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Hi everyone, just to let you know that Afasic is conducting a survey to find out what people think of our services and your views.  If you'd like to take part, please fill in the questionnaire and return it before 31 July 2010.  We will also be giving away £50 of Marks and Spencers vouchers to the lucky prize draw winner.

To find out more about the Afasic Survey please visit our site.

Thanks for your help.

As a valued member of The National Autistic Society, we want to make sure that you know in advance that our new website will launch on 25th May.

We have taken great care over its development, from choosing the right technical platform to involving users in our design process, integrating the site with our existing systems and improving the design and quality of the content.

I am confident that the result will be a stronger web presence for the NAS that will communicate the breadth and quality of our activities and meet the growing needs of our users and the charity as a whole.

The development will not stop with the launch. Improvements to the content and the features on the site will continue and will involve lots of people inside and outside the charity.

Initiatives coming up soon will include special pages to support our new campaign around child mental health and the launch of our new online community.

If you would like to preview some of the features of the new website you can view a short slide presentation on our current website. www.autism.org.uk/newwebsite

Thank you for your continuing support of The National Autistic Society and we look forward to hearing your feedback following the launch. Look out for the news story about the launch on our new website, with a link to our feedback survey.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CASE STUDIES

Afasic has been asked to produce case studies to help the new Communication
Champion persuade local authorities and children's trusts to improve their
services to children with speech and language difficulties and their
families.

We need stories from families with children of all ages, who have had good
experiences or bad, or a mixture. You must live in England and your child
will preferably have (or had) a speech or articulation disorder, or
receptive or expressive language impairment.

If you are interested in helping, please contact the Afasic office in London
by phoning 020 7490 9410 or by emailing . If replying by
email, please include a telephone number where you can be reached during the
day.

Thank you for your help.

As you may have seen in the recent enewsletter, we need your help with our next major campaign, which we will be launching this summer.

The campaign will be about child mental health services, and we'd like to hear from you to make sure we're campaigning on the issues that matter most to you. If you are a parent of someone with an autism spectrum disorder who is aged 21 or younger who may have experienced mental health problems we would like to hear from you.

If you are someone with an autism spectrum disorder aged 16-21 and think you may have experienced mental health problems, we also want to hear about your views.

We are extremely keen to hear about a wide range of experiences, positive or negative, across the full range of the autism spectrum, including Asperger syndrome. The more of you respond the more confident we can be in our campaigning next year!

The survey will only take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. To find out more and complete the survey online, please visit this website.

We hope you will be able to continue supporting this important research project by giving us your views.

Thank you for your time.

The Policy and Campaigns Team

You can now read yesterday's debate in the House of Commons. You'll be able to see that it delivered two major advances.

The Minister confirmed that the school admissions code should be changed by early 2011 bringing an end to multiple birth children being split up across different schools against their wishes.  He also called upon local authorities to take this into account during this year's admission round. 
He also called upon all teachers to consult with parents before allocating multiple birth children separate or the same classes.  This means that schools with policies to automatically separate or keep children together should now amend them.
We’ve raised all the educational issues identified in our recent report with Governments in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and now we need your help.

If you haven't already please download the sample email/letter and send it to your MP, MSP or Assembly Member via the campaign section of our website.
Please forward this email to every parent with twins, triplets or more you know and suggest that they register at our website to keep updated on our campaigns, research and support services.
Many thanks for your support.  You can see that together we can make a real difference.  Keith Reed, Tamba CEO

PS. If you can please support us by joining or renewing your membership or making a donation then please do consider it.  Every penny goes towards making life better for multiple birth families.

Help Change the Law
 
Dear friend,

Apologies for the late notice but I am delighted to let you know that there will be the first ever debate in the House of Commons tomorrow on the “Additional pressures on families with twins and other multiple births”. The half hour debate, in Westminster Hall, has been instigated by Bob Russell MP and among other things will focus on the concerns identified in our recent education report.

The debate is due to take place from 4.30pm-5pm – You can Watch It Live or read it in Hansard on Thursday.

You can help get the law around school admissions changed.  We’ve raised this and the other educational issues identified in our recent report with Governments in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.  Now we need your help – please download the sample email/letter and send it to your MP, MSP or Assembly Member via the campaign section of our website.

Many thanks for your support.

Yours sincerely

Keith Reed, Tamba CEO

PS. Thanks to your generosity and support in 2009, our guides, courses and support services (like Twinline) have helped 10,000s of families to better cope with the unique challenges they face and our new projects aim to help even more people in the future.  If you can support us by joining or renewing your membership or making a donation then please do consider it.
 

I just wanted to let you know that Brian Lamb OBE will be logging on to the
TreeHouse to talk about autism  Friday 27 November to take part in a webchat
about the Lamb Inquiry and answer questions from the public. 

Below I have added some information about this enquiry and  a link to
further information.  Please do take the time to get involved this will
effect your children's future.
 
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/lambinquiry/
 
 
 http://www.treehouse.org.uk/ 
 

Children's Secretary Ed Balls has announced proposals to provide better
support for pupils with SEN. The plans are aimed at making life easier for
parents and helping children maximise their potential. The proposals came in
a published letter, of 28 September, in response to Brian Lamb's letter
which highlighted ways of improving parental confidence in the SEN system.

Key features of Mr Balls' plans include trials to test different ways to
assess children's needs, a review of the provision of SEN trained teachers
and new guidance for schools to tackle high rates of exclusions of children
with SEN.

The Minister has appointed Toby Salt, of the National College for Leadership
of Schools and Children's Services, to head the independent review into the
supply of teachers trained to meet the needs of children with severe,
profound and multiple learning difficulties. Mr Balls also announced that
the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust would be taking forward a
£550,000 project to develop special schools as leaders in teaching and
learning practice for children with the most complex learning difficulties.

Highlighting the fact that children with SEN are eight times more likely to
be excluded from school, the Minister promised that new statutory guidance
on behaviour and attendance partnerships "will make tackling exclusions of
SEN pupils a priority". He added that he expected partnerships "to work hard
to address the specific needs of pupils, and draw on the support of partners
to tackle behaviour issues early, before they become serious problems".

The exchange of letters between Ed Balls and Brian Lamb follows three
interim reports from the Lamb Inquiry into SEN and parental confidence you
can read these at the link above.

The Autism Research Centre is once again looking for parents to volunteer to
assist on our professional training courses. We will be running a course in
November 2009 and seek parents to volunteer to be interviewed by the
delegates as part of their practice at doing diagnostic interviews about
autism spectrum disorders. This will entail giving up 2 hours of your time
on either Thursday 19th or Friday 20th November between 10.30am and 12.30pm,
to come and be interviewed about your child (or adult child) with a
diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Around 6 people will take turns to ask you
a series of developmental history and current behaviour questions, although
there will be a dozen people present in the room.
 
