This Autism Acceptance Week we're marking the week and our Family Support team's 10 year anniversary with our Au-Some 10 for 10 Virtual Challenge and Appeal. The event is raising funds to enable the team to provide their much needed services to more families, desperately in need of help. 

We spoke to Alana, whose 11 year old daughter is autistic and has ADHD. Alana reached out to the Aspens Family Support team for help just over a year ago, when her daughter's mental health had hit "rock bottom". She shares her family's story here:

"Like many others, we fought hard to get to CAMHS and celebrated when finally, after 6 referrals, we got accepted. Sadly, it turned out that was a premature celebration, as nothing improved for us. We'd been with them for a year when Aspens was mentioned to us.  

At this stage my daughter was having a truly awful time in education, her needs had never been met and her mental health was plummeting. I was forced to seek a private diagnosis by the primary school she was at and despite the significant expense and a complex diagnosis, nothing changed, things only got worse.

A year and a half ago, the fight got too much and I decided I had nothing to lose by contacting Aspens. I had no idea just how life was about to change.

I was put in touch With Hannah Cordrey from the Family Support team, who listened and never once made me feel silly or that I was overreacting. Instead, Hannah was reassuring, knowledgeable and willing to help.

This time last year we were in THE darkest place and it’s hard to look back and remember how it was without getting emotional. Now, my daughter is in excited to go to school every day and is slowly growing in confidence and acceptance of herself. We have a journey ahead but I will always be glad I took that step and reached out to Aspens.

Hannah and I had regular conversations... well, I vented and Hannah listened -  I mean really listened. It was such a breath of fresh air to talk to someone who gets it. Hannah started coming to meetings and this gave me the courage to follow my gut instinct and fight for my daughter - yes I was still fighting, but I was no longer fighting alone.

My daughter's mental health continued to decline and Hannah explained how Aspens can undertake a Behavioural Assessment and from that produce a detailed report with recommendations.

Chris Foster from Aspens' Specialist Support team did the assessment. Working with Chris was daunting after talking to so many professionals who mostly belittled what I had to say, but Chris made the process easy and he understood what I was saying so I didn’t have to over explain anything. With Hannah’s continued support and advocacy for my daughter, the school funded the report and as a result a range of interventions were recommended.

We were matched with Lucy from the Specialist Support team who started supporting my daughter. Sadly before these support sessions began, her mental health hit rock bottom and as a result she was medically signed off school. My beautiful daughter had got so low and felt so unsupported at school, that she wished she was dead. I am sure you can imagine how devastating that was to hear. 

Lucy began her weekly sessions with my daughter and seeing that instant bond was amazing. Little by little, we both began to get stronger, through the amazing support from Aspens.

To cut a long story short, I will close with an update. This time last year we were in THE darkest place and it’s hard to look back and remember how it was without getting emotional.

Now, my daughter is in excited to go to school every day and is slowly growing in confidence and acceptance of herself. We have a journey ahead, but I will always be glad I took that step and reached out to Aspens. Our lives began to change for the better when we were blessed with their support and I know we aren’t the only family who will be eternally grateful.

The support sessions have been going well and we recently found out we got our choice for secondary school, which Hannah took great delight in telling me!

Aspens came into our lives when we needed them the most, and I am finally feeling positive about the next stage of our journey.

So, to the amazing team at Aspens congratulations, on your 10 year anniversary and here’s to the next decade of amazing support for people with Autism and their families.

A huge thank you - from my daughter and myself." 

Alana

Help our Family Support Team reach more families like Alana's by signing up to our Au-Some 10 for 10 Challenge or making a donation. 

Here’s how your donation could help families like Alana's:

£10.00 – Can help fund a Parent Support Group

£25.00 – Can provide a Sibling Group Place

£40.00 – Can pay for a Parent Workshop

Thank you so much for your support. 

Sign up or donate here