Support Early Intervention - Neurodiverse Children
Donation protected
When Linda Lumsden realised that there were inconsistencies in her youngest son’s developmental milestones, she immediately researched ways to support him by collaborating with professionals, other parents and seeking local professional support services. Having a law degree enabled her to quickly identify that the local authority, social work and education departments were not fulfilling their legal obligations to support children with additional support needs.
Linda soon recognised there were many other families in similar situations, where their neurodivergent children (before a formal diagnosis or within their early years of diagnosis) did not receive much needed support. This therefore was breaching the fundamental legal rights of their child. This in turn causing significant levels of anxiety, stress within the home environment and having a detrimental impact of family dynamics, particularly where there were other siblings at home.
This ‘frustration’ and ‘detrimental impact’ experienced by many families and children, who received little or no support (particularly those considered to be at the high functioning end of the spectrum) became the motivation to establish ‘Early Intervention Aberdeen’.
We are:
· A voice for parents/care givers - supporting their empowerment to advocate for their child’s journey into adulthood.
· A parent led group that helps raise awareness and will positively challenge legal rights by promoting equality and meaningful inclusion for our children.
· A positive collaboration between families and others who have a mutual interest in the wellbeing of their child e.g., social work or education professionals.
· Wholly run by a small group of volunteers and receive no funding.
Since January 2021, we have been inundated with queries from families across Scotland and further afield, who are desperately looking for support. This is simply a listening ear, non judging and understanding and/or suggesting practical solutions for their individual situations. Our fundamental belief at Early Intervention is that it is hugely more benefical to have an proactive approach, which means identifying and gaining support at the earliest opportunity (rather than a reactive approach which often does not happen until a crisis point is reached).
Life with in a neurodivergent family is ever changing. It requires you to think on your feet, to be inventive, to think outside the box when it comes to being a parent/care giver. Effective interventions are proven to be more beneficial if they are identified as early as possible. They can then help provide more meaningful support to children and/or their families sooner (when there are development concerns and can tackle them head-on). Studies have found that neurodivergent children who receive support in their younger years make greater improvements than those who obtain support or enter programs, later in their childhoods.
There really is a need for more positive, inclusive and tailored support for families and children living with neurodiverse conditions. We want to continue to advocate this and provide support to as many families as possible. We can only do this with your help.
Your gratefully received donations will enable us to:
· Provide regular online (and face to face, restrictions permitted) support sessions for Parents/care givers across Scotland/UK. Thus, aiming to reduce their isolation, stress, and anxieties.
· Deliver awareness and coaching sessions for parents/care givers that will empower them to advocate confidently on behalf of their child.
· Deliver therapeutic and specialised sessions for families and children with neurodiverse conditions, that will primarily enhance and celebrate their unique skills and interests.
· Deliver a range of workshops and seminars for families and professionals that include (but not limited to) emotional support, ideas for structure and routines, social skills, awareness of different conditions, support systems and legal rights.
We are so grateful for your support and donations (no matter how small) so that we are able to make a difference to those who need this additional support.
Please read more about us on our website: https://earlyintervention.org.uk and/or visit us on our Facebook Page.
#Autism #ADHD #PDA #Hyperlexia #support #sessions #Aberdeen #Scotland
Thank you! #TeamEarlyIntervention
Linda soon recognised there were many other families in similar situations, where their neurodivergent children (before a formal diagnosis or within their early years of diagnosis) did not receive much needed support. This therefore was breaching the fundamental legal rights of their child. This in turn causing significant levels of anxiety, stress within the home environment and having a detrimental impact of family dynamics, particularly where there were other siblings at home.
This ‘frustration’ and ‘detrimental impact’ experienced by many families and children, who received little or no support (particularly those considered to be at the high functioning end of the spectrum) became the motivation to establish ‘Early Intervention Aberdeen’.
We are:
· A voice for parents/care givers - supporting their empowerment to advocate for their child’s journey into adulthood.
· A parent led group that helps raise awareness and will positively challenge legal rights by promoting equality and meaningful inclusion for our children.
· A positive collaboration between families and others who have a mutual interest in the wellbeing of their child e.g., social work or education professionals.
· Wholly run by a small group of volunteers and receive no funding.
Since January 2021, we have been inundated with queries from families across Scotland and further afield, who are desperately looking for support. This is simply a listening ear, non judging and understanding and/or suggesting practical solutions for their individual situations. Our fundamental belief at Early Intervention is that it is hugely more benefical to have an proactive approach, which means identifying and gaining support at the earliest opportunity (rather than a reactive approach which often does not happen until a crisis point is reached).
Life with in a neurodivergent family is ever changing. It requires you to think on your feet, to be inventive, to think outside the box when it comes to being a parent/care giver. Effective interventions are proven to be more beneficial if they are identified as early as possible. They can then help provide more meaningful support to children and/or their families sooner (when there are development concerns and can tackle them head-on). Studies have found that neurodivergent children who receive support in their younger years make greater improvements than those who obtain support or enter programs, later in their childhoods.
There really is a need for more positive, inclusive and tailored support for families and children living with neurodiverse conditions. We want to continue to advocate this and provide support to as many families as possible. We can only do this with your help.
Your gratefully received donations will enable us to:
· Provide regular online (and face to face, restrictions permitted) support sessions for Parents/care givers across Scotland/UK. Thus, aiming to reduce their isolation, stress, and anxieties.
· Deliver awareness and coaching sessions for parents/care givers that will empower them to advocate confidently on behalf of their child.
· Deliver therapeutic and specialised sessions for families and children with neurodiverse conditions, that will primarily enhance and celebrate their unique skills and interests.
· Deliver a range of workshops and seminars for families and professionals that include (but not limited to) emotional support, ideas for structure and routines, social skills, awareness of different conditions, support systems and legal rights.
We are so grateful for your support and donations (no matter how small) so that we are able to make a difference to those who need this additional support.
Please read more about us on our website: https://earlyintervention.org.uk and/or visit us on our Facebook Page.
#Autism #ADHD #PDA #Hyperlexia #support #sessions #Aberdeen #Scotland
Thank you! #TeamEarlyIntervention
Fundraising team: Team EIA (2)
Linda Lumsden
Organizer
Amanda Nicolson
Team member
