NEW GROUP MEETINGS! 

(last updated 26.8.23)

Please don't ring to ask if the meetings shown here are happening.

If we didn't believe they were going to happen, we wouldn't post them here.

If there are any changes, we will post them here asap and on our Facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/salfordautism

 

REGULAR DROP-IN GROUP MEETINGS
 
PLEASE DO NOT "JUST TURN UP" WITHOUT CONTACTING US, FIRST!
 
WE DO NOT WORK LIKE ANYONE ELSE, SO YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO FIND WHATEVER IT IS
THAT YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE EXPECT, AND WE DONT WANT YOU TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
 
WE ARE VERY FRIENDLY, AND THE GROUPS ARE DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE AN OBJECTIVE, WHICH THEY DO VERY WELL i.e. HELPING AUTISTIC PEOPLE DEVELOP THEIR SELF CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL SKILLS, THOUGH SOCIALISING, WITH OTHER AUTISTIC PEOPLE, IN A SAFE ENVIRONEMENT, WHERE EVERYONE FITS IN, AND NO-ONE GETS PICKED ON, OR MADE TO FEEL ODD, BROKEN, WRONG, OR IN NEED OF ANY CHANGE THAY THEY DO NOT CHOOSE.
 
NB - THESE GROUPS ARE NOT "DAY CENTRES" OR "LEAD" IN ANY OBVIOUS WAY.
WE EXPECT EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS TO BE REASONABLY SELF-MANAGING
OR TO BRING SOMEONE WITH THEM TO HELP.
 
"Second Thursday" (of the Month) - Eccles

1pm - 5.00pm, 2nd Thursday, Every Month

Eccles Gateway, 28 Barton Lane,

Eccles, Manchester M30 0TU

(100yds due west of Eccles bus/tram interchange)

NB - this venue is fully accessible from the  street to most people

with access needs, has "accessibe toilets" on the same level,

and lifts to others on other levels

 

"First Friday" (of the Month) - Manchester NQ

1pm - 5.00pm, 1st Friday, Every Month

 Basement of "Fanboy3", 25 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1EL

(cost option: £3 p.p.p.d. to play shops games)

(5mins walk from Piccadilly/Shudehill bus/tram interchanges)

NB - this venue IS NOT accessible to most people with access needs

and, while there are "unisex" toilets on the same level,

there are no "accessible toilets" per se.

 

FREE Entry all afternoon - FREE tea/coffee/biccies

(contributions welcome but not necessary)
FREE scintillating autistic company

(donation necessary - YOU!)

ALL welcome! No diagnosis required! Bring who you wish!
Come and go as you please. No formality. No obligations.
Just a relaxed social environment for people like you

to meet other people like you! : )

More info on: 0771 390 3224 / info@salfordautism.org.uk

More events to follow!

 

If you cannot make it to the face-to-face meetings,

why not come play online at

https://www.facebook.com/salfordautism

 

 

Contact / Emergency / Support Line

 

0771 390 3224

(open 24/7 inc. all holidays)

 

No call centres. No music on hold. No numbered options to dial.

Just direct connection to real autistic people, that can & will help,

or just talk stuff through, chat - whatever you want/need.

 

If we are all busy (it happens, sometimes), do leave a name,

number and message - and we'll get back as fast as we can!

If urgent, ring back straight away and we'll do what we can to pick up.

 

Why not get in touch and find out what we are up to?

 

You'll be glad you did!

 

Text 'CHAT' for FREE call back!       Text 'SMS' for response by SMS.

 

or email us at <support@salfordautism.org.uk>

(we regret that we might not be able to reply to email as quickly)

 

or you can call us on Whatsapp using the aove number!

 

Don't be stuck, worried, alone or in trouble - call us!

 

No call is ever a waste of our time!

 

 

salfordautism

support and social inclusion for everyone,

who is, cares for or is affected by someone

with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)

including Asperger Syndrome (AS) and

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

- whether formally identified or not

 

 

salfordautism

Lead and run by autistic professionals.

We know the territory - we live it, every day!

 

If you are, or know someone with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Asperger Syndrome (AS) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or any related/similar condition - whether

formally diagnosed or not - we'd love to hear from you. : )

 

0771 390 3224

24/7 (inc. all holidays)

 

HOW WE WORK:

 

We work on a confidential,1-2-1 basis with all of our clients, identifying their needs and then delivering a bespoke package

of support to help them achieve the independent life they choose.

 

WHAT WE DO DO:

 

   In a nutshell, we to support anyone who is, cares for, or is affected

by someone with an Autistm Spectrum Condition or ADHD.

 

We try to be the big brother / sister someone might wish they had

to help show them how to deal with autism and problems around it.

 

We support individuals to solve problems being experienced

by or around autistic people, mainly by being there

(often when no-one else is!) through a bespoke package of services, designed for the individual, including:

 

 

 

♥ Social Inclusion – safe, autism-friendly social events and activities, where

   each can be understood and accepted for who and what they are, and not be

   treated as 'different' or 'odd', or labelled in any way.

 

♥ Recognition – finding ways for all to be seen and treated as an individual, with

   unique needs, wants, views, aspirations, abilities and challenges of their own,

   supporting them to minimise their difficulties and maximise their opportunities.

 

♥ Befriending – making and maintaining personal contact with individuals who

   may be isolated in some way to provide much-needed human interaction and

   encouragement.

 

♥ Mentoring – helping individuals to think through their situation, make decisions

   about their life and carry them out in ways that suit them.

