Support Workshops for Parents with Autistic Children in Hampshire

The aim of the sessions is to provide insight, advice and support prior, during or following a child's assessment and diagnosis. Each session will explore a different aspect of your child’s unique way of experiencing the world, and suggest practical ways in which their differences can be accommodated and supported. The focus will be on nurturing the autistic child and their characteristics rather than teaching them to ‘mask’ or ‘pass for normal’.

What will happen during the course?

Each workshop is 3 hours long. The first part consists of a presentation after which there will be an opportunity for questions.

The course is open to family members and others closely associated with the care and support of the child. Professionals may only attend in their capacity as parents or carers (except for CAMHS professionals).

Schedule

Workshop 1 - Introduction into Autism

This session will provide some general context for the other sessions.

Workshop 2 - Thinking

This session explores differences in brain structure and how this generates some unique styles of thinking. It includes some practical suggestions on how to support areas of difficulty.

Workshop 3 - Communication

This session explores autistic perspectives on the use and processing of communication and strategies for adapting interactions in order to take these in into account.

Workshop 4 - Social Interaction

This session will focus on rethinking social expectations concerning your child and developing relationships in an autistic way.

Workshop 5 - Sensory Perception

During this session we will be looking at sensory perception, how it manifests itself in behaviour, and strategies to either alert or calm your child as appropriate.

Workshop 6 - Behaviour

This session will explore how accepting, understanding and adapting to how your child sees the world can dramatically reduce anxiety and behaviours of concern.

Course Dates:

All sessions run online from 9:30am - 12:30pm.

Monday 6th January 2025, Session 1.

Monday 13th January 2025, Session 2.

Monday 20th January 2025, Session 3.

Monday 27th January 2025, Session 4.

Monday 3rd February 2025, Session 5.

Monday 10th February 2025, Session 6.