Some links to websites and charities that may be useful for additional support and advice. These are all from professional sources. Please note the links will take you to external websites.
Support for Families
Special Educational Needs and Disability, Information, Advice and Support Service
Together for Families- Children Services Cornwall
A multi-agency programme that aims to engage and support families that experience multiple and complex challenges.
Family Information Service Cornwall
Early Help Hub
For referrals to various agencies eg. Family Support, Parenting courses, School nursing service etc.
Cornwall Hospitals Trust- Healthcare Passport
A Hospital Passport provides health workers with vital details about a person with a learning disability and how best to meet their care needs if they are admitted to hospital, especially if they attend alone.
Cornwall S.P.A.C.E.
Services that support disabled young people in their own homes or to access their local community and have fun can make a real difference to them.
Parent Carers Cornwall
Parent Carers for Cornwall was formed to ensure all parents have their voice heard. The collective impact of many individual voices can make long term constructive change in service delivery.
Council for Disabled Children
Family Fund
Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.
Home Start Kernow
Home-Start Kernow offers support friendship and practical help to parents with a child under 5 throughout Cornwall.
Chatterpack
ChatterPack is a voluntary-run, special educational needs and disabilities hub
National Autistic Society
Cornwall branch- excellent source of information
Ambitious About Autism
A charity who aims to ensure all autistic children and young people can learn, thrive and achieve and lead fulfilling lives.
PDA Society
The PDA Scociety provide information, support and training for those living and working with PDA and work to raise awareness, increase acceptance and empower people to take action in relation to PDA.
ADHD Foundation
The ADHD Foundation works in partnership with individuals, families, doctors, teachers and other agencies to improving emotional well being, educational attainment, behaviour and life chances through better understanding and self management of ADHD, ASD and related learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, Irlen’s Syndrome, dyscalculia and Tourette’s Syndrome. We also provide training for GP’s, Teachers, Social Care agencies and other professionals, raising awareness to bring about positive change and inclusion in mental health, education and employment.
ADHD Parent Support Group
Sensory Spectacle
Sensory Spectacle creates immersive learning experiences to educate about and form a better awareness of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
Fragile X Society
Fragile X Society provide information and practical guidance to support and empower individuals and families living with Fragile X, and the professionals who support them.
A group for families who know or have a family member/friend who has Fragile X Syndrome.
Communication
The Makaton Charity
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression.
PECS- Picture Exchange Communication System
PECS is a unique alternative/augmentative communication system developed in the USA in 1985 by Andy Bondy, PhD, and Lori Frost, MS, CCC-SLP. PECS was first implemented with pre-school students diagnosed with autism at the Delaware Autism Program. Since then, PECS has successfully been implemented worldwide with thousands of learners of all ages who have various cognitive, physical and communication challenges.
Stickman Communications
Using stickmen and clear, to the point descriptions and instructions to break down barriers, challenge preconceptions, promote understanding and acceptance, and facilitate communication.
Mental Health
Mind
Young Minds
A Charity that provide support and advice to young people and parents with mental health problems. They have a dedicated parent helpline for support and ideas.
NHS- Anxiety
Tips for dealing with anxiety
Teen Mental Health -handy helpful tips and support for parents/carers.
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
A Children's Mental Health Charity with lots of support available on this website.
Bereavement support
Please find some links and resources that may be useful to support at a time of bereavement. There are links to websites, key information which may be useful and some social stories that can be adapted as appropriate.
Some storybooks that may be useful:
Badgers Parting Gifts – Susan Varley (Collins Paperback 1992)
We Love them – Martin Waddell (Walker Books, 1990/ISBN 0-7445-7256-8)
I’ll Always Love You - H. Wilhelm (H&S 1985)
A Birthday Present for Daniel – Julie Rothman (Prometheus Books, ISBN 1-57392-054-1)
When Dinosaurs Die – L&M Brown (Little, Brown 1996/ISBN 0-316-10197-7)
Fred – Posy Simmonds (Cape, 1987/ISBN 0-2240-2448-5)
Lifetimes – B. Malonie/R. Ingpen (Belitha Press, 1997/ISBN 1-85561-760-9)