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Edinburgh Disability and Neurodiversity Hub

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Edinburgh Disability and Neurodiversity Hub

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New Edinburgh Disability and Neurodiversity Hub (EDAN). The partnership supports families with children or young people who are disabled and/or neurodivergent.

You can find the website link here: www.theyardscotland.org.uk/edan-hub

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We create thriving communities of support for disabled children, young people and their families, through our adventure play centres.

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Autism Parent Info Sessions 2024/25 High School Years

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Autism Parent Info Sessions 2024/25 High School Years

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(With updated recordings from OT and Speech Therapy)

Exploring autism and social communication differences in the high school years

Sessions delivered collaboratively by NHS (OT/ SLT +CAMHS) & Education Services

Working in partnership to support our autistic young people in Edinburgh

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support for parents around Additional Support for Learning in education https://enquire.org.uk/

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What is Enquire?

Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. Providing easy to understand advice and information about additional support for learning legislation and guidance for families and professionals.

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Enquire - The Scottish advice service for additional support for learning

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If you feel a child or young person needs extra help to get the most from their learning and are unsure what to do, we can help you.

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Local Leisure Links and parent recommendations

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Local Leisure Links and parent recommendations

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Melanie Ross’ 5 min intro video into to Sensory issues in autism 

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Melanie Ross’ 5 min intro video into to Sensory issues in autism 

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Thoughts about sensory differences for Autism Toolbox

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support for all carers including filling in forms, emotional support, financial information https://www.vocal.org.uk/

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The VOCAL 100 club is our monthly lottery which raises money for carer support and pays out half of the fund in cash prizes. This Read more

The upcoming UK General Election represents an opportunity to vote for a party with an understanding of the needs and priorities of unpaid carers. We Read more

"...I feel like I live in an open prison on a desert island." VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian), in partnership with Edinburgh Health and Read more

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VOCAL: Support for unpaid carers in Edinburgh & Midlothian

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Are you a carer living in Edinburgh or Midlothian? VOCAL supports unpaid carers through information, peer support and access to services.

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Edinburgh Disability and Neurodiversity Hub

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Edinburgh Disability and Neurodiversity Hub

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New Edinburgh Disability and Neurodiversity Hub (EDAN). The partnership supports families with children or young people who are disabled and/or neurodivergent.

You can find the website link here: www.theyardscotland.org.uk/edan-hub

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We create thriving communities of support for disabled children, young people and their families, through our adventure play centres.

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The website has more information about the eligibility criteria https://www.familyfund.org.uk/grants-scotland

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We use some essential cookies to make this website work. We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use familyfund.org.uk, remember your settings and improve our services. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

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Family Fund delivers grant programmes to families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income, for things they need most.

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"Our Au-some groups currently run from our Oxgangs office, located at 111 Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh, EH14 1ED. The groups meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays during term time. The Junior group runs from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM, while the Senior group meets from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.

Please note that Young people need to have an autism diagnosis and attend a mains stream school."

Attached to this email, you will find the Referral Form. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out.

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free, practical resources and research

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Masking: Talking to your child's school about autistic masking

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Masking: Talking to your child's school about autistic masking

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Talking-to-your-childs-school-about-autistic-masking.pdf (enquire.org.uk)

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Encouraging Eating for children and young people with neurodevelopmental disabilities

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This session was developed jointly by the NHS Lothian professionals from Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and CAMHS Intellectual Disability. 

We discuss some reasons why children and young people might limit their food and share ideas on increasing the volume and variety of foods, where there are real concerns about nutritional status. We suggest practical strategies to try at home for mealtimes, explore learning opportunities for new food and food chaining.

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(used to be known as Sleep Scotland)

Sleep support for the family of any child 18months+ in Scotland

email: sleepsupport@sleepaction.org

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Resources for parents on anxiety and worry

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Resources for parents on anxiety and worry

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Resources for Parents on Anxiety and Worry

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Do you live in Edinburgh and have concerns about your child's speech, language or communication?

Call 07774 622520

The helpline is open to parents carers and professionals

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Dr Elizabeth Shea’s interviews give quick summaries of key issues. Click on the 'Watch in Vimeo' Button to view

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The Birthday Party - Awtistiaeth Cymru | Autism Wales | National Autism Team

SIGNS of autism

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Awtistiaeth Cymru | Autism Wales | National Neurodivergence Team

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The Birthday Party - Awtistiaeth Cymru | Autism Wales | National Neurodivergence Team

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A film about the SIGNS of autism in children. We are delighted to share with you The Birthday Party a training film for professionals. This second edition (2018) incorporates new feedback from the autism community, following additional consultation, and is available in multiple languages. The film was produced as a partnership project between government, university and clinical partners and […]

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8 years or over - https://www.ceacard.co.uk/

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The CEA Card is a national card scheme developed for UK cinemas that enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema.

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Lorraine MacAlister discusses toileting difficulties in autistic children

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Talking to your young person about autism- respectful resources

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Talking to your young person about autism- respectful resources

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More indepth (2hr) US based

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Parent Workshop - When Children Won’t Eat - Free 2 hour webinar

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The Parent Workshop - When Children Won’t Eat outlines how complicated eating is, why children struggle to eat, and gives strategies to help picky eaters.

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7-11yrs/ 12-15yrs/ 16yrs+ Leith Community Hub-

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Lego User Groups (LUGS) At Duncan Place - Duncan Place

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Leiths Lego User Groups (LUGS) are for anyone loves lego. From the aficionados, to the hobbyists to the just for the giggles. find your lugs

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Recommendations from Psychological Services

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For more details contact Eva:
eva@tailoredfoundation.co.uk
07851 472 191

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Welcoming families to Time Twisters on the last Wednesday of every month!

These sessions run on the last Wednesday of every month and are not open to the general public, therefore hopefully creating a quieter play session for children and families who may find it difficult to access mainstream provisions. Siblings and friends are also welcome to attend. A member of Tailor Ed staff will be present at these sessions to provide support and run some small group games for anyone interested.

These sessions are subsidised so only £2 per child for entry (adults are free as usual). No advanced booking required.

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Time Twisters - Monthly Autism Friendly Play Sessions - Tailor Ed Foundation

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These sessions run on the last Wednesday of every month and are not open to the general public, therefore hopefully creating a quieter play session for children and families who may find it difficult to access mainstream provisions. Siblings and friends are also welcome to attend.

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National Museum Scotland- Relaxed Curiosity Club

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National Museum Scotland- Relaxed Curiosity Club

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Relaxed Curiosity Club sessions are particularly aimed at children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children or children with disabilities.

Parents/carers (up to two per participating child) are invited to stay and either join in with the activities or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the foyer of the activity area.

We aim to create a  fun, friendly and relaxed environment for ASN children to explore our Curiosity Club activities, with the reassurance of their parents/carers being with them or nearby.

Content is aimed at ages 7–11, but this is not a set age range and we welcome all children and families who think they might enjoy these sessions.

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Relaxed Curiosity Club | National Museums Scotland

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Unleash your inner museum detective and explore our collections through games, activities and an optional gallery visit. Our new Relaxed Curiosity Club the

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Amazing Things Happen - by Alexander Amelines (youtube.com)

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Amazing Things Happen - by Alexander Amelines

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Within this padlet are links to websites and information recommended by parents and carers in 2022. We are unable to monitor online material, so cannot guarantee content is fully appropriate, aligned with our views, or remains accurate. Please use discretion and if in any doubt, discuss with a trusted professional.

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Basecamp 2- 11-18 year olds
Referral only
Formally known as Lothian Autistic Society

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Over the course of 36 weeks, meeting one evening a week, each young person can follow their own personal development programme based on their needs and interests. Through each step of the programme, your young person will get the support and encouragement of a 1:1 mentor who is there to help them ga…

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What's inside this article: A look at the least known sensory system, the interoceptive system. This article covers what interoception is, how interoceptive awareness works, the impact this has on emotional self-regulation, signs of modulation challenges, and activities to improve interoceptive awareness.

The interoceptive system is the least known and least understood sensory system.
Interoception is basically the sense of our bodies' internal state. It's how we feel and understand what's happening inside ourselves.

The interoceptive system also controls autonomic motor movements. That is our unconscious movements such as blinking, breathing, flinching, etc.

Find Information About the Other Sensory Systems Here:

Interoception

The interoceptive system and our interoceptive awareness are how we recognize internal sensations, like:

Sensory processing differences related to the interoceptive system may cause significant challenges for children.

Not only does this impact their understanding of what's happening inside their bodies - but it also severely impacts emotions and how to identify emotions.

How Does the Interoceptive System Work?

