All systems GO! Wrexham Austim Conference count down.

Home Educators will be out in force at the First North Wales Annual Autism Conference. Organised by one of our group members, and with an ex- Home Educated Young Adult as a key speaker. We are also really pleased to see Sensory Issues, and The Additional Learning Needs code listed as workshop topics.

Mark Isherwood AM, chair of the cross party autism group, will be chairing the event; NAS Cymru will be attending to give an update on the cross party autism group and autism development in the National Assembly for Wales and MP David Hanson will be attending to give an update from Westminster.The North Wales Annual Autism Conference will be held at the Catrin Finch Centre, Wrexham Glyndwr University on Friday, October 7 from 8.30am-5pm.

To obtain your ticket (they are selling fast!) Please click here
Press Release for the event is here

It's all systems GO elsewhere too ! 

We've been having face to face conversations/meetings ( play provision/ scrutiny meetings/ Gower College/3rd Sector Steering groups/Health groups/coffee mornings to name a few)emails etc, challenging and raising positive awareness around HE and additional learning needs. Various members have been putting a lot of work in on this front right, across Wales, and it's time to give them a MASSIVE round of praise: )

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Next week we'll be in Swansea, Cardiff and Wrexham flying the flag for HE. If you have a child with Autism, we hope to see you for a chat at the Wrexham Autism conference 

2016/17 Focus

We are actively be working to obtain funding and co-production opportunities with other organisations to improve the life chances of our children and Young people in these priority areas over the coming year.

1. - Exam & Qualifications Access & funding.

There are numerous barriers to obtaining recognised qualifications for our young people. These range from organising exam access arrangements, cost to private candidates and geographical distance to exam centres.
Increase the number of available exam access centres in Wales for iGCSE/A LEVEL candidates that will accept candidates with additional Learning Needs.
Explore and make available to Young people a range of alternative qualifications such as Arts Award, ECDL & ASDAN.

2. Learning Resources.

3. Access to work and training opportunities for Home Educated Young people.

4. The Additional Learning Needs Bill!

If you can help us with any of the above right across Wales shout out!!!!!!


Useful Info from across Wales 

Carers Wales We're here to make life better for carers. Working as part of Carers UK:

• we give expert advice, information and support
• we connect carers so no-one has to care alone
• we campaign together for lasting change
• we innovate to find new ways to reach and support carers. www.carersuk.org/wales/news/track-the-act

Assessments: A guide to getting an assessment in Wales from April 2016 Many carers find it easier to continue in their caring role if they can get some help. The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 came into force on 6 April 2016. The Act repeals the majority of previous community care legislation and intends to transform the way that social services are delivered in Wales.  For the first time, carers will have the same rights as those they care for. The Act introduces a new broader definition of a carer, a duty on local authorities to offer carers their own needs assessment as well as a legal duty to meet the eligible needs of carers following assessment.

Factsheet W1020 - Assessments: your guide to getting help

Dimensions screenings ODEON’s next autism friendly film screening is

Trolls on Sunday 30th October at 11:30am. ODEON are changing their autism friendly screenings start time

It is expected, from November, that ODEON will change their screening time from 11:30am to 10:15am. We will send another enewsletter out once the change has been confirmed, please check our website for updates.

Vue's October autism friendly film screening is Ice Age: Collision Course on Sunday 30th October at 10:15am.

Vue host an autism friendly cinema screening on the last Sunday of every month at 10:15am, from £1.99. Vue have changed their autism friendly screenings start time From now on Vue's screenings will start at 10:15am.

Swansea Free play sessions Oct half term http://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/5255/Search-all-events?f=Free&sort=Most+Recent&size=10#leftcolumn

September News Round Up

Priorities for Children, Young People and Education Committee - consultation responses

EXAM CENTRES - we were pleased to publish a new list of Welsh exam centres this month. New centres have been added to the existing list, in new locations. This hopefully helps to reduce one key barrier to successful outcomes for our children. Several have been working hard to increase provision for candidates with additional learning needs.  For the list please click here

We now also have a private professional on board who is able to do the psychometric testing needed by some candidates. We have negotiated that this be done at a reasonable cost for those those who need it for their form 8, and have had no success with their LA EP service. Join and post in our Face Book group if you are a parent needing help with this. 

