Autistic Spectrum Disorder

This page is all about autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Click on the questions below to find out more information.

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    Autistic Spectrum Disorder, commonly known as autism, is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them.

    Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways. Some autistic people also have learning disabilities, mental health issues or other conditions, meaning people need different levels of support. All people on the autism spectrum can learn and develop. With the right sort of support, all can be helped to live a more fulfilling life of their own choosing.

    Autism, Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are all different names to describe this disability. Some people with autism don’t like the term ‘Disorder’, as it makes their autism seem wholly negative. On the other hand, others dislike the term ‘condition’ as it may suggest that  autism can be cured. Autistic people may refer to themselves as ‘neurodiverse’ and people without autism as ‘neurotypical’.

    Thanks to the National Autistic Society for some of these definitions.

    You can read more about the symptoms of ASD on the NHS Choices website.

    • Before you do anything, familiarize yourself with ‘What to Expect, When’? Some children just need a little extra time to meet certain milestones — yours may be one of them. A good first step is talking to people who already work with you and your family about your concerns.

      If something is bothering you about the way your child is behaving, or if it seems very different from the way other children that age behave, write down your observations. That way you can remember exactly what you saw or felt, and you’ll be able to tell whether what you saw gets better or worse.

      If you are still concerned, you can talk to your GP or health visitor. Carefully explain what you’ve observed. A practitioner like a GP or Health Visitor has specialist training and may be able to calm your fears quickly, or refer your child for an assessment.

      Your child could be displaying difficulties with:

      • Their speech development
      • Responding to others, physically or verbally
      • Interacting or playing
      • Their behaviour

      Please visit this NHS Choices page for more information about the signs and symptoms of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. There is no ‘one size fits all’ set of behaviours that a child with autistic spectrum disorder will exhibit. Every child or young person with autism is different.

      • Parent Carer Support Groups

        There are lots of parent carer support groups focused specifically on autism. Please contact the groups directly if you want to join in. If you have a group, you can list it on Pinpoint, Devon’s community services directory.

        National Autistic Society – The Exeter branch meets regularly downstairs at the Mill on the Exe pub.

        Okehampton ASD and ADHD Group – This group meets regularly on the second Thursday of each month at Okehampton College Community Centre.

        South West Autism – A not-for-profit Community Interest Company which runs support groups for families and children with an autistic spectrum disorder (diagnosis not needed). South West Autism provides a range of services including training, parent support, sibling support and enabling all over Devon.

        North Devon Forum for Autistic Spectrum Conditions and ADHD – a parent/carer led support group, established in 1992 by a group of parents and professionals concerned with children on the spectrum. Membership is FREE to those in our North Devon area, and is for people, their families, carers and professionals and organisations who live and/or work with ASC/ADHD. A diagnosis is not necessary to join.

        Crediton Parent Carers drop-in group

        If you care for a child or young person with SEN, learning difficulties, disability, mental health problems, a neurodevelopment disorder such as autism or any long-term health condition and would like the mutual support, understanding and friendship of others in the same boat, why not go along and join them. Drop in from 10:00am – 12:00 1st and 3rd Friday of each month at Crediton Congregational Church. The group started on Friday 4th May 2018.  A small donation towards running costs of 50p – £2 would be appreciated.

        Crediton Playscheme – a charity run exclusively by local volunteers to benefit local children with additional needs.

        Parents United, Tiverton – A parent carer support group that meets every two weeks at the Tiverton Hotel

        Affinity Support – This Tiverton-based group was set up in 2017 by concerned staff and professionals, to support families of children and young people with Autism or on the diagnosis pathway. The group is held on the first two Wednesdays of every month alternating morning and afternoon, for parents who have other commitments.

         

        Groups for Children and Young People

        Some groups offer parent support at the same time as children and young people’s groups.

        Asperations, Kingsteignton Youth Centre – a support group for parents to share experienced and get advice. A children and young people’s group operates in the Youth Centre while the parent support group meets.

        Social Opportunities (SOCOPS) was created to reach out to Children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and their families to provide help, support and understanding. They have meetings for two age groups, Monday evenings between 6:30pm and 8:30 during term times at their Exeter base.

        SOCOPS PLUS – Thursday evenings during term time, locations and times vary. Please contact Co-ordinator for further details on 07594-187578

        • Options has produced a guide to different professionals and their roles – this will explain what different professionals do to support a child or young person with autism.

          There is an Autism and CAMHS toolkit produced by the National Autistic Society and the Autism Alliance.

