ASD Advisors Forum

18th February 2013

•Authority wide CPD

•ICT additional support resources & Kidspiration

•Siblings

•ASD School Training

•Autism Friendly School/Class

•Primary 7 transition Programme

Programme Overview

Authority wide CPD

NQT training

1 day training course foe schools staff (pre 5 – primary/secondary)

Twilights for wider education staff

ICT additional support resources

Resources audit

Kidspiration– in schools?

- Used for ASD pupils?

Siblings

Background

Cluster programme

Resources

Sibling issues

Small group activity

Discuss what you believe are the key issues/concerns for siblings of individuals with ASD.

A sibling’s story

I wish I could accept his autism

A bond that nobody can break

Issues for siblings

Increased vulnerability of whole family

Risk of social isolation Risk of increased stress levels

Individual need – resilient to high level of need

Quality of sibling relationships

Key components in keeping families strong

Open, supportive communication between core family members

Supportive social networks

Development of practical skills and a positive outlook

Positive relationships with professionals

Needs for help being met appropriately by services

Possible thoughts/feelings of a sibling

Conflicting emotions –intensely protective vs Angry/Embarrassment

Am I responsible for my brother/sister in school?

Overshadowed by sibling

Frustration, sadness and resentment at the impact ASD has on the relationship with their sibling.

Don’t want to talk to parents in case they upset them further

Parental expectations might be overwhelming

Home life may be tense and exhausting

What can school do to help?

Positive home/school relationships – understanding of their individual situation

Provision of age appropriate information about ASD

Teaching siblings some simple skills in play

Being interested in them as individuals in their own right

Encourage them to talk about their feelings - mentor

Acknowledge their caring role

Develop their coping skills

Sibling workshops

Useful reading for brothers and sisters

Mr brother or sister is different - NAS information sheet - HANDOUT

For younger brothers and sisters

Bleach, F. (2001). Everybody is different: a book for young people who have brothers or sisters with autism.

Davis, J. (1994). Able autistic children children with Asperger syndrome: a booklet for brothers and sisters.

Fairfoot, E. and Mayne, J. (2004). My special brother Rory.

Gorrod, L. (1997). My brother is different.

Hunter T. H. (2006). My sister is different

Koutsis, A., De Clercq, G., and Galbraith, R. (2006). What about me? The autism survival guide for kids.

Welton, J. (2003). Can I tell you about Asperger syndrome? A guide for family and friends.

For adolescent brothers and sisters

Hoopman, K. (2000). Blue bottle mystery.

Haddon, M. (2003). The curious incident of the dog in the night-time.

Jackson, L. (2002). Freaks, geeks and Asperger syndrome.

Support for siblings of people with autism

Autism Helpline – NAS

NAS Website – section for siblings

Barnardo’s Scotland – small groups

The Den – Interactive site fromt eh Autism Education Trust

SibsKids – for younger brothers and sisters

ASD School Training

Current arrangements?

Consider the existing programme

What would you include?

Show it be a cycle of training?

Autism Friendly School/Class

Creating standards Would this be useful What would the impact be What would you include

Primary 7 transition Programme

Learning Intention Activities

ChangeTo reflect on changes pupils have experienced in

their lives and discuss impending transition to high school

Team game Group rules Discussion – what is change, what changes have they

experienced Life journey road map Question/worry board Confidence rating 1-10

Primary-SecondaryTo know some of the differences and similarities

between primary and secondary school and have strategies to cope with these

Team game Group rules Discussion – differences between primary and

secondary Flash card activity Question/worry board Confidence rating 1-10

FriendshipsTo have strategies to make new friends in high schoolTo know how to deal with developing and changing relationships

Team gameGroup rulesDiscussion – primary friends and memoriesWhat makes a good friend? FlipchartRole-play activityQuestion/worry boardConfidence rating 1-10

Teachers and ExpectationsTo be able to cope with the varying expectations of teachers and their teaching stylesTo know and understand the reasons for school rules and expectations

Team gameGroup rulesDiscussion – primary teacher memories, differences between teachersRole-play activityDiscussion – school expectations and reasons for rulesQuestion/worry boardConfidence rating 1-10

Subjects and timetableTo understand the structure of the school dayTo know what subjects they will be learning and what each means

Team gameGroup rulesDiscussion – structure of current school day and subjectsTimetable – complete S1 exampleMatching game – subjects to contentQuestion/worry boardConfidence rating 1-10

OrganisationTo be able to organise themselves more independently (homework, schoolbag, timekeeping etc)

Team gameGroup rulesDiscussion – what, why and how to be organisedSchoolbag activity – packing for each dayHomework – how to complete diary and practise, when and where to do homeworkQuestion/worry boardConfidence rating 1-10

Dealing with problemsTo be able to deal with manageable problems assertivelyTo know when and where to go to get help with problems in and out of school

Team gameGroup rulesDiscussion – primary problems and how to deal with them, who to tell at high schoolRole-play – problem scenariosQuestion/worry boardConfidence rating 1-10

Putting it all togetherTo be able to put all their knowledge about high school to use in hypothetical situationsTo discuss their feelings about transition to high school in light of new knowledge and strategies

Team gameGroup rulesDiscussion – what have we learned?Moving On Up board gameDiscussion – how we feel about transition now, looking forward to, what we will miss about primaryConfidence rating 1-10Goodbye P7 booklets

National needs analysis

www.autismtoolbox.org.uk/questionnaire