The Dumfries & Galloway Menu of Interventions Roadshow Event took place at Cargen Tower, Dumfries on 26 June 2014. The information gathered from delegates on the day has been collated and can be found below.

For each of the 14 “challenges” we collected information about the following:

  • Specific relevant links.
  • Specific relevant strategies.
  • Specific relevant documents.
  • Gaps, research, and any other information not fitting in one of the categories.
We are in the process of gathering relevant information to meet these 14 challenges. If you would like to contribute to the information collected below, please contact us by email.
Contact details for each of the resources mentioned are available at the bottom of this page.

 

ASD CHALLENGE

WHAT WAS FOUND

 

1. Understanding the implications of an autism diagnosis
Post diagnostic discussion (s) and individualised counsellingThe provision of good quality education and information packs for individuals, families/carers along with appropriate verbal discussion at time of need. Use of visual props if needed.  Signposting to useful websites and forums.
Autism Outreach Service
previously known as
Autism Spectrum Disorders Integrated Network (ASDIN) provides:

  • ASDIN is a group of staff from health, education, and social services who have experience and training in autism. Working across Dumfries and Galloway, providing advice, support and training for anyone who has contact with or is directly connected to a child or young person with autism.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway provides:

Parents Inclusion Network (PIN) provides:

  • A support group run by parents and carers who all have children with a disability, aiming to help other parents cope with a child with a disability. They provide support in areas such as understanding and managing behaviour and effective communication with schools. They can sign post parents to other specific organisations.
2. Development of effective means of communication
Individualised language therapy assessment. Updated as required. Alternative and augmentative communication systems introduced where required. Work to ensure language system (regardless of form) is used functionally and is therefore effective on an individual basis. Teaching/learning on internet etiquette and supervision.
Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service  provides:

  • A free, confidential and personal independent advocacy service for adults.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway provides:

  • Community Disorders Assessment Team (CDAT) - a child or young person is referred to CDAT when a health care professional or teacher has concerns about development of the child in social communication/interaction, need for routine and structure, imagination and play, and social issues.  Specialist services include: Child Psychiatrists, Community Paediatrician, Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Clinical Psychologists.
  • Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) - SALT provides a service to autistic people who have difficulties in speech, communication, language, or swallowing. Training can be provided to parents and teachers to help them understand a child who has difficulty with speech and to support them in development of their communication skills. Provides reports and educational assessments.
3. Social communication
Targeted social communication programmes delivered either individually or in a group setting as required and appropriate to the individual to include internet etiquette and promotion of online safety.
Dumfries and Galloway Council Education provides:

  • Peer to peer support/buddy systems in Scotland.
  • Circle of friends group.
  • Access to Glow website - nationwide online environment for learning.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway provides:

  • Community Disorders Assessment Team (CDAT) - a child or young person is referred to CDAT when a health care professional or teacher has concerns about development of the child in social communication/interaction, need for routine and structure, imagination and play, and social issues. Specialist services include: Child Psychiatrists, Community Paediatrician, Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Clinical Psychologists.

Quarriers provides:

  • Scottish charity which helps support and care for children, adults and families in their lives.
  • They provide friendship groups to help children and young people.
4. Developing and maintaining relationships
Work to assess the understanding of relationships and promotion of skills to develop relationships including sexuality issues and intimate relationships. Access to social groups, friendship circles etc
Autism Toolbox provides:

  • Online resource service containing information on relationships and sexual health

Dumfries and Galloway Council provides:

  • Education - Specialist school nurses, who have knowledge of autism spectrum disorder, provided to work with individuals or groups school
  • Galloway Peer Project - part of the Community Learning and Development Service, and is aimed at young people (12+) with additional support needs. They are supported by trained and knowledgeable youth workers, through one to one and group activities. Peer support is provided by youth workers rather than personal carers, developing personal and social skills to create friendships and helping young people become independent.
  • Oasis Youth Centre - Youth Centre which attracts young people, providing them with support in a social setting. Facilities available include art recording and rehearsal studio, dark room, performance area, café and meeting rooms.

Relationships Scotland - Dumfries and Galloway provides:

  • Various relationship services including mediation and counselling

Turning Point Scotland provides:

  • Support for adults who have a learning disability, autism or acquired brain injury. Drop in centre.
5. Social isolation for individual with autism
Accessible social groups and opportunities, support in the community. Befrienders. Respect the need to be alone at times. Acceptance by families that friendships can take many forms
Buddies provides:

  • Support for adults with disabilities (primarily learning) to live the lives that they want by helping them to achieve their personal goals.