          Any intervention should focus on important aspects of your child’s development. These are:

          • communication skills – such as using pictures to help communicate (as speech and language skills are usually significantly delayed)
          • social interaction skills – such as the ability to understand other people’s feelings and respond to them
          • imaginative play skills – such as encouraging pretend play
          • academic skills – the “traditional” skills a child needs to progress with their education, such as reading, writing and maths

          The detailed assessment, management and co-ordination of care for children and young people with ASC should involve local specialist community-based multidisciplinary teams (sometimes called “local autism teams”) working together.

          Schools

          To support communication and interaction needs, schools may do some or all of these things as part of their support for all children and young people:

          • Explicitly teach important skills and model rules of social interaction.
          • Have a buddy/befriender system at break and lunchtimes.
          • Positively reinforce good behaviour, with individualised motivators.
          • Use positive redirection to stop inappropriate behaviour.
          • Have visual supports to define areas and structure the day , e.g. visual timetable, drawers labelled with pictures as well as words, language jigs, social stories, emotional thermometers.
          • Offer opportunities to ‘show and tell’ using a framework as appropriate e.g. circle time (Years 3-4), taking part in a presentation (Years 5-6), tutor time (Year 7+).
          • Give pupils a specific role in group work to support their interaction with peers or an alternative individual task is available if group work is proving too difficult.
          • Understand and manage health and safety considerations, e.g. lack of an awareness of danger about running away/off site or using certain equipment.
          • Sit the child in the best place to reduce distraction.
          • Incorporate the child’s special interests/obsessions to focus attention and increase motivation.
          • Staff check that instructions have been understood, by asking the child to explain what they have to do rather than repeating instructions.
          • Use an appropriate level of language, with short, simple sentences if needed.

          General Practitioners (GPs)

          A family doctor or GP is usually the first person to talk to if you are worried about your child’s development or you have concerns about their behaviour.

          The GP can make a referral to the ASC diagnosis team, which can assess your child. You can also self-refer your child to this team.

          Children and Family Health Devon Autism Assessment Service

          children and family health Devon logo

          Children and Family Health Devon provides the diagnostic assessment service for Devon.

          Children and Family Health Devon
          Single Point of Access Team
          1a Capital Court
          Bittern Road
          Sowton Industrial Estate
          Exeter EX2 7FW
          email: TSDFT.DevonSPA@nhs.net
          tel: 0330 0245 321

          Information for referrers

          The service consists of multi-disciplinary teams located in the east, north, south and west of Devon.

          The virtual, multi-disciplinary ASC teams are made up of the following professionals:

          • Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
          • Paediatrician and/or Psychiatrist
          • Specialist Autism Spectrum Practitioner
          • Clinical Psychologist

          The team also has access to the following professionals:

          • Educational Psychologist
          • Learning Disability Nurse
          • Occupational Therapist
          • Social Workers
          • Assistant Psychologist
          • Specialist Nurse
          • Occupational Therapist
          • Specialist Teachers

          Babcock Learning and Development Partnership (LDP) Communication and Interaction Team

          Babcock SLCN Autism logo

           

          The Communication & Interaction (C&I) Team consists of highly qualified and experienced Advisory Teachers, a Pre-5 Autism Specialist and Specialist Support Assistants. The team offers support, advice and guidance for children and young people where Autism and/or Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) is the primary need. The C&I Team supports children and young people who attend schools and educational settings (including nurseries and pre-schools).

          Request for Access: Communication and Interaction Team

          To make a request for support from the Communication and Interaction Team, you need:

          • Parental consent
          • The request must come from a professional/practitioner in Education or Health

          image showing the three stage process: get consent, panel meeting, advisory teacher contacts yo

          Educational Psychologists

          Babcock LDP provides Devon’s Educational Psychology service.

          The Babcock LDP Educational Psychology Service is concerned with the positive development, learning, achievement and well-being of children and young people. Members of the team are Educational Psychologists (EPs) and they work closely with schools, families, pre-schools, and colleges to promote positive outcomes for children and young people.

          All EPs have:

          • Specialist post-graduate qualifications and expertise in the application of psychology in education.
          • An excellent knowledge of the current education system including SEND legislation and Devon-specific processes.
          • A detailed understanding of child development and special educational needs (SEN)
          • Substantial experience supporting children and young people.
          • Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

          The team is organised into four locality teams across Devon, based in the North (Barnstaple), South (Totnes) and there are two central teams (East and West). Each team services a group of schools and the children, young people and families living in those areas.

          Private Educational Psychologists also operate in Devon – we have an Educational Psychologist Policy which makes it clear that Devon County Council must, and does, consider all evidence presented by a school or parent, including any private reports.