Autism Berkshire and the Alafia service run by Acre (the Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality) for families of children with disabilities and additional needs are working together to deliver free advice and support to Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) families with autistic children in Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire.
Three online workshops will take place in March and April, with the aim of helping parents and carers in these families to look after themselves and to better support their children.
Subjects that will be covered during the sessions, led by Autism Berkshire family support workers, include:
- Autism assessment and diagnosis in Berkshire
- How to look after your wellbeing and mental health and support your child
- Support available for your child, especially in education
- Other support available from Alafia and from Autism Berkshire, including the Berkshire West Autism & ADHD Support Service and welfare advice from the Autism Berkshire Benefits Service, plus help provided by other local and national autism organisations, including the National Autistic Society
The workshops are free of charge and open to parents and family carers from minority communities who live in the three council areas and whose children already have an autism diagnosis or are on the waiting list for a Berkshire CAMHS NHS autism assessment.
They will take place from 1pm to 2.30pm on the following Fridays: March 19; March 26; April 23.
Assistance will be available from Alafia for families who have limited access to the internet or need language translation to help them take part in the workshops.
One-to-one follow-up support will be provided after the workshops for anyone who needs further advice.
For more information or to request free places at these workshops, contact Shagufta Ali, of Alafia, which is based in Reading.
- Email: shagufta.ali@acre-reading.org
- Phone: 07914 580184
- Or call Ritu Shanks on 07763 163777
This project is funded by a grant from the Berkshire West NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and supported by Reading Voluntary Action, Involve (Wokingham) and Volunteer Centre West Berkshire.