The delegates are all professionals who work in the field of ASD, or
researchers who need to use this interview as part of their project, and all
are learning how to deliver and code a standardised interview for ASD, the
Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised.
 
We are able to offer a volunteer honorarium of £60 for your time, and will
also cover any travel costs incurred in attending at the ARC.
 
Can anyone interested in volunteering please email Dr Fiona Scott on
with their name, contact details, and some basic information
about their child (age, diagnosis, language, comorbid diagnoses etc).
 
Cambridge NAS
Cambridge Branch Help line:07920150407
E-mail: <>

For details regarding the Autism Bill please click here

Welcome to the first Cambridge NAS E-news. If you have further queries
related to the events advertised here, please do not hesitate to contact the
Branch on the above e-mail or telephone number for further information.

Cambridge NAS Family & Community Launch Event

On Sunday, November 29th the NEW Cambridge NAS Branch with be holding a

 "Family and Community Launch Event". This will be held at the Meadows
Community Centre 1 St Catherine's Road Cambridge, CB4 3XJ, from 1-3pm. There
will be refreshments, autism friendly child entertainment and a short
introduction from the branch committee. This will give you a chance to meet
us, draw attention to some of the issues you feel the branch need to be
addressing or just tell us ideas that you have.

Cambridge NAS Professional Launch Event

On Friday, January 29th 3.30-4.30pm the NEW Cambridge NAS branch invites
professionals working within Health, Education, Support Services as well as
policy makers from Cambridge city and from the whole county to join us to
celebrate the launch of our NAS Cambridge branch. We will give brief insight
into our branch aims and objectives and also invite guest speakers. After
the presentations there will be a chance to meet the committee and have
discussion with professionals attending. Refreshments will be provided. We
will also be giving out a NAS produced DVD and some other booklets on
supporting people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We will be sending
out formal invitations to this event so please do contact us if you would
like to be included. More details to follow.

 Beats Learning <http://www.cambridgenas.urizen.eu/node/11>  Performing Art
Course

This is a Level 2, OCN accredited, music and drama course. It is open to all
adult s and 16-19 year olds diagnosed with High Functioning
Autism/Asperger/or other communication disorder. It is completely free to
anyone on income related benefits. A new course starts on November 6th, with
places for 8-20 people. It will be for two hours on Friday mornings in
Cambridge.

If you are interested, please contact the branch on above e-mail.

Volunteers are needed for the above drama and music workshop.

We are looking for a number of volunteers to provide help to participants
when and where is needed during the course. We need at least 2 volunteers
per session. So if you are interested in helping people with autism and also
like performing arts and have two hours free on Friday mornings please
contact the branch...

Self Directed Support Events <http://www.cambridgenas.urizen.eu/node/7>

As part of its Transforming Social Services program, Cambridgeshire County
Council has recently introduced self directed support (SDS) and personal
budget within its adult social care services. Introduction of SDS within
children and young people services will follow. Therefore, information
sessions on SDS/Personal budget have been organised by the Local Authority
for carers and disabled people who use these services. The following topics
will be explained and discussed: What is self directed support? - What does
it mean to me? -  What's a support plan? -  Your questions answered.

Cambridge sessions are at St Laurence Church, Milton Road, Cambridge.

Tuesday 6th October 2-4 and 6-8pm

Tuesday 27th October 2-4 and 6-8pm

Tuesday 3rd November 2-4 and 6-8pm

Tuesday 10th November 2-4 and 6-8pm

Tuesday 8th December 2-4 and 6-8pm

Tuesday 15th December 2-4 and 6-8pm

There are further sessions in Ely, Huntington and March for details of these
please contact the branch.

BBC3

The BBC is planning to do a programme on looking at how it is to be within a
family where there are people with autism but to not actually have autism.

If you are interested please contact: Beverley Price

Regional Officer East Anglia

National Autistic Society

Mob:  07919912947

Tel:     01473 632700

Festival of Ideas

I'm a student at Cambridge University and have recently good involved with
the Festival of Ideas which is a large project going on in October to open
the universities resources and space up to the public. I'm running a
workshop on Saturday the 24th October in the English Faculty Library on
Sidgewick Road and thought it might be of interest to the autistic hub.
My workshop is an informal drop in event looking at different communication
techniques that may be useful in reading poetry. It can be interactive but
there will be no pressure to make people read who would rather listen or
observe.

E-mail:
Katherine Palmer

If you are interested, please contact Katherine.

New Autism Research <http://www.cambridgenas.urizen.eu/node/9>

A research program on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using MRI brain
scanning has just been started at the Autism Research Centre (ARC),
University of Cambridge. They are looking to recruit siblings (aged 12-18)
within families where one has a diagnosis of Autism or Asperger syndrome and
the other does not have a diagnosis of ASD.

Volunteers will be assessed first at their preferred place (home or at the
ARC). Then, on a separate occasion the volunteers may be invited to visit
the MRC Cognitive and Brain Science Unit in Cambridge for a MRI brain scan
and some further tests. Your travel expenses will be reimbursed in full and
in addition you will receive £5 per hour for your visiting our department
and you will receive a picture of your brain.

If you interested and would like to receive more information please contact:
Rosemary Holt, Tel:01223746136  or e-mail
<> 

NAS Christmas cards now available!

We are pleased to let you know that NAS Christmas cards are available now.
We have a great selection, including winners of our competitions for
children and adults and a Thomas the Tank Engine card. For details please
see: www.autism.org.uk/christmascards
<https://owa.nas.org.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.autism.org.uk/c
hristmascards>

Are you aged 25 or under? Are you also a parent of a disabled child?

If so, Pinpoint would like to invite you to meet with other parents and
children within an informal group session. We meet together once a month for
chat, to share information and get to know each other. Younger children are
welcome to come and play. We meet on the last Tuesday of the month, at Leo's
Funzone, Huntingdon Leisure Centre, St Peter's Road, Huntingdon, Cambs PE29
7DA.

We will pay entrance for children aged 1-5 (adults and babies are free) and
provide refreshments. All you need to do is come along....

Future dates:

Tuesday the 27th October, 10-12am

Tuesday the 24th November, 10-12am

For more information or if you have transport difficulties, please call or
text Juliet on 07940 313 779.

