A Durham man has thanked NEAS and its Autism Hubs for helping him to secure vital support for his daughter as she waits for an autism assessment.
Jason Lyon, who has three family members on the waiting lists, says: “The help I’ve got has taken a lot of the stress away from me. It can be very difficult juggling everything, and NEAS was there to take the strain.”
Jason started accessing the Autism Hub in Willington, County Durham, a year ago when he was searching for organisations that could help his 15-year-old daughter Charlie who was struggling in a mainstream school.
Her school said they couldn’t put support in place until Charlie had a diagnosis – and the family had been told she might be waiting a total of five years to be assessed.
But Rebecca Weatherstone (pictured above), NEAS Senior Family Worker who runs the Hub, helped Jason go back to the school to say they could and should support Charlie. She now has a Special Educational Needs support plan including help with socialising and emotional regulation.
Another hurdle the family faced was trying to get support from the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for Charlie while she was waiting for her autism assessment.
Rebecca contacted CAMHS regularly to explain Charlie’s situation and emphasise that support was needed in the interim, and they eventually agreed to see her – although this is not common practice.
Jason says: “That was purely down to Rebecca knocking at the door and being persistent.
"I feel I have got someone on my side, giving me direct help, as well as guidance and information, when I need it."
NEAS runs Autism Hubs in Durham, Newcastle and North Tyneside to give families and carers support for a child or young person before, during or after an autism diagnosis.
The hubs, which are free, offer group workshops with information, advice and strategies for families of autistic children and young people, as well as one-to-one sessions for more bespoke and directed support.
Jason says the hub was a lifeline for him at a stressful time for his family. “Autism is a massive thing when you don’t know much about it,” he says. “My wife and son are on the pathway too, so I really wanted to improve my understanding in order to support their needs effectively.
“When your child goes on the pathway, you get a letter and maybe some leaflets and then nobody else speaks to you. It’s the unknown, and you’re just left to get on with it. And if you look up autism online, you find a lot of scary jargon and inconsistencies
"I needed to go and see someone with experience and understanding, and get direct help, and NEAS was there for me. The support I’ve got has made a massive difference."
To book a place at one of the Autism Hubs – either for a group workshop or one-to-one appointment – contact Rebecca Weatherstone on 0191 410 9974 or rebecca.weatherstone@ne-as.org.uk.
No formal referral process is required. “Families don’t have to jump through hoops, sign any forms, or meet any criteria to access support. We’ve removed all those barriers. All they need to do is send an email or give us a ring,” Rebecca says.
