Welcome About Autism Oxford UK Why partner with us? Affiliation with Autism Oxford UK Confidentiality Our mission, values and approach Commitment to Accessibility
4 5 7 8 9
10 11
Services
21 24 12 12 13 14 16 17 17 18 19 20
Autism Assessments ADHD Assessments Further Assessments Therapies and Ongoing Support Peer Support Occupational Therapy SEN Consultancy Training and Webinars Employment and University Preparation Coaches
Our Impact Contact Details
Dear Esteemed Colleagues and Partners,
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Autism Oxford UK Limited. As a parent of three remarkable young people, two of whom are autistic, dyslexic and have ADHD, I understand first-hand the challenges and triumphs that come with navigating the educational landscape for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
At Autism Oxford UK, we are uniquely positioned to assist private schools, bursars, and parents during this transition. Our services include comprehensive diagnostic assessments, ongoing support, and SEN consultancy tailored to meet the needs of each student. We understand the complexities of SEN provision and are here to partner with you in creating an environment where every student can thrive. We believe that by working together, we can turn a student journey into a positive and inclusive experience and drive excellence in education. Our team is ready to support your school in navigating the implications of policy shifts with the labor government, ensuring that all students, particularly those with SEN, continue to receive the highest quality education. Thank you for considering Autism Oxford UK as your trusted partner in this journey. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people who need it the most.
Warm regards,
Kimberley Ashwin, CEO
Founded in 2007 by Kathy Erangey as ‘Autism Speakers and Professionals.’ In 2014 the organisation evolved to become Autism Oxford UK and responded to the need for affordable training on Autistic Spectrum Condition for both professionals and families. Among our achievements, we helped establish the Adult Autism Assessment NHS pathway in Oxfordshire, pioneered autistic-led training, and championed the Autism Alert Card scheme with the CCG and Thames Valley Police, earning recognition from the National Autistic Society.
In 2020, Kathy Erangey retired, entrusting the stewardship to Kimberley Ashwin, a distinguished dyslexic leader
and Autism Consultant Nurse with an extensive background in learning disability nursing within the NHS. Kimberley has been recognised for her contributions, including being shortlisted
for the National Learning Disability and Autism Awards in 2018 and serving on the NICE committee for ADHD. Her leadership focuses on upholding Autism Oxford UK’s legacy, co- developing and co-delivering initiatives that incorporate lived experiences. This approach has led to several national award shortlistings, recognising the team’s trailblazing efforts.
Autism Oxford UK is dedicated to providing timely support for neurodivergent individuals and their networks, championing workforce inclusion, and offering assessments and assistance for ADHD, Dyspraxia, and Learning Disabilities.
Beyond the bounds of Oxfordshire, Autism Oxford UK now extends its services nationally and internationally. This includes supporting the Latvian National Autistic Society's professional development and being one of a select group of accredited training providers for the National Oliver McGowan Training Programme, delivering training to all health and social care staff across England. We continue to host international conferences, with special thanks to Professor Tony Attwood, Dr. Michelle Garnett, and Brian Bird for their contributions. Our goal is to become a Centre of Excellence, uniting diverse expertise to provide comprehensive support for neurodivergent individuals and their communities.
Partnering with Autism Oxford UK offers a multitude of benefits for students, schools, and parents alike. Our services are designed to create a holistic and supportive ecosystem that nurtures academic and personal growth for neurodivergent students while enhancing the educational environment.
At Autism Oxford UK, we are dedicated to uncovering the unique needs and strengths of each student. These insights help to tailor educational support, nurturing each student's potential and enabling them to flourish academically and personally.
By accurately identifying and supporting neurodivergent students, your educational setting will experience a notable improvement in student performance. This transformation elevates your settings reputation as a model of inclusivity and excellence. Moreover, our training service equips your staff with the latest knowledge and skills, ensuring they are well-prepared to meet the diverse needs of all students.
Parents find Autism Oxford UK a sanctuary of clarity and support. Our services, are conducted with a tender yet thorough approach and are tailored to uncover the specific needs of each individual. This clarity empowers parents to make informed decisions regarding their young persons education and support strategies, while creating a nurturing home environment.
