Kent and Medway learning disability and autism strategy

avoid isolation

At one school our son was regularrily moved to an isolatoion room with little or no superision. This was supposedly a specialist school for disabled children but it seems that they found autism beyond them. He has now founs a place where he is cared for and treated with compassion. His behaviour has dramatically improved

Services should be Proactive NOT reactive - early intervention supports people with LD&A hitting crisis

jobs should offer a mentor and companies who say they're disability friendly should allocate some jobs - interviews are v stressful.

Employers being more 'disability friendly'

Good support & patience. Autistic individuals need opportunities, understanding and time to reach their educational potential.

EOTAS as a form or reasonable adjustment with councils

Surveys shows the benefits of autism and Home Education. This should be an option for parents to choose so they can act without delays of gathering evidence and watching their child's mental health detiorate. More awareness around reading these behaviours ie self harming, delayed effect, inability to maintain arousal levels at optimum, delayed effect / fizzy bottle / over flow bucket after school and demand avoidance displayed of attending, physical symptoms resulting from stress and anxiety that is connected to school.

Give me time

Workplaces being more understanding of Autism. Being able to live in my annex with my support package. Having access to healthcare. Medical professionals giving me time to respond

Social clubs with activities as well as opportunities for adults with autism to keep themselves fit and healthy

Classes eg keep fit to music, yoga. Also swim sessions in local leisure centres for those with special needs as well as opportunities for games such as badminton, table tennis. Also greater awareness from staff in supported living about what constitutes good nutrition and a healthy diet. Liaising/communicating regularly with family. Encouraging friendships and interaction with others in supported living houses in the same neighbourhood. Making sure autistic people have time to develop their skills and special talents and interests

Specialist counselling for people with autism and mental health difficulties

People around me understand autism and learning disability and health needs are prioritised.

I have somewhere to go where I can meet up with friends and am supported to be there, particularly during school holidays. That my parents have a break from caring and I can access respite sufficiently to meet our needs as a family. That I can see a dentist, doctor, hospital, mental health paediatrician without having to wait both in terms of timescales for appointments but also in waiting rooms with the public given my challenges and anxiety. That the people in my life understand autism and learning disability.

Opportunities to enhance Quality of Life

Living in a society that is diverse, with opportunities to meet individual needs. Statutory and voluntary organisations working together to ensure that funding is spread appropriately, to offer support to enhance individual and societal quality of life factors.

Always put the person at the centre

The person should always be at the centre but it is also vital to include their family, carers and the learning disability teams!

Community Engagement Professionals from Special Schools / Adult Care

You have several special schools locally that support young people and teenagers about to transition into adult care services. You have dedicated, supported living spaces. Various professionals in these spaces actively work with your towns/cities to establish community links and opportunities—they would be excellent people to talk to. But, clearly, above all—no consultation is appropriate without ensuring you have autistic people and those with PMLD involved at all stages of the process. Our/their lived experience is what matters the most. That is inclusion.

Co-Production/ Lived experience

If you are writing a strategy then the people it affects need to be involved. Share with charities, clubs, Personal Assistant agencies, social workers, universities, Speech and Language therapists, co-production groups in Kent. I have my ear to the ground and know a lot of information but I only found out by accident about this strategy and the informal meetings by accident. Not good enough. Also the information needs not to be Maidstone centric as I find that East Kent is often missed out of the loop. Important to remember that not everyone with LD or Autism has a social worker so that line of contact cannot always be relied on. Often if you are closed to KCC then the information is even more difficult to access. Not everything can be shared online. There might need to be different channels of communication.

contact local charities

Being Present & Empathetic

Sharing this strategy development with all: Statutory, Voluntary, individual, families and the wider public. This consultation is not accessible to all, you have to email to request further information- this is a major barrier for individuals! The consultation needs to be carried out in further locations, rather than just one. This strategy development should be shared in all organisations that are associated with people with LD & Autism. Further advertisement with the wider general public also. Schools, Colleges, Universities, Charities, Business, Statutory Organisations, Families, Carers and Individuals.