Although the interoceptive system is not completely understood, what we know is - sensory receptors (about 90% of these are free nerve endings) throughout the body located in the muscles, organs, bones, joints, etc send neural signals to the insular cortex located deep in the brain.

The insular cortex processes and decodes these messages and then alerts us to any changes in our body's internal state.

This area of our brain also plays a role in multimodal sensory processing, autonomic control, perceptual self-awareness, and emotional guidance of social behavior. It also helps regulate the sympathetic (fight or flight instinct) and parasympathetic (relaxation response) systems.

This also allows us to feel emotions - because our various emotional states cause different sensations inside the body which are decoded and allow us to understand how we're feeling.
Different emotions produce different feelings inside our bodies - this is how we distinguish how we feel.
The Interoceptive System Affects:

Interoceptive Awareness

If I asked you right now, how you feel inside your body, could you tell me?

Is your heart beating fast or slow? Are you tense and sore? Do you need to use the washroom?

You're able to answer these questions because you have interoceptive awareness.

Children with ASD, SPD, or ADHD may not recognize these sensations in a typical way.

Current research suggests that individuals with autism have much lower levels of interoceptive awareness compared to neurotypical peers.

Use the link below to open the PDF poster of the diagram shown above. You can save it to your device to use/print as part of your teaching material. Opens in a new tab, poster dimensions are 18×24, you can resize by selecting "fit to page" when printing.

Current research suggests that most children with autism struggle with hyposensitivity to interoceptive input. However, hypersensitivity is possible, too. Your child may even struggle with both.

Some children with autism have a heightened awareness of internal cues that most of us filter out (like our heart rate and breathing), which can interfere with their ability to pay attention to important sensory input.

How Does Interoception Affect Emotional Regulation?

Does your child struggle with emotional regulation, or identifying emotions? Are they able to tell you what they are feeling?
Every emotion that we feel has a corresponding sensation in the body. The sensations can vary from person to person but there are general similarities experienced by most of us.
When you are angry, your heart rate may increase and your face might feel warm.

If you're nervous you get butterflies in your stomach.

When you're sad your heart may literally hurt, you may lose your appetite.

However it is that your body responds - you are able to recognize your emotions, intuitively.

If your child lacks interoceptive awareness i t will be more difficult for them to recognize their emotions. Basically, they can't make the connection between their body sensations and their emotions.

Interoceptive Awareness & Meeting Basic Needs

How does interoceptive awareness affect the ability to meet our basic needs?

It's simple, for us. If you are hungry - you eat. When you feel full - you stop eating. When you are thirsty - you get a drink. Tired - go to sleep. Cold - put on a sweater. Warm - take off the sweater.

Our interoceptive awareness tells us that something is off inside our bodies and we seek a solution. However, someone with autism may not recognize these cues from the interoceptive system.

For example, some children appear to have extremely high pain tolerance, or they need to be reminded to eat, others can't tell when they feel full.

For this reason, if your child struggles with self-regulation and you see they are becoming dysregulated and inappropriate behaviors are escalating but you aren't sure why first consider internal discomfort and basic needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs states that in order for the needs at the top of the pyramid to be met, we must first fulfill the needs at the bottom. Therefore, in order for our kids to reach their full potential, we need their other, more basic needs to be met first.

This is important and applicable throughout life - but for children, in school especially. If your child is in school, and they are hungry, tired, sick, in pain, etc. and their interoceptive awareness is not integrated well enough for them to communicate those needs, they won't be learning at their true potential.

This is why when behavior is escalating or there are cues your child may have a meltdown we need to consider all these factors including internal needs and the external environment in order to prevent meltdowns.

What Else Is Affected By Interoception?

In addition to emotions and self-regulation, interoception affects other executive functions, too:
Poor interoceptive awareness may also explain why potty training is such a common challenge.
It's the reason why your child may be completely fine one minute and then they are screaming they are hungry and need to eat "right now!" the next minute.

It's likely they aren't aware of those bodily sensations until they become urgent.

Signs Your Child Is Struggling With Interoception

Modulation Issues

This occurs when the brain over- or under-responds to sensory input. With Interoception, over or under responsiveness can be caused by either:

1. The strength of the neural signal - stronger, or weaker than typical

2. The way the brain perceives the signal

Over-Responsive (Hypersensitive)

Intense reactions to hunger or needing to use the bathroom. They may even describe hunger as being painful.

Struggles with focus and attention (because they're preoccupied with internal stimuli)

Extreme anxiety over minor dilemmas

Frequently feels nauseous

Uses the washroom frequently, unexplained by another medical condition

Under-Responsive (Hyposensitive)

Extremely high pain tolerance

Late toilet training

Doesn't feel when they need the washroom - accidents and/or constipation

Doesn't feel hungry

Can't tell when they are full after eating

May not react to being hot or cold

How to Improve Interoceptive Awareness

Interoceptive awareness is measured using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA).

There are also mental exercises used for targeting and improving IA. Studies show that body scans and breathing exercises common in mindfulness practices improve interoceptive awareness when done daily.

Research on strategies to help kids with over-responsiveness to interoceptive input is very scarce.

However, mindfulness activities may help children develop a better understanding of their bodily sensations and what they mean. This may help take some of the "urgency" out of these intense sensations.

An occupational therapist can help improve interoceptive awareness by providing specific sensory input to increase your child's self-awareness.

Body Check

We did this activity with my younger kids. You can read about everything we did, how it went, and check out pictures: Identifying Emotions with a Body Check Activity

Older children:

Begin this process with positive experiences like after running around outside, after a warm shower, after a meal, etc.

1. Lay out a large roll of paper on the floor. Get your child to lay on it, then draw an outline of them.

2. Label specific parts-head, eyes, ears, mouth, voice, chest, heart, hands, stomach, feet, skin, muscles, etc.

3. Have the child label one body part and how it feels at that moment (i.e. eyes-sleepy, awake, watery, itchy, dry, etc).

4. Continue adding body parts and corresponding sensations, depending on your child's abilities

5. After noticing the sensations of various body parts, give each sensation meaning. For example:

1. when your eyes are watery/itchy, it means you are tired

2. If your heart is beating fast, you may feel nervous or angry about something

3. when your stomach makes a grumbly noise, it means you are hungry

6. As the child continues to progress, have them match different body states or emotions to their specific body sensations. (i.e. Nervous: hands sweaty, heart racing, legs moving, stomach fluttery)

Younger children:

1. Trace their body on a large piece of paper. Then point to a body part on the drawing and have them wiggle it on their own body to build body awareness.

2. Play a game of Simon Says to build awareness. Use actions like "touch your heart", "clench your fists", "breathe really fast."

3. During a body state/emotion-label the body sensations you see, in a non-judgmental way (your hands are wiggling, you are breathing fast), and write it on the drawn body.

This will help bring about awareness of their sense of self and begin to understand their body's signals.

Mapping Feelings

You can also use this printable activity to build body awareness. Print out several copies and get your child to color it in at different times to show what they are feeling.

For example, if they are angry, they may color their hands and head red, and draw their heart to show it's beating really fast. If they are scared they may color lines in their belly to show its worried and their knees to show they feel weak.

This worksheet can help children notice patterns between their body sensations and their emotions over time, which will help them better identify their feelings.

Mapping Feelings

If your child becomes dysregulated talking about their emotions...
If this is your child, try this instead:
Some children do get really upset when you try to discuss their emotions with them. It kind of feels like you're putting them in the hot seat and shining a spotlight on them.

Instead of saying "How does your body feel when you're mad?"

Try using a hypothetical situation. For example, "Sam's sister wouldn't share her play-doh with him. This made him so mad! Can you draw where in Sam's body he might have mad feelings?"

Essential Oils

Some research suggests copaiba oil improves interoceptive awareness.

For example, a dding it to a diffuser may help with emotional well-being.

Alternatively, massaging a single drop into the lower abdomen before bed may reduce bedwetting (another common problem with less interoceptive awareness). You can find more information about essential oils here.

Other Interoception Tips

Teach children to apply gentle pressure to their lower abdomen to help them feel if their bladder is full.

Verbally label what your child is feeling for them. For example, "I see you are crying, you must be feeling sad."

Consider internal issues as a cause of behavior issues - Ask yourself how long has it been since your child ate, had a drink, are they dressed appropriately for the weather, etc.

Additional Reading:

Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System By Kelly Mahler is available on Amazon.
The book also includes practical strategies for improving interoceptive awareness and self-regulation.
This book provides a detailed description of the connection between interoception and the common experiences of autistic individuals.

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Everything Interoception: What It Is, How It Works, Impact on Self-Regulation, & More

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What's inside this article: A look at the least known sensory system, the interoceptive system. This article covers what interoception is, how interoceptive awareness works, the impact this has on emotional self-regulation, signs of modulation challenges, and activities to improve interoceptive awareness. The interoceptive system is the least known and least understood sensory system.

