P attended an introductory talk about the IAS at Coed Pella Council office in Colwyn Bay. P was impressed by the sound of our service and how we support individuals with an autism diagnosis, so she decided to attend an advice HUB to gain more information.
P has two autistic grandsons. P’s daughter is a single parent and the family struggle as a one parent family to cope with behaviours of the children. They also have a limited understanding of autism. P supports her daughter as much as she can with her children and her grandson stays with her on a regular basis.
At our meeting, we discussed strategies for coping with difficult behaviours with P. Strategies discussed included:
- Using story boards and comic strips to explain situations, emotions and behaviours visually for the young person.
- Using communication cards to use to show feelings and emotions (especially their usefulness in school).
- Having a quiet place when the young person comes home from school before interaction which allows them to process the day.
- The use of ear plugs and sunglasses to support sensory difficulties.
- Introducing timers for activities to create boundaries that can be followed.
- Using visual timetables throughout the year to plan events in advance to maintain structure in daily life.
- Using a visual reward jar to promote positive behaviours.
We also signposted support for the family such as:
- Requesting Social Worker assessment.
- Seeking support from the local family workers for a Carer’s Assessment.
- Approaching the S.E.N.C.O. in school for support.
- Contacting S.N.A.P. to support educational needs and reasonable adjustments.
