Hi Everyone
Here is a round-up of information and news which we hope you will find useful and of interest. Apologies for the number of attachments – just read the ones that are relevant to you.
Get Involved…
- Adult Asperger Group (Zoom)
For autistic adults 18+ only – will meet online over Zoom on the following date from 7pm until 8.30pm: Wednesday 9 November everyone welcome – new members too!
Please contact Helen for more information at helen.purdie@hotmail.co.uk and she will send you the joining details if you wish to come along. See attached for group guidelines which set out what to expect at the meetings.
- Inclusive LGBTQ+ Café
A social meet up for neurodiverse/disabled members of the LGBTQ+ community, alternate Thursdays on Zoom, 3-4pm or at Spirit of Sheffield, 3-5pm. Email Kelly.scargill@disabilitysheffield.org.uk for more information.
See https://www.sheffieldmind.co.uk/sheffield-voices-lgbtq-cafe
- Do you like singing? – The Autistic Adult Choir
The Autistic Adult Choir meets fortnightly on alternate Fridays 6.30-8pm, Bamforth Building, Burton Street Foundation, S6 2HH. See this leaflet – TAAC_Sheffield_flyer
- Free course exploring creativity for women
Survivors of Depression in Transition (Sodit) is running a free 10 week course starting on Thursday 10 November. It is open to all women who struggle with their mental health. The course covers a range of creative activities including writing, painting and film making. Please see this flyer for full details: 10 week course SoDit
- Post-16 information day!
Friday 25 November, 10am-2.30pm, at St Mary’s to find out about post-16 options for your young person and the support available for their transition into adulthood. We’ll have information stalls from over 20 local organisations and information sessions about specific aspects of transition. Free lunch provided! Book your place now.
- SSENDIAS information sessions
SSENDIAS continue to run regular Zoom sessions about applying for an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, checking a draft EHC plan, and SEN Support. They also have some pre-recorded webinars on their website – currently on SEN Support, and on completing tribunal forms. More info.
- Post-16 coffee morning 16 November, 9.30-11am, at Sheaf Training
Sheffield City Council’s new Post-16 SEND Officer is hosting monthly coffee mornings at Sheaf Training where you can ask questions and swap information with other parent carers. The sessions are open to all parent carers, not just parents of Sheaf students. No need to book, just turn up.
- Sheffield Asperger Parents Action Group (SAPAG) meeting
The next SAPAG support meeting will be at 7pm on Wednesday 9th November at The Red Deer, Pitt Street, S1 4DD. (Unfortunately, theSocial bar has closed.) There is parking on meters nearby. We will meet at a table on the left hand side as you go into the pub.
This is an opportunity for SAPAG members to meet socially and receive support with ongoing challenges. We welcome parents who are new to SAPAG and look forward to seeing old faces again too!
Get Support and Information…
- Autism Alert ID Card – South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police and the National Autistic Society have worked together to create a new Autism Alert Photo ID Card. The free, credit-card sized, Autism Alert cards are now in circulation to help police and other emergency services workers communicate with autistic residents more effectively, helping those on the autism spectrum feel more comfortable in what perhaps could potentially be an extremely stressful or frightening situation. In addition, we offer Learning Disability Alert photo ID cards to help our officers and other emergency service workers communicate effectively with individuals with learning disabilities. https://www.southyorkshire.police.uk/sign-up/autism-alert-learning-disability-alert-or-mental-heath-alert-card
- South Yorkshire police have also launched a new Mental Health Alert Card and passport for people in South Yorkshire. It is designed to help anyone living with a long-term mental health problem to quickly and easily communicate with emergency services, should they find themselves in crisis or distress. See this leaflet: Mental_Health_Alert_Card_A5_leaflet
- Free legal advice
Sheffield Carers Centre are working with Lawson Wills and Probate to provide carers with access to free 30-minute individual legal advice clinics on the last Friday of every month.
https://sheffieldcarers.org.uk/legal-advice-clinic/
- Help with cost of living crisis
It will be a challenge to cope with all the recent changes with energy costs and price increases. Disability Sheffield has put together a round-up of easy read guides to help with the cost of living: https://www.disabilitysheffield.org.uk/blog/easy-read-guides-to-help-with-the-cost-of-living-2022-09-28
Health Care…
- NHS Screening support
The NHS screening programmes is offering online awareness training for parents and family carers of people with a learning disability and autistic people, Wednesday 9 November, 11am-12.30pm. See attached leaflet: Family Carer NHS Screening Training Awareness Flyer Part 1
- Action plan for those leaving mental health hospitals.
The Department of Health and Social Care has published an action plan setting out what partners need to do to support more people with a learning disability and autistic people to leave mental health hospitals and to have the life they want in the community: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-the-right-support-for-people-with-a-learning-disability-and-autistic-people
Working in Partnership in Sheffield to Improve Services for Autistic People…
- What is the Sheffield Autism Partnership Board?
Sheffield’s Autism Partnership Board (APB) currently meets each month to improve the provision of services and support for autistic children, adults, their families and carers in Sheffield, including young autistic persons in transition to adulthood. Members include representatives from Sheffield City Council and local NHS bodies, community and voluntary sector organisations and services; autistic adults, their parents, carers and family members, professionals and other relevant organisations and individuals.
You can read more about the work of the APB on our website here https://sheffieldautisticsociety.org.uk/partnership-key-documents/
- Sheffield Autism Partnership Network (SAPN)
The Sheffield Autism Partnership Network is a Sheffield based consortium focusing on improving the lives of Autistic people and their families in our city.
It is a network of organisations (voluntary, community, public, private and statutory), Autistic individuals and their support systems (parents, carers, friends, partners, etc) who work with Autistic people, their families and carers. For information about the network, its member organisations and how they can help you and your support system see the website: https://sapn.org.uk
- What support do autistic adults want following an autism diagnosis?
The research team at the University of Sheffield as some of you know as ShARL have been researching into improving post-diagnostic support for autistic adults. They asked autistic adults what they want from support following an autism diagnosis. The recommendations that were put forward suggested that most autistic adults want emotional and psychological support, person-centred support, practical support, support to understand autism, support with relationships and accessible support delivery. The interim report is here: Lay report What people want after autism diagnosis
Best wishes to all
www.sheffieldautisticsociety.org.uk