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Kelly Mahler (OT) is a big name in Introception: Some freebies if you sign up for emails. 

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Kelly Mahler (OT) is a big name in Introception: Some freebies if you sign up for emails. 

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Have you ever felt your stomach growl? Your head pound? Your heart race? Your palms sweat? Your eyes grow heavy? If so, do you know how you are able to feel…

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Tips and ideas to develop interoception: 

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Tips and ideas to develop interoception: 

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– for free resources like the energy meter , the regulator and  Solve not Size problem analysis flow chart and a guide to analysing challenges for autistic people called  person in context,.

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Amy and JÂcqûelyn are committed to the provision of supports and educational opportunities for individuals, families, educational staff, and future professionals. Please contact us with your comments, suggestions, & questions.

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Autism Level UP! - Wherever you are, take the next step!

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Amy and JÂcqûelyn are committed to the provision of supports and educational opportunities for individuals, families, educational staff, and future professionals. Please contact us with your comments, suggestions, & questions.

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Amy Laurent (OT and co-author of a rigorously evidence based model for supporting autistic people called SCERTS) also gave this TED talk about stimming as a source of regulation

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Amy Laurent: Compliance is Not the Goal: Letting Go of Control and Rethinking Support for Autistic Individuals

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Instead of trying to control the behaviors of individuals with autism to make them indistinguishable from the general public, Amy Laurent, PhD, OTR/L suggests a positive shift in focus that supports the development of their emotional skills. She is joined virtually by her colleagues Michael John Carley, Patti Menzel, Neal Katz, Stephen Shore, Dena Gassner, Patrick Quinn, and Jacquelyn Fede.

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Teach Kids to Manage Big Feelings Through Effective Social Emotional Learning

Over 80% of U.S. public schools reported in 2022 on the negative impact of the pandemic on child well-being and self-regulation. Kids are:

Struggling to manage their feelings and mental health

More disruptive in the classroom

Needing additional social, emotional, and behavioral support

(source: National Center for Education Statistics)

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The Zones of Regulation is a complete social-emotional learning curriculum, created to teach children self-regulation and emotional control.

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Online or downloadable booklet of strategies for recognising your own sensory preferences and supporting sensory processing for your child

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Online or downloadable booklet of strategies for recognising your own sensory preferences and supporting sensory processing for your child

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The Alert Program® has boiled down complex theory to create simple, practical solutions you can incorporate into your every day living.

One of the analogies we use with children is, "If your body is like a car engine, sometimes it runs on high (hyped up), sometimes it runs on low (lethargic), and sometimes it runs just right (alert and focused)." But it's not just children. We are all self-regulators.

Think about the ways you self-regulate. Do you need coffee in the morning to wake up? Do you take a brisk walk at lunch to keep you thinking clearly? Do you read before you go to bed to wind down for sleep?

The more we all learn about self-regulation, the better we can handle life's challenges. It helps us bring out our best selves.

We can show you how. We have been studying and sharing about self-regulation since 1990. Consider us your go-to source for solutions for yourself and co-workers, as well as your children, students, clients, family, and team members.

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Self-Regulation Alert Program® Online | AOTA Approved Provider

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Alert Program® (AOTA approved provider) teaches parents, teachers, & therapists to be "detectives" learning how to use simple sensory strategies.

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Article from spectrum news. Interesting read!

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Article from spectrum news. Interesting read!

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Having a special interest can be very beneficial in a number of ways. It can improve your mental and physical health, help you connect with others, and provide you with a sense of purpose.

Here Are Eight Benefits Of Having A Special Interest:

1. Improves mental and physical health

Engaging in activities that you are passionate about has been shown to have a number of positive effects on mental and physical health. Special interests can help reduce stress, improve mood, increase self-esteem, and boost cognitive function. They can also lead to better physical health by promoting regular exercise and social interaction.

2. Connects you with others

Sharing your special interest with others can help you build lasting friendships and feel part of a community. There are many clubs and groups dedicated to specific interests, so finding others who share your passion is easier than ever.

3. Provides a sense of purpose

Having a special interest can give you a sense of purpose and meaning in life. It can provide you with a goal to work towards and something to look forward to. It can also give you a sense of accomplishment when you achieve something related to your interest.

4. Boosts creativity and imagination

Pursuing a special interest often requires creativity and imagination. This can help develop new skills and ways of thinking. It can also lead to greater satisfaction with life in general.

5. Increases knowledge and understanding

People with special interests tend to have a greater depth of knowledge about their topic than those who do not. They often know more about their area of interest than others, which can lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of the world around them. This can also help improve communication and conversation skills. For example, someone with an interest in engineering and timekeeping might be fascinated by the Rolex Daytona vs Submariner conundrum.

6. Expands horizons

Having a special interest can open up new experiences and opportunities that you may never have otherwise had. It can help you travel to new places, meet new people, and learn new things. It can also challenge you to think in different ways and see the world from a different perspective.

7. Makes life more enjoyable

Special interests make life more enjoyable by adding excitement, variety, and purpose. They can provide a much-needed break from the everyday routine and help you find enjoyment in the things you do. They can also lead to a greater sense of satisfaction with life overall.

8. Can be therapeutic

For many people, special interests can act as a form of therapy. They can provide an outlet for emotions and help you work through difficult life experiences. They can also help you develop new coping skills and ways of dealing with stress.

There You Have It

In conclusion, special interests have many benefits for individuals from all walks of life. Whether you have an ongoing passion or simply enjoy trying out new things, there are plenty of opportunities for enrichment and self-expression. So why not embrace your own special interest today?

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Having a special interest can be very beneficial in a number of ways. It can improve your mental and physical health, help you connect with others, and provide you with a sense of purpose. Engaging in activities that you are passionate about has been shown to have a number of positive effects on mental and physical health.

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Calming photo cards, social/sensory stories are free to download, if you subscribe to weekly emails. 

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Calming photo cards, social/sensory stories are free to download, if you subscribe to weekly emails. 

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Hyperlexia and autism resources for parents, activities for kids, sensory bin ideas, and more!

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(great episode with Roz Blackburn)

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Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with more than 50 years experience as a researcher and international consultant for autistic and neurodivergent individuals and their families. He is an Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders at the University of Rhode Island and Director, Childhood Communication Services (a private practice). Previously, he served as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the Brown University School of Medicine, and held a tenured professor appointment at Emerson College. Publications include 5 books, most notably Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (2015; 2022) and The SCERTS Model manuals, an educational approach implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has published 150 scholarly chapters and articles and serves on numerous professional advisory boards for journals and professional organizations. Barry has presented more than 1000 seminars and keynote addresses internationally, including two invited presentations at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day. His career contributions have been recognized with honors from Brown and Princeton Universities, the Autism Society of America and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

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Uniquely Human: The Podcast - Uniquely Human: The Podcast

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Uniquely Human: The Podcast, a show that illuminates and celebrates Autism and Neurodiversity. Hosted by Barry Prizant and Dave Finch.

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interviews with autistic adults, advocates and supporters, almost always with a strengths based appreciation of the complexity of autism.

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Learn Play Thrive - Become more​ confident and effective​ in your​ autism interventions.​

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Wow! I honestly cannot say enough positive things about this training. Meg has put together a thoughtful, thorough, and highly informative training. I left feeling more confident in my understanding of how people with autism learn, think, and play, and with new concrete tools to use in my practice - a combination I feel is often lacking from trainings.

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7 reasons to understand your child’s stimming | AUsome

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Your child’s stimming is central to our communication. When we talk about stimming at AUsome Training we don’t just mean ...

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BBUK is very a comprehensive website

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lnformation and advice for all adults, children and young people with bladder and bowel issues and for their families and carers, as well as the professionals who support them.
Contact Our Helpline
The Bladder & Bowel UK team aims to improve awareness and solutions to bladder and bowel problems across the nation. We offer a range of resources and leaflets, continence supplies online, a directory of bladder and bowel products, free confidential advice via our Bladder & Bowel UK helpline, and training days for healthcare professionals.

Bladder and bowel problems are very common but are often not discussed. This makes it difficult to seek help. Many people believe that problems are a natural part of early childhood and older adulthood. However, it is important to know that they can affect anyone at any stage in life, they may be related to other medical problems, to disabilities, or may occur in people who are otherwise well. Regardless of cause, there are a wide choice of treatments, products and management options that can help.

Free National Confidential Helpline

Bladder & Bowel UK have a national confidential helpline, staffed by a team of specialist nurses and a product information adviser. They can give specialist advice on bladder and bowel health issues, continence promotion and options for managing incontinence, as well as signposting to local services. They can be contacted via email at bbuk@disabledliving.co.uk or on telephone 0161 214 4591.

