This is the abridged version of the Professorial inaugural presentation given by Nick Hodge, Professor of Inclusive Practice Tuesday March 14th 2017 – click on Rights Approach for Autism Hodge 6.30-7.30pm. In this Nick launches the Rights Approach for Autism. Any feedback is welcome. Please reply to n.s.hodge@shu.ac.uk
A family in Sheffield is willing to exchange accommodation for help with childcare, petcare and housework.
Details at https://www.howzahelpa.co.uk/find/help-with-childcare-petcare-and-housework/
Dr Shalini Vohra is hosting this event that is sponsored by the ESRC Social Sciences Festival and Sheffield Hallam University
You can find out location information and book onto the event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-autism-is-portrayed-in-childrens-fiction-tickets-35915840245
The event will feature a panel consisting of Vicky Martin, author of ‘M is for autism’ and ‘M in the Middle’; Amanda Lillywhite author and illustrator of ‘Friends’, created for the Neuro Foundation; as well as Elaine Bousfield from ZunTold, a publishing house that aims to create a space for young people’s writing. This event is an attempt to openly talk about how autism is portrayed in children’s fiction and what impact this has on the lives of children and young people who identify as autistic as well as their family members. The event is aimed at young people and their participation will be critical to generating the discussion, however parents and professionals with an interest in the area are welcome to attend. Fiction plays a very significant role in shaping how we understand and respond to autism. Books are instrumental in creating awareness and acceptance amongst children and young people, therefore the way autism is portrayed in books demands consideration and recognition. This event is perhaps the first of its kind where authors, publishers and academics will explore together with the participating audience how autism is portrayed in children’s fiction.
Location information at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/our-autism-soap-box-tickets-35913499243
Organised by Stephen Connolly, Our Autism Soapbox is a 2 hour event that aims to put the autistic voice front and centre with presentations, discussions and performances on autism in our own words. Building on other successful events held by the Sheffield Hallam Autism Centre, Our Autism Soapbox moves the discussion out of the university and into the public space. Presenters/Performers from a variety of backgrounds are given 5 minutes to stand on their soapbox and present or perform (e.g. poetry) on any topic to do with autism that they feel is important to them.
Presentations will include ‘a traitor to my diagnosis?’, ‘thoughts of an autistic mother’, ‘growing up autistic’ and much more. The aim of this event is to engage and inform the general public around the thoughts, feelings and opinions of actual autistics. Attendees will also have the opportunity to chat with speakers, ask questions and network for ongoing discussions.
Running alongside the event will be a twitter discussion using the #OurAutismSoapbox to engage with those unable to attend the event, there will also be a question corner where attendees can record 30sec questions to be answered and disseminated online after the event and a question and comments notice board where again attendees can ask questions and comment on the event if they wish.
Attendees will need no prior understanding or knowledge of autism and the event is open to the general public of all ages.
The event will be held at the Theatre Delicatessen Sheffield who has kindly offered their new facilities for the event. The staff have all received an autistic led workshop on awareness and understanding and have worked closely with the event organisers to ensure the event is as accessible as possible for all attendees.
Funded by the ESRC part of the cities ESRC festival of social sciences.
Come hear The Autism Centre’s Stephen Connolly and other great presenters at Sparkle’s Autism Fayre for Professionals, Sheffield, Sunday 17th September 10am-3pm. Click on the link below for more information.
Sheffield Speech and Language Therapy Service are delighted to be hosting a 2-day Introduction to SCERTS (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, Transactional Support) course on 4-5 December 2017, at St Mary’s Conference Centre on Bramall Lane, Sheffield. The speaker will be Emily Rubin, MS, CCC-SLP, an internationally renowned speaker, researcher and practising clinician who is one of the SCERTS collaborators and authors. We are pleased to be able to offer this course for £228.47 pp (inc VAT, handouts and refreshments), which represents great value for this training.
The SCERTS training will provide health and education practitioners with an evidence based framework to understanding, assessing and supporting the core needs of pupils with autism, social communication difficulties and other developmental disabilities, as well as a clear and detailed assessment profile to monitor small steps of progress in the SCERTS areas, which are traditionally difficult to measure. The SCERTS framework is in use internationally and comes highly recommended by the Sheffield Speech and Language Therapy Team.
Please see the attached flyer for more information. You can also book directly by clicking on the link below. We anticipate high demand for this course, so early booking is recommended!
https://sheffield-scerts-dec17.eventbrite.co.uk
Post by Jennie Fleetwood:
I am a student at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) writing the final research project for my MA Autism Spectrum. I am gathering information on how outcomes are set and measured for children and young people with autism. I am interested to know if, and how, professionals, families and young people with autism are working together to set and achieve shared goals and outcomes. I would like to find out if young people and their families are being included in planning for their futures and able to take an active role in deciding what is important for them.
Who can take part? Due to the specific focus of this project I’m looking for participants based in the UK only. Anyone under the age of 19 on the Autism Spectrum; Parents or carers of children and young people with Autism/ ASD; professionals working with children or young people with Autism/ ASD.
What do you have to do? Follow the link below and complete the survey. This should take no more than 10 minutes of your time. At the end of the survey, you may be asked if you would like to take part in a follow up interview. The interviews will take place separately at a later date, but you will be sent more detailed information if you are chosen to take part in an interview.
Important information- This study has full ethical approval from SHU. Participation in this survey is entirely voluntary and responses are anonymous, unless you choose to include your contact details for a follow up interview. In all cases, the final results to the survey will be kept anonymous to the public and only the researcher will see your details, for the purposes of contacting you to arrange the interview.
You are entitled to withdraw from this study up to the closing date of the survey (9th June 2017). After this date, analysis of the data will be taking place and it will not be possible to remove your responses.
If you have any questions about this research, please contact the researcher at Jennifer.fleetwood@student.shu.ac.uk
To take part in the online survey, please go to:
The Autism Centre’s Nick Hodge has a comment in The Conversation on the latest research on working with babies who have older autistic siblings. Research is looking at how to lessen the impact of autism associated behaviours that might distress and/or inhibit a child’s development. You can read Nick’s piece at https://theconversation.com/video-feedback-may-help-babies-at-risk-of-autism-76060
You can read more about video-babies therapy with babies who might be autistic at http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/video-based-therapy-might-benefit-babies-at-risk-of-autism