Pinpoint - an independent information, support and involvement network run
for parents by parents

Email: <>

Phone: 0751 741 9761

Website: www.pinpoint-cambs.org.uk
<https://owa.nas.org.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.pinpoint-cambs.
org.uk>

Intervention for Children with Autism in the Early Years - Rita Jordan

 It is a free conference, jointly organised by Hertfordshire Specialist
Advisory Service and University of Hertfordshire, for parents and
professionals working with young children with ASD.

 Wednesday 4th November 2009 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Places are limited.

For further details contact Jenny Wiseman:

E-mail <>
Tel 01707 320697

Pinpoint

Opportunities for mums, dads, carers of disabled children and young people
to get together, get involved and get heard...

l Come along to our free network meetings to meet other parents, and share
information and concerns, and chat over lunch.

l Stay for our 'hot topic' sessions to meet senior managers and have your
say on services - and get a £10 voucher as a 'thank you' for sharing your
views. These "Hot topic" times are when the listed professional
representatives will be available to talk to within the 10-2pm time slot

'Hot topic': Short breaks and activities in your area... Come and find out
about new and existing services near you and find out which ones your family
can get.

East Cambs (Ely): Monday, 12 October 2009 - 10am to 2pm

Cathedral Centre, Palace Green, Ely CB7 4EW

'Hot topic' 12.45-1.45pm: with Rosie Cooke, Kids Direct Short Breaks and
others...plus a social care representative

Cambridge City: Monday, 19 October 2009 - 10am to 2pm

Meadows Community Centre, 1 St Catherine's Road, Cambridge CB4 3XJ

'Hot topic' 12.00pm -1.45pm: Simon Bates, The Junction and others...plus
Ruth Coals, Social Care

South Cambs (Comberton): Monday, 19 October 2009 - 6:30pm to 9pm

Comberton Village College, West Street, Comberton, Cambridge CB23 7DU

'Hot topic' 8-9pm: Roger Gale, Scope and others...plus Ruth Coals, Social
Care

To book your place phone 0751 741 9761 or

Email:

Red2Green launches its Great Cake Challenge

Red2Green a leading charity for disabled people in Cambridgeshire, is hoping
to tempt cake lovers to take part in its Great Cake Challenge in October.
The charity is organising the challenge to celebrate being Star Radio's
Charity of the Month in October.

Red2Green's Co-Chief Executive, Samantha Sherratt, said: "We've decided to
do the Great Cake Challenge because everybody loves cake! It spans all ages
and lends itself to a multitude of fundraising events. Fundraising doesn't
have to be about mammoth treks or arduous cycle rides; with our Challenge
you can help improve the lives of people with disabilities by getting
together with friends, having a laugh and sharing favourite treats".

Fitzbillies, Cambridge's legendary cake shop, is sponsoring the Challenge
and donating the proceeds from its popular chocolate fudge cake for the
month, among other things. Fitzbillies' Penny Thomson is encouraging others
to get involved: "What a great, fun way to support a local good cause. By
enjoying cake people can support Red2Green's work and improve the
independent living skills of people with disabilities in the county"
including Autism.

The National Autistic Society today launch Don't Write Me Off — a major new UK–wide campaign.

Shockingly, they've found that around 100,000 people with autism are currently out of work, and not receiving the benefits they need to live on. What's more, although most people want to work, 85% are without a full–time job.

The benefits system is failing hundreds of thousands of people with autism. It doesn't have to be like this. Regardless of whether someone is able to work, they should be able to live a dignified and financially independent life.

Please email your MP here and ask them to make sure people with autism are no longer written off. With your help, we can once again persuade politicians to act.

Best wishes,

Matthew Downie
Campaigns Manager

“In order to improve our service to you we have engaged an answering service so that you can speak to a person rather than a machine whenever you phone the clinic 8am-6pm Monday to Friday.  However, until we have resolved with BT how to divert the calls there will be a message on the clinic phone asking you to re-dial rather than leave a message.  We hope this is a very temporary situation and that you will bear with us during this transition."

As you are aware some months ago Umbrella members voted to merge with the
National Autistic Society. This e-mail is to confirm that the new Cambridge
branch of the National Autistic Society has been formed and it is now up and
running.

The new NAS Cambridge branch has sixteen committee members with a good mix
of parents and professionals who have much to offer. It is early days yet as
our branch web site is not live yet, but keep a look out for our news
flashes about the progress on it and we hope it will become the one stop
information page for all Autism news in Cambridge.

We will continue the Autism E-news service; we hope the first will be out
later this week. 

Cambridge Branch Help line: 07920150407
E-mail: <>

Joseph Simon             Co-Branch Officer 

Sam Sizer                   Co- Branch Officer  

Emma Gerrard           Co-treasurer

Alex Murphy               Co-Treasurer          

Matt and Helen Newman    Co-Secretary   

Please clicke here

Please click here for the lastest Newsletter from I Can Communicate 

Please click here for the latest ICan Communicate Newsletter

Please click below for the latest I CAN Communicate Newsletter

http://www.c-f-1.com/HTMLEmail.aspx?emailid=MTA4NjcxNzc5MQ==

Just to let you know that the Bercow Review of services for children and young people with SLI needs was published on Tuesday.You can view the full report or an executive summary from the Afasic website
at www.afasic.org.uk/news.htm

The West Norfolk branch of the NAS branch held their I Exist campaign launch at the Dukes Head Hotel in Kings Lynn and it was a very successful event, it was great to see so many people there.

For those who were not able to make it, the NAS campaigns team updated us on the really encouraging response to the campaign from central government.  The response so far includes agreement from the Department of Health to fund a prevalence study into the number of adults living with autism, and a full-time permanent post within the Department of Health focused specifically on autism.  These and other steps are building towards the first ever national strategy on autism.   We also had a carer of an adult on the spectrum speaking about her life so far, Ekkehart Stauffenberg giving us an insight into how adults with autism can find themselves within the criminal justice system and the work of Asperger East Anglia.  Robert Pritchett the South East Regional Director chaired the evening.

The next stage of the campaign is to work with local authorities to help them understand and meet the needs of adults living with autism locally.  The launch was a great chance to start raising awareness within the local area, but there is much more to be done.  A new action has now been launched on our website, and you can help continue the campaign by Please email your local authority, asking them to ensure they put systems in place to record how many adults with autism live in their local area and if they have an individual or team appointed with responsibility for autism.

Also, if you didn't get chance to fill out your postcard and leave it in our postbox, please do dig it out of your pack and send it off.

Thanks so much for your support, together we will improve the lives of adults with autism.