We are continuing to work on identifying new exam centres across Wales, and to ensure they offer equality of access whenever possible. We are also trying hard to ensure that these be competitively priced. Work in this area in ongoing, and we welcome all support in our endeavour to ensure that no child is left unable to obtain vital qualifications for reasons of cost or disability.  If you are able to help please get in touch with cymrualn@gmail.com.

Swansea leads the way in reducing the numbers of forced home educators with ALN by working to provide more specialist teaching facilities for children on the Autistic spectrum. News story here . This is a very welcome development, and one that we hope other councils across Wales will take note of. 

CALL FOR NEW TEACHERS TO LEARN ABOUT SLCN SEN is now going to be included as part of initial teacher training, and SLCN has been listed. There is a risk that it gets swallowed by ASD, so a petition has been started online. This petition is entitled ‘For every new teacher to learn about Speech, Language and Communication Needs’. The aim of the petition is to urge the Government to include Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) as part of any initial teacher training package. All trainee teachers should learn about SLCN so that they are able to adapt their teaching strategies and fully support their students to succeed and achieve, Call for new teachers to learn about Speech, Language and Communication Needs. http://www.afasiccymru.org.uk/call-for-new-teachers-to-learn-about-slcn/


EYE TESTS - Our Special Assessment Clinic provides eye care for patients who cannot communicate in the usual way. Cardiff.

This includes infants and young children, children with special needs and adults with intellectual disability. We work closely with the educational services to provide guidance on visual abilities and needs for children with any form of visual impairment, and also with the Low Vision Clinic to advise on or supply magnification aids when appropriate.

We are highly experienced in providing eye care for children and adults with all levels of ability. You do not need to be able to read or to communicate well to have a full eye examination.

We also operate as a teaching clinic for student optometrists.

We carry out research to develop further ways of assessing vision in special needs patients, and to study the aetiology and effects of vision defects in people with disabilities.

Our emphasis is always on communication, by written and verbal reports, so that parents, careers and educators are made fully aware of the patient's visual abilities and difficulties, and the ways in which their particular problems can be addressed.

Mencap WISE is available to everyone in Wales, whether you are a person with a learning a learning disability, a family member or a friend. We can give you the information you need to understand the rights of people with a learning disability and to support them to access services or challenge decisions. Call 0808 8000 300  or complete our contact form to get in touch https://www.mencap.org.uk/contact/contact_mencap_wise

Contact A Family Your stories Hearing from other parents can be a huge source of support for families caring for a disabled child. One of the best ways parents with disabled children learn is from each other. And we're always looking for more stories we can share to help raise awareness of the lives of families with disabled children. If you would like to know more please email Michele.Cefai@cafamily.org.uk or call the team on 020 7608 8741.http://www.cafamily.org.uk/connect-with-families/your-stories/

NAS Meeting the educational needs of pupils with PDA In this article Ruth Fidler, an Education Consultant and author specialising in pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and complex autism, explores some of the difficulties facing pupils with PDA, and how staff can best approach them.

http://network.autism.org.uk/knowledge/insight-opinion/meeting-educational-needs-pupils-pda

Young Wales Annual Summer Questionnaire 2016 Welcome to the first Young Wales annual summer questionnaire. Each Year Young Wales will publish a questionnaire, developed by our Young Wales Project Board, drawing on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Concluding Observations published in 2016. The evidence we gather from the questionnaire will be used to inform the work of Young Wales and contribute to evidence submitted to future UNCRC calls for evidence. The closing date for responses is 14 October 2016. The questionnaire is available athttps://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2DKBDDG

The ‘All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss’  ‘People with sensory loss should be asked to describe their communication needs when they register with a new GP or primary healthcare service.  Arrangements should also be made to gather this information for existing patients.  This should describe a patient’s individual communication needs in a practical way ...’

