Autistic Spectrum Advisory Service

The WELB Autistic Spectrum Advisory Service (ASAS) is a team of professionals who have specific training, knowledge and experience in working with children and young people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Service is managed by an Adviser. A Senior Educational Psychologist, Assistant Advisory Officer, Teachers and Autism Intervention Officers are a core part of the Service. All team personnel are graduates and most are qualified teachers. Each member of the team has had substantial experience working in the school environment with pupils with ASD.

Advice and Support provided by the ASAS is based on a combined skills approach which includes reference to Structured Teaching, Social Learning Approaches (e.g. Social Stories, Social Skills Picture Stories), Language and Communication (e.g. PECS), Relationship Based Approaches (e.g. Interactive Play) and Behaviourist Approaches (IABA, ABA).

The ASAS is committed to delivering high quality support through providing training, advice and resources to pupils, parents and schools as well as tailored support for pupils referred by the WELB Educational Psychology Service. All team members are highly trained through an ongoing staff development programme. The team work with a range of partners including other WELB Services, Western Health and Social Care Trust and a range of community and voluntary organisations to contribute to the continuum of support for children and young people with ASD. The ASAS constantly evaluates its work by seeking feedback from all Service users.

In 2008 the ASAS, along with ASD Services in the other Education and Library Boards, was inspected by the Education and Training Inspectorate. The following comments were included in the report:

'The ASD advisory team members are highly qualified and skilled: they have an in-depth knowledge of autism and are skilled in observation'

''A key strength of the services is the focus on building the capacity of schools to develop whole-school autism awareness and teaching approaches to engage effectively children on the autistic spectrum'

'.. the children on the autistic spectrum accessing the service are supported in their schools to learn, socialise and develop their communication skills in appropriate settings.'

'The ASD teams provide appropriate advice and guidance and good quality ASD materials to individual teachers and schools'

'The schools' staff interviewed as part of the survey, testified to the high regard they have for the ASD service'

'Parents voiced their strong support for the service to the inspectors'

'Inspectors found a strong sense of team-work throughout the service and very good working relationships between the service, schools and parents'

Information relating to the Autistic Spectrum Advisory Service can be found by clicking on the relevant links below:

ASAS Information

Information for Parents

Information for Schools

Publications

WHERE TO CONTACT THE AUTISTIC SPECTURM ADVISORY SERVICE?

Robin House
36, Gortin Road
Omagh, Co. Tyrone
BT79 7HX
T:  02882246203