Having your child diagnosed as autistic can be a very emotional and uncertain time for parents, carers and families, even if they’ve been seeking a diagnosis for a while. As a parent or guardian, it is likely that they will want to better understand their child’s diagnosis and how they can help them.
Our GEMS ADHD and autism service provides support services in East Berkshire for both children and young people with ADHD or/ or autism and their parents, carers, and family members.
Complimenting the ‘on the ground’ element of the service is an online resource information hub, where information on local support options as well as general ADHD or autism information can be accessed. This allows for a single point of contact where you can access information, advice, and support.
Recently the GEMS service received the following feedback from a member of the Bracknell community:
I recently stumbled across your resources online whilst doing a deep dive of the Bracknell Forest SEN provision website.
We are a Bracknell family with a daughter who was diagnosed with autism just after her 4th birthday in 2016. She also presents with the demand avoidant profile of autism.
A website like this and the help and information it provides would have been extremely useful when we went through the process back then and especially during the initial wait for diagnosis. It was a very worrying and emotional period for all though, and it pushed our family to the brink and felt very unnecessary.
It looks like a great service you are providing, and I could see it being extremely useful for parents during that initial period so keep up the great work!
Debbie Rowe, Public Health Programme Director said: “Too often autistic people, those with ADHD and their families do not have timely access to information and support or face structural barriers to inclusion which leave families unsure of where to turn to. We are delighted that the impact of our GEMS provision within the East Berkshire community is having a positive and tangible impact, not only for newly diagnosed parents, carers and families but those already dealing with the day-to-day complexities of supporting someone with ADHD and/or autism.”
More details on our GEMS service provision can be found here.
