Autism Services

Autism is a neurological diversity not a disability, but then all humans are neurologically diverse to each other, so therefore are all humans disabled.

For instance, let’s look at the topic of stimming. Firstly, let me clarify what stimming is, or to use its official title ‘self-stimulatory behaviour’.  Or, to put more simply, a repetitive habit. Very often if you ask someone to describe an autistic person, they will tell you it’s someone who flaps their hands vigorously or rocks backwards and forwards. In fact there are multiple ways that ALL humans stim. It may be that you play with your hair, or tap your fingers on the desk, or wiggle your feet up and down. Stimming is not just something that autistic people do, it is what ALL humans do.

Now let’s look at the topic of masking. By masking I mean to be seen or heard as someone you’re not. How many times have you answered a phone call thinking it might be your boss or client, so you put on that slightly more professional, posh voice only to discover it’s actually your mum or your best friend and therefore you drop that tone and become yourself. Or you’ve gone out with a group of friends and someone tells a joke, but you don’t really understand the strapline but everybody else in your group is laughing and therefore you laugh too to cover up that you don’t understand.

Stimming and Masking is common in all human beings but in both cases, women are better at it men. Autistics are better at it than non-autistics, and female autistics are the best.

We specialise in working with autistic people and their families. We may be one of the only small companies in the area that have mentors who are themselves autistic amongst our staff, indeed amongst our company owners, in fact me.

Joyce CoomberSewell

 

Case Studies

MJ – Family of Autistic Student

Jane and Joyce have been working with my son T, since September 2019, supporting him in his studies. Building a good working relationship with T is key to a successful outcome, and initially I was a little concerned how weekly support would work as previously he had 1:1 support for a large proportion of the time. My worries were needless as both Jane and Joyce worked hard to build a rapport with Tom that has seen him grow in confidence in his work,  and really look forward to his sessions, which recently due to the lockdown have been all via zoom. Even this didn’t phase T and he has continued to work with them through the summer. This summer work has involved Jane devising an individual working plan based on his dissertation brief, that has included reviewing articles, and visiting relevant online exhibitions and museums together and discussing them. He would never have been able to organise himself to do this without Jane’s support. He is now in an excellent position to continue his dissertation when university recommences. Joyce plays a very different, yet equally important role in T’s support. T loves to talk, but does find social interaction challenging, and frustrating. Having a special person who understands how he thinks to have a good old chat with has been perfect for T. He has been able to talk about things that have been worrying him, such as an acquaintance passing away. All in all the support provided by Jane and Joyce has been invaluable. Thank you very much.