Autism
Autism is a lifelong development disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. Children and adults with autism have difficulties with everyday social interaction. Their ability to develop friendships is generally limited as is their capacity to understand other people's emotional expression' (NAS, 2005).
People with autism generally experience three main areas of difficulty, known as the triad of impairments:
- Social Interaction - difficulty with social relationships, for example appearing aloof and indifferent to other people
- Social Communication - difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communications, for example not fully understanding the meaning of common gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice
- Imagination - difficulty in the development of interpersonal play and imagination, for example having a limited range of imaginative activities, possibly copied and pursued rigidly and repetitively
We are able to provide services for individuals across the whole Autistic Spectrum, which are needs-led. Each person has an individually formulated care package, reflecting how aware we are that each person and their circumstances are unique. This care package is created through diagnoses and assessments of how the individual is affected within the Triad of Impairments. People are assisted and encouraged to participate as fully as possible in the care planning process in order to ensure that their outcomes are fully met in the most person centred way possible.
As part of our pursuit of excellence we are full members of the British Institute for Learning Disabilities and ensure that our values and standards always reflect our belief that people with a learning disability are full citizens of our country and should enjoy the same rights, privileges and opportunities as other people do.