| | |
A message from some Umbrella parents to other parents of young children living with autistic conditions:
Welcome to "Umbrella".
This section has been compiled by parents and carers of
children who are within the autistic spectrum children who live
in the Cambridgeshire area. Our group is an independent charity
affiliated to the National Autistic Society, and is known
as Umbrella Autism. We are a small but growing group of
parents and others joined "Umbrella" because we felt the need
for information and contact with other parents who were dealing with the same problems.
 Diagnosis
What Helps?
Useful Contacts - Voluntary Organisations
Useful Contacts - Play Schemes
Useful Contacts - Youth Clubs
Useful Contacts - Social Services
Useful Contacts - Respite - Short Breaks
Useful Contacts - Education
Useful Contacts - Health
Other Support
When a family member is diagnosed with an autistic spectrum
disorder it is a huge shock even if you are expecting it.
Most parents experience a mixture of feelings: grief, anger,
guilt, anxiety about the future, but sometimes relief because
puzzling and difficult behaviours have been explained or you
feel that someone has listened to your concerns at last.
We all remember what a difficult time it is and we welcome
contact from parents who are going through this. Diagnosis is the
first step in getting the help and support your child will need.
But medical diagnosis and educational assessments seem to take
a very long time to complete and this adds to the frustration and anxiety.
One thing that seems to help is talking to other people
who have been through the same thing. We welcome your calls
to our Parent-to-parent Telephone Support line and invite
you to attend one of our coffee mornings.
An autistic spectrum disorder is a complex developmental
disability that affects the way a person communicates and
relates to people around the. Everyone with the condition
has difficulty with social interaction, social communication,
and imagination. Some people may have a severe language delay
or accompanying learning disability while others speak more
fluently or have above average intelligence.
The parents in Umbrella have children from across the spectrum
and have a wide range of experience - for example, various
schools, services and therapies. Through coffee mornings you
could meet someone in your area with a similar child.
Other parents are a valuable source of information and tips
for dealing with particular behaviour problems. Our open
meetings are opportunities to speak to a wider range of
parents and interested professionals. An autistic spectrum
condition is a lifelong disability but individuals can be
helped to reach their full potential.
In general, children are somewhat indifferent to people as they
grow up and they learn to respond to people as they grow
up and they learn to respond more easily to others, especially
their families and people they know well.
Communication skills can improve.
Many adults can be supported to live independently.
Others stay living with parents.
Some adults work in open employment, marry, and have children.
Others need more support and structure in their lives and are
happier following their own interests. Our group welcomes
parents and carers of people with autistic spectrum conditions
of all ages. For additional information and contacts geared
to young adults, adults and those with an affected
partner click here.
As well as supporting and linking parents and, we have
family activities and other activities so that youngsters
can meet others like themselves and siblings may also have
a chance to join in. We offer some support to adults with
autistic spectrum conditions themselves. We also welcome
partners of people with autistic spectrum conditions as well.
Researchers and professionals working in the autism field
are welcome to join us in learning together more about how
life can be improved for people living with or affected
by autistic conditions.
We hope Umbrella will be of help to you and that with your
support we can continue to grow and develop our services.
The Umbrella Committee welcomes new members and, if you
feel you want to help but don't have much time, do contact
us to join the Help List to be contacted when there's a
specific task that needs doing.
 |
Umbrella Autism Cambridgeshire
| An independent local charity affiliated to the National Autistic Society. Parent to parent support through telephone and personal contact. Family social events. Open Meetings. Youth Club for 9-12 year olds with AS. Social Group for adults with Asperger Syndrome. Education programme for older teens and adults with Asperger Syndrome (a joint project with the local charity, Turning the Red Lights Green). A Saturday play scheme, Sunshine Club for 4-11 year olds with autism (supported by Umbrella, but managed by the carer's charity, Crossroads). |
 | www.umbrella-autism.org.uk |
 | admin@umbrella-autism.org.uk |
 | Information also available by writing to: Umbrella Membership Secretary, 86 Mill End Road, Cambridge CB1 9JP. |
 | Other questions: Jacqui Radford (01954-210075) or Sharon Clarke (01954-202586). |
|
|
National Autistic Society
| The UK's foremost charity for people with autism, and their carers. National initiatives, training, publications, including "Communications" magazine and very good selection of books about Asperger syndrome and autism. Fact Sheets on a wide range of topics can be accessed and downloaded from their website. |
| | www.nas.org.uk |
| | 393 City Road, London, EC1V 1NG. |
| | 0171 833 2299