By affiliating with Autism Oxford UK, we pledge to: Offer you a dedicated point of contact for seamless communication with one of our partnership managers. Provide a priority service for all referrals, ensuring your needs are promptly addressed. Supporting Access arrangements, study skills and reasonable adjustments. Deliver flexible and bespoke services tailored to the unique needs of each student. Extend bespoke discount on all services when booked through your dedicated point of contact, as part of our affiliation benefits.
Next Steps: Call us to schedule your discovery meeting with us. Share your current experiences and priorities moving forward. Receive a tailored partnership proposal. Internship confirmed and mobilisation of delivery can start.
At Autism Oxford UK Limited, we are unwavering in our dedication to providing services of the highest calibre, whilst simultaneously safeguarding the privacy and well-being of all who entrust us with their care. We place a strong emphasis on safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Our Dedicated Safeguarding Lead, collaborates closely with the school’s Safeguarding team to align processes, ensuring they are streamlined and effective. All staff undergo safeguarding training tailored to their roles, and we have stringent practices for the safe and effective recording and sharing of confidential information, compliant with GDPR requirements. This commitment is further supported by our annual completion of the NHS England’s Data Security and Protection Toolkit, where we consistently achieve Standards Exceeded status. Protecting client privacy is a cornerstone of our work. Our team is meticulously trained to handle sensitive information with the utmost care, adhering to strict confidentiality protocols. Whether conducting diagnostic assessments, providing ongoing support, with private schools, we employ secure and discreet methods to safeguard client details. For those with heightened privacy concerns, we offer personalised services designed to respect their unique needs, ensuring that every client feels secure and confident in our commitment to confidentiality. In every interaction, we strive to build trust, delivering professional and discreet services that our clients, schools, and families can rely on with absolute confidence.
At Autism Oxford UK, we are dedicated to creating a more inclusive and accessible world for neurodivergent individuals and their support networks. While we operate as a limited company, our foundation is rooted in strong social values and a deep commitment to the community we serve. Through our ‘Social Kind’ model, we reinvest a portion of our revenue to make our services as accessible and impactful as possible.
Our Core Values
We strive to make our services as accessible as possible, recognising that financial barriers may still exist. We are actively working to expand and refine our offerings to address these challenges. By partnering with Autism Oxford UK, your school can guarantee that students receive assessments that are not only accurate and thorough but also imbued with empathy, thereby laying the groundwork for effective support and educational success.
Autism Assessments Our highly trained team provides a personalised, first-class service, ensuring that the young person and their family are well supported at every step. Our autism assessments meet the 'Gold Standard' set by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). By fully recognising your student’s neurodivergence, simple yet effective strategies can be adopted in the classroom to ensure academic success. The assessment includes a comprehensive report with SMART recommendations for ongoing support, along with three post-diagnostic sessions as part of our standard service.
Our team boasts extensive expertise across various autistic profiles, including the PDA profile and the internal presentation. We wield a diverse toolkit for our assessments, including: ADOS-2, BOSA, ADI-R. Complemented by questionnaires such as CAT-Q and EDA-Q. Upon the completion of an assessment, our multidisciplinary team (MDT) convenes to review the gathered information against the DSM-V-TR criteria. Each assessment culminates in a detailed clinic letter or comprehensive report, articulating the findings and offering tailored recommendations.
ADHD Assessments
By identifying students with ADHD, effective study strategies can be implemented to help them use their neurodivergence to their advantage. For example, the Pomodoro technique can be highly beneficial. Our ADHD assessments strictly adhere to the gold standard set by NICE guidelines and are widely accepted by many local authorities and NHS trusts. We recommend confirming acceptance with your local area prior to booking, for peace of mind.
Our team boasts extensive expertise in assessing ADHD and understanding the complex overlays often seen within these individuals. To support their assessment and formulation, the team use a range of tools such as: DIVA Young Conners 4th Edition Qb Test Mental State Examination Developmental History Interview
Research indicates that autistic individuals are 50-70% more likely to also have ADHD. To address this, we offer comprehensive combined assessments for autism and ADHD, ensuring both are meticulously screened upon request for a thorough evaluation. Post-assessment, you will receive a detailed, high-quality report outlining the assessment outcomes, along with bespoke, expert recommendations tailored to support your unique needs.