BBUK do not receive any statutory funding to support our helpline, assessments and additional services, if you have found our service useful, please consider making a donation.

Advice, information and resources for adults with bladder and bowel problems

Advice, information and resources

Advice, information and resources for adults with bladder and bowel problems

Advice, information and resources

We want to hear your opinions on continence products

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Bladder & Bowel UK - bladder and bowel problems information and advice

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Contact Our Helpline The Bladder & Bowel UK team aims to improve awareness and solutions to bladder and bowel problems across the nation. We offer a range of resources and leaflets, continence supplies online, a directory of bladder and bowel products, free confidential advice via our Bladder & Bowel UK helpline, and training days for healthcare professionals.

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ERIC – the children’s bowel and bladder charity. Has a new section with links to online stories and videos  some developmentally younger children may enjoy

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Watch some of our favourite videos about wee and poo.

For younger kids

Why do you get constipated?

This episode of CBeebies' 'Get Well Soon' is all about constipation, which is very common in young children. Dr Ranj helps his friend Deep when he feels blown up like a balloon and Nurse Morag gets the Healthy Helpers bouncing on hoppers when they look at what helps you poo.

The Toilet Song by The Wiggles

Sing along to this animated potty training song.

Why do you wee?

This episode of CBeebies' 'Get Well Soon' is all about infections in your wee. Poor Petal keeps going to the loo and Dr Ranj has to test her wee to find out why, then Nurse Morag and the Healthy Helpers look at why we wee.

For older kids

How can you keep your wee and poo healthy?

Going to the toilet might seem like the most normal thing in the world but sometimes things don't work the way they should. Evelina London Children's Hospital have given us permission to share their film which shows what you can do to have a healthy wee and poo.

How does our digestive system work?

Find out how our body deals with the food that we eat and turns it into poo.

What kind of poo do you do?

Dr Chris and Dr Xand from CBBC's 'Operation Ouch' find out what your poo looks like when you eat different types of food (contains footage of real poo!).

How does your body make poo?

In this episode of CBBC's 'Operation Ouch', Dr Chris and Dr Xand compare what their poo looks like after eating different foods and find out which kind of diet is best for making healthy poo.

There are more great videos in the BBC iWonder Guide: What does your poo say about you? Dr Chris and Dr Xand take you on a journey through the digestive system and show you how long your intestines are.

What is constipation and how can you help your body poo better?

Our animation 'The Pooper Highway' explains why some kids get constipated and how this problem can be treated.

Why does soiling happen and am I the only one that has this problem?

Watch Sam's Story to hear all about how one boy called Sam gets help to manage the poo accidents he has.

What happens when you need a wee?

This episode of CBBC's 'Operation Ouch' shows you what's going on inside your bladder when you need a wee.

There are more great videos in the BBC iWonder Guide: What does my wee say about me? Dr Chris and Dr Xand show you how kidneys work, how a bladder stretches and what the colour of your wee can tell you.

Why does bedwetting happen and what can you do to stay dry at night?

Watch this short cartoon to discover more about the things that can cause bedwetting and the ways you can help your bladder whilst you're sleeping.

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Watch some of our favourite videos about wee and poo. Why do you get constipated? This episode of CBeebies' 'Get Well Soon' is all about constipation, which is very common in young children. Dr Ranj helps his friend Deep when he feels blown up like a balloon and Nurse Morag gets the Healthy Helpers bouncing on hoppers when they look at what helps you poo.

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Information and resources providing useful advice and guidance to patients who are not sleeping well.

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Every teenager is different, though, and some teens need more than the recommended amount of sleep per night while others may require less.

Sleep is vital for people of any age. But especially in teens, profound mental, physical, social, and emotional development requires quality sleep.

Thinking and Academic Achievement

Given the importance of sleep for brain function, it is easy to see why teens who do not get enough sleep tend to suffer from excessive drowsiness and that can harm their academic performance.

Emotional Health

Most people have experienced how lack of sleep can affect mood, causing irritability and exaggerated emotional reactions. Over time, the consequences can be even greater for teens who are adapting to more independence, responsibility, and new social relationships.

Prolonged sleep loss may negatively affect , increasing risks for interpersonal conflict as well as more serious mental health problems.

Sleep-deprived teens are anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Improving sleep in adolescents may play a role in preventing and managing these mental health conditions.

Physical Health and Development

Sleep contributes to the effective function of virtually every system of the body. It empowers the immune system, helps regulate hormones, and enables muscle and tissue recovery.

Substantial physical development happens during adolescence, which can be negatively affected by a lack of sleep. For example, researchers have found that adolescents who fail to get enough sleep have a troubling , evaluated through blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other factors. These findings may put them at higher risk of diabetes and long-term cardiovascular problems.

Decision-Making and Risky Behavior

Sleep deprivation can affect the development of the frontal lobe, a part of the brain that is critical to control impulsive behavior. Not surprisingly, numerous studies have found that teens who do not get enough sleep are more likely to engage in like drunk driving, texting while driving, riding a bicycle without a helmet, and failing to use a seatbelt. Drug and alcohol use, smoking, risky sexual behavior, fighting, and carrying a weapon are also in teens who get too little sleep.

Behavioral problems can have widespread effects on a teenager's life, putting their safety in jeopardy, harming their academic performance, and sometimes damaging their relationships with family and friends.

Accidents and Injuries

Insufficient sleep in teens can make them prone to accidental injury and even death. Of particular concern is an elevated risk of accidents as a result of drowsy driving. Studies have found that sleep deprivation can reduce reaction times with an effect similar to that of significant alcohol consumption. In teens, the impact of drowsy driving can be amplified by a lack of driving experience and a higher rate of distracted driving.

By almost all accounts, many teenagers in America are not getting the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Around 6 out of 10 middle schoolers and 7 out of 10 high schoolers on school nights.

Insufficient sleep has been found to be higher among girls and people assigned female at birth. Older teens report getting less sleep than younger adolescents. Surveys have also found that teens who identify as Black, Asian, or multiracial have the highest rates of sleeping less than eight hours per night.

There is not one specific reason for sleep insufficiency among teens. Instead, several factors contribute to this problem, and these factors may vary from teenager to teenager.

Delayed Sleep Schedule and School Start Times

Adolescents develop a strong tendency toward being a "night owl," staying up later at night and sleeping longer into the morning. Experts believe this is a two-fold biological impulse affecting the circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle of teens.

First, teens have a sleep drive that builds more slowly, which means they do not start to feel tired until later in the evening. Second, the body starts producing melatonin later in the day, which is the hormone that helps promote sleep.

If allowed to sleep on their own schedule, many teens would get eight hours or more per night, sleeping from 11 p.m. or midnight until 8 a.m. or 9 a.m., but school start times in most school districts force teens to wake up much earlier in the morning. Because of the biological delay in their sleep-wake cycle, many teens simply are not able to fall asleep early enough to get eight or more hours of sleep and still arrive at school on time.

With reduced sleep on weekdays, teens may try to catch up by sleeping in on the weekend, but this can exacerbate their delayed sleep schedule and inconsistent nightly rest.

Time Demands

Many teenagers have a jam-packed weekly schedule. School assignments, work obligations, household chores, social life, community activities, and sports are just some of the things that can require their time and attention.

With so much to try to fit into each day, many teens do not allocate sufficient time for sleep. They may stay up late during the week to finish homework or during the weekend when hanging out with friends, both of which can reinforce their night owl schedule.

Additionally, pressure to succeed while managing these extensive commitments can be stressful, and stress has been known to contribute to sleeping problems and insomnia.

Use of Electronic Devices

Screen time late into the evening can contribute to sleeping problems. Using these devices can be stimulating, and incoming notifications can disrupt sleep. Evidence also points to suppressed melatonin production from exposure to the light from smartphones.

Sleep Disorders

Some teens have poor sleep because of an underlying sleep disorder. Adolescents can be affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. OSA frequently causes fragmented sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Though less common, teens can have sleep disorders like restless legs syndrome, which involves a strong urge to move the limbs when lying down, or narcolepsy, which is a disorder affecting the sleep-wake cycle.

Mental Health Conditions

Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can be a challenge to quality sleep in teens as well as adults. Insufficient sleep can contribute to these conditions as well, creating a bidirectional relationship that can worsen both sleep and emotional wellness.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Teens who are having sleep problems should start by talking with their doctor about how much sleep they are getting and how it impacts their daily life. Their pediatrician can work to identify any underlying causes and craft the most appropriate and tailored treatment.

Depending on the cause of sleep problems, medications may be considered; however, in most cases, treatment with medications isn't necessary for teens to get better sleep.

