Wokingham

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Family Help, a Wokingham-based parent-run support group for parents with children on the autistic spectrum, has launched a service to give parents of disabled children (particularly those with children on the autistic spectrum) to meet and share experiences.

The service, set up thanks to money from Wokingham Borough Council’s extended services team, will provide weekly meetings exclusively for parents, carers and young people involved with disabled children. The first of these new sessions will be on Monday April 27.

ASD Wokingham Family Help’s manager Cathy Fastnedge who has worked with Kay Nicker, youth worker at Bulmershe Youth Centre, to set up the project, said: “Parents of disabled children often feel isolated and need to meet regularly with others in the same or similar situation to talk and exchange help and advice and we are providing a place for them to do that. A huge amount of work has already gone into the project as many things needed to be considered to ensure its success, such as providing a safe environment to meet and gaining the trust of the parents, carers, young people and children who may attend. We will offer a welcoming place where the children and young people can feel understood and helped towards improving on social, educational and behavioural issues and where parents and carers can discuss issues and collect information.”

It is also planned to recruit an experienced youth worker to work with the Wokingham group and take on different issues affecting the young people, especially those who have been excluded from school. This person will run workshops on behaviour, and helping the young people cope with certain situations. There is also a plan to create a similar project for parents of young disabled adults.

The sessions will take place at Bulmershe Youth Centre and will run every Monday morning from 9.15am to 11.30am. Any children or young people with learning difficulties and disabilities issues, and their siblings, will be welcome at the group. Appropriate educational toys and games will be available and the cost to parents will only be a small contribution towards refreshments.

Wokingham Borough Council