As part of the I Exist campaign, we have launched a creativity competition which is open to all adults with autism (over the age of 18). We’re already starting to receive some fantastic entries, including many examples of written work. We welcome more entries, particularly drawing, painting and photography. The competition will be judged by a small panel of celebrity judges and, in early 2009, the prize winners and a number of other shortlisted entries will be displayed as part of an exhibition in a London art gallery.  See below for more details

http://nas-autism.org.uk/public/read_message.jsp?tsp=1217582878945&sig=LFINCFACGADOPGAK&mid=700077160&custid=7319&uid=7043481752

Dear Supporter,

The I Exist campaign continues to make progress towards its goal of improving the lives of adults with autism. Thank you to the huge numbers of you who have already emailed your local authorities asking if they have a named team or individual with responsibility for autism and a system in place to record the number of adults with autism in their area.

If you haven’t already done so, please email your local authority asking them what they are doing for adults with autism in your area. We are already starting to receive responses from some local authorities but want to encourage all Directors of Adult Social Services to reply to us. We will be publishing these on our website over the summer so please visit http://www.think-differently.org.uk over the next few months to see if your local authority has responded to the campaign.

We are currently consulting on our campaigning priorities for the next year and would really welcome your input. To have your say on what the NAS should be working on over the coming months, fill in our short online survey.

Thank you once again for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Benet Middleton
Director of Communications

This is a letter drafted by lead counsel regarding new proposals/regulations for SENDIST which will impact on parents' right of access and appeal against our children's statements and creates an unfairness to many low income families of disabled children.Please circulate to familiy and friends and send to your MP and copy into SENDIST at Mowden Hall, Darlington - we need to stop these measures - consultation finishes on the 11th July 2008.

SAMPLE LETTER
 
 
Dear
 
Re: Children with Disabilities, changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal Regulations
 
I write to you as my member of parliament, because of proposed changes to the rules involving the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.  I am extremely concerned that these changes are being produced as a result of a general legal reform which pays no regard to the special role of the Tribunal, and its jurisdiction, which outside of the Family Court, is unique.
 
The current reforms are providing for an upper/lower tier of tribunals, and are convenient to lawyers, and to the legal administration.  They have the following detrimental effect on families of children with disabilities, and special educational needs, and particularly are unfair and handicap the parents.  The problems are as follows:
 
·        Firstly, the system favours local authorities, by abolishing a restriction on witnesses, and by getting rid of the substantial written element of the case, which means that the Tribunal is a short cost effective and highly expert body.
·        Introducing directions hearings, and other administration orders, which will increase the costs.
·        If the restrictions on witnesses are abolished, plus the introduction of directions will mean that hearings which are generally one day or less, will be much longer and much more expensive.
·        The current system was brought in because local authorities had a substantial advantage and could call a large number of witnesses.  Parents had limited budgets, and were concerned by their children’s needs and disabilities, not by the budget.  The new system helps local authorities unfairly.
·        There is also a proposal that the Tribunal can order a child examined.  The Family Court, which has jurisdiction in this area, only does so in certain set circumstances.  Special needs appeals take place in circumstances where the authority is bound by statute and regulation as to how far and in what circumstances it can examine a child.  The current proposals would seek to abolish parental rights, and in addition, create greater power for a local authority to examine a child in tribunal proceedings, than it is given by statute.
 
 
 
Overall, I am extremely concerned by these changes in rules, and the fact that the consultation is really one for lawyers.  It is unfair to parents and is only convenient to the Legal Administration.
 
I would be grateful if you take this matter up, not only with the Department for Children and Families, but the Department of Justice.  It would seem the best way to deal with this is to call for these regulations to be actually debated in parliament.
 
Yours sincerely

We want to let you know about a new service from The Ear Foundation and Advanced Bionics to be known as “Sounding Board.” It is aimed at people working with implanted children in education, although it may also be useful to parents and others.

With Sounding Board

You can email any question you like about cochlear implants and the education of implanted children.  You will receive an answer based on wide experience and also after consultation with the manufacturers and other professionals. The questions and answers will be archived anonymously on the site so that you can browse to see if your own question has already been answered. 
You can share experiences by contributing your own comments.
There is an expanding section of resources. You can access simple and straightforward information relating to all cochlear implant systems: how to use them and how to trouble shoot them. There is also information on the majority (soon to be all) of the radio aid systems and their use with cochlear implants; classroom management issues and useful resources. In future we aim to have information about assessment and monitoring; research and best practice.
You will receive a monthly email updating you on issues around cochlear implantation and what is available on Sounding Board, with recommendations about websites, resources and a monthly case study.
 

There is already a great deal of information out there on the web but Sounding Board brings it all together and makes it accessible to people who do not have time to seek it out themselves.

The service is free.  It only takes a few seconds to register.

You can access the site from The Ear Foundation website and follow the links to Sounding Board http://www.earfoundation.org.uk

Cerebra were overwhelmed with demand last year so this year they are limiting the Voucher to £500 which can include materials and mileage. They want to target children who are not getting regular 1:1 therapy. They are asking for one reference from either the school or a professional who works with the child.

1.  To receive a Voucher, parents will need to fill out an application.

Cerebra will only be accepting applications for children aged 16 and under who have a neurological, brain-related condition (e.g. cerebral palsy, autism, Down’s syndrome). If they are school-age, the child must have an SEN Statement or be on School Action Plus in Wales and England, a Co-ordinated Support Plan in Scotland or be on Stage 4 or 5 in N. Ireland.

3.      The child must not have received 1:1 speech therapy in the last 6 months.

4.      A reference must be sent with the application. If your child is school age, the reference must come from the school. Otherwise it should be from a professional who works with your child (health professional, social worker, Portage worker.) The letter needs to confirm your child’s condition and recommend speech therapy.

If successful, the voucher is worth up to £500 of SLT.  Cerebra will be using speech and language therapists who are members of the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP). All ASLTIP therapists are certified members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and registered with the Health Professions Council.

With the voucher, Cerebra will send a list of ASLTIP therapists in the family’s geographical area. The parents will need to contact a therapist who is able to help their child. In rural areas of the UK one may find travel time and costs to see a private therapist impractical.

The therapist must invoice Cerebra direct for payment.

For more information or an application, please call Alex on 0800 328 1159.  Please see website for more information.

Janet's brother and his wife, Ian and Jan Richmond, have recently re-located to South West France.  They live in the farmhouse with their cats and dogs on this old tobacco farm.  They currently have one fully equiped gite available to let which sleeps 4-6 people.  The new pool complies with stringent French safety regulations.  The barn will be converted later into more accommodation...watch this space...we can't wait to go!

