Sheffield Hallam University Postgraduate certificate in autism and Asperger syndrome

The course gives you an understanding of autism and Asperger syndrome and some of the associated issues. It provides insight into how to develop appropriate support for autistic people and examples of professional practice across different areas.

Distanced learning with a tutor is combined with live online learning days featuring a variety of speakers including Dr Luke Beardon.

“I have really enjoyed the online mode of delivery, being able to watch the presentations at a time that works for you, pause them to reflect on the point before moving on, and rewind to listen again to key bits of information.” − Amanda, Educational Psychologist and student on last year’s course.

Throughout her childhood Victoria Ellen always had a feeling that she was different, but couldn’t quite figure out why.

She didn’t always know when it was her turn to talk in conversations, struggled with eye contact and was more interested in playing with her Barbie dolls at home while her friends were out drinking and flirting with boys.

Victoria’s anxiety around trying to navigate the world was hard enough, but bullies picked up on her inability to fit in and made it a whole lot worse.

‘People just bullied me for all sorts of things, I was told that I didn’t brush my hair and that I don’t wash my clothes,’ she says.

‘That I was just weird because my mannerisms were strange and the way I had conversations were strange.

‘But it was because I just didn’t understand, I didn’t know what was and what wasn’t appropriate.’

Teachers weren’t of any particular help either, she adds, writing her off as an under-performing student rather than one who might need some specialist support.

We recently posted an article from the NAS on how the law on mental health is changing. The UK Government have published a summary of the main changes proposed, stating:

We (the UK government) want to let you know about the changes we are proposing to improve care for people who are detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA). This document:

• • • summarises the main changes proposed, which are available in the full White Paper
    • tells you where you can find out more information
    • explains how you can tell us what you think about the changes.
    • explains how the proposals relate to Wales

You can read more about it on the Government website by clicking the link below.

You can also read the National Autistic Societies “Mental Health Act Update” by clicking the link below.

The potential of AI for mental health services

Many of us will encounter IAPT services at one point in our lives, but due to the heavy pressure of increasing demand, technological ingenuity is becoming ever more vital in cutting waiting times and getting people the urgent care that they require.

Read more

Moral injury – using ACT to tolerate the memory of our emotions

Therapist Michael O’Sullivan writes we routinely get caught between the dilemmas of the heart and the head. In the case of moral injury, there is often a conflict between the two that can cause long-term emotional distress. Alleviating this distress is possible if we learn to tolerate the past and move forwards.

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New from Mental Health Knowledge

Podcast: The Importance of Compassionate Care in Inpatient Settings

Discussing the importance and place of compassion in mental health and inpatient setting, Adrian Pocatic interviews Kirsten McEwan, senior research fellow, University of Derby, about the practical application of compassion in these settings and about nature-based interventions that promote staff mental wellbeing.

Find out more

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Independent film Smudged Smile to showcase teen depression

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Public Health England launched free three-week children’s mental health training course

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Bringing victims of domestic abuse into the light during lockdown

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From the Mental Health Today team.

The purpose of art

Ibtissam writes: ‘One’s true passion is often revealed throughout experiences. Art has been known, for generation, to help and rescue mental health’.

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The ‘mental health pandemic’ and its relationship with money

The last year has been a cycle of interconnected crises, the health crisis, the mental health crisis, and then the financial crisis. Poverty and debt are well-known causes of anxiety and depression, although, Chloe writes that if we understand the connection – practical support can help millions of people.

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From the Mental Health Today team.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04890-4

ORIGINAL PAPER

“Best Things”: Parents Describe Their Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Over Time

Katherine T. Cost1 · Anat Zaidman‐Zait2 · Pat Mirenda3 · Eric Duku4 · Lonnie Zwaigenbaum5 · Isabel M. Smith6 · Wendy J. Ungar1 · Connor Kerns3 · Theresa Bennett4 · Peter Szatmari7 · Stelios Georgiades4 · Charlotte Waddell8 · Mayada Elsabbagh9 · Tracy Vaillancourt10

Accepted: 17 January 2021

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature 2021

Abstract

This study examined parental perceptions of the character traits of children with autism from early childhood to age 11. Parents (n = 153) provided descriptions of the “best things” about their children on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at ages 3–4, 7–8, and 10–11 years. Descriptions were coded using the framework of the Values in Action Classification of Strengths, with additional traits added as needed. Parent-endorsed traits included love, kindness, happiness, and humor in children across all ages and traits such as perseverance as children entered school. Higher CBCL scores were associated with a lower likelihood of endorsement for Humanity traits. Results are congruent with a contemporary neurodiversity perspective that emphasizes strengths and resilience.

