Market Harborough-based autism support organisation to deliver free training for parents

Spectrum is run by local volunteers and has hundreds of members across the Harborough district. They offer weekly support groups, advice, a friendship network, signposting to services and a range of inclusive activities and events for families with autistic children or who are on the pathway to diagnosis.

Two of Spectrum’s team have recently qualified as trainers to deliver the National Autistic Society’s EarlyBird Plus programme designed to help support parents of autistic children aged four to nine.

The course will be delivered by Alison Lehman and Vicky Davies, both of whom have neurodiverse children and are passionate about supporting other families.

Spectrum’s chair, Emma Page, said: “It’s an excellent training course and we are delighted to be able to offer it to local parents. The EarlyBird Plus programme involves weekly sessions over three months and is designed to help empower parents to better understand autism and give them practical strategies to support their child.”

Caroline Stevens, chief executive of the National Autistic Society, said: “We launched our EarlyBird programme over 25 years ago. In recent years, we have been able to reach more people by training organisations, like Spectrum, so that they can deliver the programme themselves.

“If you are autistic, the world can be overwhelming sometimes. It can be too loud, people can ask too many questions too quickly and it can be hard to communicate in certain social situations. But autistic children have many strengths too. And, with the right understanding and support at home and school, can achieve great things.

“This is what EarlyBird Plus is all about, it equips parents, carers and professionals with the tools they need to give the best possible support. Working together, we can create a society that works.”

To find out more about the EarlyBird Plus programme and Spectrum, contact them at [email protected]