At Autism Oxford UK, we understand that neurodivergence often presents in a variety of forms for each individual. We recognise the importance of fully understanding a person's unique neurodivergent profile. Given the common co-occurring needs within the autistic and ADHD populations, we believe it is crucial to assess for the following in a timely manner. Further Assessments Dyspraxia Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), affects movement, coordination, and planning skills. It is more prevalent in males and frequently co-exists with other neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. Our assessments for dyspraxia are available for children over 5 years old and extend into adulthood.
Challenges with balance and movement Difficulty learning new skills and retaining information
Struggles with daily tasks Fine motor skills difficulties
Emotional regulation difficulties Executive functioning challenges
Sensory
Our sensory assessments, conducted by Occupational Therapists with specialised training in sensory integration, involve a comprehensive process that includes multiple appointments and detailed questionnaires. This results in a thorough report that outlines the individual's sensory profile and provides targeted recommendations. Extensive evidence shows that neurodivergent individuals often have unique sensory profiles, which can greatly impact their ability to engage in learning, build peer relationships, and navigate family life.
Cognitive Profiling
The beauty of the neurodivergent brain often means that individuals experience different learning profiles. While this diversity brings many strengths, it can also create barriers to academic learning if the cognitive profile is not fully understood.
We provide specialised cognitive assessments for individuals of all ages, employing tools like the WISC-V UK for children and the WAIS-IV for adults. These assessments gauge various aspects of intellectual functioning, including Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed.
Therapies and Ongoing Support Our commitment to young people and their support network extends beyond diagnosis. We offer a range of therapeutic services and ongoing support to help young people and families thrive in their educational and personal lives. We champion a neuro-affirming approach, ensuring each individual receives compassionate, informed, and tailored support.
Speech and Language Therapy Our experienced Speech and Language Therapists are adept at supporting children and young people aged 2-18 who face communication differences or difficulties. Whether a student: Struggles to use spoken words to communicate. Is learning language by echoing, copying and scripting. Can speak but finds communication challenging at home or at school. Has difficulties understanding what other people say to them. Is frustrated by not being able to find the words to express themselves. Desires peer connection but finds this difficult. Would benefit from support around self-advocacy and understanding their own unique communication and interaction profile.
Each child’s communication profile is as unique as they are. Therefore, our initial involvement includes a thorough assessment of their needs and strengths. Should ongoing support be necessary, our Speech and Language Therapists provide tailored input, working closely with families and educational staff to maximise communication strengths. We offer appointments at our Autism Oxford UK base, at home, or within educational settings.
Peer Support
Our Peer Support Practitioners, drawing from their lived experiences as neurodivergent individuals or parents, offer invaluable support. We match you with a team member who best fits your support or intervention needs to help you lead a fulfilling life. Support areas include:
Post-diagnostic support: Navigating the emotional landscape post-diagnosis, guided by those who truly understand. Living in a neurotypical world: Practical advice and strategies from those who have successfully navigated similar challenges. Neurodivergent parenting: Coaching for neurodivergent parents to thrive amidst neurotypical expectations.
Occupational Therapy Our skilled Occupational Therapists cater to a wide range of needs for both children and adults. The overarching goal of Occupational Therapy is to maximise participation in essential and desired activities. We work across various settings, including our Autism Oxford UK clinic, homes, and educational institutions.
Ongoing support for individuals needs may include: Developing study skills Sensory integration
Enhancing fine motor skills Improving gross motor skills Tackling visual perceptual difficulties. Boosting executive functioning Building confidence and self-esteem. Fostering focus and attention. Managing emotional regulation.
SEN Consultancy: EHCNA, EHCP Coordination and SEND Code of Practice Autism Oxford UK works with a specialist SEN Consultancy organisation, Succeeding With SEN, who provide expert SEN consultancy services, specialising in assisting with Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) requests and navigating and reviewing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). Our consultancy aligns with the SEND Code of Practice, ensuring that all processes and documentation meet the required standards. We assist in compiling and presenting evidence for EHCNA requests to secure appropriate SEN support and review and refine existing EHCPs to ensure they accurately reflect the student’s needs. Our consultancy services also help schools and families understand and implement the SEND Code of Practice effectively, promoting compliance and best practices in SEN provision.