- General NAS number: 0171 903 3599
- NAS Autism Helpline: 0845 070 4004 (can answer questions about autism and services and provide links)
- NAS Parent to parent telephone support scheme: 0800 9520 520 (any parent or carer can ring this Freephone number to make telephone contact with another parent). |
|
|
Citizens' Advice Bureau
| General welfare advice on a range of issues. |
| | 01223 353875. |
|
|
Directions Plus
| Information and advice for adults and children with disabilities. Free directories of services for children, for teens, for adults and for older adults. Free newsletter. Help with benefits advice. |
| | 01223 313600. |
|
|
Cambridge Independent Advice Centre
| An independent advice centre for benefits and financial matters. |
| | 41 Mill Road, Cambridge. |
| | 01223 712222. |
|
|
Home Start
| This is a befriending scheme in which volunteers are trained and supported to befriend families with one or more under fives living with stress. |
| | 01223 210202. |
|
|
The Hilltop Carers Centre
| General advice and support to all carers of people with disabilities. Anyone who helps look after someone with a disability or illness qualifies as a "carer". Free newsletter. Events for all carers. Information about Carers Assessments and Carers Breaks. Information about the Carers National Association. Umbrella use the Carers Centre for many support events. |
| | Primrose Street, Cambridge. |
| | 01223 712035. |
|
|
AFASIC Parent support group
| For families of children with speech and language difficulties. Telephone information service, trips, play schemes, conferences, and a Christmas party. Difficult behaviour not a problem; siblings included. |
| | 01223 314181. |
|
|
Big Siblings
| A Community Action project in which students "adopt" the role of big brother or sister for weekly outings. Note: Cambridge city area and term time only. |
| | 01223 350365. |
|
|
Children's Visiting Group
| Similar to Big Siblings, the students offer regular visits to local families. Note: Cambridge city area and term time only. |
| | 01223 212274. |
|
|
British Epilepsy Association
| National Information Centre |
| | 0800 309030 (freephone). |
|
|
Mencap
| Family visitor, support group and information. Grants for people with a severe learning disability. |
| | 01223 441157. |
|
|
Family Fund
| Organization that can give help and grants to families with children with disabilities. |
| | 0845 130 4542. |
|
|
Relate
| Cambridge Marriage Guidance. Helps with relationship problems |
| | 01223 357424. |
|
Social services - have a variety of people who can help. Their Customer Services Unit (01223 718141) if you're not sure which team or service you need. Their website is www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/sub/ssd.
Social workers - information, advice, and support for people with disabilities and their families. Will make an assessment of need and can advise on services (for example, respite care).
Community care organisers - care assistants who visit adults who need some help with personal care at home.
Cambridge City: 01223 718211
Cambridge Area: 01223 718211
South Cambridgeshire: 01223 718011
Ely/East Cambridgeshire: 01353 667911
St Neots: 01480 376500
North West Cambs: 01480 375597
Wisbech: 01945 481100
March: 01354 654321
Children's Disability Team CDT - Joint social services and health team in working with children with disabilities and their families, providing a home service.
01223 568808
Adult Learning Disabilities Team - 0800 243916.
Occupational therapists - responsible for assessing and advising on aids and adaptations to housing. "Blue badges" - disabled passenger and driver parking badges are also administered here. (Useful if your child has a physical disability or behavioural problems so will not walk far). 01223 568801.
|
Opportunity-links
| Childcare Information Service |
| | 0800 298 9121. |
|
|
NAS Autism Helpline
| Helpful, friendly, knowledgeable people will do their best to answer questions about autism and services and provide useful links. |
| | 0845 070 4004. |
|
|
NAS Parent to parent telephone support scheme
| Any parent or carer (even those with adult children) can ring this Freephone number to make telephone contact with another parent. You'll be invited to leave a message indicating the area in which you live (so you can be linked with a Cambridgeshire parent volunteer, if possible), the general area of concern (so you can be link with a parent with relevant knowledge or experience) and when you'd like to be rung back. Umbrella has a local Parent to Parent (P2P) team who are trained and supported by the NAS. |
| | 0800 9520 520 (FREEPHONE). |
|
|
Sibling Support
| Young Carers groups (ages groups from age 7 or 8). Siblings are, of course, carers, too. These groups provide support. We don't yet have local groups or support specifically for siblings of children with autism. The NAS website has a useful section exploring sibling issues. |
| | Christine in the Cambridge Area: 01223 712072
Jo or Lucy in the Huntingdon Area on 01480 456170. |
|
|
Cambridge Central Library
| Keeps a list which aims to include all local support groups. Autism, we know, can combine with other disabilities (ADHD, Downs, etc) and specialised groups may be very helpful. |
| | Lion Yard, Cambridge. |
| | 01223 712000. |
|
|
The Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services (CCVS)
| This is the local organisation which most voluntary organisations belong to. They keep lists of local groups as well. (Umbrella is a member!) |
| | 01223 464696. |
|
| | |
Useful Contacts - Play Schemes