 ‘As part of the referral process from primary to secondary care the communication needs of people with sensory loss should be identified and there should be arrangements in place to ensure they experience effective communication when they visit the hospital’.

 The Welsh Government is committed to tackling the barriers faced by the sensory loss community when accessing healthcare and to this end, are working jointly with colleagues from all Health Boards and NHS Trusts, the NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS) and the NHS CEHR on a national project to deliver an ‘Information Standard’ for NHS Wales. We need the involvement and support of individuals from the sensory loss community to help us ensure that we achieve an Information Standard that works for everyone.  We would like to create a Reference Group who we can work with to inform and develop the Standard. Public Health Wales is looking for people to give advice on how GPs and other health services in Wales should collect information on patient communication needs and ensure these needs are met. Do you (or does someone you know) fancy joining this group to have your say and make a difference? You can find out more and fill in an application form here

CALL FOR NEW TEACHERS TO LEARN ABOUT SLCN SEN is now going to be included as part of initial teacher training, and SLCN has been listed. There is a risk that it gets swallowed by ASD, so a petition has been started online. This petition is entitled ‘For every new teacher to learn about Speech, Language and Communication Needs’. The aim of the petition is to urge the Government to include Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) as part of any initial teacher training package. All trainee teachers should learn about SLCN so that they are able to adapt their teaching strategies and fully support their students to succeed and achieve

http://www.afasiccymru.org.uk/call-for-new-teachers-to-learn-about-slcn/

Cerebra Two of our parent guides have been Highly Commended at the 2016 British Medical Association (BMA) Patient Information Awards. We were delighted to receive the awards for our Parent Guides on ‘Returning to School: A teacher’s guide for pupils with brain tumours, during and after treatment’ and ‘Anxiety: A Guide for Parents’ at a ceremony on 12th September.

Cerebra We are asking for young people to write about their experience of growing up with and living with a disability to help us challenge negative perceptions and promote a wider understanding of different conditions. In this article sixteen year old Sallie tells us her story of living with cerebral palsy (CP). http://w3.cerebra.org.uk/information-and-advice/cp-and-me/

and also from Cerebra

A Father and Teacher’s View on Inclusive Education http://w3.cerebra.org.uk/information-and-advice/father-teachers-view-inclusive-education/

Cerebra Cardiff University Family Fun Run Saturday 1st October Time: 1.25pm Distance: 2.4km
Route: 2 laps around the Cardiff Civic Centre, starting outside Cardiff City Hall. Perfectly suited to all ages, there’s no pressure to record fast times or even run all the way round. Instead, dig out your best fancy dress, drag along the rest of your family and friends and enjoy the experience. There are no age limits for the race, but children under eight must be accompanied by an adult, and unaccompanied children must be brought to the start and met at the fun run exit.

• Registration fee: FREE
• Minimum pledge: £25
• More information: www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk
• Book your place here

 Cardiff University Toddler Dash Saturday 1st October  Time: 12.15pm Distance: 100m 2015 saw the first ever Cardiff University/Cardiff Half Marathon Toddler Dash. It involved a 100m ‘dash’ on a fun course in front of Cardiff’s City Hall, aimed at children aged three and under. It’s back for 2016 so get involved!

• Registration fee: FREE
• Minimum pledge: £25
• More information: www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk
• Book your place here

A template Home Education card to print out and laminate at home for those whose children may be uncomfortable at being questioned by supermarket cashiers. 

News from the Cymru ALN team - July 2016.

ALN BILL 
Gear up to talk to AMs as soon as Bill is published, suggest amendments, watch out for delay to code.  How the ALN Bill becomes law here.

Ministers Statement:- Next Draft of the ALN Bill expected before Xmas.

