What support is available?
Autism West Midlands offers the following support and advice for families in Shropshire.
Early help hub drop-ins at Sunflower House, Shrewsbury SY1 4ES - 3rd Tuesday of each month 9:30am-12:30pm
The chance to meet a member of the team for an informal chat, ask questions and get advice.
Virtual Support group - 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month 10am-11am and 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Online support groups via the Teams platform. This is an opportunity to talk with other parents, share ideas, and offer support. The groups are informal and offer a positive supportive environment. If you'd like to join either of the support groups please email Dawn at dawnl@autismwestmidlands.org.uk.
Teens online group - 1st Thursday of the month 6pm-7pm
Games, fun and chat with other autistic young people led by the AWM team. For more information please email Nicola at nicolak@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Weekly advice slots
Weekly advice slots are available Monday to Friday for parents who would like some 1:1 contact with an advisor. You can discuss any concerns you have with an advisor and they can advise you on some practical support / strategies to help. They're offering this virtually via video appointments (up to 45 minutes) with a specialist autism advisor. If you'd prefer a face-to-face appointment, contact the team directly.
Parent training workshops
Courses for parents are held throughout the year at various Shropshire venues and online, including introductory awareness sessions, programmes with multiple sessions and workshops on specific topics.
Holiday events
Trips and play sessions for the whole family take place in the school holidays, along with workshops for children and young people. All are a chance to meet others and have fun in a supportive environment. A very popular teenage programme also takes place during the school holidays (part of the All-In programme).
Training and support for professionals
Autism training sessions are held throughout the year. Advice and consultancy support is available for practitioners supporting families. Contact AWM for more details.
Autism Alert cards
Carrying an Autism Alert card can boost confidence and provide peace of mind. AWM offers two cards; a card for diagnosed young people and adults (over 13 years) and a card for parents or carers.
Downloadable resources
There are lots of downloadable resources.
If you'd like any further information you can email shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk or phone 0121 450 7575.