Dumfries and Galloway Council provides:

  • Activity Resource Centres - these six centres offer opportunities for development to people with learning disabilities. They each offer different services and activities and you should contact any of them directly, if you think they might be helpful to you or someone you know: follow the link to get the phone number of each centre.
  • Galloway Peer Project - is part of the Community Learning and Development Service, and is for young people with additional support needs. The young people are supported by trained and knowledgeable youth workers, through one to one and group work activities.The project works with young adults, 12+, with learning disabilities. The focus is on personal and social skills development to enable friendships to be created and help young people be more independent.
  • Oasis Youth Centre - Youth Centre which attracts young people, providing them with support in a social setting. Facilities available include art recording and rehearsal studio, dark room, performance area, café and meeting rooms.
  • Dumfries and Galloway Council Local Area Coordinator for Learning Disabilities - provides support for people (of all ages) with a Learning Disability (and their families) in the Wigtownshire area. Provides information and signposting in relation to local resources and specialist services.

Dumfries and Galloway Befriending Project provides:

  • The opportunity of  extra support and regular positive adult attention to young people who are experiencing problems at home, school or in the community.

Dumfries & Galloway Disability Sports provide:

  • An opportunity to take part in regular sporting activities.
  • There are many activities going on in the area and you can find out more by contacting the person for the area you live in, as follows:(West) [email protected]
    (East) [email protected]

Galloway Activity Centre provides:

  • Various sporting and activity opportunities for disabled and/or autistic people -please contact for further information

Key Community Supports provides:

  • A variety of groups, social activities and events across the region which are geared to help each individual with a learning difficulty to be a fully contributing member of their local community.

Leonard Cheshire Disability provides:

  • A range of services including social, education and leisure services.

Quarriers provides:

  • Friendship group.

Richmond Fellowship provides:

  • Personalised community based support

Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre provides:

  • Autism Friendly Film Screenings

Turning Point Scotland provides:

  • Support for adults who have a learning disability, autism or acquired brain injury. Drop in centre.
 6. Social isolation for family
Family/ Partner/ Carer support, opportunity for respite. Access to autism friendly environments 
Calvert Trust provides:

  • Enables people with disabilities, together with their families and friends, to achieve their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure in the countryside.

Carers Trust/Princess Royal Trust provides:

  • Princess Royal Trust provides support and advice to Carers of people with disabilities. Respite care provided for individuals with autism, allowing their families to have a short break.

DG Carers Centre provides:

  • Information, advice and support to anyone who cares for a relative or friend who is affected by long-term illness, disability, age or addiction.

Dumfries and Galloway Council Local Area Coordinator for Learning Disabilities - provides

  • Support for people (of all ages) with a Learning Disability (and their families) in the Wigtownshire area. Provides information and signposting in relation to local resources and specialist services.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway provides:

  • Caring for Carers - Support and information provided by the NHS, this resource assists carers by providing them with assistance in many areas ensuring they are supported well.

Parents Inclusion Network (PIN) provides:

  • A support group run by parents and carers who all have children with a disability, aiming to help other parents cope with a child with a disability.

Quarriers provides:

  • Family support in the home and community.
  • Social groups including Father’s Project and Women’s Groups
  • Referral is by Social Worker, or from individuals with personalisation/self-directed support budgets.

Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre provides:

  • Autism Friendly Film Screenings

Supporting Autism Together provides:

  • Support for local families with primary and secondary school-age children who have a diagnosis of autism
7. Learning to learn skills 
functional assessment of the person’s cognitive abilities and learning style leading to a planned programme both directly with the individual and indirectly with the family, carers etc. Formal psychometric testing may be conducted if appropriate to inform intervention
Aberlour Futures provides:

  • Support for young people aged 11-18, who are experiencing social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties which impact on their education. Operates from bases in Dumfries, Annan and Stranraer.

Autism Outreach Service
previously known as
Autism Spectrum Disorders Integrated Network (ASDIN) provides:

  • Provides training in this area for parents and professionals

Chariots of Fire provides:

  • Specialising in carriage driving, giving access to young people especially young people with special needs.
  • Chariots of Fire allow young people with disabilities to take part in a sport which allows them to compete against their peers. It aims to boost confidence, self-esteem, motor skills and the ability to articulate. It builds skills in communication and motivation.

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Education provides:

  • Coordinated Support Plan (CSP) prepared by local authorities for certain children and young people who have additional support needs
  • This plan looks at additional support needs, educational objectives to be achieved, and support needed to achieve these objectives
  • This plan is in place to ensure that children get the benefit of being in education

Supporting Autism Together provides:

  • Support for local families with primary and secondary school-age children who have a diagnosis of autism
8. Predicting and managing  change
Timely individual direct work with individuals to teach methods where required. Family/carer /employer guidance/education in these methodsVisual supports; timetables, timers, text alerts, choice boards etc to be used as appropriate
Autism Outreach Service
previously known as
Autism Spectrum Disorders Integrated Network (ASDIN) provides:

  • Training in this area for parents and professionals
9. Behaviour and emotional regulation protecting wellbeing
Knowledge development in understanding behaviour in the context ofASD. Individual work with the individual on assessing behaviour, recognising triggers and developing and managing the implementation of strategies to help. Behaviour support plans, cognitive interventions, psychotherapy or counselling as required and indicated by life circumstances eg around transitions of all types including bereavement. Work with the individual’s family/carers, criminal justice, social work, Police as appropriate. Autism Alert card possession 

Aberlour Futures provides:

  • Supports young people between the ages 11-18 who are experiencing social, behavioural or emotional difficulties which impact on their education.