More Information

Janet O'Keefe has been elected Chair of the RCSLT SLT Medico-Legal SIG for the period March 2008-2010

Sound Advice, a new service at the Ear Foundation, had it’s official opening on Thursday 26^th June. Please see below for the details

NICE have reversed their initial recommendation that simultaneous bilateral implantation should be available for prelingual deaf children, without providing any further evidence for this decision.

You can find more information at: http://www.2ears2hear.org.uk/.

The Ear Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Sue Archbold as its new Chief Executive, with effect from 1 November, 2008.  The Nottingham based charity has led the way in helping young deaf children to hear and talk using cochlear implants since 1989.
Now it has exciting plans for the development of its current
activities with major national partners.  This will help The Ear
Foundation reach more deaf children, their families and their
supporting professionals year by year. The successful appointment of a Chief Executive who is highly experienced in this complex field is a major step in ensuring the success of The Ear Foundation’s plans.

  John Atkins, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said:

  “We were delighted to receive a tremendous national response to our advertisement for the post, which reflects the standing in which the work of The Ear Foundation is held.  Sue’s appointment recognises her major contribution to the national and international reputation of The Ear Foundation and the Board of Trustees looks forward to an exciting future for the Foundation under her leadership.”

  Sue Archbold commented:

  “We live in the most exciting times for deaf children and young
people.  The new hearing technologies provide greater opportunities
than ever before for young deaf people to hear and talk.  However,
there are also great challenges in ensuring the new technologies are
used successfully, and The Ear Foundation has a growing role in
ensuring that the promise of technology is fulfilled.  I look forward
to working with our many partners to support deaf children wherever
they live.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Brian Archbold, Chief Executive, The Ear Foundation

Tel: 0115 942 1985.  Fax: 0115 942 9054.

e-mail:

In additon to reading the Bercow Report it would be useful to read the attached report from the Occupational Advisory Committee from the Union 'Unite' (Amicus Section).   The issues that NHS Speech and Language Therapists have identified to their Trade Union via a questionnaire are really concerning. Compulsory redundancies are becoming relatively commonplace – affecting a third of Speech and Language Therapy Departments. Job loss through other means (such as voluntary redundancy or vacant posts left vacant) is now the norm. SLTs told 'Unite' of the incredible insecurity they faced through constant reorganisation, of the unrelenting pressure to do more with fewer resources, and of the collapse in morale of so many in the profession. The loss of CPD opportunities, the trend towards specialist posts being deleted, and how it’s becoming increasingly commonplace for senior posts to be deleted and replaced by more junior posts whenever someone leaves. The overall picture that emerged was an extraordinarily bleak one – of dedicated, committed, hardworking staff, increasingly put in a situation where they cannot offer decent services. This is, of course, in the wider context of an NHS that – at least in England – is now in real crisis.

The final Bercow report can now be seen here http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bercowreview/docs/7771-DCSF-BERCOW.PDF

The RCSLT response to this can be seen here

http://www.rcslt.org/news/press_releases/rcslt_bercow_response

Please see the news items below; Janet assessed Ben and wrote the report for the parents SENDIST last year. 

I am thrilled to see on this news item that Ben has made such great progress at The Shires School but am horrified that Bedfordshire appealed the SENDIST decision in order to make Ben leave the school where he is happy and his needs are being met to go to a local special school and live in a children's home!!  John Friel, barrister for the family agrees that this is morally and politically wrong and is a decision based purely on finances and not the needs of the child.  It denies parental choice and is imposing LAC status on a child who is loved and well cared for by his parents.

See Sarah Spiller's Channel 4 news report from 14th July 2008 (select item 3)

Watch the BBC Look East news item featuring Melinda Nettlton, Solicitor

A report by Dr. Michael Merzenich

Autism on the rise; additional factors?

Click here for the latest I Can Communicate News

Hi everyone and welcome to the latest edition of Afasic Online Updates.
As a way of raising awareness, and some income for the organisation, we are
asking people to get involved with a sponsored silence during the week
commencing the 20th October 2008.

We want to encourage as many members, schools, children, parents, businesses
etc to take part and so help to raise the profile of children and young
people with speech, language and communication impairments.

We are also attempting to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for
"the most people simultaneously performing sign language to a song at
different venues". We very much hope that you will want to join in with
this, and you can incorporate it as part of your sponsored silence. The
record attempt will be on the 22nd October at 9.30am.

For more information about either or both of these events, sponsor forms,
posters, stickers, and support please contact Mark Thompson at central
office (phone 020 7490 9410, email ). Please take part in
this event for us and help to make a real difference for those affected by
this disability.

“We have great pleasure in inviting you to comment on the proposed NHS Constitution for the NHS.

The draft NHS Constitution makes it clear what the NHS does, what it stands for and what it should live up to. It sets out principles to guide how all parts of the NHS should act and make decisions.

The Government will be required by law to renew the NHS Constitution every 10 years, with the full involvement of the patients who use the health service, the public who fund it and the staff who work in it.

We will be responding to this as an organisation and we invite you to look at the documents by clicking on the link below.  More importantly, we hope that you will want to respond to it using this email -

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_085814

When you open this link you will find a long list of documents. We suggest you look at the leaflet (bullet point 6) to get a general idea and then if you would like to read more,  the 8 page document at bullet point 4 will give you a fuller picture.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust”

Click here for the latest I Can Communicate News

Click here for the latest Tamba Talk News

Click here for the latest Tamba Talk News

Click here for the SNAP Childcare Autumn Newsletter

Click here for the Welsh Assembly Rapporteur Group on Dyslexia

Click here for the I Can Communicate Latest News

This link details the new SENDIST Regulations 

Can you all please contact , who is responsible for the so called new regulations in SENDIST which we strongly object too and have not been properly consulted on. Mr Oliver wishes to prevent a proper debate on the rules which have been secured by the Conservatives in Parliament, on our children's behalf which they did so using a rarely adopted procedure of prayer. They are supported by the Lib Dems, Vince Cable. Please also copy your response into , who is the Tories Educational spokesperson and .

Please circulate to as many people as possible and ask them to email also.

Suggest you write something like this

Mr Oliver,

We have read your newsletter and as end users being parents of  special needs and disabled children, we do not agree with the Regulations or suggestions. We were not consulted, indeed 11 responses were received by the Tribunal on its vague and inadequate consultation process.

Perhaps we need to remind you that the Tribunal was supposed to be parental friendly, which the new rules are certainly not. The new rules erode basic liberties regarding assessing our children against our wishes and changes the cultural ethos of the Tribunal, despite your claims otherwise. The climate created by the new rules is very parent=2 0and disabled child unfriendly, they fail to recognize that individual rights are meaningless without accessibility and user friendliness. This is essential if access is to be genuinely rather than theoretically available.   