Our group is currently discussing what we see as being the key priorities for the next 12 months in order to respond to the current consultation by the deadline of September 9th 2016. Do join us!

New Health related WAG consultation now open - Welsh Language Standards – Improving services for Welsh speakers within the health sector. End of consultation:14/10/2016 

The Campaign for the Children and Young People Assembly for Wales (Funky Dragon)

The Campaign for the Children and Young People Assembly for Wales are calling on everyone aged 11 – 25 in Wales, and all those who care about them, to take part in their consultation on what a new youth assembly for Wales should look like. The consultation is running between the 15th June and the 15th September.

This is a real opportunity for our children to have a voice, so let's not waste it!

https://www.facebook.com/CYPAWales/


ESTYN - report on EOTAS - our summary of the salient points, and the link to the original report here

Useful sources of help 

Dyslexia Gold Learning outside of school continues all year round, so we have a NEW fantastic offer for our children who need help with visual tracking as part of their dyslexia programme. Please see our facebook group for details of how to obtain the Home Education discount for www.dyslexiagold.co.uk "From struggling reader to fluent in 10 minutes a day". 

Calvert Trust The Calvert Trust enables people with disabilities, together with their families and friends, to achieve their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure in the countryside. We aim to do this by providing: A wide range of adventurous outdoor activities, meaningful challenge and adventure within a framework of safety Skilled, qualified and caring staff able to fulfil the needs of visitors Accommodation appropriate to the needs of the visitors Facilities for families and friends to share the enjoyment and experience http://www.calvert-trust.org.uk/home/home

Disability Sports Wales Disability Sport Wales are committed to providing a range of activities as close to your doorstep as possible in an environment that is just right for you.  Whether you want to participate or compete in non disabled or disability specific clubs /sessions we can help you find the perfect opportunity. Use our search options to find the right sports for you all across Wales. http://www.disabilitysportwales.com

Sense Cymru TouchBase Wales provides a range of services across Wales for deafblind people and their families.While the main focus of our work is with people who have a dual sensory loss – a loss of sight and hearing at a level where people are experiencing difficulties with mobility, accessing information and communication - we also work with individuals who have a single sensory loss and other disabilities. https://www.sense.org.uk/content/sense-cymru-touchbase-wales

Boparan Charitable Trust UK based National Children’s charity, which helps those with disabilities, life-limiting conditions or are in extreme poverty. http://www.theboparancharitabletrust.com/

The Sequal Trust, a small national fundraising Charity, founded in 1968, which is committed to bridging the communication gap for disabled people of all ages throughout the UK. It is  their aim to help each of our disabled members to reach their full potential through the provision of suitable communication equipment. To help people to see the person and not the disability, and to provide the means to set lively minds free, continues to be our prime objectives. SEQUAL stands for Special Equipment and Aids for Living. http://thesequaltrust.org.uk/

We were asked about help with continence issues -ERIC education and resources or improving childhood continence is a national charity that supports children with continence problems and campaigns for better childhood continence care http://www.eric.org.uk/  The leaflets are free to download http://www.eric.org.uk/InformationZone/Leafletsandresources
PromoCon have a team of dedicated experts who can provide advice and support to help manage any kind of incontinence, bladder or bowel related issue. Our helpline is accessible to patients, health care professionals and anyone who requires further information or support.  Our aim is to raise awareness of continence from a national perspective, whilst supporting patients and professionals to improve the quality of life for sufferers of bladder and bowel problems. We can help with information about services, practical solutions and product advice in a friendly a personal manner. We are a part of the wider organisation  Disabled Living and offer our support throughout the country.  We have a range of literature that will help parent, carers, health care professionals and schools cope with incontinence in children and young people. Our Children`s Specialist Continence Advisors can provide support, advice and information. If you wish to speak to them, contact our helpline on telephone number: 0161 607 8219 You can leave a message on our voice mail if no one is available to take your call. Please leave your name and contact information and we will return your call as soon as we can, although this may not be the same day.