Case Studies

Our best practice Case Study compendium showcases the range of effective work being carried out across Wales by professionals working in neurodivergence. Each case study features the voices of neurodivergent people and/or the parent/carers of neurodivergent people, reflecting on how the support and interventions put in place have had a positive impact on their lives.

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Gwent IAS Post Diagnostic Course and Managing Time and Improving Wellbeing Course

Gwent IAS supported an autistic man who was referred for one-to-one support and found that the post-diagnostic course and the managing time and wellbeing course, when supported by one-to-one reviews and the use of Outcome Star, had a very positive impact on his confidence, executive functioning and understanding of himself.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Direct Support
  • Post Diagnostic Course
  • Self-esteem
  • Support

Gwent IAS/Gwent Wildlife ‘Outdoor Group’: A Statutory and 3rd Sector Partnership

Gwent IAS and Gwent Wildlife set up an outdoor group for 7 autistic people, addressing mental and physical wellbeing and social isolation. The group also provides members with problem solving skills, social skills, weekly structure and more.

Categories:

  • Communication
  • Confidence
  • In the Community
  • Mental Health
  • Relationships
  • Socialising
  • Sports/Fitness
  • Wellbeing

Supporting an autistic young woman awaiting support from mental health services

Gwent IAS provided 1:1 support to a recently diagnosed autistic young woman who had previously been supported by CAMHs and was awaiting support from Primary Care Mental Health Support Service and Secondary Mental Health Services, to help better manage anxiety and achieve personal goals.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Confidence
  • Direct Support
  • Individual Support
  • Mental Health
  • Self-esteem
  • Support

Wrexham Autism Strategic Partnership

Wrexham County Borough Council developed Wrexham Autism Strategic Partnership to ensure Wrexham became an ‘autism aware’ county. They worked closely with a variety of partners to ensure there are adequate support services across Wrexham for autistic people, and to implement the Autism Code of Practice.

Categories:

  • In the Community

Pembrokeshire Early Help Team wellbeing work

Pembrokeshire Early Help Team ran wellbeing group sessions and one-to-one wellbeing sessions for autistic pupils and pupils with social communication difficulties. The sessions had a positive impact on the pupils’ self-esteem, sense of belonging and anxiety levels.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Communication
  • Confidence
  • Friendship
  • Mental Health
  • Relationships
  • Self-esteem
  • Socialising
  • Wellbeing

Supporting an autistic woman to recognise her strengths and cope with change

North Wales IAS supported a woman who was seeking help with change and social situations. The interventions helped to improve her self-confidence and self-worth.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Individual Support
  • Self-esteem
  • Socialising
  • Wellbeing

Supporting an autistic man with OCD to improve his social confidence and wellbeing

North Wales IAS worked with a man to improve his social confidence and to better understand his OCD. The interventions were successful and improved his confidence to socialise with the team and his approach to everyday tasks, which improved his wellbeing.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Confidence
  • Individual Support
  • Mental Health
  • Self-esteem
  • Socialising
  • Wellbeing

Supporting a family to better understand autism

North Wales IAS provided support to a mother who was looking for advice around transition to secondary school, sensory and sleep issues. The interventions helped the family to better understand autism and improved the wellbeing of her son.

Categories:

  • Parent/Carer Support
  • Parents/Carers
  • Support

Writing a social story with a parent for a child starting junior school

North Wales IAS helped a mother to write a social story for her son who was starting in the juniors at school. The social story helped her son to better understand the transition.

Categories:

  • Parent/Carer Support
  • Parents/Carers
  • Primary School
  • Support

Supporting a self-employed person to manage workload and reduce stress

North Wales IAS helped a client who was running their own business from home to manage her workload in the run up to Christmas. The interventions have helped to manage stress and improve wellbeing.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Employment
  • Individual Support
  • Mental Health
  • Self-employment

Supporting an autistic man to build confidence and socialise

North Wales IAS (NW IAS) provided support for a young man that had become socially isolated. The interventions used have increased his confidence and helped him to socialise on a regular basis.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Friendship
  • Individual Support
  • Isolation
  • Relationships
  • Self-esteem
  • Socialising
  • Wellbeing

Supporting an autistic person to re-enter the workplace after a negative workplace experience

In this case study, Gwent IAS explore how they supported a client to re-enter the workplace after a negative workplace experience. This has had a significant positive impact on the client’s wellbeing.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Employment
  • Individual Support
  • Parent/Carer Support
  • Self-esteem
  • Trauma
  • Workplace

Supporting an autistic person to access activities in the community

Gwent IAS provided a mixture of virtual and in-person support for F, which improved their confidence and self-esteem and helped them to access a cookery class and art class in their local community. Attending these has improved their wellbeing and provided structure and opportunities to socialise.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Creative – art; colouring; writing etc.,
  • Individual Support
  • Relationships
  • Self-esteem
  • Support

Gwent IAS’ trial of Brain in Hand, a digital self-management support system

Gwent Integrated Autism Service took part in a trial of Brain in Hand, a digital self-management support system, which helped their client to create routine, maintain their health needs, keep on top of household chores, gain meaningful employment and still have time for their interests.

