The Inverness Menu of Interventions Roadshow Event took place in Inverness on 2 September 2014 at Inshes Church. 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 other relevant information not covered by another category
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

INTERVENTIONS

 
1. Understanding the implications of an autism diagnosis
Post diagnostic discussion(s) and individualised counselling. The 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.		 National Autistic Society provides:

  • As the UK leading charity for autism, they provide information, support, and specialist services.

Advocacy Highland provides:

  • Advocacy for adults (over 16) with mental health problems, learning disabilities, or Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Children in the Highlands Infomation Point (CHIP+) provides:

  • Chip+ is a registered charity offering a first-stop shop to the families of children and young people with additional needs of any kind by providing accurate, up to date and accessible information quickly and easily. They also provide training, a range of publications and support for families within the education process.

NHS Highland provides:

  • Information pack at point of diagnosis

The Highland Council provides:

  • The Pines is an autism support centre which provides a low stimulus environment for therapeutic work with children including a small gym, life skills kitchen, library and chill-out room. Family members are also welcome to make use of these facilities.
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. Autism Initiatives provides:

National Autistic Society provides:

NHS Highland provides:

 
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. Autism Initiatives provides:

National Autistic Society provides:

Befrienders Highland provides:

  • Befrienders Highland is a voluntary organisation and charity that provides a free 1-1 befriending service for adults across the Highlands and Argyll and Bute who experience mental ill health and feel lonely and isolated.

Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) provides:

  • CALA PlayScape was established to provide safe, enjoyable play during school holidays with a registered care service in a relaxing and stimulating environment for children aged 5yrs to 12yrs with learning and/or communication difficulties or additional needs.

Eden Court provides:

  • Two Additional Needs Drama Specialists who cater to both schools and communities throughout the Highland region.
  • The Hub is a youth club, run by Eden Court CREATIVE’s very own Accessible Arts Workers, which has been created at the request of teenagers who are on the Autistic spectrum. It is a place for teens to socialise and engage in a range of activities such as arts and crafts, computer games,magazines/ books, board games, and a soft play/ sensory chill zone which will be on offer every week.

Highland Group Riding for the Disabled provides:

  • Horses and ponies that provide the opportunity of riding to disabled children and adults from over the Highland area.

Velocity Cafe and Bicycle Workshop provides:

  • Cycletherapy, a youth project that engages young people whose needs are not being met through mainstream education. Using mountain biking as a medium (riding bikes and fixing them), Cycletherapy challenges the negative ways these young people think and feel about themselves to help them change their destructive behaviours
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 Initiatives provides:

National Autistic Society provides:

Bodysurf Scotland provides:

  • Nairn Dance and Movement Groups (held in partnership with the Highland Council and funded by Shared Care Scotland) provide dance and movement sessions to children with additional support needs/disabilities, alongside a holiday dance club for teenage girls, whilst providing short breaks for carers. They are also expanding their #Everybody #Dance #Now programme.

Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) provides:

  • CALA PlayScape was established to provide safe, enjoyable play during school holidays with a registered care service in a relaxing and stimulating environment for children aged 5yrs to 12yrs with learning and/or communication difficulties or additional needs.

Eden Court provides:

  • Two Additional Needs Drama Specialists who cater to both schools and communities throughout the Highland region.
  • The Hub is a youth club, run by Eden Court CREATIVE’s very own Accessible Arts Workers, which has been created at the request of teenagers who are on the Autistic spectrum. It is a place for teens to socialise and engage in a range of activities such as arts and crafts, computer games,magazines/ books, board games, and a soft play/ sensory chill zone which will be on offer every week.
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 Autism Initiatives provides:

Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH) provides:

  • ARGH is a group run by and for autistic adults. ARGH members are all people who have an Autistic spectrum condition. ARGH is a collective advocacy, lobbying and campaigning group of autistic adults living in the Highlands and beyond.

Dimensions UK provides:

  • Autism friendly cinema screenings, shown at over 250 cinemas, working in partnership with VUE, Cineworld, Odeon and Showcase. Screenings offer low lighting, low volume with the ability of individuals to move around in the cinema.
  • Each month, participating cinemas show a different movie from a selection of new releases and classics, suitable for all age ranges.

Eden Court provides:

  • Two Additional Needs Drama Specialists who cater to both schools and communities throughout the Highland region.
  • The Hub is a youth club, run by Eden Court CREATIVE’s very own Accessible Arts Workers, which has been created at the request of teenagers who are on the Autistic spectrum. It is a place for teens to socialise and engage in a range of activities such as arts and crafts, computer games,magazines/ books, board games, and a soft play/ sensory chill zone which will be on offer every week.

Health and Happiness provides:

  • The spirit of Health & Happiness is about promoting local solutions to meet local needs identified by local people, and to promote the social inclusion of people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder.

Highland Autism Improvement Group (HAIG) provides:

  • HAIG comprises a number of different partners including NHS Highland, The Highland Council, Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH), the National Autistic Society Scotland (NAS) Autism Carers Groups, Autism Initiatives and employment services. HAIG is committed to enhancing the profile of autistic spectrum conditions and, critically, to improving the support services provided to autistic adults and their carers.

