Parents start out.
In June 2006 Oldham Support Group for Carers in Autism (OSCA) was one of ten local organisations chosen by TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education, to receive support in its local campaign for better educational provision in Oldham for children with autism and related developmental difficulties.
The TreeHouse Parent Support Project team first met with some of the parents in December 2006 to identify key issues and priorities for autism education in Oldham.
Parents suggested consulting more widely with other parents to make sure that campaign objectives stemmed from common concerns.
On 4th February 2007 the Parent Support Project, together with Oldham parents, ran a consultation to seek the views of parents and carers of children and young people with autism and related developmental difficulties. The consultation took place as part of a Fun Day event, held at Oldham sports centre with play activities organised by Oldham Community Leisure for children with disabilities and siblings. The purpose of the consultation was to listen to parent and children’s experiences, including examples of good and bad practice and to give participants the opportunity to suggest strategies or ideas that would improve autism education in Oldham.
Priorities identified were:
- Exclusions
- Autism awareness and training in schools
- Statementing
- Funding for pupils with ASD
- Lack of resources/appropriate provision
- Transition
- Sibling issues