A beneficial step is for teens to review and improve their sleep hygiene, which includes their sleep environment and habits. Some healthy sleep tips that can help in this process include:

Budgeting eight hours of sleep into your daily schedule and keeping that same schedule on both weekdays and weekends.

Creating a consistent pre-bed routine to help with relaxation and falling asleep fast.

Avoiding caffeine and energy drinks, especially in the afternoon and evening.

Putting away electronic devices for at least a half-hour before bed and keeping them on silent mode to avoid checking them during the night.

Setting up your bed with a supportive mattress that's the best mattress for you. And don't forget to bring your best pillow.

Keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.

Sleep hygiene modifications may be included in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), a form of talk therapy for sleeping problems that has demonstrated effectiveness in adults and may be helpful to teens. CBT-I works by reshaping negative ideas and thoughts about sleep and implementing practical steps for better sleep routines.

How Can Parents Help Teens Get Better Sleep?

For many parents and caregivers, a first step is asking their teenage children about their sleep. Encourage teens to see a doctor while also working with them to make gradual sleep hygiene improvements. Some research has found that teens whose parents set a firm bedtime get more sleep and have .

Parents and caregivers can also work with their teens to avoid overscheduling and balance commitments that can generate stress with maintaining adequate time for sleep.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References

1. Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D'Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., & Wise, M. S. (2016). Consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children: Methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(11), 1549-1561.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27707447/

2. Sio, U. N., Monaghan, P., & Ormerod, T. (2013). Sleep on it, but only if it is difficult: effects of sleep on problem solving. Memory & cognition, 41(2), 159-166.
http://link.springer.com/10.3758/s13421-012-0256-7

3. Perez-Lloret, S., Videla, A. J., Richaudeau, A., Vigo, D., Rossi, M., Cardinali, D. P., & Perez-Chada, D. (2013). A multi-step pathway connecting short sleep duration to daytime somnolence, reduced attention, and poor academic performance: An exploratory cross-sectional study in teenagers. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 9(5), 469-473.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23674938/

4. McMakin, D. L., Dahl, R. E., Buysse, D. J., Cousins, J. C., Forbes, E. E., Silk, J. S., Siegle, G. J., & Franzen, P. L. (2016). The impact of experimental sleep restriction on affective functioning in social and nonsocial contexts among adolescents. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 57(9), 1027-1037.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12568

5. Roberts, R. E., & Duong, H. T. (2014). The prospective association between sleep deprivation and depression among adolescents. Sleep, 37(2), 239-244.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24497652/

6. Cespedes Feliciano, E. M., Quante, M., Rifas-Shiman, S. L., Redline, S., Oken, E., & Taveras, E. M. (2018). Objective Sleep Characteristics and Cardiometabolic Health in Young Adolescents. Pediatrics, 142(1), e20174085.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29907703/

7. Wheaton, A. G., Olsen, E. O., Miller, G. F., & Croft, J. B. (2016). Sleep duration and injury-related risk behaviors among high school students-United States, 2007-2013. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(13), 337-341.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6513a1.htm

8. Meldrum, R. C., & Restivo, E. (2014). The behavioral and health consequences of sleep deprivation among U.S. high school students: relative deprivation matters. Preventive medicine, 63, 24-28.
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0091743514000929

9. Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2020, September 10). Sleep in middle and high school students. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention., Retrieved February 13, 2023, from
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/features/students-sleep.htm

10. Carter, B., Rees, P., Hale, L., Bhattacharjee, D., & Paradkar, M. S. (2016). Association Between Portable Screen-Based Media Device Access or Use and Sleep Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA pediatrics, 170(12), 1202-1208.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27802500/

11. Devnani, P. A., & Hegde, A. U. (2015). Autism and sleep disorders. Journal of pediatric neurosciences, 10(4), 304-307.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4770638/

12. Short, M. A., Gradisar, M., Wright, H., Lack, L. C., Dohnt, H., & Carskadon, M. A. (2011). Time for bed: parent-set bedtimes associated with improved sleep and daytime functioning in adolescents. Sleep, 34(6), 797-800.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21629368/

13. The Children, Youth, & Families Office of the American Psychological Association (2014). Later school start times promote adolescent well-being., Retrieved February 13, 2023, from
https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/school-start-times.pdf

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Too many teens get insufficient sleep. Learn about the importance of sleep for teens, challenges to getting the sleep they need, and steps to sleep better.

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Sleep and nutrition have a complex relationship that directly affects your health. Learn the connections between diet and sleep and how to optimize both.

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with strategies and practical support ideas for sensory challenges & daily life skills

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The following section aims to empower and enable children, young people and their families to live their lives as independently and easily as possible by supporting them to develop life skills.

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Tropical cream deodorant, Scrubbingtons/Dove low scent ranges, Dry shampoo, moist wipes,

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Visuals may help – boardmaker available in some Edinburgh libraries. Free (though not editable)
(selfcare reminder strips)

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Do2Learn began in 1996 through a National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovative Research grant. Our team searches out the most talented and creative teachers and clinicians across the world. These gifted individuals work with our technical experts to transfer their knowledge into formats that we can make available to you.
Since beginning, we have grown into a world-wide resource with over 11 million hits a month. While based in North Carolina, approximately half of our users are from outside of the U.S. Thousands of sites link to us and we can be easily found on most search engines using topics such as 'picture cards', 'facial expressions', and 'job tips'. We hope you find our resources helpful and pass on our link to others.
We believe that simply telling busy teachers, parents, and professionals what they should be doing is not enough. If we explain how to devise a visual communication system using picture cards, we provide free cards to get you started.

When we present the Teacher Toolbox on how to adapt a classroom for children with special needs, we provide resources for behavior management plans, literacy tools, and the materials to create everything in your classroom.

Our approach is to use the latest technology and expert guidance to create innovative and usable solutions.

Learn about DiagnoseFirst, our newest project to help teachers and clinicians recognize the symptoms of ASD.

Pre-employment screening assessments are online or paper tests that some companies require applicants to complete during the application process. Read more about JobTIPS Student Version!

JobTIPS Toolbox PRO is filled with resources to help you coach your students through the challenges of assessing their skills, finding and applying for jobs, and practicing the social skills needed to do well in the workplace.

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picture exchange communication system cards

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Do2Learn: Educational Resources for Special Needs

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picture communication cards, songs, games and learning activities for autism, aspergers, fetal alcohol syndrome and disabilities

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Zosia Zaks book Life and Love: Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults

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Books… read Uniquely Human book by Barry Prizant – a quick and easy read which parents and others find really helpful for increasing understanding Autism. Zosia Zaks book Life and Love: Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults & Mary Wrobel’s book “Taking care of myself” good for independence skills.

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WALKING TOUR – LIVES IN THE BALANCE
Ross Greene's Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model Introduction

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Parents Guided Tour – LIVES IN THE BALANCE

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AN EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL (COMPASSION AND VALUES INCLUDED)

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Beacon House is passionate about developing freely available resources so that knowledge about the repair of trauma and adversity is in the hands of those who need it. Please feel free to use our resources in your home or work setting.
All we ask is that you credit our team for the information and design using this credit: Image or information courtesy of Beacon House Therapeutic Services & Trauma Team | 2022 | www.beaconhouse.org.uk
As a specialist trauma service, our resources are written using a 'trauma lens' and offer information, ideas and strategies from this perspective. We know that there are other perspectives and overlapping experiences, meaning that 'one size doesn't fit all'. We are working to be as inclusive as possible and alongside this acknowledge that not everything we produce will be relevant for everyone.

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Beacon House is passionate about developing freely available resources so that knowledge about the repair of trauma and adversity is in the hands of those who need it. Please feel free to use our resources in your home or work setting.

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Number 6 One-Stop Shop

If you would like to make a referral please email number6@aiscotland.org.uk and we will organise an initial appointment via phone/video call or in person at Number 6.

Number 6 is a service for autistic adults who fit the following criteria:

· 16 and over

· Formally diagnosed with autism

· No additional learning disability

· Resident in Edinburgh, the Lothians or the Scottish Borders.

The service is provided by Autism Initiatives UK and was officially launched in June 2005, with the opening of the Number 6 One-Stop Shop.

Number 6 provides free social opportunities and 1-1 advice and support on a range of issues.

We accept self-referrals and third-party referrals. If you would like to make a referral please email number6@aiscotland.org.uk and we will organise an initial appointment via phone/video call or in person at Number 6.

Autism Diagnostic Service

We have been running a diagnostic service for individuals resident in Edinburgh since 2019 however we cannot accept self-referrals or GP referrals to this service. If you would like to pursue an autism assessment then you must ask your GP to refer you to the NHS mental health team (or CAMHS for under 18's). We are able to accept referrals from professionals within the community mental health team (including psychiatrists, psychologists and CPNs).