Categories:

  • Direct Support
  • Individual Support
  • Mental Health
  • Relationships
  • Support

Hope GB 16-25 Young Adults’ Social Group

Hope GB set up a young adults’ social group for autistic people aged 16-25 living in Torfaen, Newport and Blaenau Gwent, helping them to grow in confidence and make friends after the pandemic. The group was set up after holding a consultation with the autistic community, responding to the needs of autistic people.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Friendship
  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Relationships
  • Support

The positive impact of wellbeing groups for Autistic secondary school students

Pembrokeshire Early Help Team piloted wellbeing groups in 3 secondary schools. The wellbeing group is for Autistic children or those with social communication differences, and those not attending, or at risk of not attending school. The groups had a positive impact on the children's wellbeing.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Communication
  • Education
  • Friendship
  • Secondary school
  • Wellbeing

Supporting a socially isolated young man to socialise with family outside of his house

West Wales IAS supported a socially isolated man who would not leave the house, to go out to a restaurant for dinner with his family on New Year's Day.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Relationships
  • Socialising
  • Support

Supporting a young man to increase his time spent in the community and build friendships

West Wales IAS provided support to a 25 y/o man who was increasingly isolating himself and would not leave the house. This support led to increased confidence, self-esteem and socialising.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Friendship
  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Relationships
  • Self-esteem
  • Socialising
  • Support

Halo Leisure Autism friendly swimming sessions

Halo leisure secured ICF funding for the swimming instructors to receive specialist swimming training via Autism Swim Australia.

Categories:

  • In the Community
  • Leisure Centres
  • Sports/Fitness
  • Swimming Lessons

Supporting an Autistic adult to access Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Western Bay IAS supported an Autistic woman to access Personal Independence Payment (PIP), ensuring that she could continue to live an independent life.

Categories:

  • Communication
  • Employment
  • Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

Supporting a sixth form student

Support provided to a young girl who was unhappy in her Sixth Form class. With the help of the IAS she was moved to a special needs college which is very difficult to get into.

Categories:

  • Education
  • Sixth Form
  • Wellbeing

Supporting a grandparent to manage their grandchildren’s behaviour

North Wales IAS provided support to a grandmother of two autistic young boys. The strategies put in place led to improved family wellbeing and a positive outcome.

Categories:

  • Grandparents
  • Parent/Carer Support
  • Relationships
  • Support

Support to manage anxiety and access employment

Exploring the post-diagnostic support offered by North Wales IAS to help with managing anxiety and accessing employment.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Communication
  • Confidence
  • Employment
  • Employment

Supporting a parent to better understand their child’s diagnosis

Support provided to a parent including strategies and resources to help the parent understand their daughter’s recent diagnosis and to help with other areas.

Categories:

  • Parent/Carer Support
  • Relationships
  • Support

Supporting an adult to better understand a late autism diagnosis

Support provided to an adult who received a late diagnosis of autism after a long and successful career in the Armed Forces.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Individual Support
  • Post Diagnostic Course
  • Support

Supporting a parent to manage a child’s behaviour

North Wales IAS provided support to a parent whose child was experiencing behaviour-related problems, resulting in an improvement in behaviour and a reduction in stress for both parent and child.

Categories:

  • Parent/Carer Support
  • Parents/Carers
  • Relationships
  • Relationships
  • Support

Gwent IAS drop in session at local Jobcentre

After meeting A at a drop in session at Pontypool Jobcentre, Gwent IAS worked with him and his employer to improve communication between the two, leading to an improvement in A's overall wellbeing.

Categories:

  • Communication
  • Employment
  • Relationships
  • Workplace

Supporting someone to understand their diagnosis during the pandemic

This case study demonstrates the importance of technology in allowing the IAS to continue to provide important interventions that help autistic adults to understand their diagnosis.

