We often receive requests for places at our online autism advice workshops from parents and carers living in the counties around Berkshire.
NHS funding rules mean that we cannot offer them places, but we are now considering making some of the workshops available to families in Buckinghamshire as a trial, on a fee-paying basis. 
We want to gauge likely demand among parents and carers before we decide whether to go ahead, so are asking them to register an expression of interest with us.
Initially, we are proposing running an online course for parents and carers of children and young people, aged 11 to 18, who already have an autism diagnosis or are on the waiting list for a CAMHS autism assessment and attend a mainstream secondary school, or are of mainstream ability if not currently in school.
The course would be made up of three 90-minute daytime evidence-based workshops, taking place in late June/early July 2024, before the school summer holidays begin, as follows:
- Autism and Teenagers: Exploring the challenges of being autistic in adolescence, including maturing behaviour and developing independence, as well as puberty and sexuality.
- Anxiety in Teenagers: Looking at why anxiety is so prevalent in autistic teenagers and the importance of self-esteem and resilience, and looks at strategies to support emotional regulation.
- Teenagers and Social Situations: Focusing on the social situations autistic teenagers face at school, at home and online. It discusses how to support them to develop an understanding of other people, how to find and make friends, and the part that social media plays in their lives.
Places on the course would cost £50 per family (grandparents and others would be welcome to attend with a main carer).
Click here to register an interest in taking part in this course for Buckinghamshire.
If we decide to go ahead, we will send details of how to book and pay for places to everyone who has completed our form.
- If you have any questions about this proposal, email contact@autismberkshire.org.uk
