Autism and Asperger's Diagnoses - Support and information for families in the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale areas - NHS Scarborough and ...

Autism and
 Asperger’s
  Diagnoses

Support and information for
families in the Scarborough,
 Whitby and Ryedale areas.

In this booklet you will find sources of
information and support for you and your
family following your child’s diagnosis of Autism
or Asperger’s.

There are many websites providing information
and support, we have listed some of the most
popular ones here, but you will find others.

You will find contact details for a number of
local charities. They provide support for
families with a range of services and
opportunities, including coffee mornings,
activities for your child/children and family
outings.

We have also put together a list of books that
you and your children may find useful to read.
They cover a range of ages and interests. There
are ones for parents to better understand the
autism/Asperger’s diagnosis, ones for the child
or young person to help them understand or to
help answer their questions and also
recommendations for siblings to provide them
with support and information.

Websites
General information and support

The National Autistic Society
www.autism.org.uk
The National Autistic Society is a nationwide charity.
They run a helpline, parenting courses and carry a
lot of information and resources on their website.
Either by phone or through the website you will find
information on a range of topics including general
information about autism and Asperger’s, help with
education and how to support siblings.

Ambitious about Autism
www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
A national charity for children and young people
with autism and Asperger’s. You will find useful
advice on topics such as how to explain autism to
your child, being out and about, behaviours and
much more. To find these resources on the site,
click the menu button and select “Understanding
Autism”.

Contact a Family
www.cafamily.org.uk
UK wide charity providing advice and support for
parents of children with disabilities. It also tries to
connect parents with other families on a local level.

Autism Links
www.autismlinks.co.uk
This is a directory providing links to other websites.
You can search for information on areas as diverse
as local events, research and publications, care
services, therapies, education, independence and
money and law.

Education and Law

Autism Education Trust
www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/for-parents/
The Autism Education Trust has many resources and
training opportunities for teachers and your child’s
school may find it an useful website to hear about.
There are also three sources of help for parents:
finding the right school for your child with autism or
Asperger’s, helping you work together with your
child’s school and advice on if your child has been
excluded.

North Yorkshire County Council
www.northyorks.gov.uk/children-and-families
The North Yorkshire County Council website has
information about services that may be useful for
your family. Type in the web address above or go to
the main page and click on “Children and Families”.
The “Prevention Service” provides early support for
families and the “SEND local offer” will take you to
information on financial support, groups and
networks and how to get impartial advice on the
education your child is receiving or is being offered.
The impartial advice about your child’s education is
provided by SENIASS, a nationwide independent
advice service. Their leaflet is enclosed in this
information pack.

IPSEA
www.ipsea.org.uk
A national charity that gives free and independent
advice to parents of children with special
educational needs. Areas covered include what the
local authority should provide for your child,
discrimination at school against children with
disabilities and advice on what support you should
expect for your child.

Apps

http://www.callscotland.org.uk/downloads/poste
rs-and-leaflets
This link will take you to an interactive version of
the leaflet enclosed in this pack, so if you click on
any of the icons, you will be taken to them directly.

For Siblings

Cbeebies
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/joinin/pablo-
talking-to-your-child-about-autism
Short animations explaining autism for young
children.

Sibs
www.sibs.org.uk
A nationwide charity supporting siblings of all ages
who have a brother or sister with a disability. The
website provides information on topics such as how
to support siblings with their emotions, how to deal
with sibling rivalry and how to talk to them about
disability.

Young Sibs
www.youngsibs.org.uk
Run by the charity, Sibs, Young Sibs was set up in
2011 for 6-17 year olds. The website provides a safe
online space for young siblings to find out more
about their brother or sister’s disability, seek
confidential support and advice from an advisor and
take part in a moderated chat room with other
young siblings.

More kids need to know what autism is
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/45720980
A Newsround report about Angel, an eight year old
girl who is giving assemblies in schools about autism
so that her brother, who has autism, is better
understood.

For young people with Autism or Asperger’s

My Autism and Me – a Newsround special
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/15655232
A short film presented by a young girl with autism
about what it is like to live with.

Wrong Planet
www.wrongplanet.net
A website for individuals with autism and
Asperger’s. There are forums, articles, videos and
members can create their own blogs. Membership
is also open to parents and professionals of
individuals with autism.

I Am Me
www.lukasharrison.wordpress.com
A blog by a young man with Asperger’s. It is still live,
but is no longer updated. He talks about having
Asperger’s and how it affects him and his family.

Ambitious about Autism
www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
Mentioned above already, this website has a
dedicated section for 16-25 year olds which has
advice on finding work, independent living,
relationships and more.

To find these resources on the site, click the menu
button and select “Understanding Autism”.

