Manchester – Children – Ages 16+

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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 you are awaiting 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.
You can find more information here:  

The Social Communication Pathway

The diagnostic services.

Social Communication Pathway – Autism Assessment 

Post-diagnosis

Services / groups/ activities offered after diagnosis.

The Social Communication Pathway

Autism &Learning disabilities team – post diagnostic support: Specialist Community Service – LDA, for parents.

Communication

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

The Social Communication Pathway

GM resources on communication

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 

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’.

Social Communication Pathway – Post diagnostic Groups: The Social Communication Pathway - Scroll to the right to find out more! (padlet.com).

You can find more information from Community Occupational Therapy here : 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.

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.

You can speak with your GP or school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (Senco) about making a referral to the Children’s and Adolescents Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for an ADHD assessment

You can find out some more information about ADHD here

Eating

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

• Community Paediatrics Service
• Community Eating Disorders 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 – Sleep Padlet

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 here: The Social Communication Pathway – Scroll to the right to find out more! (padlet.com)
• The Social Communication Pathway Young Person’s Padlet: The Young Person’s Padlet
• Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy: Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy (padlet.com)

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.

• Manchester Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) – Waiting Well Offer
• You can find additional support resources here
• The Social Communication Pathway Young Person’s Padlet – Mental health and wellbeing support
  
  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 - Young people with SEND up to 25.

GM resources on education

Education & Training

The information below relates to the educational and training opportunities for autistic young adults.

• Career Connect Manchester 16–18yr olds or up to 25 if you have an Education Health Care Plan: Careers support for 16-25-year-olds – Career Connect
• Manchester Local off SEND Hub – Work and training for young people with SEND

Employment

Some autistic people need support to access employment. Below are some services that may be available locally.

Manchester City Council works in partnership with Pure Innovations, to help support autistic citizens to gain training, coaching and employment opportunities.  

• Manchester Directory
• Manchester Local Offer SEND Hub – Work and training for young people with SEND
• Careers support for 16-25-year-olds – Career Connect
• Ambitious about Autism – Employment

GM resources on employment

Rights & Entitlement

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

Voiceability is the commissioned service that assists with rights and entitlement queries for Manchester citizens.

• Manchester Directory
• Manchester Local Offer SEND Hub – Young People with SEND up to 25 years old