 

♥ Coaching  – introducing individuals to new skills and understandings that can

   support them in their life choices.

 

♥ Advocacy – supporting individuals and groups to express their needs, wants  

   and points of view, as  well as understanding what others put to them, including:

   ♥ Benefits     ♥ Employment     ♥ Housing     ♥ Utilities     ♥ Services

   ♥ NHS     ♥ Local Authorities    ♥ Education  ♥ Service Providers    

   ♥ Relationships

 

♥ Training – supporting individuals and anyone who may come into contact with

   them to understand all aspects of autism, its implications for them and how to

   address barriers to successful interaction.

 

♥ Diagnosis – supporting individuals and those around them towards, around

   and through diagnosis, as well as understanding and adjusting to its

   implications for them.

 

♥ Assessments  – supporting individuals and those around them towards and

   through the system of assessing their social care needs, to achieve the most

   appropriate outcomes for each, with each understanding the process and likely

   outcomes for them.

 

♥ Care Planning – supporting those with an existing assessment and those

   around them to plan their care and find appropriate providers.

 

♥ Proactive Outreach – making ourselves and our services known to everyone

   who may have a need or desire for them.

 

♥ Lobbying – of politicians, local authorities, NHS and service providers in

   pursuit of the interest of autistic individuals and carers.

 

♥ Human Resources - identifying and implementing "reasonable adjustments",  

   supporting management, sickness, disciplinary matters, disputes around

   autistic or neurodiverse employees

   Ask us how we can help you to help them.

 

0771 390 3224

24/7 (inc. all holidays)

 

WE DO NOT DO:

 

Day centres; days out; any kind of care (day, respite, personal, 

social - but we can help you arrange and manage care, if need be)

therapy, or treatment.

 

WHAT WE BELIEVE:

 

AUTISM IS NEITHER A LEARNING DISABILITY NOR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION!

BUT MANY AUTISTIC PEOPLE DO EXPERIENCE MENTAL ILL-HEALTH

AS A RESULT OF HOW THEY ARE TREATED BY THOSE AROUND THEM

- OFTEN INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE CHARGED WITH THEIR WELBEING!

 

AUTISM ITSELF IS LARGELY GENETIC, AND THUS ANY IDEA OF

"THERAPY" OR "TREATMENT" FOR AUTISM IS SIMPLY LUDICROUS!

 

AUTISM ITSELF CANNOT BE SEEN! IF YOU CAN SEE IT, IT ISN'T AUTISM!

BUT WHAT YOU CAN SEE MAY BE ANY OF A RANGE OF PROBLEMS

THAT OFTEN COME WITH AUTISM.

 

AUTISM ITSELF ONLY AFFECTS HOW THE BRAIN PROCESSES INFORMATION

AND, AS A RESULT, HOW WE LEARN (NOT HOW MUCH WE CAN LEARN),

HOW WE UNERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND US AND

HOW WE INTERACT WITH IT.

 

AUTISM DOES NOT AFFECT PHYSICAL HEALTH DIRECTLY,

BUT MAY LEAD TO MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND NEGELECT,

WHICH MAY IN TURN AFFECT OUR HEALTH NEGATIVELY.

 

AUTISM IS INDEPENDENT OF INTELLIGENCE / I.Q.!

SOME OF US MAY HAVE A LEARNING DISABILITY, OTHERS MAY HAVE

AN "AVERAGE" IQ, AND SOME OF US HAVE A VERY HIGH INTELLIGENCE

- JUST LIKE NON-AUTISTIC PEOPLE.

 

THERE IS NOTHING "WRONG", OR THAT "NEEDS FIXING",

WITH ANY AUTISTIC PERSON! WHAT OFTEN NEEDS "FIXING"

IS OTHER PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES!

 

JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE, MOST AUTISTIC PEOPLE CAN AND DO

LEARN, DEVELOP AND GROW - IF THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES,

ARE GIVEN, IN THE RIGHT WAY, AT THE RIGHT TIME.

 

LESS THAN 30% OF ALL AUTISTIC PEOPLE HAVE A LEARNING DISABILITY!

 

WHILE c.25%OF ALL AUTISTIC PEOPLE MAY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM

AT SOME TIME IN THEIR LIVES, IT IS INVARIABLY CAUSED BY LIVING AS

AN AUTISTIC PERSON IN A WORLD NOT DESIGNED FOR

AND NEGATVELY ORGANISED AGAINST US.

 

A MUCH GREAT NUMBER OF AUTISTIC PEOPLE HAVE A 

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL CAREERS,

AND FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN

- SO NOBODY KNOWS THEY ARE THERE! BUT WE DO!

 

MANY PEOPLE WITH A DIAGNOSED "LEARNING DISABILITY"

MAY REALLY BE MIS-DIAGNOSED AUTISTIC PEOPLE.

 

MOST AUTISTIC PEOPLE DO NOT "SUFFER" (FROM) AUTISM,

BUT MANY DO SUFFER NEGLECT, MISUNDERSTANDING, ISOLATION,

LONELINESS AND ABUSE, INTENTIONAL AND UNINTENTIONAL,

FROM THOSE AROUND THEM.

 

MOST "CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR" OR "BEHAVIOUR THAT CHALLENGES"

IS PRECIPITATED BY THE ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES OF OTHER PEOPLE

AND, IF REPEATED OFTEN ENOUGH, DOES BECOME HABITUATED!

 

Ring for details.

 

0771 390 3224

24/7 (inc. all holidays)