For diagnostic enquiries please email: number6@aiscotland.org.uk

Fundraising event - Louisa, Vicki and Jenny do Dublin!

Louisa, Vicki and Jenny are taking part in the Dublin Marathon to raise funds for our One Stop Shops in Edinburgh, Perth and the Highlands

Good luck guys!

Service Update (27/09/2022)

Please see the Monthly Calendars tab for our latest calendar. The calendar lists all of the groups and activities that we are currently running and an explanation about how to get involved.
From Monday 3rd October our main phone number will change to 0131 526 3176 and the line will be open from 9:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. If we are unable to take your call, please leave your name and number and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Best wishes,

The Number 6 Team

AUTISM ALERT CARD

If you're looking to apply for an Autism Alert Card issued by Lothian and Borders police, please contact any member of staff for the registration form.

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number 6 one stop shop for adults with high-functioning autism

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If you would like to make a referral please email number6@aiscotland.org.uk and we will organise an initial appointment via phone/video call or in person at Number 6. Number 6 is a service for autistic adults who fit the following criteria: · 16 and over · Formally diagnosed with autism · No additional learning disability · Resident in Edinburgh, the Lothians or the Scottish Borders.

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Apps rated most useful by parents of teens for personal organisation 

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Apps rated most useful by parents of teens for personal organisation 

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(costs £4.99)– sequence of your own or stock pictures (with audio if you want).

Use it like a daily diary (e.g. breakfast, school subjects (with detail for each), gaming club, home to Grandma’s etc)

or for steps in a sequence e.g. how to make food, wash clothes, etc)

Looks a bit like instagram.

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Plan It, Do It, Check It Off is a real photo "To Do" app that can be fully customized by the user. Twenty six pages with real picture images are included to illustrate events that can be used for a visual "To Do" list. All the photos pages of different activities can personalized by importing your own photos, changing titles, adding custom text and audio or make your own book from scratch with all your own photos. Great app for individuals that need visual supports.

MANY GREAT FEATURES TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR BOOKS:

MULTIPLE USERS FEATURE:

-Add unlimited users, based on availability on personal device
-Add user's photo
-Add user's first & last name
-Edit/delete users

BOOK INCLUDED:

-"To Do" (26 activites included)
-Sample "Mom's To Do" Sample
-"Step By Step" blank book
-"Step By Step" Sample
-"How Do I..." Tutorial of how to use this app

BOOK FEATURES:

-Add custom books with blank book template
-Copy book already made as template for the same user or another user from the list of all books within the app
-Hide books to focus on preferred books
-Change order of books in edit section
-Book Exporting Feature
-Hold down book title page and prompt will appear to email a book as a PDF document allowing book to be printed out or
-Hold down book title page and choose to export a the book data via email so that a user with the same app can load your book on their device.

PAGE FEATURES:

-Edit all pages included in pre-made books with personalized photo, title and subtitle text and recorded audio.
-Add additional custom pages to pre-made books and custom books
-Add custom photos, title, subtitle text and recorded audio to each page
-Hide pages
-Change order of pages
-Drag & Drop book pages while viewing books
-Check mark on page when done by tapping photo OR
-Change option from check mark appearing on photo to play your recorded audio when page photo is tapped on page. Option to change is in settings
-Uncheck button in page edit section to clear all check marks at one time
-When all pages are check marked the book title page is check marked
-Swipe Page button added to turn off swiping feature so that the arrows have to be used to turn the pages.

LOCKING FEATURE:

-Lock with numeric pass code
-Reset pass code in the settings section if you forget it

i Get It! is dedicated to developing educational applications that can be utilized by diverse populations. i Get It! apps are designed for all ages with real photo images for contextual support, personalized text options for visual support and recordable audio capabilities for auditory support. The apps are designed with photo templates, however, the user may easily modify the samples or create their own pages to customize the app to individual learning needs.

i Get It! Apps is devoted to teaching skills one app at a time

Version 3.8.6

This update corrects an issue with importing books into the app where the app would sometimes not let you select a user to receive the new book.

The developer, I Get It, LLC, has not provided details about its privacy practices and handling of data to Apple. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy.

No Details Provided

The developer will be required to provide privacy details when they submit their next app update.

Information

Compatibility

Requires iOS 7.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Copyright

© i Get It, LLC 2013

Family Sharing

With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.

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‎Plan It, Do It, Check It Off is a real photo "To Do" app that can be fully customized by the user. Twenty six pages with real picture images are included to illustrate events that can be used for a visual "To Do" list. All the photos pages of different activities can personalized by importing your...

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Choice works calendar (costs £9.99) – designed for young people with autism – like a visual timetable, uses symbols to mark key events in days, weeks and months.

Also has a daily timetable/schedule like choice works, where teen can drag symbols across to show they are done.

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‎The Choiceworks Calendar is a powerful picture-based learning tool that helps children learn what is happening day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month throughout each year. Choiceworks Calendar teaches the abstract concept of time in a structured visual format which helps children organize thei...

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| Choice works – (£14.99) digital visual timetable with symbols similar to boardmaker – use it to make timetables/schedules (e.g. my morning routine) and to manage waiting, (offers visual choices & a timer). Can also be used to indicate emotion state and offer choices (but perhaps too hard to use when really dysregulated)

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The Choiceworks app is an essential learning tool that helps children complete daily routines (morning, day, & night), understand & manage feelings and improve waiting skills (taking turns and not interrupting). Choiceworks is designed for caregivers to provide clear and consistent support to foster a child's independence, positive behavior, and emotional regulation at home and in the community. It can also be customized for teachers in a school setting.

Key features included with Choiceworks:
■ Full, unlimited access to all four board types: Schedule, Waiting, Feelings and Feelings Scale
■ Image Library preloaded with over 180 images and audio
■ Add your own images and record your own audio for limitless customizability
■ Attach video to any board image
■ Easily create profiles to personalize and manage multiple users
■ Save an unlimited number of boards for multiple children or different routines
■ Speaks boards out loud with child or adult voice
■ Share boards by Email, Files app or iTunes with other Choiceworks app users
■ Ability to print boards or save as PDF
■ Advanced sharing options
■ Custom themes
■ Library Assistant
■ Custom timer sounds

What do you get with Choiceworks?
With your Choiceworks purchase you get access to all the features that have made it an award winning support app used in classrooms and homes around the globe for over a decade. No additional in-app purchase or subscriptions are required and there are no limits to how many boards or images you can create and share.

Schedule Board
The Schedule Board makes task completion easier and more fun! The schedule is paired with an 'all done' column to check off steps toward a motivating reward. Timers can be added to any task or activity. The schedules are easy to edit and fully customizable. Once you have created a schedule, it will be saved automatically.

Waiting Board
The Waiting Board teaches waiting skills like taking turns and not interrupting. The user can begin by reading the companion book, When Do I Have to Wait? Using the waiting board, the top picture indicates the reason why the child is waiting and a timer can be set to show how long the child will wait. The child can then choose an activity to do while waiting.

Feelings Board
The Feelings Board provides a tool for helping children understand and express emotions. The user can begin by reading the companion book, When I Get Upset, to provide an example of how the child might recognize an emotion and choose a coping strategy. On the Feelings Board, the user can then help the child indicate how they are feeling from a range of options, select a coping strategy, and then request an activity to help them feel better or re-engage with others.

Feelings Scale
Helps users identify, manage and cope with feelings across environments throughout the day. By tracking their feelings on the board, users can analyze the data for trends to learn if tasks done at different times of day or in different environments affect outcome. Environments and schedules can then be altered to achieve better results.

Terms of Use: https://www.beevisual.com/mobile-app-eula.html
Privacy Policy: https://www.beevisual.com/mobile-app-privacy.html

Version 12.2

Fixed a bug in Theme Manager

Love this easy to customize visual schedule!

My son has moderate autism. I homeschool him because I don't feel he would thrive in a classroom. We do a lot of life lessons. I have his school day broken into lessons. Each lesson has a few activities, most have photographs I have taken of the actual materials we use and I record my voice to tell him what we are doing. You could even add videos if you use it for things like brushing teeth. He gets a verbal "All Done" and a check mark when he completes each task. It is so easy to customize if we change the tasks from day to day. It is engaging and I don't have to write out a schedule anymore! I love this app!!!

Transformed our children's lives

This app has positively changed the quality of our family time management during school days. We mostly use the schedule boards. The kids each have their own iPad with the app (although there is a feature to have multiple profiles, the timer feature does not work when switching between profiles). They retrieve it in the morning and begin completing their tasks. They are significantly more independent in transitioning from task to task than when they did not have this app. It's a huge relief. I'm actually setting up schedule boards for myself!