Categories:

  • Post Diagnostic Course
  • Support
  • Wellbeing

Improving time management skills

Through virtual meetings and a virtual 'managing time and wellbeing course', M greatly improved his time management skills and is now ready to start looking for paid employment.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Direct Support
  • Employment
  • Support

How post-diagnosis interventions can empower autistic people

This case study shows how the right post-diagnosis interventions can empower autistic people, with the focus of this case study going on to become an EPP trainer.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Post Diagnostic Course
  • Support

Safe Places Team, Wrexham Council Social Care Department

Autism Aware training increased the team's knowledge, skills and understanding surrounding autism, improving their ability to conduct assessments on organisations, services and companies across Wrexham to assess whether they're suitable to be used as a 'safe place' for autistic people.

Categories:

  • In the Community

The importance of promoting the positives about being autistic

This case study reflects on the importance of promoting the positives of being autistic and features a poem written by an autistic woman which talks of her positive experience of receiving her autism diagnosis.

Categories:

  • Confidence
  • Post Diagnostic Course
  • Self-esteem
  • Support

Helping someone with social anxiety to build their confidence

Through person led interventions, Western Bay IAS supported an autistic woman with social anxiety to join a post-diagnosis course and socialise with other autistic adults.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Post Diagnostic Course
  • Socialising
  • Wellbeing

Supporting someone to improve their self-esteem and wellbeing

This case study demonstrates the importance of communicating with all those involved in the care of an individual to put meaningful interventions in place that can improve their self-esteem and wellbeing.

Categories:

  • Self-esteem
  • Trauma
  • Wellbeing

Cardiff and the Vale forum for autistic adults

Cardiff and the Vale IAS adapted the structure of their monthly forum to encourage socialising and friendship building, resulting in a successful outcome.

Categories:

  • Relationships
  • Socialising
  • Wellbeing

Supporting third sector services to improve their provision of food and nutrition support to autistic clients

Cardiff and the Vale IAS Dietitian provided training for local third sector services who are working with autistic people and are interested in increasing their food and nutrition knowledge to support these clients.

Categories:

  • Diet and Nutrition
  • Wellbeing

The use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to improve the wellbeing of an autistic person

This case study demonstrates how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be a successful intervention for improving the wellbeing of autistic people.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Mental Health
  • Wellbeing

Supporting an autistic person to access their local CRISIS service

Cwm Taf Morgannwg IAS helped a client access the CRISIS service who had no familial support and could not travel independently to his consultation.

Categories:

  • Mental Health
  • Wellbeing

The importance of collaborative working with peri-natal mental health services

Occupational Therapist and Peri-natal mental health Occupational Therapist worked together to support a client who had recently received an autism diagnosis and was 17 weeks pregnant.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Health
  • Pregnancy
  • Specialist services (eg maternity; sexual health, dermatology; etc.,)

Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do Martial Arts School

4 autistic children attend 1:1 sessions at Heads of the Valleys Martial Arts School, with fantastic feedback from parents/carers. Some have progressed from 1:1 to group sessions.

Categories:

  • In the Community
  • Sports/Fitness

One Life Autism Support Group, serving Blaenau Gwent and beyond

One Life Autism support group provided support to grandparents caring for an autistic child and moving house.

Categories:

  • Grandparents
  • Support

Supporting an autistic woman to rebuild her relationship with her local church

Gwent IAS helped an autistic woman living in a small, rural community to heal her relationship with her local church in order to improve her wellbeing and mental health.

Categories:

  • Communication
  • Mental Health
  • Relationships
  • Socialising
  • Wellbeing

Supporting an autistic person to improve their confidence and communication in the workplace

Gwent IAS supported an individual to improve their confidence and communication skills in the workplace and to access the reasonable adjustments they required at work.

Categories:

  • Communication
  • Confidence
  • Employment
  • Workplace

Supporting an autistic person with a stutter to access their GP surgery

Powys IAS helped an autistic person who also has a stutter to access her GP and book appointments when she could not do so easily over the phone before.

Categories:

  • Communication
  • Confidence
  • GP (Doctor/ surgery)
  • Health

How work experience placements can empower autistic people looking for employment

North Wales IAS supported an autistic man to attend a North Wales Training group session, which resulted in a work experience placement at Poundstretcher, leading to the client displaying a more hopeful attitude towards finding employment.

Categories:

  • Employment
  • Work Experience

Hope GB Autism Charity response to the Covid-19 pandemic

Hope GB Autism Charity Torfaen responded creatively to the challenges of the pandemic, providing sensory activity packs for children and young people. The packs included a game, arts and crafts and a memory box.

Categories:

  • Anxiety
  • Mental Health
  • Wellbeing

Supporting drug and alcohol services to adapt their practice for autistic service users

Gwent IAS worked with the Drug and Alcohol Service to improve their understanding of autism and help them to adapt their practice to provide effective support for an autistic service user.

Categories:

  • Self-esteem
  • Wellbeing