Would a youth club for people on the spectrum be a good idea?

I understand your child needs to be in a group of kids who can understand his condition. You can talk to behavioral specialists in your place regarding this as they likely have a wide network of friends who may be able to recommend a club or group for your child. Just in case you haven't, you can ask for the services of a naturopathy expert like Dr. Sundardas. He can definitely suggest ways of making your child socially capable with the help of some natural interventions. Take time to visit Dr. Sundardas' web sites for more information.

sundardasnaturopathy.com/
www.naturaltherapies.com/

I previously worked as a youth worker for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Counci. At the centre I worked at there was a night for young people on the spectrum. The session catered for people up to the age of 25 and from both ends of the spectrum. I was the lead worker for the youth service but the session was run by educational psychologists and staff from an outside agency that specialised. The session was well attended with various groups within it. In the whole it appeared to be a positive experience for those that attended. It gave the participants an opportunity to socialise and take part in activities in a safe environment.As with any youth group there was some friction every now and again but nothing more than any other night. 

I can only speak from my experience of a teenager club specifically for asc kids.

The majority of the teenagers sat around chatting to the staff and not each other.  There were a lot of arguments fall outs between the teenagers, and it was difficult for staff to sort these out as neither side would relent.

Away trips ie karting or cinema were okay, but most tended to do activity as if on their own, no team spirit.

It was a popular club more so because I think parents saw it as a bit of respite for themselves, with many parents dropping off early and collecting late.

On the few occasions I stayed to chat and have a coffee,  the kids would comes and tell me their worries, problems.

If you do set up a club them be prepared for the kids confidng in you, and more importantly what you do with that info.  

Also you need a high ratio of staff to teenager.   A mix of male and female is, preferable.

crazydarkside said:

Hi misskittykat,

We didn't come by the Grants through the social services.  Matt was origionally held at CAF level, and when he went to what they called level 3 or Integrated childrens services, it opened up a whole world of funding.  I asked the my parent support advisor, where would be the best place to find out information about the  grants, she said that the school nurse would know about what they call them in your neck of the woods.  I am sorry I haven;t been more help.  Thanks for your comment by the way

That has helped, thanks.  The school haven't done a CAF and I think they should have but as she's not going and I've started the process of a statement, there's probably little point now but when I go up and see school next time (we are supposed to drop in once a week afterschool), I will ask to make an appointment with her.

Hi misskittykat,

We didn't come by the Grants through the social services.  Matt was origionally held at CAF level, and when he went to what they called level 3 or Integrated childrens services, it opened up a whole world of funding.  I asked the my parent support advisor, where would be the best place to find out information about the  grants, she said that the school nurse would know about what they call them in your neck of the woods.  I am sorry I haven;t been more help.  Thanks for your comment by the way

Thanks Darkside, I've googled ICS Grants and not found anything in my county.  Did you find them via a social worker?  I've just realised that the system I use at work is called ICS and I work for Children's Social Care (as a support worker, not a SW) however mine is over the county from where I live - it would be easy if I lived in the same county as I know of many schemes that might be able to help! I've been meaning to contact SS to help.

MISSKITTYKAT I completely understand your problem.  My son is 12 andhas aspergers OCD and clinical depression, motivating him to leave his laptop is hard work.  He hates groups, as he finds them hard and scary.  Iapplied for an integrated childrens services grant, and they fund one to one swimming lessons for my hooligan, during OAP's swim time, so it is quiet and not to busy.

If your daughter likes the watr, like my boy, have you looked at sailing lessons?  I found a lake not to far from me in a park that offers lessons for children with special needs.  It pairs themm up with older more experienced sailors, so they get to socialise.

Also ICS provide a big brother for my son and he takes him out once a week in the holidays

I don't know if this is any help at all.  I tried scouts for my young man but he couldn't cope with the noise and the team work.  By the way, did you see my other thread on sensitivities and hair washing, I could use some advice x

Longman, I think what you described as a 'supervised, relatively quiet and dignified social event' is exactly what I was thinking but with interesting activites thrown in to the mix.  The problem with my daughter is that it would have to be quiet with much support from adults but such a thing doesn't exist because the very nature of teens means noise and running around. 

Crazydarkside, I'd love my daughter to do something like Tae Kwondo but she's not into anything like that.  If she's having a good day, I can get her to swim but there are just a few too many issues with that to get her to go regularly.  She used to love Guides before we moved and I've not been able to get her to join the local group.

Hi,

It is always worth asking,  but you would need people who know what they are doing in charge.  My son joined a group for children on the spectrum, and it was a disaster because the people running it couldn't work out how to get the children to do things that they assumed they should be doing, i.e. listen to other peoples opinions, and sharing etc.  I ended up taking him to Tae Kwondo which he loved, and it helped him hugely socially.

So again Longman, an example of where lack of autism awareness in society means NTs have not considered including people on the spectrum and allowing reasonable adjustments to make it accessible for them.  It's all their way, or the highway.

From what I've heard disco nights or social groups haven't worked very well when they've been tried, and the few social events for people on the spectrum I've gone to myself were pretty lifeless.

I think what is needed is probably something every parent wishes was still an option, NTs as well as children on the spectrum, a supervised, relatively quiet and dignified social event, like the old fashioned school dance, over-chaperoned by teachers (no kissing, no untoward physical contact), and restricted to ballroom dancing and lemonade.

Trouble is now it needs to be incredibly loud, incredibly crowded, full of UV and strobe lights, probably chemically assisted, and basically very very "in your face".

So I wonder if all teenagers really crave that all the time, and wouldn't settle for something less intense once in a while.

There used to be something called a milk bar, where kids could gather and drink milk shakes, and listen to a relatively low volume juke box, but even those developed dangerous elements.

From an ASD perspective what is wanted is a mix of NT and AS kids in a sensorily manageable environment. The last thing most AS teenagers want to meet up with socially is a room full of other AS teenagers - they want to meet others their age, possibly preferably not AS, even though they also want to be treated the same rather than as different, and want a quieter environment than NTs would want.

The way to explore this is to contact local councillors (county as well as town/borough,city). They have enablement funds some of which is supposed to be directed at young people. I know because I was account holder for several years for the disbursement of such a fund, and attended the meetings trying to set up youth facilities, against a barrage of opposition from NIMBYs and old grannies, wanting the young kept out of sight.

If there is a way of setting up safer quieter youth social environments, they should have some insight.