Autism Outreach Service
previously known as
Autism Spectrum Disorders Integrated Network (ASDIN) provides:

  • Provides training in this area for parents and professionals

Chariots of Fire  provides:

  • Opportunities in carriage driving, giving access to young people especially young people with special needs.
  • Chariots of Fire allow young people with disabilities to take part in a sport which allows them to compete against their peers. It aims to boost confidence, self-esteem, motor skills and the ability to articulate. It builds skills in communication and motivation.

Dumfries and Galloway Council

  • Galloway Peer Project - is part of the Community Learning and Development Service, and is for young people with additional support needs. The young people are supported by trained and knowledgeable youth workers, through one to one and group work activities. The project works with young adults, 12+, with learning disabilities. The focus is on personal and social skills development to enable friendships to be created and help young people be more independent.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway provides:

  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) - Multi-disciplinary team who offer a community based service to children, young people and their families/carers that are experiencing emotional, behavioural, or mental health problems. Specialist programmes including “Talking about Aspergers” and “I am Special”.

Police Scotland provides:

  • Developing services targeted to third party groups, such as reporting centres and hate crime reporting services.
10. Restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours 
Assessment and positive day to day management on an individualised basis. Treatment by mental health clinician if required  
NHS Dumfries & Galloway provides:

  • Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) - SALT provides a service to autistic people who have difficulties in speech, communication, language, or swallowing. Provides reports and educational assessments.

 

 

11. Motivation issues
Structured programmes as appropriate to the individual linking to the other core challenges as required. Career guidance, employer/HE/FE support. 
Aberlour Futures provides:

  • Support for young people between the ages 11-18 who are experiencing social, behavioural or emotional difficulties which impact on their education.

Chariots of Fire provides:

  • Opportunities in carriage driving, giving access to young people especially young people with special needs.
  • Chariots of Fire allow young people with disabilities to take part in a sport which allows them to compete against their peers. It aims to boost confidence, self-esteem, motor skills and the ability to articulate. It builds skills in communication and motivation.

The Hub (Dumfries) provides:

  • The opportunity to develop skills using computers, assistance provided to use job searches, and available drop in sessions.

The Usual Place (Dumfries) provides:

  • Inspired Community Enterprise Trust was set up in November 2011 with the aim of providing employment and training and wider community relationships and citizenship opportunities for young people with additional support needs. Inspired, a non-profit distributing social enterprise company limited by guarantee, has acquired the use of the  former Townhead Church building from Dumfries and Galloway Council. Following refurbishment, the building will include a large community cafe, a retail area for local arts and crafts and flexible training rooms to support the aims of Inspired and provide an excellent, fully accessible facility for the entire community to use.
12. Sensory issues
Assessment of sensory difficulties. Identification and implementation of strategies. Environmental adaptation on an individual basis with individual control working towards reducing the impact of sensory sensitivities
Occupational Health (via NHS) and Education provide:

  • Sensory rooms provided within nursery, primary and some secondary schools.

 

13. Daily living skills
Assessment of core life skills as required across the lifespan and to take account of changing needs at various transitions. Specific individual programmes to teach and maintain these skills where needed. Involvement of families/carers in assessment and implementation of new learningEducation for families/employers/ care providers/housing dept re practical needs
Leonard Cheshire Disability provides:

  • a range of services including accommodation and personalised care and support services.

Richmond Fellowship provides:

  • personalised community-based support

Support in Mind Scotland provides:

  • A day service for adults, who experience mental illness, providing a range of activities and opportunities for social contact with people in similar situations.
  • Services including computer skills and internet access, gardening, and community based activities.

The Hub (Dumfries) provides:

  • The opportunity to develop skills using computers, assistance provided to use job searches, and available drop in sessions.

The Usual Place (Dumfries) provides:

  • A community café set up to provide opportunities for employment and training for young people with additional support needs.

