What help is there for families of autistic children?

If your child is below the age of eight, you may be offered the opportunity to attend support courses run by the local authority’s Autism Team, once your child has a diagnosis. 

Courses are designed to explore different aspects of living with an autistic child.  It will offer you lots of practical tips and advice as well as helping you to understand more about autism and give you the opportunity to meet other parents with autistic children and learn from them too.  

If your child is over eight when they are diagnosed, you may be offered the opportunity to attend a shorter course of information meetings about autism.

Your GP, Health Visitor or the school nurse may also be able to help you with advice about some aspects of your child’s behaviour, such as eating, sleeping or toileting.

Our SENDco and Inclusion Worker at Queensmead are also always happy to discuss any difficulties you are having at home and help signpost you to other agencies to find support.

In addition, there are both local and national support groups for parents whose children have a diagnosis of autism:

Leicestershire Autistic Society (Helpline 0116 291 6958)  http://www.leicestershireautism.org.uk/

Jigsaw (a parent support group for families of autistic children, who run regular play sessions - 07582 197173)  http://www.valdirectory.org.uk/content/jigsaw-leicestershire-autistic-society

Leicestershire National Autistic Society (0116 258 1841)  leicester@nas.org.uk

Autism Education Trust  http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/