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development delivered through the unique blend of autism methodologies and
best practice of the Prior Approach.
Through the Prior Approach, each young adult develops a person-centred
individual learning programme providing them with the opportunities to
develop the necessary skills to maximise their potential and ensure they are
able to lead full and varied lives within the community. Individuals are
supported to engage in a rich and varied range of activities and
opportunities tailored to meet their individual needs across their Waking Day.
Each young adult follows an individualised person-centred learning plan and
these plans are reviewed regularly by looking at the needs of each individual
while building on their skills, strengths and interests.
Key elements of the approach include:
utilising the TEACCH methodology, a structured approach which
provides a structured way of organising the layout of the environment and
activities, individualised and tailored to support understanding of the
events in their day, thereby reducing anxieties and facilitating
independence.
utilising a total communication approach with the aim of creating
strategies, resources and stimulating environments which will develop
individuals' non-verbal and verbal communication abilities, facilitate social
interaction, attention and understanding and support emotional
development such as self-esteem and self-assertiveness. These strategies
include the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), objects of
reference, signing, voice output devices, communication and computer
access software such as the Grid, social stories, visual strategies, physical,
gestural and verbal prompts.
following a Waking Day approach, which recognises that individuals with
autism often learn best in real-life settings, learning is reinforced in a
variety of situations with a focus on meaningful skills that contribute to an
active life within the community.
maintaining a positive approach to managing challenging and
inappropriate behaviour which recognises the challenges that face our
young people, takes a holistic approach to understanding the individual,
their autism and their specific needs and teaches them the skills and
strategies to enable them to reduce anxieties and self-manage behaviour.
encouraging exercise and an active, healthy lifestyle as a key way to
support young people with autism, improving attention and sleep
patterns, releasing excess energy, providing opportunities for leisure and
social interaction and is part of the repertoire of calming strategies for
anxious individuals.
as an integral part of the Prior Approach there is access to advice and
support from a multi-disciplinary team including Positive Behaviour
Support team Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational
Therapists with Sensory Integration training.
a strong focus on staff training to ensure the highest levels of autism
best practice and understanding of not only the needs of the young people