Event title: Real Worries, Real Solutions
Venue: Barnabas Church Centre, Longden Coleham, Shrewsbury, SY3 7DN
Name: Autism West Midlands
Email: hilarym@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Telephone: 01743 250962
Event description: Our 10th Shropshire Autism conference will once again provide opportunities to hear expert speakers, share ideas and chat with others who have similar experiences.
Our keynote speakers this year are Debby Elley, from Aukids Magazine who will talk about her experiences of being mum to two boys with autism and Tim Tuff, who will speak on his own experiences of autism.
There will be an opportunity to attend two workshops (one before and one after lunch) on the following topics:
- Supporting communication needs
- Addressing anxiety
- Developing personal care habits
- Understanding and dealing with self harm
- Introduction to art therapy
- Education Panel Question and Answer session
- Preparing for adulthood, development of essential skills
- Student support at college and university
- Coping and support: building resilience for parents
Please scroll down for detailed information
Cost: £18 (Early bird) or £20 – Parents, family, carers & people with autism
£45 (Early bird) or £50 – Professionals
Early bird prices available until Friday 4 January 2019
Full programme of the day:
9.15 Registrations and coffee
9.45 Opening address: Phil Middlewood, CEO Autism West Midlands
Followed by keynote speakers:
- Debby Elley – “ Alec and Bobby are in the Building”, a talk about her experiences of being mum to two boys with autism
- Tim Tuff, “Jam on a Marmalade Day”, a personal experience of autism
11.30 Coffee break
11.45 Workshop 1 – choice of
- Addressing anxiety
- Supporting communication needs
- Understanding and dealing with self harm
- Developing personal care habits
- Introduction to art therapy
12.45 Lunch and networking (information stands to view)
1.30 Workshop 2 – choice of
- Education Panel Question and Answer session
- Preparing for adulthood, how to support your child to gain essential skills
- Student support at college and university
- Coping and support: building resilience for parents
2.30 close
Morning workshops
Addressing anxiety – Wendy Cowton, Specialist Autism Adviser, Autism West Midlands
This workshop will look at anxiety and autism and will cover what anxiety is, what makes people anxious and strategies to help children and young people to cope with their anxiety.
A multi-modal approach to supporting communication needs – Ami Coleman, Speech and Language Therapist, Amica
More Than Words – a workshop about Multi-Modal Communication: supporting children and young people with complex communication needs. Using a range of approaches to aid functional communication including Intensive Interaction, signs and symbols, objects of reference, AAC, gesture and pictures.
Understanding and dealing with self harm – Beam Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, The Children’s Society
This workshop will look at the causes and reasons for self harm, strategies to help and avenues of support.
Developing personal care habits – Emma Hegenbarth, Specialist Autism Adviser, Autism West Midlands
Find out strategies and tools you can use to develop a personal care routine and teach your child these valuable life skills.
Art therapy and working creatively with your child– Bobby Molloy, Art Therapist & Cognitive Analytic Therapist, Bee U Emotional Health and Wellbeing Partnership
What is art therapy, the challenges of using this approach with children with autism and ways in which you can work creatively with your child.
Afternoon workshops:
Education Panel Question and Answer session – with representatives from Shropshire Council SEND, Education Psychology, Education Access Team, Independent Support and Advisory Service (IASS)
To enable us to cover a range of topics we will be asking for questions in advance. However there will also be opportunities to submit questions on the day.
Please email your questions in advance to hilarym@autismwestmidlands.org
Preparing for adulthood, how to support your child to gain essential skills – Simon Fraser, Specialist Autism Adviser, Autism West Midlands
This workshop will look at practical approaches and activities to do with your young adult to lay the groundwork for essential skills they will need in future.
Student support at college and university – The Student Support Service and Disability & Inclusion Team, University of Chester.
An over view of how student support and specific issues related to supporting students with autism. With an opportunity to ask individual questions.
Coping and Support: Building Resilience for parent carers – Claire Berwick, Parent Adviser Contact
This session will consider how stress impacts on the family and how we can manage stress in our daily lives. The aim is to give you the tools to recognise the triggers of stress and look at different ways of dealing with it.
For more information please contact Hilary McGlynn by calling 01743 250962 or emailing hilarym@autismwestmidlands.org.uk