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• 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 as 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 a Positive Behaviour
Support team, Speech and Language Therapists, and Occupational
Therapists.
• 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 as a
result of their autism but also their rights as an individual to dignity,
freedom and safety.
The key areas of focus within the Young Adult Provision and in line with the seven
Areas of Learning in the Learning Framework are:
•Independent living skills
There is a focus on developing self-care and life
skills for all individuals. This includes developing
personal care routines and good hygiene,
learning to plan, shop for and cook their own
meals, learning to do their own laundry and take
responsibility for their personal belongings,
learning to complete day-to-day domestic jobs
including the cleaning of personal and communal
areas, learning to manage their money and
developing their skills to travel on a variety of
transport within the community.
•Choice-making, advocacy, and personal
development
A range of strategies are used to enable young
adults to make real choices about their lives such as what to wear, preferred
leisure activities, and personalising their bedroom. Our aim is to provide
experiences for our young adults which will enable them to achieve a sense of
personal identity, self-esteem and self-respect. Through a focus on personal
development, citizenship and opportunities for decision-making about their lives
presented throughout the Waking Day, we strive to create a happy and