From 3 – 4 July, staff from our Intensive Services attended the Autism and ADHD Show in Liverpool.
As one of the largest gatherings of the autism and ADHD community, the event offered valuable learning opportunities, helping Emma Jordan, Louise Donnelly and Charlotte Tochel build on their existing knowledge and continue strengthening the support we provide to the young people in our care.
The conference came at a particularly timely moment for our staff teams, with our intensive children’s houses, Bute and Buchanan, having successfully completed the National Autistic Society Accreditation last month, and Jura and Islay in our Safe Centre due to go through the accreditation later this month. It was a valuable opportunity to continue developing the support we provide across Secure and Intensive Services.
Across the two-day event, there was a comprehensive programme of theatre sessions, workshops, advice hubs, one-to-one clinics, specialist services and resources. Many of the children and young people we support across Kibble are neurodiverse, so dedicated events like this provide important opportunities to develop and strengthen existing practice. According to Service Manager, Emma Jordan:
“The conference gave us practical ideas that we can use in our day-to-day work, and we were also able to network with training providers and other professionals to explore future learning opportunities, including strategies to support PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) and Lego Therapy.
There was also the opportunity for one-to-one advice, if required, as well as a showcase of sensory pods and equipment.”
The team was particularly impressed by the lengths organisers had gone to in creating an accessible, inclusive and sensitive space for all attendees. Presentations were listened to through headphones to keep noise to a minimum, while the lighting was kept low to create a calmer environment. It was a great example of how small adjustments can make events much more inclusive for autistic people and those with sensory needs.