Local Support Groups
For North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Parent and Carer Forum
www.communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk/projects/nypa
ct
You can become a member of NYPACT – North
Yorkshire Parent and Carer Forum. The forum is
made up of parents and carers of children with
special educational needs and disabilities. They
offer workshops and conferences. Membership
brings discounts at venues and attractions with the
MAX card scheme.

Covering Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale
Scarborough and Ryedale Carers Resource
www.carersresource.net
Offering confidential support for carers from the
age of 8 upwards. They provide a help line and a
face to face advice service. They can provide advice
on finances, information on volunteering and
training and signpost you to appropriate services.

For Ryedale
Ryedale Special Families
www.ryedalespecialfamilies.org.uk
Based in Malton and covering Ryedale, Ryedale
Special Families offers support for families of
children with disabilities and additional needs. They
organise days out, run social groups for different
age ranges and offer support for family members
including grandparents and siblings. They are also a
provider of 1 to 1 respite care, you will need to be
assessed by Social Care to access this service.

RAFT (Ryedale Autism Families Together)
www.facebook.com/groups/RAFT.Admin
A group of parents and carers of children with
autism in the Ryedale area. There is a regular
meeting on the first Wednesday of the month,
during term time, 10-12.30 at Kirbymoreside
Children’s Centre.

For Scarborough
Scarborough Fast
www.scarboroughfast.co.uk
Families of Autistic Spectrum Together (FAST) is a
group run by parents to support other families.
They organise outings and social events throughout
the year.

Scarborough DAG
www.scarboroughdag.org.uk
The Scarborough Disability Action Group provides
advice and guidance on a range of issues that affect
families with a disability, including information
about welfare benefits, transport and community
care.

Yorkshire Coast Families
www.yorkshirecoastfamilies.org
A parent led charity that runs family activities and
events. There is also an online support group.

For Whitby
WHISH
www.whishgroup.co.uk
A parent led group for families with children with
hidden impairments in and around Whitby. WHISH
offers parent support, access to a sensory room,
and activities that your child and their siblings can
take part in like swimming and horse riding.

Whitby Interactive
www.whitbyinteractive.co.uk
A Whitby based charity that offers inclusive holiday
play schemes for children with and without
disabilities. The charity also runs weekend and
holiday activities for young people with a disability
to experience day trips without their parents and
siblings including activities like ice skating, visits to
Diggerland and Flamingo Land. There are also
termly family days when siblings and parents can
also join in the fun.

Yorkshire Coast Families
www.yorkshirecoastfamilies.org
A parent led charity that runs family activities and
events. There is also an online support group.

Other activities your family might enjoy
Stephen Joseph Theatre
www.sjt.uk.com
FUSE Theatre
An inclusive theatre group for young people. Call
01723 356696 for more information

ScAMPS (Scarborough Accessible Music Project)
For details please email: paul@create.uk.net.
A fully inclusive children and young people’s music
group for 8-21 year olds. The group is active during
term time after school at Wheatcroft School,
Scarborough.

Books
For parents

What’s so special about autism?
Lorna Wing
(Currently out of print, but second hand copies are
available).

Talking together about an Autism diagnosis
Rachel Pike

Martian in the playground: Understanding the
schoolchild with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Clare Sainsbury

Encouraging appropriate behaviour for children on
the Autistic Spectrum
Shira Richman

Autism; understanding and managing anger
Andrew Powell

No fighting, no biting, no screaming: How to make
behaving positively possible for people with autism
and other developmental disabilities
Bo Elven

The Incredible 5-Point scale: The significantly
improved and expanded second edition
Kari Dunn Buron

The Reason I Jump: one boy's voice from the silence
of autism
Naoki Higashida

For children and young people

I have Autism… What’s that?
K Doherty, P McNally

Do You Understand Me?: My Life, My Thoughts, My
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sofie Koborg Brosen

Body Language and Communication: A Guide for
People with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Simon Perks

Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome: A user guide
to adolescence
Luke Jackson

Coming out Asperger: Diagnosis, disclosure and self-
confidence
Dinah Murray

How to be yourself in a world that’s different
Yuko Yoshida

Survival strategies for people on the autism
spectrum
Marc Fleisher

An Asperger dictionary of every day expressions. 2 nd
Edition
Ian Stuart-Hamilton

When my worries get too big! A relaxation book for
children who live with anxiety
Kari Dunn Buron

For siblings

My sister is different
Sarah Tamsin Hunter (the National Autistic Society)

My brother is different: A book for young children
who have a brother or sister with autism
Louise Gorrod

I'm a Teenager Get Me Out of Here!: A Survival
Guide for the Teenage Siblings of Young People with
Autism
Carolyn Brock

Everybody is Different: A Book for Young People
Who Have Brothers or Sisters with Autism
Fiona Bleach

Family Forever: A Julia Storybook
Leslie Kimmelman (A free Kindle book)