Minutes of the Twenty Fifth
Post-Diagnostic Support Group
8th November 2017

Today’s group was attended by 41 people.

Apologies

Cal introduced himself and the team from Axia ASD Ltd. He then apologised for Dr Buchan not being there and explained that she was on a well-earned cruise.

He also introduced Hannah who is a Clinical Psychology Trainee on placement with Axia ASD Ltd.

He then spoke about a challenge that he is planning for January 2019 where he is going to do the Rickshaw Challenge with other members of the Axia ASD Ltd team.

He then handed over to Elspeth Bromiley for a presentation that she had prepared for this month’s group meeting.

Presentation

Elspeth’s presentation was entitled Emotional Regulation.

There were sub headings where she discussed:

• What is emotional regulation
• Why do people on the Spectrum find emotional regulation difficult
• Self and others regulation
• How to regulate – Early Intervention

On summing up from the presentations Elspeth emphasised how everyone needs to:

• Make time for yourself
• Take breaks for time alone
• Remember to use strategies

One member discussed how making time in the work environment is very important and how you should take regular breaks. They also stated how Autistic people would adhere to the rules and if they were allowed 15 minutes then that is the amount of time they would take, whereas a lot of neurotypical people would stretch the 15 minutes to maybe 20, also we are all guilty of getting too engrossed in work and not taking breaks.

“ I used to be neurotypical until I was diagnosed ”.

Elspeth asked the group for their coping strategies, these were:

• Breathing
• Look at cards
• Balloon breathing
• Low and slow breathing
• Read a book
• Fidget cubes, spinners and magnets
• Fidget ring
• Rubix cube
• Stone
• Blue Tac

We then had a fifteen minute break for drinks and cake.

The cakes this week were:

Spiced Apple
&
Carrot Cake, which was the cake of the month

When we resumed, Cal spoke about his Lootcrate box received this month.

He explained that you can get different Lootcrate’s for different themes, they can be based around Gaming, Anime and Marvel etc.

He explained how they arrive every month and the cost of them is around £30.00 and the value of the goods inside the box is £50.00.

He opened his latest box for the group to see what was inside, Cal had saved opening this box at home so he could do so for the group. Inside this month’s box were:

• Thor versus Loki – build and share
• Ghostbusters T shirt
• Stranger Things game
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer book mark
• Loot pin

Next month’s Lootcrate will be based on Overwatch, DC Comics or Power Rangers.

Cal then spoke about the Anime Amigos Vlog, advising how the recent vlog is now available to view on our website.

Cal also explained how each week we will be posting on the website the date and time of the next film that Cal and Ren will be going to see and how anyone is welcome to join them and also to do their own review if they would like to. It would be great if anyone felt able to join them at the cinema.

We announced to the group the date of the next meeting which will be:
Wednesday 13th December 2017 at 11.30-1.30pm

We also explained how the dates of next year’s groups have been posted on the website (HERE).

It was also announced that Sarah Hendrickx will be speaking at the December goup and the focus of this group will be Employment.