Whilst the Tribunal System as it stands isn’t perfect, the rules you suggest are going backwards, and undoing the good which has already been done, making things much more difficult for parents in practice to disagree about the provision their children are receiving.
We wish our MPs to secure and insist on a proper debate on the changes and order a complete rewrite of the regulations with proper consultation with parents, their representatives, lawyers, and LEAs, and that changes should not be introduced by a tiny minority.
We would also mention that you yourself were advising people that these rules were going through regardless, no matter what we parents have to say. That is not democracy but dictatorship.

If you are on standby to talk to anyone as you have stated, then please start talking to us parents meaningfully.

More details of the regulations are available here:

www.ipsea.org.uk/tribunal-rules-08.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbouch/F2322273?thread=5631304

http://www.specialeducationalneeds.co.uk/ChangestoSENDIST.html

Hi everyone and welcome to the latest edition of Afasic Online Updates.

We still have a few tickets available for our 40th Anniversary Champagne
Reception on 26th November so please consider supporting this event.

Our 2008 Christmas cards are now in stock with some new designs and a few
favourites from last year.

Further details about both these items can be found at
http://www.afasic.org.uk/news.htm

Follow this link to have your say in the propsed new regulations for SENDIST

Follow this link to sgn the Downing Street petition against the new propsed SENDIST Regulations

UMBRELLA eNEWS

Action!

November 2008

************************

Contents (for details see next section):

1.
Big Changes ahead for Adult Care - speak up now! Deadline is Friday.

2.
Tribunals: more hoops for parents costing £££s - a petition to consider

***********************

The details

Action!

1.
Big Changes ahead for Adult Care - speak up now!

Did you know that "Personalization" = "Self-directed Support" = "A new
approach to choice and control" over the social services?

Do you know exactly what this will mean for you or the person you care for?
Is it going to be helpful? How will this work for people with autistic
conditions? Is it autism-friendly?

A draft policy was presented to the Cabinet last month. There is a Public
Consultation happening now in Cambridgeshire and ending this Friday. The
Policy is set to be presented to the Cabinet for their agreement in
December. Arrangements and planning locally are already taking place to
ensure this new approach is put into effect throughout Adult Social Services
from 6 April, 2009. Now is the time to register your views about these
changes.

The County web page for this is here:
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/social/selfdirectedsupport.htm

Here is an "Easy Read" explanation of the changes:
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8D7A8658-A0FD-42C5-AB1B-134079F87A3E/0/ConsultationDocumentEasyReadVersion2.pdf

Here is the main explanation of the changes:
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/35831E17-D696-446F-8839-EAEDEE44B1B8/0/ConsultationDocument.pdf

Will this new system work for you? Is it autism-friendly? Will it meet the
needs of people with autism, High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome?

Are the systems of support to be offered going to be adequate to the
specific needs of people with social communication disabilities and/or
disabling sensory differences?

Your views on this are needed NOW, by 21 November-this coming Friday ---at
the latest.

An Easy Read reply form for giving your views is here:
http://snaponline.snapsurveys.com/siam/surveylanding/interviewer.asp?sid=666

The main reply form is here:
https://snaponline.snapsurveys.com/siam/surveylanding/interviewer.asp?sid=66

You can also communicate directly:

If you have any questions please contact the Communications Officer Amanda
Davies on 01223 699650 or e-mail

Want to know more background to this? Here is the Department of Health's web
page in "Personalisation":
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Socialcarereform/Personalisation/index.ht

Here is the page linking to a booklet which talks about the policy and
background to "personalisation":
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsP

Not sure what you think? Or want to talk this through with others? Anyone
wanting to talk the issues through, get help understanding what is being
proposed, and/or have help in speaking up can leave their number on the
Umbrella Answer phone (01223-501 593) and a volunteer will ring you back.
Or email Umbrella at .

2.
Tribunals: more hoops costing £££s! -- a petition to consider

Parents and carers of children need to be aware of the changes in SENDIST.
What are they? What is your view? Is there cause for concern?

The SENDIST website (www.sendist.gov.uk) and their Newsletter on this is the
place to start:
http://www.sendist.gov.uk/Documents/FormsGuidance/newsletters/SENDISTUsersNe

Anyone in the autism community with an interest in the Tribunals process
should read this summary and statement of the NAS position:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=241&a=16828

To our knowledge at Umbrella, the government has not felt the needs to
consult parents and carers about this. A number of Umbrella Members and
Friends have raised concerns about the proposals and ask us to publicise the
issue among Umbrella eNews readers. Several have suggested readers should be
made aware of this petition from SOS!SEN outlining clear objections to the
changes:

"The government plans to change SENDIST Regulations resulting in parents of
SEN children being greatly disadvantaged, granting local authorities
unprecedented power to assess disabled children against parents' wishes,
which parents could be forced to pay for. Refusal of access to children will
be frowned upon, simply because parents' disagree with the Authority's view
of where/how children should be educated. This extraordinary power is not
available to the High Court, unless parents are suspected of child abuse.
The proposed Regulations are so legalistic it will be impossible for parents
to attend Tribunal without a barrister. The extreme expense will prevent
parents from appealing. Lay representatives cannot work under these
circumstances as costs can be awarded against them. They do not qualify for
indemnity insurance. The consultation process was inadequate relying on
parents scanning the Ministry of Justice website only 11 people responded.
The government should have contacted users of SENDIST, past and present to
obtain a balanced and transparent view. SENDIST was supposed to be free and
informal."

If  you agree and you want to sign the petition you can do so here, on the
Prime Minister's Number 10 website:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SENDISTtribunals/#detail

The deadline for signing is 24 December 2008.

****************************
Anyone with an interest in autism and improving the lives of people
affected by autism in Cambridgeshire is invited to become a Member of
Umbrella for £5/year. Contact Sharon Burrows, Umbrella Memberships, 32 St.
Bartholomew's Court, Cambridge CB5 8HG or email
or leave your details on 01223-510593 so we can email or send the membership
form to you. You can also download a membership form from here:
http://www.umbrella-autism.org.uk/umbrella_joining_form_2008.pdf

Follow this link for the latest I Can Communicate News

Follow this link for the National Autistic Society Supporter Update

Follow this link for the SNAP Childcare Winter Newsletter

Follow this link for the I Can Communicate December 2008 Newsletter

Please read our Press Release about recruitment at Wordswell.

