grandparent’s Workshop

Grandparents can often find themselves in unfamiliar and sometimes difficult situations, unsure as to how to support their child and the Grandchild with Autism. This workshop empowers them with knowledge and understanding as to how they can support their family.

Grandparent quotes:

“Thank you; you have helped me to understand my grandchild”

“.. maybe now I can really help my grandson, thank you”

“.. it helped me to meet other grandparents going through the same experiences as me”

Sibling Workshop

Brothers and sisters of children with Autism need support and understanding of the special issues within their family. These facilitated workshops offer a unique opportunity for siblings to share, learn and understand their brother or sister with Autism, in a secure and supported environment.

“..I understand how my brother thinks now”

“.. my sister is special; I love her even when she turns the TV over”

“.. it was worth missing the Simpsons for!”

Autism & You – A Workshop regarding Autism for extended family members

Having a child with Autism has an effect on the whole family. By attending this workshop all extended family members (e.g. aunts, uncles, cousins etc) will gain a deeper understanding of Autism and how they can support the child and the immediate family.

“.. a very informative insight into the world of Autism”

“.. language used was easy to understand – no mumbo jumbo which gave us a sound insight into ASD”

“.. the course was interesting and fun – thank you”

Social Skills Workshop

For children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. “The biggest challenge for children with Autism can be understanding how to interact with others in a social setting. The children often lack the basic social skills that most children develop naturally as they mature. They often do not have a full appreciation of the social “rules” of interaction. Some examples of the skills learned during childhood include, turn taking, waiting, social greeting etc.”

Dr Tony Attwood

Research suggests that improving the social skills of young individuals with Autism is one of the predictions of a positive outcome.