Manchester – Children – Ages 0 – 4

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Assessment

The list below shows you what services are available depending on where you are in your assessment journey. Whether you suspect you/your child may be Autistic, you are awaiting a formal diagnostic assessment, or you may recently have had such an assessment, there is a service to help.

Pre-assessment

Any information or activity offered to parents/ individuals as a pre-assessment service.

If your child is awaiting an assessment for autism, you will be invited to an
online webinar by the Social Communication Pathway team. This event
provides some information about neurodiversity, explains what happens in
an assessment and will provide links and information about what support
is available whilst you wait.

The Social Communication Pathway

The diagnostic services.

Social Communication Pathway Manchester – Autism Assessment:

Post-diagnosis

Services / groups/ activities offered after diagnosis.

You can find out about the Social Communication Pathway Post-diagnosis offer here

The Social Communication Pathway

Communication

Autistic people often have some communication differences.
The resource below offer some general advice:

You can find out about the Social Communication Pathway Early Years workshops here: The Social Communication Pathway


Community SALT:
You can access the Community Speech and Language Therapy Advice Padlet:
Speech and Language Therapy Advice Leaflets (padlet.com)

You can watch the series of pre-recorded online parent / carer advice videos.
These are accessed through the Speech and Language Therapy website:
Speech and Language Therapy (children and young people) - Manchester Local Care Organisation (manchesterlco.org)
Navigate to: ‘Speech and Language Therapy Online Workshops’.

Community Speech and Language Therapy – Resources and Signposting 

GM resources on communication

Sensory

Autistic people often experience their senses differently and understanding this can be the key to supporting the autistic person to self-regulate and understand themselves better:
Here are some useful resources about sensory needs and differences’.

You can find out about the Social Communication Pathway Early Years workshops here: 
The Social Communication Pathway

Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy

GM resources on sensory

Physical Health & Co-occuring Conditions

Autistic children/adults may also develop a few co-occurring health issues. These may be physical or mental health conditions.

Manchester Health Visiting Service

Community Paediatrics Service

GM resources on physical health

Attention & Activity

Autistic children may also have co-occurring conditions that affect attention and activity. Services below may be able to support you with these.

Children under the age of 6 cannot be diagnosed with ADHD in the UK.  

You can find out some more information about ADHD here: adhdfoundation

Eating

Due to sensory differences, many autistic children/adults have preferences with eating.

You can find support from the Social Communication Pathway Early Years workshops here: The Social Communication Pathway


Community Paediatrics Service

GM resources on eating

Sleep

Sleep difficulties are very common for autistic children. Not only can this have a massive impact on the autistic child, but it can impact parents, carers and other family members.

Children’s Citywide Community Health Services

GM resources on sleep

Understanding Behaviour

Some autistic children have difficulties with communication, sensory experiences and thinking styles. 
This may lead to stress and anxiety related behaviour from the autistic child. Services below can support parents and carers with these behaviours.  

You can find support from the Social Communication Pathway Early Years workshops here: The Social Communication Pathway 

If you need support to understand your child’s distress, contact:
The Children’s and Parent’s Service (CAPS): The Children And Parents' Service 

Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Some autistic adolescents may experience co-occurring mental health conditions. The information below lists support available where you live in relation to mental health and well-being support.

You can find support from the Social Communication Pathway here:

The Social Communication Pathway

If you need support to understand your child’s distress, contact:

The Children’s and Parent’s Service (CAPS)

General Advice on Mental Health:

Advice on Mental health

Education

The information below relates to available services and support related to education where you live. 

Manchester Local Offer SEND Hub – SEND Education

GM resources on education

Rights & Entitlement

Listed below are some support services available for autistic people who need support with understanding their rights and entitlement.

Manchester Local Offer SEND Information Hub: Local Offer SEND Information Hub | Help & Support Manchester