Follow this link for details

Please click here for details of this article in The Guardian

For those of you who may have missed the Cambridge News article, the Arts
Picturehouse in Regent Street Cambridge is holding an Autism friendly
screening of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa on 19 February at 11am.  The
auditorium will have low lighting and the volume of the soundtrack reduced.

Long-time Umbrella news readers will remember the very successful free
autism-friendly screenings we've put on in the past. They involved a lot of
planning and renting the cinema. Picturehouse Cinemas have started running
autism-friendly screenings in other parts of the country and are now rolling
the idea out in Cambridge on their own initiative. (Yay!
Another step towards an autism-friendly world!) This event is during half
term week and families may be interested.  The film will be free. Please
contact the cinema for details: 38-39 St. Andrews St, Cambridge, CB2 3AR
Tel: 0870 755 1242.

Click here for the the latest I Can Communicate Newsletter

My son Janusz is has got it into his head that a fun thing to do is exercise (all the time) and is now running the London Marathon in April.

He is running for the Royal National Institute of the Deaf (RNID). This is a particularly close charity as another son Odran (pictured in the link) is profoundly deaf and through the help of this charity he is able to talk and communicate normally instead of being looked upon as disabled and unable to lead a normal life.

Janusz has set up a sponsorship site, I have attached the link.If you can, please make a donation as it really is for a good cause. Any amount is fine if you feel inclined.

James Nelson

http://www.justgiving.com/janusznelson

http://www.rnid.org.uk/

eNEWS FLASH!

LACK OF AUTISM SERVICES ACKNOWLEDGED!

The Care Services Minister, Phil Hope, has admitted that services are
failing autistic people, according to an article on Sunday in the Observer.

"In an damning indictment, Phil Hope, care services minister, said there was
'no doubt' that, despite years of campaigning by parents and charities for
better services, such as respite care and tailored therapies, people with
autism have 'not been well served'.

He said the government would launch an adult strategy in April to be
followed by a 12-week consultation period with possible statutory guidance
that would require all local authorities to make improvements."

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/22/labour-fails-autistic-people
ple

Read details of what the government will do to address the needs of children
and adults here:
http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1380&a=18817

***********************
Contents

1. ANOTHER AUTISM-FRIENDLY CINEMA SCREENING in Cambridge THIS WEEK:
Thursday, 26 Feb @ 11am, £2.50/p Cambridge Picturehouse Cinema.

2. ADULTS NEED AUTISM SERVICES: The Cambridgeshire "I Exist" Launch is in
Cambridge on Thursday 26 Feb @ 6.30pm for 7pm. RSVP now.

3. VICTORY FOR THE AUTISM BILL: WHAT NOW?

4. UMBRELLA PARTY: Book now for Sunday 8 March 3-5pm.

5. PUBLIC MEETING FOR PARENTS/CARERS: ASK ABOUT AUTISM RESPITE AND
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS :   9 (Cambridge) or 11 (Ely) or 17
(Huntingdon) March:  on Aiming High Funding

6. UMBRELLA OPEN MEETING: Transition to Adult Services.  Mon 23 March 7:70
pm. Everyone welcome.
***********************
The details

1. AUTISM-FRIENDLY CINEMA SCREENINGS!

For those of you who may have missed the autism-friendly screening of
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa at the Arts Picturehouse in Regent Street
Cambridge last week, there will be a second showing this week: 11am Thursday
26 February. The auditorium will have low lighting and the volume of the
soundtrack reduced.

Tickets for this showing are bookable at £2.50 each. Please contact the
cinema for details: 38-39 St. Andrews St, Cambridge, CB2 3AR or  Tel: 0870
755 1242.

2. ADULTS NEED AUTISM SERVICES NOW: The Cambridgeshire "I Exist" NAS Launch
is on Thursday 26th February at the Meadows Community Centre, 1 St
Catharines Road, Cambridge, CB4 3XJ. Meet people and hear inspirational
speakers. RSVP by email to:

People with autism are currently isolated and ignored by society. Everyone
concerned to change this now in Cambridgeshire is invited to attend.

"The NAS Cambridgeshire launch of I Exist, The National Autistic Society's
crucial campaign to improve the lives of adults with autism.  This event
takes place from 7.00 pm -9.00 pm, refreshments at 6.30pm, on Thursday 26th
February at the Meadows Community Centre, 1 St Catharines Road, Cambridge,
CB4 3XJ. We have invited you to this event to inform you about how you can
get involved in the I Exist campaign in Cambridgeshire, and also to meet
other local professionals and families in the area.

I Exist is the clear message from the many thousands of adults with autism
who are isolated and ignored by society. Following the biggest ever survey
of adults with autism, we found that too many people across the autism
spectrum are unable to fulfil their true potential because of a lack of
recognition of autism, a lack of understanding and a lack of suitable
services.  This event is about raising awareness and a great opportunity for
people working and living in Cambridgeshire to meet and find out more about
the I Exist campaign."

3. VICTORY FOR THE AUTISM BILL: WHAT NOW?

The Autism Bill is up for debate on Friday, 27th February 2009. It needs at
least 100 MPs to commit to voting. The problem is most MPs do not attend
Parliament on a Friday. MP for Cambridge, David Howarth, has committed to
attend and support the Bill. Has your MP committed to support the Autism
Bill?

To find out more about what's in the Autism Bill, you can find direct links
to the document and summary documents here:
http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2152&a=18760

To hear the proceedings for yourself, tune into the Parliament channel on
this Friday, 27 February. Hear about the Autism Bill and hear the results of
the Government responding before the reading. See autism issues laid out in
Parliament.

Carers, charities and friends of the autism community in England have
responded: 6,000 people contacted their MPs to urge them to attend and to
support this bill.

In advance of the reading, the widespread support for the Bill has caused
the Government to announce a raft of initiatives in line with those
proposed.

A summary of actions the Government is taking concerning adults, young
people and children with autism can be found here:
http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2152&a=18818

The Government's Autism Strategy is summarized here:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Deliveringadultsocialcare/DH_095172

Now, the most important thing we can do locally is to encourage, enable and
support carers and affected people -- the real experts in managing autism -
to respond when their views are sought by providers. The Government says
user and carer views must be sought by providers, so do respond -- or let
people know how they can enable you to respond. If you work with people
affected by autism or their families, support them to get their views heard
by those making decisions.

At the same time as we are seeing the voices of autism community responded
to by Government, all local authorities and health services are being
transformed to welcome the participation of all users and carers in
designing, planning and assessing services. There has never been a better
time to get involved and share your one-the-ground autism expertise.

