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N.Ireland - What Next?

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation aims to work closely with parents/carers and professionals/ commissioners in order to promote and develop small, individualised, high quality local services and support for people who have severe learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.

We are keen to work with family carers, commissioners and professionals who want to achieve better outcomes for individuals with challenging needs and their families and carers, facilitating equality of access to local mainstream education (for under 25’s) and participation in the wider community locally.

Ways in which we may be able to help include:

Talking through your options with you
Linking you with other families who have sons/daughters who are described as having challenging behaviour
Linking you with people who can help you achieve the future of your choice for your son/daughter
Providing more in-depth individualised support for some families
Giving a presentation to your local parent carer support group
Giving a presentation to your local authority
Providing information and support to both families and professional carers around understanding and managing challenging behaviour

PLEASE NOTE: with limited resources and personnel we may not be able to respond to all requests for individual support, but we will do the best we can.

Please contact us to let us know what would be the most practical way we could support you.

We hope this information pack has been helpful to you. Please send us any feedback you have as this will help ensure that future editions of this pack are as useful as possible.

Thank you for your help.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation

AUTISM N IRELAND

“Finding out about my child’s diagnosis was a rollercoaster of emotions… (and) created a strong sense of fear entering the unknown; a fear for his future and his ability to be independent. I experienced anger, self blame and also blamed his father, the feeling of hopelessness at that stage and a great bereavement and loss of expectations and plans for my child….

...I dread the time for my son to move out, as I feel there are no services out there and there is a worry that once he leaves Secondary School he will have no structure and the threat of mental health becomes an issue.

…The thought of not being here terrifies me because I am worried about the levels of support he will receive and if he will be able to live independently and more importantly reach his full potential because of the barriers placed in front of him and what the impact of this might be…”

(Parent of a Young person with Asperger’s Syndrome)

Autism NI has been created by parents and professionals that were concerned about the lack of provision for young people and adults with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, with a particular focus on transitional period. Autism NI works together with parents so that they come to feel empowered with the information available to them and gain an understanding of their options.

Our services include: Training, Family Support, Telephone Helpline, Adult Services and Lobbying. Autism NI has developed a partnership with Autism Initiatives, an organisation that provides residential housing, outreach, floating support etc, and has developed links with two other organisations, Orchardville and NOW to create more opportunities for supported employment for individuals with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder in the Area of Belfast.

For a comprehensive view of all the organisation has to offer please visit our website: www.autismni.org

We know that we cannot provide all the answers and services parents desperately need but by giving a number of options we can help you create a plan, therefore making the transition period more comfortable for both parents and children.