Resources

Resources for Children and Young People

Resources for parents

Useful Links

Books

Audio books /weblinks:

Articles

Research outreach article on PACT (Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy): https://researchoutreach.org/articles/working-parents-carers-help-autism-development/

Autistica article on evidence-based autism intervention: https://www.autistica.org.uk/downloads/files/Autistica-evidence-summary-Parent-led-video-feedback-therapy-4.pdf

Autistica article on PACT, 2021

Example of an exciting new therapy ready for launching:

PACT The Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) is a therapy where parents and therapists work together to identify how a child prefers to play, using video recordings. They then adapt their interactions with their child to match that style. Young children learn a lot of skills through play but may approach it in very different ways. PACT has shown that by supporting the alternative ways autistic children learn, we can help them build stronger social communication skills, help parents feel more empowered, and increase families’ resilience. The therapy addresses autistic people and families second-highest priority for autism research: finding “effective interventions to develop communication and language skills”.⁵² It also embodies a more progressive approach to support that embraces autistic people’s differences and opposes attempts to ‘normalise’ or ‘mask’ atypical behaviour.²⁹ Crucially, PACT has strong evidence that it is acceptable, feasible, and effective. PACT is currently one of the only early interventions directed at autistic children and families that has demonstrated efficacy through high-quality Randomised Control Trials.^53,54 results from the initial trial prompted NICE to describe a generalised version of PACT in the list of “key priorities for implementation” of its Clinical Guidance for supporting autistic children^.55 The second PACT trial was awarded NIHR Signal Study status for its “high-quality design and relevance to UK decision-makers”.⁵⁶ Other trials have since replicated evidence for its mechanisms in different age groups, countries and service contexts.^{57,58,59,60,61,62} PACT is ready for use, and accredited training for it is immediately available.⁶³ Both the therapy resources and training for PACT have recently been digitalised for online delivery. An adapted version of PACT is currently being tested in home and education settings, making it cheaper and easier to deliver_.64 Despite this, families face a postcode lottery in their access to PACT. This is an unjustified source of health inequality.

Autistica has:

Published an evidence summary on parent-led video feedback therapies, recommending that “all local areas should have professionals accredited to deliver PACT”.⁴⁰
Working knowledge of many of the most promising interventions currently being developed to support autistic people and families.

The government needs to:

Establish a central fund to launch new therapies into practice within the NHS, social care, and education systems. The fund should cover the training costs for professionals to learn new manualised therapies and enable services/commissioners to backfill roles for a short time while therapists become practised in the new intervention. The Fund should start by rolling out the PACT therapy nationally and expect to support post-diagnostic empowerment programmes soon. Autistica can provide costings for this.

Apportion of a small fund to digitalise training programmes for key therapies. For example, PACT training could be fully digitalised for a small investment of approximately £150-200k. This would reduce the cost of training each professional by up to 50% and make it possible to develop a virtual professional network, to provide ongoing supervision and advice to newly accredited therapists.

Fund an expert group of intervention scientists, autistic people, families, and research bodies to shortlist the most promising interventions for the launcher. Interventions should be prioritised based on their fit to community priorities, the quality of evidence for their acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy, how likely they are to improve existing practice, and how ready they are for roll-out.

To read the full plan, you can download it here: Autistica-Support-Plan

PACT (Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy) flyers

Miscellaneous Links

Roundway Centre Forms

Common Acronyms Explained

ACRONYMS EXPLAINED

SEND - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - is a term used to describe children and young people who require different or additional support to learn and thrive in a school setting. Further information can be found on the government website.

SENDco - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator - A SENDCO is a qualified teacher who works in schools to support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

SALT - Speech and Language Therapy - is a service that helps children and adults with communication, eating, and drinking needs. SALT therapists can help with a range of issues, including:

Communication

SALT therapists can help children and adults develop communication skills and interact functionally.
Swallowing

SALT therapists can help with swallowing difficulties, also known as dysphagia, through exercises, dietary advice, and medication changes.
Eating and drinking

SALT therapists can help children and adults with their eating and drinking needs

EHCP—Education Health Care Plan—is a legal document that outlines a child or young person's special educational, health, and social needs and the support they need to meet them. EHCPs are created by the local authority and are used for children and young people who need more support than is available through special educational needs support. Further information can be found on the government website.

APDR - Assess Plan Do Review - a four-step cycle that educational settings use to identify and address a child or young person's needs:

Assess - Identify the child or young person's needs

Plan - Create a plan to meet those needs

Do - Put the plan into action, monitor it, and make adjustments as needed

Review - Check how well the support is working and make changes if needed

The APDR cycle can help track a child's progress, Identify barriers to learning, Ensure new approaches are put in place, and Achieve good outcomes.

ADIR -

ADOS -

BOSA -

RTC -

PACT -