How can the Wiltshire Autism Hub Support me?
Wiltshire Autism Hub supports individuals 14+ years, with a diagnosis of Autism, living in Wiltshire. We provide direct assistance to help you with particular issues you might be facing, such as housing, or to help you achieve a specific goal, such as applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). We offer 1-2-1 support, peer group support and travel support. The hub was created to provide signposting to further advice and guidance to support individuals, families, parents, carers and professionals.
Information Pathways
We have streamlined information to signpost you to the most relevant resources and services for you. Information relevant to everyone is displayed in all pathways.
We aim to empower parents and carers to support individuals, to understand how autism is experienced and provide signposting to relevant guidance and services.
We aim to empower autistic people to find useful information, guidance and services that will benefit and support them most effectively as an individual.
We aim to empower professionals to support individuals, to understand how autism is experienced and provide signposting to relevant guidance and services.
Many Autistic adults feel like they receive little or no support from organisations within Wiltshire. The reasons for this are complex, and may include:
- Limited resources mean that many organisations have cut back or reduced available services;
- Many Autistic people manage to live independently for months or years, but can have occasional crisis points, particularly when reacting to external changes or stresses. This means that support needs can change drastically: a single assessment at one time may only show minimal support needs.
- Wiltshire Autism Diagnostic Service (WADS) supply an information package and assessment immediately after first diagnosis, but this is a single assessment and follow-up resources at present are limited.
- Several organisations can provide different types of crisis support. However, executive functioning issues mean that identifying and seeking support can be an overwhelming task without help.
- Many support organisations require some kind of initial assessment or interview; this kind of ‘open-ended’ unknown interview can be a barrier to seeking support.
- Many people with ASC are very uncomfortable and unsure in interview/assessment situations and can be highly vulnerable. This means that assessments can easily produce inaccurate results.
In January 2020 we were awarded three years funding by the National Lottery through the National Lottery Community Fund and the project officially started in January 2020. We have now been awarded an additional 3 years funding from April 2023.
A key finding of the Wiltshire Autism Forum meetings in 2016 and 2017 was the need for Autism Awareness training for key professionals in health and social care services, other organisations such as the voluntary sector and public services such as the police.
In Partnership with Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Autism Diagnostic Services (WADS) and volunteers with Autism, WSUN ran a number of 1/2-day training courses for front-line staff. This course was developed and delivered in partnership with people with Autism to over 200 people in 2017/18.
WSUN now offers a basic 2-hour training session which gives an insight into Autism from a person with Autism’s perspective. This training is suitable for anyone who wants to know more about autism, the challenges that people may face and the ways in which we can support someone with Autism.
‘The fact that it was delivered by someone with first hand condition was amazing. He was insightful, intelligent and inspirational!
I particularly liked the way the content was structured. I have done a lot of autism training that has focused on things like the triad of impairment. This was done in a very different way that really gave an opportunity to empathise with people who are autistic.’ – Training delegates feedback
For more information about the training, contact Louise Rendle at WSUN.