Turning Point Scotland provides:

  • Bringing a range of expertise in supporting adults with challenging and complex needs, the service is clustered in and around the towns of Dumfries, Newton Stewart, Castle Douglas and Stranraer. Our staff are able to access more remote rural locations to ensure that isolation is not a barrier to support.
  • Turning Point Scotland makes services fit people. The type of support we provide depends on the needs of the individual. In Dumfries & Galloway we specialise in providing support to people with learning disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury and mental health issues.
14. Co existing conditions- examples
epilepsy, dyspraxia, dyslexia, disorders of attention, sensory impairment, anxiety, sleep disorder, addiction, anger management, depression, self harm, psychosis, personality disorder, OCD, disordered eating patterns etcThese require assessment and treatment/management by appropriate specialist clinician. Joint working is crucial across specialities with a clear case co-ordinating lead identified.      
Autism Outreach Service
previously known as
Autism Spectrum Disorders Integrated Network (ASDIN) provides:

  • ASDIN is a group of staff from health, education, and social services who have experience and training in autism.

Leonard Cheshire Disability provides:

  • a range of services including accommodation and personalised care and support services.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway provides:

Richmond Fellowship provides:

  • personalised community based support

Turning Point Scotland provides:

  • Support for adults who have a learning disability, autism or acquired brain injury. Drop in centre.

 

CONTACT DETAILS FOR DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY RESOURCES

Aberlour Futures
Carrick Road
Lochside
Dumfries
DG2 2PR
Telephone: 01387 249033

Autism Outreach Service
(previously known as)
Autism Spectrum Disorders Integrated Network (ASDIN)
Ms Mary Thomson
Brewery House
23 King Street
NEWTON STEWART
Wigtownshire
DG8 6DQ
Telephone: 01387 273950

Autism Toolbox
(online resource)

Buddies
93 Friars Vennel
Dumfries
DG1 2RF
Telephone: 01387 256312

Calvert Trust
Contact via online form

Carers Trust/Princess Royal Trust
2/6 Nith Street
Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway
DG1 2PW
Telephone: 01387 248600

Chariots of Fire
Amanda Saville, Chariots of Fire Driving Centre
Boreland
Lockerbie
Dumfriesshire DG11 2LL
Telephone: 01576 610248

DGCarers Centre
2-6 Nith Street
Dumfries
DG1 2PW

Dimensions UK
Telephone: 0300 303 9001

Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service
107 English Street
Dumfries
DG1 2DA

Dumfries and Galloway Befriending Project
19 Bank Street
Dumfries
DG1 2NX

Dumfries and Galloway Council
Council Offices
English Street
Dumfries
DG1 2DD
Telephone: 03033 333000

  • Galloway Peer Project
    Ashwood House, Sun Street, Stranraer DG9 7JJ
    Telephone: 01776 702151
  • Activity Resource Centres
    (various addresses -ask Council for further information)
  • Oasis Youth Centre
    Newall Terrace, Dumfries DG1 1LW
  • Local Area Coordinator for Learning Disabilities
    Stranraer Activity Resource Centre, Sun Street, Stranraer DG9 7JJ
    Contact: Melita Loaring on 0792 052 8249

Dumfries & Galloway Disability Sports
Contacts: Disability Sports
(West) [email protected]
(East) [email protected]

Galloway Activity Centre
Shirmers Bridge
Loch Ken near Parton
Castle Douglas
DG7 3NQ
Telephone: 01644 420626

Key Community Supports
1-2 Church Crescent
Dumfries
DG1 1DF
Telephone: 01387 247466

Leonard Cheshire  Disability
Lochar House
Heathhall
Dumfries
DG1 3NU
Telephone: 01387 252683

NHS Dumfries & Galloway

Parents Inclusion Network (PIN)
1 Midsteeple,
High Street,
Dumfries DG1 2BH
Telephone: 01387 252683

Police Scotland
Contact via online form

Princess Royal Trust
2/6 Nith Street
Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway
DG1 2PW
Telephone: 01387 248600

Quarriers
9 Church Crescent
Dumfries
DG1 1DF
Telephone: 01387 249888

Relationships Scotland
92 Irish Street
Dumfries
DG1 2PS
Telephone: 01387 251245

Richmond Fellowship
43 Buccleuch Street
Dumfries
DG1 2AB
Telephone: 01387 242700

Supporting Autism Together
Various drop-in Centres
Contact via email

Support in Mind Scotland
Mountainhall
Bankend Road
Dumfries
DG1 4AL
Telephone: 01387 249513

The Hub (Dumfries)
24-26 Friars Vennel
Dumfries
DG1 2RL
Telephone: 01387 269161

The Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre
Mill Road
Dumfries
DG2 7BE
Telephone: 01387 264808

The Usual Place (Dumfries)
24-26 Friars Vennel
Dumfries
DG1 2RL
Telephone: 01387 269161

Turning Point Scotland
Newall House
22 Newall Terrace
Dumfries, DG1 1LW
Telephone: 01387 247123