Awesome

I use this app for my work in behavioral therapy with children and families. It is an amazing resource and has steadily improved since I first downloaded it. I recommend this for anyone working with children or adults who benefit from its structure and visual nature. I especially would recommend it for parents who want to help their children succeed and feel accomplished in their daily lives.

The developer, Bee Visual, LLC, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy.

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

Compatibility

iPhone

Requires iOS 14.0 or later.

iPad

Requires iPadOS 14.0 or later.

iPod touch

Requires iOS 14.0 or later.

Languages

English, Spanish

Family Sharing

Up to six family members can use this app with Family Sharing enabled.

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‎The Choiceworks app is an essential learning tool that helps children complete daily routines (morning, day, & night), understand & manage feelings and improve waiting skills (taking turns and not interrupting). Choiceworks is designed for caregivers to provide clear and consistent support to foste...

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More complex/text based alternatives for tech savvy teens who manage their own phones…

For mac/apple devices

1. Find my iphone  (free usually pre-installed) – see where all family members are (within a few metres!) on google maps. Requires a little trust, as young person has to keep their location sharing turned on!) Also handy if phone/ipad is lost, as you can remotely get it to “ring” at full volume, or lock/erase it, if it’s stolen/permanently lost.

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Find your Apple devices.

You take your devices everywhere. Which means you might leave them anywhere. Whether they're under a sofa pillow or in a conference room, chances are they won't be lost for long. You can get help finding your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Mac, AirPods, or AirTag right in the Find My app.

See all your devices on a map.

Is your iPad at home or back at the office? Use the map to get a full picture of where your devices are - and where a missing one might be. Some devices can also mark their location when the battery is critically low, to help you find them even if they run out of power.

Play a sound to
find your device.

When you can't find something but think it's nearby or around others who might hear it, you can play a sound to pinpoint its location. Your AirPods play a specifically designed sound that can project across a room - and even farther.

Display a message for someone who finds it.

If your device or AirTag goes missing, you can put it in Lost Mode. That starts tracking its location, sends you a notification when it pings the network, and sets your passcode to protect your data. You can also let people know how to reach you. They can simply view your message on your device's Lock Screen, or tap your AirTag with their smartphone to get your contact number.

Erase it with ease.

Worried that your device has fallen into the wrong hands? You may want to erase it remotely to delete your personal data and reset your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, or Mac. If you retrieve it, you can restore your data from your iCloud backup.

Lock it down. Automatically.

Activation Lock is designed to prevent anyone else from using or selling your device. When you enable Find My on your device, Activation Lock is turned on automatically. Your Apple ID and password will then be required in order to erase or reactivate your device.

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You take your devices everywhere. Which means you might leave them anywhere. Whether they're under a sofa pillow or in a conference room, chances are they won't be lost for long. You can get help finding your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Mac, AirPods, or AirTag right in the Find My app.

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Weekly Hourly Planner Notepad, Daily Planner Desk Pad, Weekly Schedule, To Do List Note Pad, ADHD Planner | 50 Undated Tear Away Sheets | A4 (Rainbow) : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

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Weekly Hourly Planner Notepad, Daily Planner Desk Pad, Weekly Schedule, To Do List Note Pad, ADHD Planner | 50 Undated Tear Away Sheets | A4 (Rainbow)

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Buy Weekly Hourly Planner Notepad, Daily Planner Desk Pad, Weekly Schedule, To Do List Note Pad, ADHD Planner | 50 Undated Tear Away Sheets | A4 (Rainbow) at Amazon UK. Free delivery on eligible orders.

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Reminders app (free and pre-installed on iphone) – use with family sharing to remotely remind or prompt your teen. Add photos. Set reminder alarm for locations, (e.g. “CALL MUM” when leaving school) - useful if you can’t predict exact time when reminder is needed).

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. Evernote, (annual subscription) Persistently popular app! Create visual to do lists, take notes, add photos of handwritten notes or school handouts, or make sketches and annotate them. Useful feature that search finds keyword in any format (typed, written, image).

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Best Note Taking App - Organize Your Notes with Evernote

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Our note taking app helps you capture and prioritize ideas, projects and to-do lists, so nothing falls through the cracks. Start your free trial today!

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Rooster money – practice bank account – Teen can see what they can earn for achieving tasks/completing chores and then see the money is transferred into their account. Older teens can have a debit card attached to the account.

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NatWest Rooster Money | The Kids' Allowance and Chores App

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🍪 We use cookies to help our site work, understand how it's used, and to deliver targeted information to existing and prospective customers. By accepting this message, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. For more information on the cookies we use please see our Privacy Policy.

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Focus keeper– set timer for up to 60 mins work or activity and then relaxation time. Really helpful during exam revision or simply to avoid a task going on longer than necessary. Different volume and type of ticking sounds and alarm sounds available

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Focus Keeper helps you keep your productivity high! Stay focused on any task you are working on, such as study, writing, or coding and get things done.

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Wellbeing for parents/ carers - training

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Wellbeing for parents/ carers - training

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Emotional wellbeing for parent carers - Carer Events & Training

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This event is open to carers residing in or caring for a person in Edinburgh only. Duration: 1 session, Monday 5 December About the event: Caring for a young person... Read More

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parents of any young person, for general information and signposting

0800 28 22 33

https://www.children1st.org.uk/help-for-families/parentline-scotland/

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Worried about a child? You can talk to us

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for all parents in Scotland - https://www.parentclub.scot/

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Tips and advice you can trust to help with the ups and downs of parenting. Through pregnancy to toddler tantrums and starting school, all the way up to those tricky teenage years, Parent Club is here to help.

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Support for families – The City of Edinburgh Council

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The City of Edinburgh Council. Putting our customers first and looking after Edinburgh.

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www.mygov.scot/child-disability-payment

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Child Disability Payment provides support for the extra costs that a disabled child might have.

Child Disability Payment replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and young people living in Scotland.

You can apply for Child Disability Payment for a disabled child under 16. The disability can be mental or physical.

You can also apply for Child Disability Payment if the disabled child does not have a diagnosis. In such cases, you can tell Social Security Scotland about:

how they're affected

any symptoms they may have

Social Security Scotland will pay Child Disability Payment until the child is 18. They can sometimes continue making payments after the child is 18. Find out more about payments.

Payment components and rates

Child Disability Payment is tax-free and made up of 2 components:

Children:

3 months old or over may qualify for the care component

3 years old or over may qualify for the mobility component

If the child is terminally ill:

they qualify for the care component from birth

they'll also qualify for the mobility component if they're 3 years old or over

Care component

This has 3 different payment rates:

Lowest

This is a weekly rate of £24.45 and paid if the child either:

needs attention from someone, for a significant part of the day, in connection with their bodily functions due to a physical or mental disability

is 16 or older and, due to a mental or physical disability, is unable to prepare a cooked main meal for themselves

Middle

This is a weekly rate of £61.85 and paid if the child either:

needs frequent attention from someone during the day, or prolonged or repeated attention at night, in connection with their bodily functions due to a physical or mental disability

needs continual supervision during the day, or another person to be awake for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals at night, to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others

gets renal dialysis treatment, during the day or at night, at least twice a week

Highest

This is a weekly rate of £92.40 and paid if the child either:

needs frequent attention from someone during the day, and prolonged or repeated attention at night, in connection with their bodily functions due to a physical or mental disability

needs continual supervision during the day, and another person to be awake for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals at night, to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others

gets renal dialysis treatment, during the day and at night, at least twice a week

is terminally ill

If you get the highest rate of the care component, you'll also get Child Winter Heating Assistance.

Mobility component

There are 2 payment rates for the mobility component:

Lower

This is a weekly rate of £24.45 and paid if the child:

is 5 or over

can walk, with or without equipment, but most of the time needs guidance or supervision from another person to move around outdoors

Higher

This is a weekly rate of £64.50 and for children 3 and over.

It's paid if the child either:

cannot walk, or is virtually unable to move around outdoors due to their disability

has a severe visual disability or is blind and deaf

has a severe mental health disability

has severe behavioural difficulties, due to a severe mental health disability, and needs supervision during the day and at night to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others

would experience a serious deterioration in their health from the exertion of walking

is terminally ill

If the child gets the higher rate mobility component, you can apply to lease an accessible vehicle.

Questions you'll be asked

You can download documents showing a sample of questions you'll be asked when applying for Child Disability Payment. They're for reference only and you should not use them to make an application.

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Child Disability Payment provides support for the extra costs that a disabled child might have. Child Disability Payment replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and young people living in Scotland. You can apply for Child Disability Payment for a disabled child under 16. The disability can be mental or physical.

