Connect Autism Consultancy 2.63

Connect Autism Consultancy provides individualised assessment based social skill training for children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum.

Having spent the last six years involved in researching, designing, operating and assessing the efficacy of social skills training for children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, Laura Crowley identified a distinctive need for an individual focused service in this area.

While social groups are of huge benefit to children on the spectrum, group instruction is not always available due to age, waitlist, or location, and furthermore, some children will require individual attention in order for skills to be tailored to their individual needs and fully comprehended.

This need was echoed by parents and, having been approached repeatedly in connection with such a service, Connect Autism Consultancy was born.

Laura Crowley, BA ECS (hons) MA Ed(open) has over 14 years experience working with children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum. Having spent her initial years working in residential setting and an Autism Specific ABA school, Laura later took up a role in Shine Ireland Autism Charity in 2004. Laura set up the Shine Educational Support Service in 2005, providing individualised assistance to children with a diagnosis of Autism in mainstream school settings. Laura has since worked with over fifty schools in the Munster area. In 2009, Laura designed and co-ordinated the PALS (personal and life skills) Programme for the Shine Centre, the first of it's kind in this country. The programme has achieved huge success, and is currently in it's fifth year of operation. The Programme specializes in teaching social skills from a ground up approach, mindful of barriers which may impede advancement. Laura is also currently lecturing on the Certificate of Autism Spectrum Studies in University College Cork.

Our Service:

Connect offers a specialised service for families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders, focusing on the actual skills essential for successful social connection, as well as targeting the barriers to skill advancement. Connect provides a holistic approach to social skills training which is unique.

Focusing on the assessment, training and advancement of social skills for tweens and teens (aged 7 to 16 years respectively) on the spectrum. Connect provides private, individualised, assessment based social skill training and allows for individualised support for individuals and families.

The barriers which impede social skill advancement are a vital piece of the puzzle and must be explored in conjunction with the development of skills if true change is to occur. Barriers to social skill advancement include

- Self esteem
- Anxiety Management
- Emotional Management
- Theory of Mind
- Self Management
-Relaxation and Stress Management

Session Structure:

By offering two session types i.e individual one-to-one sessions for individuals on the spectrum, as well as parent sessions, Connect allows parents to choose an individualised approach to social skills training for their child and gives the parent the opportunity to gain personalised instruction in training and advancement of skills in both the home and community settings.

As each client is an individual, Connect's service offering is completely flexible and is tailored to meet those individual needs. The client may wish to avail of only one- to one appointments with the child, or only parent consultancy sessions, or a mix of both, all options are available and the service is tailored to meet individual needs.

The disclosure of a diagnosis of ASD can be a very difficult time for some individuals and their families. Connect can assist both individuals and families through this by providing them with the language, tools and guidance needed in order for full comprehension to be achieved.

Please contact us for further details of how Connect can help you and your family.