March sees World Autism Acceptance Week (27th March – 2nd April) and this month we put the spotlight on our Neurodevelopmental Differences (ND) project.
This is part of the Neurodevelopment pathway which provides routes to gain a neurodevelopmental difference clinical assessment for children and young people, and also to receive guidance and support from non-clinical organisations, such as Suffolk Family Carers. The Children’s Charity Barnardo’s co-ordinate the Neurodevelopmental Pathway and receive referrals for this service They will also guide parents and carers to additional support.
So what are neurodevelopmental differences?
Neuro (nerves) developmental (how the nerve pathways carrying messages to and from the brain are created) involve the brain’s influence on how your body functions. Everyone’s brain works in different ways but neurodevelopmental differences, such as Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mean that the way you see, hear or feel the world is different to others. Some experiences may include social, communication, concentration and memory difficulties.
If you care for a child or young person who may have a diagnosed or undiagnosed neurodevelopmental differences you may benefit from support from one of the voluntary organisations that are commissioned to provide support. These include;
- Families Together Suffolk
- Access Community Trust BEANs service
- Green light Trust
- The Befriending Scheme
- Suffolk Family Carers
- Family Action West Suffolk
- Noise Solution.
These organisations work in a variety of ways and in various locations, many also provide peer support groups, workshops and courses. You can have support whilst your child is waiting for a diagnosis, during the diagnostic process, or post diagnosis.
If you feel that your child needs an assessment for a neurodevelopmental difference you will need to provide a range of evidence, with the support of other professionals who know your child well, and complete the NDD pathway referral form.
To access support, or an assessment please look at the information provided for the East and West Suffolk Neurodevelopmental Pathway and complete the NDD pathway form which can be found on the same page. All completed forms should be submitted to NDDAdmin@barnardos.org.uk.
At Suffolk Family Carers our ND Project provides support to the whole family and you can access it if;
- Someone in the family, under the age of 25, has a diagnosed ND difference such as ADHD, ASD or sensory processing difficulties.
- Someone in the family, under the age of 25, has behaviours that could indicate an ND difference e.g. distressed behaviour, social communication difficulties, difficulties concentrating, frequent issues with school resulting in being sent to isolation/inclusion room or being excluded, sensory issues with food
- That the family/parent/carer/child is looking for support that is related to the ND difference in some way. This can be a wide range of areas that they may be struggling with due to the ND difference.
- Sibling carers, parent carers and the young person themselves can all be supported.
Our support includes direct work with you and your family, workshops, courses, whole family activities, peer support groups and parent carer respite activities.
In addition we have several online resources:
- ND Connected – an informative newsletter for parent carers. To subscribe and have this delivered directly to your inbox please visit our website.
- A space for parents – Provides useful articles relevant to parent carers and is available on our website.
Referrals for support from Suffolk Family Carers ND Project can only be made using the NDD pathway referral form. Please complete section 1 only, and send to NDDAdmin@barnardos.org.uk.
