courses (ASD, ADHD, Asperger)

[Forgetmenot]

I would like to study a course to learn how to work with children and adults who have ASD, Asperger and ADHD. Does anyone know of any course in the Hampshire area?

 

Forgetmenot

[Tally]

The Open University run a distance learning course about ASD. Also Birmingham university I think.

 

I'd have thought there are also courses that an employer could send you on once you secure a job.

 

But experience is going to be very valuable on your CV. Possibly even more valuable than qualifications. I would recommend you seek out some voluntary work experience. It doesn't necessarily need to be ASD/ADHD-specific, as you would learn many transferrable skills working with people with a range of disabilities. You might get lucky and find a local club like the scouts that want someone to support a member with ASD, or there might be a social club for people with disabilities that need someone to help out facilitate activities and things like that. Mencap and the NAS often run these kinds of groups.

[CEJesson]

The National Autistic Society and Sheffield Hallam University run a Postgraduate Certificate in Asperger Syndrome which runs nationwide at multiple locations throughout the year.

[Forgetmenot]

Thank you Tally and CE Jesson, your help is much appreciated.

 

I think you are right Tally when you say that experience is valuable. I do volunteering and have met a few people with ADHD and Asperger, within the media/visual and performing Ats who work so hard.

 

I would still really like to do a course too if I could, if it was at all possible.

[Lynden]

I'm restarting (restarting because I had to give up before due to family circumstances) the postgraduate certificate in Autism Studies at Birmingham Uni this September. It's a highly recognised qualification. It's not cheap though, £2500 per year. If I do well enough this year I'll go on to do the Masters. They also offer a WebAutism course which is an undergraduate course and costs £1100. Both are distance learning but there are two residential weekends for the postgrad course. You do need to have relevant qualifications or experience to get a place on the courses though.

 

Lynne

Edited June 21, 2011 by Lynden

[Forgetmenot]

Ah yes money would be an issue for me, but I'm sure I'll find some course. Thanks for your help Lynne.

 

Has anyone on here been advised to go on a Triple P course before?

 

I have done a Triple P, but someone once told me there is also a 'Triple P stage 5' course.

[Lynden]

I don't know about Triple P stage 5 but a lot of schools, especially special schools do tailored Triple P for their children. My sons school do one that is specific to children with severe learning difficulties and autism and the organisation I work for does one tailored to ADHD and autism. It's worthwhile contacting local support groups to see if they offer any training. The charity I work for runs various courses and workshops for parents, but we also encourage teaching assistants and teachers to attend. If we get funding we'd like to present to services such as the police too.

 

Lynne

[Forgetmenot]

That all sounds good. Last year I did a Triple P positive parenting programme course and a few of the mums I knew were going on this course. I knew that teachers had also taken on these courses. Now at the time I was of the impression that the parenting course was tailored for most children and families. I watched the Triple P videos on the course too and at no point did the videos state if the course was specialised.

 

Well my child has suffered with behavioural issues for a very long time anyway and so took on the course.

 

I liked the course and I found new strategies that my child responded well to, although equally there were strategies that just did not make a difference to the behaviour issues, such as 'time out.'

 

I met someone recently who seemed to have an opinion that I should not have done the Triple P course anyway as my child has got no diagnosis and seemed to think that the strategies would cause more damage. But to be honest with you a lot of the parents who did the course were advised to and they had not had any diagnosis for their children either.

 

If i'm honest this person's response was a bit patronising and I viewed that if I had have not done the course then I would have undoubtedly been advised to do it at some point as part of my responsibility and duty to my child.

 

They even tried to sound quite negative about my paediatric first aid certificate. I think they were trying to insinuate that I could be over worrying about my own child.

[Lynden]

I did an LA Triple P course also - it's not specialised. It is intended for children with issues, but is just as applicable to anyone who is struggling with their childs behaviour. In saying that, I found that although it helped with my NT daughters behaviour it didn't help at all with my son as he didn't have the level of understanding to get a lot of what they suggested.

 

I then did the specialised Triple P through his school which was geared towards children with severe learning difficulties on top of their conditions (ASD in my sons case) and it was so much better - I really got a lot out of it.

 

Lynne

[Forgetmenot]

So I get the impression that Triple P can be for any family?

[Lynden]

So I get the impression that Triple P can be for any family?

 

Yes, depending on who is running it! Triple P itself is but different organsations adapt it to suit their needs.