First Steps

We provide multidisciplinary support in the family home for an initial 6-week period (the First Steps programme), which includes an assessment of the family’s current situation, strengths and needs plus practical support to enhance positive interactions and communication.  Depending on the therapists’ report at the end of the programme, this is likely to then lead to an offer of ongoing support for the family for as long as both they and their therapists feel it to be necessary.

Families with Autistic children are often left to work everything out by themselves, with little meaningful guidance or support available either on the practical aspects of managing life or, crucially, on how to interact with their children in a way that leaves them feeling nurtured, builds trust and lays the foundations for a safe, loving, trust-based relationship in which the child can develop and thrive.

Our First Steps programme focuses on this vital area of promoting optimal communications between the Autistic child and their caregivers, and empowering families to build strong relationships with them.

Unlike many Autism services out there, First Steps starts with a recognition of the inherent value and potential of each child, and focuses on building upon this potential, and upon the strengths and capacities of the caregivers. It puts the child firmly at the centre, while providing parents and caregivers with the foundational support and understanding required to build secure and trusting relationships with their Autistic child.

It is strongly based on the way that we understand and think about Autism, as outlined in our TED talk and our perspective on Autism.

• A better ability to manage their feelings
• Enhanced emotional resilience
• Feelings of being understood
• Improved emotional connection with their parents/caregivers
• A sense of safety in their environment
• A stronger sense of self and other, and a feeling of being grounded.
• Improved play, communication and interaction with their parents/caregivers and family members
• Better experiences when gradually transitioning to environments beyond the family (e.g. play groups, shopping, travelling, pre-school, etc)

• A deeper understanding of their child’s experience and what they are attempting to communicate
• An ability to build on enjoyable moments and re-create them in their daily interactions
• Understanding of how to prevent and reduce stressful situations and experiences
• Confidence in understanding and responding to their child’s strengths and capacities and their needs
• An improved ability to create and environment that feels safe, accepting, enjoyable and free of over or under-stimulation.
• Learn new ways of relating to and enjoying being with their child, and deeper emotional connection
• A better understanding of how the family environment is conducive to nurturing and trusting relationship between parent/caregiver and their child
• Appreciate the child’s experience of sensory stimulus and how this impacts on them and on interactions and functioning in the family
• Understanding of how to embed these new skills into daily family life
• Be empowered to seek support and collaborate with other agencies to receive services that meet their child’s needs

There’ll be twice-weekly visits to the family home during the First Steps programme by a paediatric occupational therapist and a child psychotherapist, both professionally qualified, registered and experienced in working with young autistic children and their families.  They will work closely with each other to provide consistent support to the child and the caregivers in the best possible way.

The therapists work directly with the child in a playful manner and provide guidance and practical skills to parents/caregivers on how to interact with them to support their development and wellbeing in a nurturing and supportive environment.

The child and family’s current situation will be assessed and support and guidance will be offered help the family interact with the child in a way that nurtures them and promotes their development and well-being in the context of their environment.  The emphasis is on improving interactions and relationships as a means to achieve this.

The programme is free of charge though we welcome donations where affordable.

As this is a family-based programme, your active engagement in all sessions will be required.

AGE – Your child must be aged 3 or less.

DIAGNOSIS STATUS – The programme is suitable for children whose parents are concerned that they may show signs of Autism, or who have an Autism diagnosis but do not receive any support or therapy (or where the support/therapy they receive is compatible with the underlying principles of the First Steps programme)

LOCATION – These are new services and as such are currently available in a very limited number of locations.  Below are the areas that we currently cover, and there may be scope (depending on the availability of our therapists) to serve families in some of the areas immediately surrounding these areas.  We’ll be looking to expand our reach over the coming months, so please do check back here.

• Buckinghamshire (and surrounding areas)
• Colchester (and potentially parts of North East London)
• Parts of Suffolk

Our Confident Parenting Workshops aim to impart as much as possible of what you would be learning through First Steps via online parent groups led by our Lead Therapist.

If you would like to be considered as a beneficiary of First Steps, you can register your interest by completing the form below: