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Aspire Autism Services
Welcome
Aspire Autism Services recognises and respects the uniqueness of each person with Autism. The
primary mission of Aspire is to promote every person with autism to be as independent as possible,
as well as give the people who care for and support them, the tools to encourage and help
development and attainment of personal goals and outcomes for the individual.
Aspire celebrates diversity while striving to instil integrity compassion and confidence in each person.
Each person is given support and encouragement to become his or her own unique self. Aspire
Autism Services recognises and respects the uniqueness of each person with Autism. The primary
mission of Aspire is to give the people who care and support them, the tools to encourage and help
the person reach their maximum potential.
Trainer-Helen Kerrell
Helen Kerrell (proprietor) is a Registered Nurse for Learning Disabilities. She has over 30 years
experience working with people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. Helen also has a Masters degree
in Autism and is a TEACCH Certified Practitioner endorsed by Division TEACCH of the University of
North Carolina. Helen is an active participant in the NAS Autism Services Accreditation Programme, as
a Team Assessor.
Prior to becoming a freelance consultant, Helen has a worked extensively in the field of autism and
gained a vast amount experience in Supported Living Services and Day Support Services, Community
Nursing, and the provision of training, assessments and advice to various agencies across the UK.
Customers who have accessed Aspire Autism Services including, Education, Statutory, Voluntary or
Independent sectors and Local Authority Social Care Training Dept. Helen has also been a trainer with
the British Institute for Learning Disabilities (BILD).
Training Packages
Workshops and courses are available with the objective of raising autism expertise within your
company to a first class standard due to the quality of content and delivery. Aspire aims to make
significant contributions towards improving positive learning outcomes for professionals and
caregivers as well as the individuals with autism through a variety of specialist autism training
programmes and services. Themes covered within the training are:
• Key features of autism and basic facts on the numbers, causes and characteristics of autism
• How to respond to someone with autism
• Personal perspectives
• Family perspectives
• Ethics, values and inclusive practice
• Introduction to the key principles of person centred intervention and individualised practice
• Focus on the practical application of principles and different methods of intervention and models
of approach
All workshops and training courses can be customised to suit the needs of your service and course
titles can be delivered to participants, working in either adult or children sector. Training will be
accompanied by handouts, workbooks, multimedia content and a certificate of attendance.
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Aspire Training and Workshops
The courses listed here all count towards continuing professional development and can
be used as evidence towards Health & Social Care Qualifications.
The contents of each course will encourage participants to place the individual with
autism at the centre of their thinking about autism – person centred care. Participants
will be equipped with a model for helping them to understand how each person is
uniquely affected by autism.
Each course adopts an interactive approach, with participants encouraged to join in
discussions and bring this important subject matter to life. Aspire courses are based
on the principle that training should be a positive and enjoyable experience based on
respect, openness and honesty and a commitment to maximising learning for all
concerned.
Autism Awareness
Course Aims
This course is designed for practitioners who are relatively new to the field of autism.
Participants will be introduced to basic concepts and theories relating to Autism
Spectrum Disorders. The notion of autism as a spectrum disorder will be explored
along with biological, psychological and behavioural aspects of the condition. The
workshop will introduce practical approaches alongside theoretical principles. It will be
interactive with opportunities for discussion and questions.
At the end of the course you will be able to:
Recognise the main characteristics of behaviour for people on the autism
spectrum
Understand the triad of impairment
Understand the range of the spectrum
Appreciate the particular differences of understanding language with people on
the autism spectrum
Understand the need to backup spoken language visually to help understanding
Appreciate the importance of routine and predictability for people on the autism
spectrum
Understand the complexity of social interaction
Appreciate the sensory differences of people on the autism spectrum
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Positive Ways of Understanding Behaviour for People with Autism
Course aims
A course to help participants understand the reasons for what is seen as difficult or
challenging behaviours of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and how you can
work in a positive way to help change these behaviours.
Difficult or challenging behaviour often has its roots in the way the world views
characteristics of autism or how others’ behaviour or the environment affects people
with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
This course will help better understand ‘difficult’ or ‘challenging behaviour’ in people
with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and positive ways to help change these behaviours.
Course includes
Recognising how the characteristics of autism often look like challenging
behaviour
How to assess ‘difficult’ behaviour using the Iceberg Model
Developing person centred approaches to reduce ‘difficult’ behaviour
How understanding the characteristics of autism can reduce ‘difficult’ behaviour
when you consider the association between autism and challenging behaviour
How the principles of positive behaviour support strategies can help develop
positive outcomes for people with autism
Ways we can develop ourselves as carers and practitioners in order to support
people with autism
Strategies to support the development of positive behaviour strategies for
people with autism
At the end of the course you will have:
Developed an understanding of autism and how it impacts upon learning and
behaviour
Learnt how to be proactive by creating autism friendly environments
Learnt how to write person centred guidelines to respond confidently when
challenging behaviour occurs
Learnt how to teach new skills to promote the persons independence and
quality of life by adopting a person centred approach.
Certificate of attendance
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Visual Support Strategies for People with Autism
Course Aims
The course provides practical ideas and techniques on how to develop visual support
strategies. It is aimed towards the adult population that has Autism Spectrum
Condition.
It addresses issues of communication, self-management, and Active Support and will
offer solutions to difficulties through discussions and demonstrations of actual life
examples.
At the end of the course learners will now how to:
Increase levels of participation, independence and communication for people
with Autism who are verbal and non-verbal.
Helps the person understand expectations
Helps the person learn more easily
Helps the person generalise
Builds self-esteem
Sensory Issues in People with Autism
Course Aims
Sensory issues are now regognised as a diagnostic criterea for people with autism. This
course will increase awareness of sensory processing issues and assist participants to
make positive changes in their workplace. The course focuses on the role of sensory
processing problems in autism as identified by people with autism who have such
difficulties themselves.
At the end of the course the learner will:-
be more effective in identify sensory processing issues in those they come into
contact with people with autism
become aware of the full range of sensory processing issuess·
be aware of the terminology used
become aware of some of the needs of individuals who have a sensory
processing issues
be able to address sensory issues in the workplace with greater confidence
be more effective in supporting with those who have a sensory processing
disorder
have an awareness of the wider services available for people who have a sensory
processing difficulties
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Developing Social Scripts for People with Autism
Course Aims
The course addresses issues of social perceptions of people with autism. It lends itself
to understanding why social scripts, when constructed efficiently can increase the
person’s level of participation, independence and confidence in social settings. It
provides practical ideas and techniques on how to develop social scripts that will
impact on reducing the difficult behavior for the individual.
At the end of the course learners will:
Learn how behaviour can be reflective of social misunderstanding in people with
autism
Gain an understanding of what social scripts are and when to use them
Understand how social scripts increase levels of participation, independence and
confidence in social settings
Recognition different types of sentences and how they impact on the persons
level of understanding
Confidently write social scripts based on person centred assessment
Bespoke Autism Training
If you don’t see exactly what you need, Aspire can put together a “bespoke” package
to meet your needs.