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You might need to look into eligibility criteria but this fund might be of interest. There is also a Person-Centred Planning fund and a Technology grant pending.

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ILF Scotland provides funding support for disabled people in Scotland and Northern Ireland to help them live a more independent lifestyle

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Fund open for applications for a set time each year – announcements on social media - the website has more information about the eligibility criteria - https://takeabreakscotland.org.uk/

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We wouldn't have been able to go on such an amazing break without help from Take a Break. Things are extremely difficult with children who aren't able to do things on their own and require 24/7 support. This break enabled us to spend time together, and not worry about things.

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Take a Break | Scotland's short breaks fund to support carers of disabled children and young people who have complex additional needs

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We wouldn't have been able to go on such an amazing break without help from Take a Break. Things are extremely difficult with children who aren't able to do things on their own and require 24/7 support. This break enabled us to spend time together, and not worry about things.

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Help to apply for CDP available from Social Security Scotland

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Help to apply for CDP available from Social Security Scotland

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www.mygov.scot/contact-social-security-scotland
Help to apply available from voluntary organisations e.g. VOCAL and FAIR and Action Group

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You can contact Social Security Scotland by post, web chat, or on our freephone number from any phone.

By web chat

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, you can contact us on web chat between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday:

for general enquiries

to check the progress of your application

to let us know something's changed with your application

You can make a new application using the links below.

We can answer your questions quicker if we know your National Insurance number.

We'll never ask for your bank details through web chat.

By phone

Freephone: 0800 182 2222 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday).

If you cannot call 0800 numbers from your mobile phone, you can call us for free from any payphone or landline.

If you're a British Sign Language user, you can use the contactSCOTLAND app to contact us by video relay.

If calling from outside the UK, call +44 (0)1382 931 000. This number is not free but you can ask us to call you back. You should check with your phone provider to find out about any charges.

Stay safe on the phone

We'll never phone you to take a payment. If you're not sure it is us calling, end the call and contact us on 0800 182 2222. We'll tell you if the call was from us.

By post

Social Security Scotland
General Enquiries
PO Box 10301
Dundee
DD1 9FY

If you want to apply for Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods

Apply for Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods.

If you want to apply for the Funeral Support Payment

Apply for the Funeral Support Payment.

If you want to apply for Adult Disability Payment

Apply for Adult Disability Payment.

If you want to apply for Child Disability Payment

Apply for Child Disability Payment.

If you want to apply for Young Carer Grant

Apply for Young Carer Grant.

If you want to apply for Job Start Payment

Apply for Job Start Payment.

If you want to give feedback

You can give feedback to tell us that we:

do something well

need to improve something

If something goes wrong, or you're unhappy with our service, we'll work with you to fix it.

Complaints

Complain about Social Security Scotland.

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You can contact Social Security Scotland by post, web chat, or on our freephone number from any phone. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, you can contact us on web chat between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday: for general enquiries to check the progress of your application to let us know something's changed with your application You can make a new application using the links below.

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F.A.I.R - Family Advice and Information Resource
- 0131 662 1962
- https://www.fairadvice.org.uk/

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Action Group - support for all people with Additional Support Needs
- 0131 475 2315
- https://actiongroup.org.uk/

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Parentline - support for all parents 0800 28 22 33

Mon-Fri, 9am to 9pm

Sat-Sun, 9am to noon

https://www.children1st.org.uk/help-for-families/parentline-scotland/

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Worried about a child? You can talk to us

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Branch Out Together
- previously called Lothian Autistic Society
-  https://www.branchouttogether.org/who-are-we

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Formally known as Lothian Autistic Society, Branch Out Together are the provider of social activities for children and young people with autism throughout Edinburgh and The Lothians. We offer a supportive and understanding learning environment, and weekly events where the children can try new activities that are stimulating and challenging.

These activities help them to gain coping skills while having fun and building friendships with their peers.  Our aim is to help children and young people on the autism spectrum to be confident, to lead full and enriched lives, and to support families in their caring role.

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Formally known as Lothian Autistic Society, Branch Out Together are the provider of social activities for children and young people with autism throughout Edinburgh and The Lothians. We offer a supportive and understanding learning environment, and weekly events where the children can try new activities that are stimulating and challenging.

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Founder (team-united.org.uk)

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"Neurodiversity" is a word used to explain the unique ways in which people's brains work, for example a diagnosis of Autism or ADHD and many other conditions.

We deliver football programmes and initiatives that are designed to help neurodivergent children and young people aged 10 to 24 years to connect, flourish, discover and shine. We also provide mainstream services to any child or young person who wants to connect using some of our resources and projects. This is usually done within a school setting.

We promote an environment where young people with Autism and other Neurodivergent conditions can play football and be part of a team, whilst adapting to the intense social and communicative demands they are likely to experience when involved in football.

Team United delivers and develops a range of football sessions and social activities for young people with Autism and/or Neurodiverse conditions. enquiries@teamunited.org.uk

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Welcome to Team United. We deliver a pathway programme for young people with disabilities that aims to break down social barriers.

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Formed in 2018 Edinburgh Together is a consortium of Children 1st, Barnardo's & Canongate Youth, operating on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council to provide intensive support to children, young people & their families.
In 2021 our remit changed to emphasise intensive family support so we no longer provide previous services like in-school support, activity-based provision or befriending.
Support targets children/ young people most at risk of experiences known to have a sustained impact on wellbeing including (but not exclusive to): harm from others; family breakdown; health harming behaviours; exclusion from education.
Support is designed with families to achieve agreed goals and remains as long as necessary to achieve meaningful change.
Referrals are made by the Named Person to CEC's Additional Support Access Point (ASAP) screening group at[email protected]
Referrals should include a recent multi agency meeting minute (eg CPM) & Assessment of Need. It may be helpful to include further detail of support sought plus any additional insight into unmet needs or risks for the child not in existing paperwork.
Services are provided by partners based upon the referred child's age. If the child/ young person is:
* Up to 7: Children 1st
* 8 to 14: Barnardo's
* 14+: Canongate Youth if on the roll of James Gillespie's High or St Thomas of Aquin's RC High. Barnardo's support in other areas
Barnardo's also deliver post diagnostic parenting support groups on behalf of NHS.
Cygnet is for parents/ carers of children/ young people aged 5-18 with ASD to develop understanding of ASD and look at practical solutions to support the child.
ADHD Parent Factor empowers parents/ carers of children up to 16 with info about ADHD and ways to manage core symptoms often displayed by a child with ADHD.
Referrals are made by CAMHS or parents may contact us to self-refer

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Formed in 2018 Edinburgh Together is a consortium of Children 1st, Barnardo's & Canongate Youth, operating on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council to provide intensive support to children, young people & their families. In 2021 our remit changed to emphasise intensive family support so we no longer provide previous services like in-school support, activity-based provision or befriending.

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Eating Disorder Charity

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Struggling with an eating disorder? Caring for someone who is? Beat is here to support you.

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Centre for Psychological Therapies- Edinburgh University- Facebook Page

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Centre for Psychological Therapies- Edinburgh University- Facebook Page

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到 Facebook 查看帖子、照片和更多内容。

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From national services, like our confidential Infoline and online wellbeing support Time for You, to our 70 services based in communities across Scotland, we work every day to support better mental health and wellbeing. We listen to what matters locally and we campaign nationally - for the changes, big and small, that can make all the difference in life.

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Young Minds- Mental Health Charity for Children and Young People

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Young Minds- Mental Health Charity for Children and Young People

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YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People

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YoungMinds are a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need.

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Talk to Frank- honest information about drugs

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Talk to Frank- honest information about drugs

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Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today. | FRANK

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Healthy Respect- supporting young people's sexual health

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Healthy Respect- supporting young people's sexual health

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Healthy Respect - Supporting young people's sexual health.

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Get free condoms STI testing Get contraception Get a pregnancy test Get PrEP Gender identity clinic Emergency contraception Help with sexual assault & rape Abortion services

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You can make a difference... Get a full rundown of our digital services for young people during the pandemic Find out more There's loads of ways you can help us make Scotland the best place to grow up for LGBTI young people Find out more

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I had a black dog, his name was depression

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Recommendation

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Mental Health First Aid- suicide awareness course

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Mental Health First Aid- suicide awareness course

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Edinburgh Leisure have activity clubs and supported activities
- Additional support needs page on the Edinburgh Leisure website. www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/active-communities

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You’ll find us conveniently placed at over 30 locations across the city with a variety of opening hours providing you choice and flexibility to help fit us into your schedule from home or work. There’s something for everyone at the Biggest Club in Town.

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Highly recommended- supports parents and young people to identify behaviours that are ok and also those that might be harmful