Conclusion

This study adds to the growing body of research in this area by examining parental perspectives of the “best things” about their children with ASD from early childhood to age 11. On average, parents identified three “best things,” irrespective of children’s autism symptom severity and/or externalizing and internalizing behavioral challenges. They recognized traits such as love, kindness, happiness, and humor in their children regardless of age, while also recognizing traits such as perseverance increasingly as their children matured and entered school. What was perhaps most striking was the tone of many of the parental responses to the “best things” request, with many parents offering comments such as “a bundle of joy and a ball of energy,” “[a best thing is] his mind and heart,” “a true gift in my life,” and “he has a super great heart!” One gets the impression that, for the most part, these parents did not have to think hard in order to identify positive traits in their children; rather, they readily recognized these assets and were both proud of and eager to share them. Their comments are a reminder of the importance of looking past diagnostic labels, test scores, and behavioral challenges to focus on individual strengths, toward the goal of supporting people with ASD to live the lives that they define as both meaningful and fulfilling.

You helped us change the law

This week, we had some good news and we wanted to share it with you.

For years, we have been campaigning to change the law on mental health in England and Wales. At the moment, the law allows people to be sectioned because they are autistic – even though autism isn’t a mental health problem. This has led to autistic people being locked up and mistreated in inpatient units.

Alexis Quinn was one of those people – she’s the second from the left in the picture above. She spent several years in psychiatric hospitals:

“The reason I was there was because I am autistic and other people, who were not experts in autism, decided I should not be allowed to leave. Whilst there I was drugged, restrained, secluded, put in long term segregation. I was mistreated.”

We worked with Alexis to launch a petition which over 200,000 of you signed – thank you to everyone who supported it. Together, we took it to 10 Downing Street and the Government agreed to review the Mental Health Act.

On Wednesday, the Government published their proposals to change this law, which should result in much fewer autistic people unfairly sectioned. This is a huge step forward and we are so grateful to our campaigners for sticking with us. You can find out more details of the proposals below:

This won’t end the mental health crisis for autistic people – we still need more investment in mental health and social care services. However, we know that together we can achieve real change, and we are committed to keep campaigning. We will not stop until everyone like Alexis gets the support they need.

Thanks again,

Beth Robertson
Campaigns Manager

A man from Peterborough who has autism has achieved his goal of finding his first job in 2020 after help from the DWP’s Work Coaches.

Leon Stephenson, 27, developed the skills he needed to land his first job as a machinist at Westcombe Engineering, a social enterprise owned by Peterborough Council.
He has been supported along the way by his Work Coach at the jobcentre, Denise Marks. Department for Work and Pensions Work Coaches support people, including those with a disability, to find work. They can offer practical support, such as help writing a CV and help with preparations for a job interview, as well as provide opportunities to learn new skills.

Paired with personal support from a dedicated Work Coach the department also offers specialist programmes for disabled people.

These programmes include Access to Work, which provides grants of up to £60,000 for equipment or services to help you stay in employment and now includes support to work from home.

Interview: Talking about men’s mental health and suicide

Clinical psychologist Dr Jonathan Pointer and CEO of James’ Place Ellen O’Donoghue spoke to Mental Health Today about men’s mental health; and more expansively about how we can all support each other’s and our own mental wellbeing this winter.

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• Covid workplace insecurity is the leading cause of stress, finds report
• The politics of mental health in a pandemic
• The value of role models to good mental health

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• Explore mental health beyond today through a subscription to Mental Health Knowledge
• Mental Health Knowledge preview: Measuring a patient’s addiction recovery capital

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Continue learning about what good looks like in mental health care. Explore the range of mental health books published by Pavilion Publishing and Media, including Therapy with a Map – A Cognitive Analytic Approach to Helping Relationships.

Mental health education has joined the national curriculum in England and Wales this year. Find out how to design trauma-sensitive lessons through the MHT Teach Me Well resources featured here.

Know the signs and support options for various mental health conditions through watching the videos and reading the articles in our Disorders Explained information hub.

Keep supporting mental health progress.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Bookstore

From Barney and the Mental Health Today team.

Understanding the image – collective trauma, and the psychological impact of racism

This year racial violence has been told through a reel of media-saturated images. However, these images are not silent, but they pose questions, both for America and also for the UK.

How can we understand racism from a psychological point of view? What is a possible answer? And, what is the mental health impact of discrimination for Black people living in the UK?

To answer these questions, Mental Health Today spoke to psychologist Dr C. Jama Adams, and Victoria Cabral from Lambeth based mental health organisation Black Thrive.

Read more…

Insights

• Taking two steps back: It is all too easy to live our lives in automation. By taking a step back, we can be more mindful and defuse problematic emotions

Premium content

• Explore mental health beyond today through a subscription to Mental Health Knowledge

Discover more

Continue learning about what good looks like in mental health care. Explore the range of mental health books published by Pavilion Publishing and Media, including The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Diary 2021.

Free online book launch of Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents is this Fri 4th Dec 8-9am GMT. Schema Therapy goes back to the childhood origins of many psychological problems. Register for the free webinar here.

Know the signs and support options for various mental health conditions through watching the videos and reading the articles in our Disorders Explained information hub.

Keep supporting mental health progress.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Bookstore

From Barney and the Mental Health Today team.

Did you know that only 32% of working age autistic people are employed? And many are working in roles that do not make the most of their skills.

In the latest Your Autism magazine, Dame Stephanie Shirley CH, an IT entrepreneur turned philanthropist and a longstanding member of our charity, talks about the employment challenges many autistic people face and shares tips on finding the right job. Read our workplace special here.

Like what you read?
If you’d like to read more topical information like this, you can do so by becoming a member today.

By joining our charity, you’ll have access to the latest Your Autism magazine, which includes an interview with young naturalist Dara McAnulty, ideas for making Christmas special for autistic children and the latest news on our charity’s current work.

You’ll also receive regular email updates from our team, as well as the opportunity to join our members’ Facebook group and attend our Annual General Meeting.

It’s quickest to become a member on our website but if you have any questions or would rather join on the telephone, please contact a member of our team on 0808 800 1050.

We hope to welcome you to our membership soon!

Best wishes,
The Membership Team

Online booking links for these sessions will be sent out along with further details about the content of each session and registration links.

Keep a look out in your inbox in the next few days.

Learning Disability Today
T: 01273 434 943 E: info@learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk

A publisher has said it will conduct an “immediate review” into an A Level textbook accused of being “deeply offensive to autistic people”.

Pearson’s A Level Psychology Revision Guide says children who have “tantrums” due to routine changes may be autistic.

The National Autistic Society called it “misleading” and has urged the publisher to correct the book.

It said: “A meltdown is not a tantrum. It is an intense response to an overwhelming situation.”

The revision guide, aimed at but not approved by the AQA exam board, says some autistic children “like to stick to the same routine, and little changes may trigger tantrums”.

But George, who is autistic and studying A level psychology says: “It makes us sound like toddlers.”

He says: “If that’s how they describe meltdowns what other inaccuracies are there going to be? Calling it ‘tantrum’ feels condescending.”

We hope you’ve been staying safe over the last few months and found some of the information on our website useful.

Just in case you haven’t seen yet, the new edition of Your Autism – our quarterly members’ magazine – is out now!

We’ve been hearing from lots of you about some of the challenges you’ve faced during the last few months. This is why we asked Dani, an adviser on our charity’s Helpline, to share her top tips on dealing with unexpected change in the latest edition. Find out what advice she had say.

Like what you read?

If you found this useful, don’t forget that you can access the full magazine by becoming a member today.

In the latest edition, you can read guidance on managing your energy levels, the benefits of music for communication and interviews with autistic people from BAME communities.

By becoming a member, you’ll also receive regular email updates from us and be able to meet others on our members’ Facebook group and at our Annual General Meeting.

It’s easiest to join online but if you have any questions or would rather join over the telephone, please contact a member of our team on 0808 800 1050.

We hope to welcome you to our membership soon!

Best wishes,
The Membership Team