Case studies

The A Team Youth Club is a specialist youth club in Blackpool aimed at 12-25 year olds at the higher end of the autism spectrum. The club meets once a fortnight and offers a range of activities including sports, crafts and hobby nights as well as excursions to the cinema, bowling and even to the Blackpool Illuminations for chips. The club also organises an annual weekend away, challenging comfort zones and demanding that members support each other in unfamiliar situations. The result is a group dynamic that enables confidence to grow and real friendships to develop among young people who have never before known ‘friends’.
This case study outlines how The A Team started and now operates, the service that it offers its members, and the value of this to them. Communication and planning resources are also available to download. more...

John has Asperger’s syndrome and had a very negative initial schooling experience, contributing to behavioural difficulties and a phobia of school. John now attends Hampton Hill Junior School in Richmond-upon-Thames full time where he has been successfully included over the past three years. He is keen to learn and no longer needs the kinds of exceptions that originally had to be made for him. His increased confidence is clear and he is immeasurably calmer and more able to focus on things that aren’t on his agenda. He is also now able to trust people outside of his family and perhaps most importantly, sees himself as a child who can and who wants to succeed.
This case study looks at John’s successful inclusion and discusses how a school, family and child can work together to achieve success; the support, planning and strategy that is required to realise these results; and offers downloadable learning resources and suggested reading. more...

The Leeds Library Information Service won the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Libraries Change Lives Award 2009. The project provides free access to Boardmaker software in 25 libraries across Leeds to promote alternative communication systems for children and young people with autism, as well as regular autism awareness training for library staff to promote an autism-friendly culture and  a monthly advice session for parents
This case study offers information about the range of services Leeds Library and Information Service partnership offers, advice about setting up similar services in your area and downloadable templates of some of the key documents you will need to get you started. more...

The current economic climate means that effective commissioning is now more important than ever. In October 2010 The North Yorkshire Communication and Interaction (C&I) Network held a seminar to discuss how to improve the often complex task of commissioning educational provision for children and young people on the autism spectrum. The seminar brought together key professionals working in autism education in North Yorkshire to consider how to improve service efficiency and value for money.  Particular focus was given to the importance of using and analysing measurable data as a means to set targets and monitor improvement.
This Case Study provides information on the areas covered by the seminar as well as downloadable resources to help you improve commissioning in your area.  more...

Puzzle is a specialist early intervention centre based in Buckinghamshire, providing a specialist nursery for children on the autism spectrum aged between two and five. All children receive one to one support, teaching and therapy at each session, and an occupational therapist provides regular advice and guidance. Each family also receives regular home visits, and training workshops are available for parents throughout the year. Most children who attend Puzzle also attend a mainstream setting, supported by Puzzle staff.
This case study describes how Puzzle started and now operates, providing details of the approaches used for effective early intervention and transition, outreach services offered to both parents and professionals, and the challenges of funding the provision. Information and evaluation resources are also available to download. more...

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has an Autism Communication Team that provides dedicated support for children and young people on the autism spectrum. The Team operates across the school age range and throughout the borough where there are currently over 1,000 school-aged children with an autism diagnosis. The Team has created a menu of services from scratch, with the primary aims of successful inclusion to ensure that all individuals receive the education to which they are entitled and increased peer-awareness of autism in school.
This Case Study offers information about the range of support options this outreach service offers, advice about setting up similar services in your area and downloadable templates of some of the key documents you will need to get you started. more...

The Science of Rhythm project delivers person centred interactive drumming sessions to special and mainstream schools as well as community groups in North Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands for children and young people on the autism spectrum and those with associated learning disabilities. The group sessions help participants to build self-confidence, break down barriers and inhibitions, and plan for their own futures. The project aims to establish transition drumming groups that will develop into self-sustaining sessions facilitated by a teacher and participants.
This case study outlines how The Science of Rhythm project started and now operates and discusses how drumming and interactive rhythms are incorporated into person-centered reviews to help build confidence and self esteem and in turn lead to successful transition and adult independence.  more...

The Unit Radio club at the Tydeman Centre, a specialist mainstream provision based at The Malling School, Kent, offers children age 11-16 on the autism spectrum the opportunity to take part in the production of radio shows – from writing scripts and developing characters to recording plays and improvisations. Productions are previewed at the school and then broadcast from the Unit Radio website.
This case study describes how the Unit Radio club started and now operates, and outlines its educational and social value. It also offers information and advice on how you can make your own radio show, plus downloadable resources such as theme, improvisation and script ideas to help get you started. more...