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The Family Support service has now changed and to ensure sustainability we had to decommission Family Support for Children, but below are a range of groups and other charities that you can contact to get support and advice.

 

We will reduce the Family support for adults to 2 days per week and Emilymay Miles will continue to lead the

Adult Services from September 2024, following a pause in August. 

 

A new condensed service for Family Support adults will be available on our website from September and will offer group meetings, email advice, information and online training to autistic adults and their support network. 

Useful Links
Please find below some links to other organisations, video's, blogs, apps and many more sites that also provide support.  

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National Autistic Society

Provide autism support, guidance and advice 

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Provide services to enable children to overcome difficulties with communication, learning and life skills and give families the techniques and strategies to cope with autism through the use of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Child Autism UK also provides training and a network for ABA professionals working with young children.

Child Autism UK

Ambitious about Autism

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Stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights​ and create opportunities.  Run specialist education services, an award-winning employment programme and children and young people are at the heart of the charity's decision-making, policy work and campaigning. 

They also use their expertise to deliver training and consultancy to a wide range of organisations to improve awareness and understanding of autism.

Autism Aware Mobile Hairdresser

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Rianne Young

 

A fully qualified hairdresser with experience of working with clients on the autism spectrum, adults and children.  Aware and mindful of sensory and other needs and works with clients in an individual and personalised way.  Covers the Medway and Gravesham areas and will come to your home.

07572 299679 / rianneyoung321@yahoo.co.uk

Shepway Autism Support Group

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Supporting families, parents and carers of autistic children in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh.  They hold monthly coffee mornings with a range of speakers to provide information about different areas of support available.  It is also a great opportunity to meet and chat others in the same position. 

They also run a group at Hythe Youth club every Friday for 11-25 year olds. 

Please contact:  hello.sasg@outlook.com

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Advocacy for All

Advocacy for All is a locally-rooted advocacy organisation with a strong history, that exists to give people a voice through one to one advocacy and self-advocacy groups. 

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Bloggers and interesting articles

These blogs have been recommended through Autistic adults and Parents, if you have any more please send them to emilymay@kentautisitc.com 

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KCC Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Information Hub

A hub with information, help and support

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IASK

Free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for children, young people up to age 25, parents and carers.

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Medway SENDIAS - Family Action

Confidential, Impartial SEND Information, Advice and Support for Medway

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IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice)

Offer free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England

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SOS!SEN

SOS!SEN has been supporting families for 20 years to help them secure the right special educational provision for children and young people with SEND.

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SNAAP informs, encourages and supports parents and carers.  If you have a child between 0-25 who has any special need or disability and you live in the Canterbury district, contact SNAAP.  No formal diagnosis or professional referral is required.

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The Autism Apprentice CIC

Supporting families caring for a young autistic person.

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Autism South East

Autism South East (ASE) is a family run and autistic led organisation, helping and supporting autistic adults and children and their families throughout the South East.

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We Are Beams

The disabled children and young people who access their services will typically have one or more learning difficulty, complex health needs, physical or sensory impairment, challenging behaviour, Autism or severe ADHD.  They offer short breaks, advice, support groups, activities and more.

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Space 2 Be Me

Work across west Kent (mainly Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells) with disabled children and young people with additional needs aged from birth to 25 and their families.

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Fathers Club Kent

Supporting Fathers of autistic children by providing help, support, and information

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Includes Us 2

Includes Us 2 is a parent driven charity providing services for disabled children and their families.

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Club AUsome

Provides support for disabled children and their families.

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Medway Puzzles

A group of parents who formed a new Autistic group called Puzzles.  Based in Medway, but cover the whole of Kent.  They go out every Friday night with their members to places such bowling, skiing, tobogganing, cinema and much more in term time and daytime in school holidays.  Their aim is to bring Families together to share experiences, meet people and spend social time with others who understand them. 

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How to help with your autistic child's behaviour

Common types of behaviour in autistic children, why these behaviours happen, stimming and meltdowns

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Where to get support if you're autistic

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Wendy Pearson - Your Autism Mentor

An autism mentor and practitioner providing mentoring support and advice for autistic young people and their families.  Working across south east London and west Kent with young people from the age of 10 through adolescence and into adulthood.

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Belinda Gorga - The Autism Whisperer

A specialist in early years autism support.

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Louise Hickman - Kent Autism Education Service

Autism specialist SEND consultant - specialist Teacher - Advocate - Adviser - Consultant - Trainer.  Services available for parents, carers, children and young people.

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Emma Kaye - SEND Trainer

Special educational needs and disability (SEND), specialising in autism.

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Supporting Children’s Emotional Health & Wellbeing Video

Jodie from the child health team, talks about how we can improve our own emotional wellbeing and how it impacts those around us as well as looking to support individuals to improve their wellbeing, exploring useful tools such as PERMA, Active listening supporting individuals to discuss their emotions. The video helps promote self care and resillience whilst supporting complex individuals.

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Anna Freud

Anna Freud has developed resources to support schools with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). This is a term referring to reduced or non-attendance at school by a child or young person.  For more information and to download resources visit the Anna Freud website

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12 Fast Facts About Autism Video

An autistic created resource for parents providing practical advice to help you create healthy supportive environments for your children.

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12 Fast Facts About Autism For Kids Video

We help parents understand their autistic children and create healthy supportive environments. By combining the experience of an adult on the Spectrum with a single mum who lives this stuff every day, we set you on the path to regain family harmony and actually enjoy time with your kids!

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Amazing Things Happen Video

Introduction to autism that aims to raise awareness among young non-autistic audiences, to stimulate understanding and acceptance in future generations.

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Sensory Overload Video

Some people with autism have difficulty processing intense, multiple sensory experiences at once. This animation gives the viewer a glimpse into sensory overload, and how often our sensory experiences intertwine in everyday life.

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Can you make it to the end? Video

Understand autism, the person and what to do.

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Make It Stop Video

I’m autistic. And sometimes I get too much information. It’s as if my brain is too crowded and about to explode. But by taking a minute, you can give an autistic person like me the time they need. Understand autism, the person, and the change you can make.

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Anxiety | Dr Rachel Hussey Video

In this video Dr Rachel Hussey, NELFT’s Consultant Clinical Psychologist, discusses understanding the world from the neuro diverse perspective, differences in the way the brain functions, different thinking styles and how this may contribute to anxiety.

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Sleep | Dr Rachel Hussey Video

This talk is delivered by Dr Rachel Hussey, NELFT’s Consultant Clinical Psychologist, covers creating the right environment for sleep, the biology of sleep and coping with night waking.

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Emotional Regulation and Relationships
Dr Rachel Hussey Video

Dr Rachel Hussey, NELFT’s Consultant Clinical Psychologist, covers strategies to regulate emotions, scaling emotions, friendships, social stories and comic strip conversations

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Loren Snow - Autistic Public Speaker and Trainer

Loren Snow is an autistic public speaker and trainer and has taught tens of thousands of people about autism, ADHD, and mental health, and regularly teaches courses to parents, NHS staff, and autistic people. 

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Stella Parkinson - Sensory Processing Difficulties Explained Video

Stella Parkinson is an OT working in Kent and has made a series of sensory videos

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Stella Parkinson - Alerting Sensory Strategies Video

Stella Parkinson is an OT working in Kent and has made a series of sensory videos

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Stella Parkinson - Calming Sensory Strategies Video

Stella Parkinson is an OT working in Kent and has made a series of sensory videos

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Clever Kids Consultancy and Clinic

Clever Kids is a specialist independent therapy practice providing paediatric Occupational Therapy assessment, advice and treatment, as well as training and consultancy services.  They also provide paediatric Physiotherapy and Speech & Language Therapy services through affiliated therapists.

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OT for Kids

OT for Kids are an independent, private occupational therapy company. 

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'The Out of Sync Child’ book 

This book focuses on sensory processing disorder and some management strategies.

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Anxiety In Autism Guide by The Autism Research Group

An evidence based guide to anxiety in Autism.

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Calm Harm App

This is an award-winning app developed for teenage mental health.  It uses the basic principles of dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), which is an evidence-based therapy. The app provides tasks to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm.

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Kooth - Online support for young people

Provides free, safe and anonymous online support for young people.  Resources include being able to chat to counsellors and read articles written by other young people.

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MoodSpark

A place where young people aged 10-16 can learn how to look after their emotional and mental health and find ways to help them bounce back when life gets tough.

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Shout

Young people can text free on 85258. 

Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.  They have trained Shout volunteers and are available to help anyone with depression, anxiety, abuse, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, relationship problems and bullying.

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The Mix

Provides support and information for the under 25’s on a range of topics including, mental health, substances, your body, relationships and others.  Also has a free phone number: 0808 808 4994.  

 

The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people.  To help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs.  Talk to them via the online community, on social, through their free, confidential helpline or counselling service.

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MindEd

Free educational resource on children, young people, adults and older peoples' mental health for parents and carers.

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Medway Local Offer

The Local Offer is an online hub that lets young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers know what services are out there for them, and how they can access them.

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Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children -
Claim Form & Guidance Notes

Use this claim form and the guidance notes to apply for DLA for children under 16, in England and Wales.

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Autism Education Trust

Offer education professionals training, practical tools and a wealth of free resources to better support autistic children and young people aged 0 to 25.

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Speadas

Special educational needs, support and advice.

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Internet Safety and Safeguarding - Tutor Hunt

While the Internet can be a great resource for Children, parents should be aware of what their child is accessing online. This webpage will help guide parents and adults with Internet Safety awareness, support and tools to prevent children accessing harmful material online such as inappropriate content, cyberbullying, online predators and sexual harassment.

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Rehab 4 Addiction

Rehab 4 Addiction helps you connect with more than 70 addiction treatment providers located across the United Kingdom and abroad.

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Autism & ADHD Parent Support UK CIC 

A registered not-for-profit organisation supporting parents across the UK online and in person in Kent. They provide a range of services including DLA/PIP application support, 1:1 Coaching, Online parent support groups and Facebook Community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/autismadhdparentsupportuk) to mention a few. 

 

They also have our in-person parent support group each Monday (term-time) 10am-11.30am at The Howard Venue Swanley and will be introducing a monthly evening session too. For more info email contact@aaps-uk.org 

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