Local opportunities include the opportunity to speak up for the autism
community at the upcoming consultation events for the Government's Aiming
High For Disabled Children programme (see 5 below). Watch the Umbrella eNews
for more opportunities to get heard and participate in the weeks to come.

4. UMBRELLA PARTY: Book NOW for the free autism-friendly Umbrella Family
Party on Sunday, 8 March 3-5pm at the Darwin Workshops in Fulbourn. It is
for Umbrella members only but it's not too late to join (see the bottom of
this eNews for joining details). Limited space. BOOKING ESSENTIAL.

Current members must book if they want to come (by email to:

or by phone to our answer phone on 01223-510593) in advance giving their
name and full contact details (email address if available, plus phone and
address), the numbers of adults and children attending plus any special
information. If you want us to ring you to give more information, just phone
or email asking for this and we'll get back to you.

This party is being organised by a team of our very own Cambridge University
Umbrella Autism Volunteers.  Our venue is in Fulbourn, at the Ida Darwin
Workshops. And, as always, the event features our legendary magic mix of:

* an autism friendly clown from Great Ormond Street Hospital
* a giant bouncy castle (parents must supervise their children on it)
* a fantastic bring-and-share tea
* a calm and fun family atmosphere for all our children
* plus a team of autism-friendly Cambridge University Umbrella
volunteers
to help everything run smoothly and help children and families to enjoy the
event.

5. PUBLIC MEETING: YOU CAN ASK ABOUT AUTISM RESPITE AND ACTIVITIES FOR
CHILDREN AND TEENS :   9 or 11 or 17 March: Aiming High & Pinpoint

The Government is putting a great deal of money aside especially to help
parents, children and young people with disabilities to be less isolated,
more involved and included in society.

Right now Cambridgeshire is deciding how to use its share of the Aiming High
for Disabled Children money. Respite and community-based activities tailored
for those affected by autism are an obvious use.

Find out for yourself more about how Government wants local authorities to
use this money here:

http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1891&a=16992

Included is a draft letter which you could copy and send to the
Cambridgeshire Acting Head of Children's Services, Adrian Loades,
SS1003 Shire Hall Cambridge CB3 0AP.

Ensure our Local Authority proposals and plans actually address the real
needs of families, children and young people affected by autism (including
High Functioning Autism and Aspergers). Come along to one of these key local
consultation meetings hosted by pinpoint, a new community group aiming to
create a network of all parents and carers of children with disability, to
listen and to speak up. Lynn, from pinpoint, writes:

"Join us for the first meeting of a new county-wide parental involvement
network for parents of disabled children Parental involvement network
meetings

Cambridge: Meadows Community Centre, 1 St Catharine's Road, Cambridge CB4
3XJ on Monday, 9 March 2009 from 10am to 12 noon (Refreshments from
9.30am)
Ely: Cathedral Centre, Palace Green, Ely CB7 4EW on Wednesday, 11 March
2009 from 10am to 2pm (This event is planned with Contact a Family and
includes lunch.)
Huntingdon: Maple Centre, 6 Oak Drive, Huntingdon PE29 7HN on Tuesday, 17
March 2009 from 10am to 12 noon (Refreshments from 9.30am. This event is
followed by lunch and the pinpoint Open Meeting from 12.45 to 2.00pm)

This term's big question: Is Cambridgeshire Aiming High for Disabled
Children?
Guest speaker: Richard Holland, Development and Commissioning Manager for
Aiming High at Cambridgeshire County Council will talk about the Aiming High
for Disabled Children programme and the money available for short breaks
£10 voucher for every parent/carer who attends as a thank you for
giving up your time
help with childcare and transport costs is also available - please
ask for details when booking

To book your place phone Lynn on 0751 741 9761 or email
*
If you can't attend any of the launch events, you can still have your say.
Phone 0751 741 9761 for more information.
*Please let us know when booking if you have any special access or dietary
requirements"

These are opportunities to find out what our Local Authority wants to do
with large amount of Aiming High funding it will receive - and, in line with
the Government's autism Strategy, to find out whether these plans take
sufficient account of the needs of children and families affected by autism.
This is your chance to ask how the proposals to use this money will address
the specific needs of families affected by autism.

6. The next Umbrella Open meeting will be on the Young People Making the
Transition to Adult Services. This a chance to find out about the
Cambridgeshire Transition Services and how these meet the specific needs of
young people with autistic conditions.

The meeting will take place on Monday, 23 March 7:30-9pm (with questions and
networking to 9:30pm). We will be welcoming Claire Bailey, Manager of the
Transitions Team, who will tell us about current arrangements for Transition
Services and new developments coming soon.

Who should come? Anyone who cares for young people with an autistic
condition aged 14 up. Transition to adult services is a long process and
properly managed the first steps will be being made from age 14.

This will also be an opportunity for the autism community to ask how the
proposals for Transitions Services specifically address the needs of those
with autistic conditions.

The Cherry Hinton Village Centre, Colville Road, Cambridge CB1 9EJ

(Off the Cherry Hinton High Street roundabout - Opposite Lloyds Bank and
next to the Library - Public car park opposite - bus stop is nearby)

Click here for details

There is currently an inquiry into parental confidence in the SEN system,
headed by Brian Lamb, the chairman of the Special Education Consortium,
which will be reporting to the government in due course.

There are two short questionnaires about this, one for parents and one for
professionals.  Please note that the inquiry applies to ENGLAND only.

Click here for details

Today marks a special occasion for the thousands of campaigners who
have long demanded a better deal for people with autism.

Autism was debated for four hours in Parliament this morning, with a
full examination of the Government's recent commitment to improving the
lives of both children and adults with autism in England. This Parliamentary
time and support for autism from over 100 MPs in unprecedented.

At the end of the debate, the Cheryl Gillan Autism Bill was voted
through to committee stage by MPs. The committee stage is an
opportunity for further detailed analysis of the Government's landmark commitment.

The initiatives announced by the Government are a direct response to
your demands and when fully implemented will mean local children's   and
adult services have to take account of people with autism.

The Autism Bill has played a major part in this success, as has the
backing of the wider autism community, and it would not have been possible
without your help!

You can watch the debate again by visiting the Parliament website.

Please click here for the latest I Can Communicate News

We really need your help to ensure that a number of our unique and vital
services for children and young people affected by speech, language and
communication impairments can be maintained and developed. 

We are looking to get at least 100 of our members and supporters to commit
to raising £1,000 each for Afasic over the coming year. You could do this by
becoming involved in a sponsored event or by organising an event of your
own.

For more details about what is involved please visit
http://www.afasic.org.uk/news.htm

Please click here for the latest Studio Three News