Inverness Leisure provides:

  • Two large swimming pools so that we have something for everyone. The leisure pool has a large wave pool, river with jets and geysers, 3 flume rides and an outdoor (thistle shaped) pool, family-sized spa bath and toddler pool. The competition pool at Inverness Leisure is a fully approved 25 metre by 8 lane swimming pool.

Skills Development Scotland provides:

  • Works with partner organisations in the Highlands to provide support for both businesses and individuals. The employer engagement team, contract managers and Careers Information and Advice service in schools and local centres are focussed on providing a quality service to help address key areas such as economic development and youth unemployment.
6. Social isolation for family
 Family/ Partner/ Carer support, opportunity for respite. Access to autism friendly environments		 Autism Initiatives provides:

Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH) provides:

  • ARGH is a group run by and for autistic adults. ARGH members are all people who have an Autistic spectrum condition. ARGH is a collective advocacy, lobbying and campaigning group of autistic adults living in the Highlands and beyond.

Inverness Leisure provides:

  • Two large swimming pools so that we have something for everyone. The leisure pool has a large wave pool, river with jets and geysers, 3 flume rides and an outdoor (thistle shaped) pool, family-sized spa bath and toddler pool. The competition pool at Inverness Leisure is a fully approved 25 metre by 8 lane swimming pool.

Connecting Carers provides:

  • They aim to improve support, services and recognition for anyone caring for someone in the Highlands; support carers to be key partners in the planning and delivery of health and social care; empower carers to manage their caring role and have a life outside caring (through Carers Support Plans); and keep carers informed through the Network Bulletin and a range of other channels

Dimensions UK provides:

  • Autism friendly cinema screenings, shown at over 250 cinemas, working in partnership with VUE, Cineworld, Odeon and Showcase. Screenings offer low lighting, low volume with the ability of individuals to move around in the cinema.
  • Each month, participating cinemas show a different movie from a selection of new releases and classics, suitable for all age ranges.

Friends of Autism Highland provides:

  • Events and contacts in the Highland area

Highlands and Islands Autism Society provides:

  • This support group is mainly made up of parents of children, young people and adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder.  They are a voluntary organisation run completely by volunteers/committee members.

Highland Autism Improvement Group (HAIG) provides:

  • HAIG comprises a number of different partners including NHS Highland, The Highland Council, Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH), the National Autistic Society Scotland (NAS) Autism Carers Groups, Autism Initiatives and employment services. HAIG is committed to enhancing the profile of autistic spectrum conditions and, critically, to improving the support services provided to autistic adults and their carers.

Highland Council provides:
7. Learning to learn skills
 A 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		 Canbraybridge College provides:

  • A rural skills college to provide learning and training opportunities for young people with a learning and/or physical disability or autism spectrum condition.  They provide high quality learning, care and support placements to young people in a wide range of vocational settings.

Nansen Highland provides:

  • Nansen Highland principally provides training for young adults with learning disabilities and related disabilities. Nansen Highland is a training centre and employer committed to equal opportunities.

NHS Highland provides:

Skills Development Scotland provides:

  • Works with partner organisations in the Highlands to provide support for both businesses and individuals. The employer engagement team, contract managers and Careers Information and Advice service in schools and local centres are focussed on providing a quality service to help address key areas such as economic development and youth unemployment.

The Shirlie Project provides:
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		 The National Autistic Society provides:

 
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 Autism Initiatives provides:

The National Autistic Society provides:

  • Autism alert card, developed in consultation with adults who have autism and parents, is designed to tell people about the condition and asks them to show respect and tolerance. It can be particularly useful if a person who has autism comes into contact with criminal justice professionals, such as police officers, magistrates and solicitors.
  • Outreach services
  • The ARGH autism alert card designed by autistic people and available to all autistic people, children and adults, across the UK and beyond.

Bodysurf Scotland provides:

  • Nairn Dance and Movement Groups (held in partnership with the Highland Council and funded by Shared Care Scotland) provide dance and movement sessions to children with additional support needs/disabilities, alongside a holiday dance club for teenage girls, whilst providing short breaks for carers. They are also expanding their #Everybody #Dance #Now programme.

NHS Highland provides:

Velocity Cafe and Bicycle Workshop provides:

  • Cycletherapy, a youth project that engages young people whose needs are not being met through mainstream education. Using mountain biking as a medium (riding bikes and fixing them), Cycletherapy challenges the negative ways these young people think and feel about themselves to help them change their destructive behaviours
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		 Autism Initiatives provides:

NHS Highland provides:

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

Eden Court provides:

  • Two Additional Needs Drama Specialists who cater to both schools and communities throughout the Highland region.
  • The Hub is a youth club, run by Eden Court CREATIVE’s very own Accessible Arts Workers, which has been created at the request of teenagers who are on the Autistic spectrum. It is a place for teens to socialise and engage in a range of activities such as arts and crafts, computer games,magazines/ books, board games, and a soft play/ sensory chill zone which will be on offer every week.

Hi-hope.org provides:

  • An online resource containing what’s out there for young people leaving school in the Highlands. This resource is in two sections: the directory has information in six categories about choices, opportunities and services available in Highland to support transition from school to adulthood, and Learning Choices has five categories of research opportunities for staying on at school, further education, training, volunteering or employment.

Nansen Highland provides:

  • Nansen Highland principally provides training for young adults with learning disabilities and related disabilities. Nansen Highland is a training centre and employer committed to equal opportunities.

Skills Development Scotland provides:

  • Works with partner organisations in the Highlands to provide support for both businesses and individuals. The employer engagement team, contract managers and Careers Information and Advice service in schools and local centres are focussed on providing a quality service to help address key areas such as economic development and youth unemployment.

The Shirlie Project provides:

 
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 Nevis Centre provides:

NHS Highland provides:

The Highland Council provides:

  • The Pines is an autism support centre which provides a low stimulus environment for therapeutic work with children including a small gym, life skills kitchen, library and chill-out room. Family members are also welcome to make use of these facilities.
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 Autism Initiatives provides:

 

National Autistic Society provides:

  •  Information, support, and specialist services.

 

ASDAN provides:

  • ASDAN is a pioneering curriculum development organisation and awarding body, offering programmes and qualifications that explicitly grow skills for learning, skills for employment and skills for life.

KEY Housing provides:

  • KEY is a registered social landlord (housing association) providing housing within 15 local authority areas across Scotland. Almost all of this housing is let to people with learning disabilities. They also have a small number of properties which are allocated on a general needs basis.
NHS Highland provides:

Skills Development Scotland provides:

  • Works with partner organisations in the Highlands to provide support for both businesses and individuals. The employer engagement team, contract managers and Careers Information and Advice service in schools and local centres are focussed on providing a quality service to help address key areas such as economic development and youth unemployment.

The Highland Council provides:

  • The Pines is an autism support centre which provides a low stimulus environment for therapeutic work with children including a small gym, life skills kitchen, library and chill-out room. Family members are also welcome to make use of these facilities.

ScotSectorLink - Digital Outreach Activities provides:
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.  NHS Highland provides:

CONTACT DETAILS FOR INVERNESS RESOURCES

Advocacy Highland
3rd Floor
33 Academy Street
Inverness
IV1 1JN
Telephone: 01463 233460

ASDAN
Telephone: 07947804636

Autism Initiatives
11 Granton Square
Edinburgh
EH5 1HX
Telephone: 0131 551 7260

Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH)
contact via email

Befrienders Highland
Befrienders Highland
19 Church Street
Inverness IV1 1DY
Telephone: 01463 712791

Bodysurf Scotland
Bodysurf Scotland
Universal Hall
The Park
Findhorn
IV36 3TZ

Canbraybridge College
3 Cantray Square
Croy
Inverness
IV2 5PP
Telephone: 01667 493500

Care and Learning Alliance (CALA)
Care and Learning Alliance
Dochfour Drive
Inverness
IV3 5EB
Telephone: 01463 703033

Children in the Highlands Infomation Point (CHIP+)
Birnie Development Centre
Raigmore Hospital
Inverness
IV2 3UJ
Telephone: 01463 711189

Connecting Carers
Glen Orrin House
High Street
Dingwall
IV15 9TF
Telephone: 01463 723560

Dimensions UK
Telephone: 0300 303 9001

Friends of Autism Highland
contact via email

Health and Happiness
KISt Charity Boutique
Unit 7, The Victorian Market
Academy Street
Inverness
IV2 3PJ
Telephone: 07941428647

Highland Autism Improvement Group (HAIG)
Email for information for parents

Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX
Telephone: 01349 886606

  • The Pines
    Drummond Road
    Inverness
    IV2 4NZ
    Telephone: 01463 720030

Highland Group Riding for the Disabled
Broomhill Riding Centre
Fortrose, Ross-Shire
IV10 8SH
Telephone: 0845 2415353

Highlands and Islands Autism Society
36 Cook Drive
Inverness
IV2 3DA
Telephone: 01463 241 469

Hi-hope.org
contact via email

Inverness Leisure
Bught Lane
Inverness
IV3 5SS
Telephone: 01463 667500

KEY Housing
The Square
70 Renton Street
Glasgow
G4 0HT
Telephone: 0141-342 1890

Lochaber Youth Forum (Facebook page)
(contact via Facebook)

Nansen Highland
Redcastle Station
Muir of Ord
IV6 7RX
Telephone: 01463 871255

National Autistic Society
393 City Road
London, EC1V 1NG
United Kingdom
Telephone: 02078 332299

Nevis Centre
An Aird Footpath
William
PH33 6AN
Telephone: 01397 700707

NHS Highland
Telephone: 01463 704000

Skills Development Scotland
Monteith House
11 George Square
Glasgow
G2 1DY
Telephone: 01463 667232

The Autism Toolbox
(web resource)

The Shirlie Project
40 Longman Drive
Inverness
IV1 1SU
Telephone:  01463 716179

Velocity Cafe and Bicycle Workshop
1 Crown Avenue
Inverness
Scotland
IV2 3NF
Telephone: 01463 419 956