Training for your Workforce Autism Oxford UK offers an extensive range of training courses designed for professionals who support neurodivergent individuals. Moreover, we cater to schools eager to elevate their staff's awareness and create environments where neurodivergent students can truly flourish. Our training programmes shine a light on the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals, ensuring that all educational settings are both inclusive and accommodating. Among our key offerings are:
Autism Awareness Training Supporting Autistic Females The PDA Approach to Learning Inclusive Environments ADHD Awareness Training Emotional Regulation- (in a neuro-affirmative approach)
Inclusive Communication Trauma Informed Teaching
Webinars We understand the demands of a busy life for both working professionals and parents, which inspired the development of our webinar suite. These on-demand, bite-sized learning sessions are designed to seamlessly fit into hectic schedules. Our webinars can be purchased to support your workforce or as a resource for parents.
Employment and University Preparation Coaches
Our professional employment coaches, armed with an in-depth understanding of employment law and a wealth of experience in supporting neurodivergent individuals, offer unparalleled assistance. They help individuals uncover and leverage their strengths, whether for entering the workforce or preparing for university. Our coaches assist in crafting compelling CVs, writing personal statements, navigating the intricacies of job interviews or university applications, and advocating for necessary reasonable adjustments. Once employment is secured or university admission is achieved, they continue to provide indispensable support, conducting workplace or academic assessments and ensuring smooth transitions.
“A professional can explain Autism, but there’s far more credibility if an autistic person explains it, and the combination of the two is phenomenal – it’s not 6 + 6, it’s 6 x 6 in the sense of the power.”
Professor Tony Attwood- International Autism Speaker, author of “The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome” Clinical Psychologist specialising in autism since 1975.
“I’m so impressed with this organisation. I’ve never seen anything like it in the world!”
Dr Michelle Garnett- International Autism Speaker; Founder & Director of ‘Minds & Hearts Clinic’ and Clinical Psychologist.
“It was a really wonderful thing to have a Peer Support person. That is a really lovely addition and she made me feel much more comfortable with the whole process instantly.”
“We’ve felt so supported and validated throughout the process, which after years of uncertainty, has been such an empowering experience. We are so blown away by the quality of and detail in the report, thank you for all the work that went into this.”
“This was a genuinely wonderful experience despite being something I was worried for. I am so used to the infantilism of autistic people, the out of date testing methods, the lack of autistic representation within autistic studies and diagnosis but despite that, everything was clearly understood in a way most of society fails to understand. The entire process felt very human, and I could genuinely feel the effort that went into making everything accommodated for those coming for a diagnosis. There’s a clear understanding of what is outdated in the system and instead of ignoring or justifying it, it is noted and addressed. As a whole, even if I only came in once, I could feel the effort being made to understand and it was something I will appreciate for a very long time to come.”
“Kind assessors and peer support, no pressure questions during the assessments and reasonable adjustments were offered. My final report was thorough and I appreciated reading my personal strengths. The overall service was excellent.”
“Autism Oxford is the most wonderful company with an incredible team. They have provided me with support before, during, and continually after my diagnosis. Additionally, the resources provided, whether directly through the company and my reports, their information on social media, and direct contact with the team themselves, are so detailed, informative, and gold standard! I could not have asked for a better, more considerate company and team to support me through this process, and also assist me in my work as I come across many neurodiverse individuals as I coach gymnastics, and I often ask for advice or resources. Kim is a genuinely caring individual with a great deal of knowledge and has added to this with building a team with various areas of expertise, so that Autism Oxford can continually expand and provide more support for more people. Forever grateful and highly, highly recommend whether diagnosis, advice, resources, or support!”
“We were listened too, taken seriously, and validated all the way through the assessment journey.”
Autism Oxford UK C2 Grange Court Barton Lane Abingdon OX14 3NB
01865 509222 www.autismoxford.com info@autismoxford.org.uk
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker