21/01/11 SCRUTINY PANEL ON TRANSITIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) DEMOGRAPHICS 1% of population Learning Disability (LD) / non-LD: 55% / 45% Fife Primary School: 422 Fife Secondary School: 291

ASD – difficulties include: Flexibility of thought Predicting and thinking ahead Social understanding / relationships Communication: understanding & responding Sensory / motor control issues Spectrum: range Co-existing disorders

TRANSITIONS Task to task Room to room Inside to outside Destination to destination CHANGES: micro to macro

POST-SCHOOL TRANSITION: Prepared? Assess levels of dependency v independence Appropriate interventions pre-transition? Social / life skills – individual capacity Self-understanding Concept of ‘independence’: ‘social model’ Inclusion: Community capacity?

CHALLENGES: Risks – Rights – Responsibilities Increasing demand on services Resource constraints Parental expectations Capacity: self – family – community Consistency in knowledge & understanding Transitioning ‘at risk’… offending

OPPORTUNITIES: Preventative – Skilling – Self-help Information & learning opportunities Appropriate & timely interventions pre-transition Skilling / capacity: opportunities for episodic input – Self Directed Support? Sharing best practice Move from dependency ‘towards’ independence Community / public engagement

HOW WE DO IT IN FIFE: Engagement Process Person-centred Realistic Progressive & measurable outcomes Training & learning opportunities Co-production Reflection & evaluation

CREATIVE and FLEXIBLE....Necessity is the mother of Invention

CONTACT DETAILS: Stella Macdonald ASD Co-ordinator Fife Council / NHS (Fife) Social Work Office Q10, Flemington Road Glenrothes KY7 5QF ext