Membership Number

Cottage Autism Network

C/o Artramon Farm

Castlebridge

Co. Wexford

Ireland

Tel: 087 1035 353

Email:

Registered charity no: CHY 18103

MEMBERSHIP PACK

Cottage Autism Network Company Limited by Guarantee (CAN) is a voluntary organisation based in Co. Wexford since 2004. CANis a registered charity (CHY18103) with the Charities Regulator.

Mission:

Cottage Autism Network aims to improve the quality of life of families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder by providing support, promoting equality and inclusion as well as raising awareness in the community by being a voice for our members. (CAN Strategic Plan, 2015-2016)

Join our community of families to learn and share your experience

Membership Fee is€20 per calendar year ie. January to December (this means that members are required to renew their membership every January and those that join CAN at any time during the year are required to renew their membership in January.

Benefits of membership:

  • Members have the opportunity to connect with other familiesliving with Autism
  • Members get reductions to many of our activities and events
  • Members get regular communication of upcoming events via text and email
  • Members are consulted and are involved in decision – making where possible

Thank you for completing your membership form and welcome to Cottage Autism Network.

Please find enclosed our membership pack which will be filled with a variety of information, some of which will be of immediate use and other pieces you may wish to use at a later stage.

Our contact number is 087 103 5355, please feel free to contact us on this number or via our Facebook page.

Voluntary Board of Management

Chairperson: Servaas Dodebier

Company Secretary: Maria Banville

Treasurer: Pauline Byrne

PR/Media: Maria Banville / Mag Furness

Other Board Members:

Saskia Dodebier

Teresa Carr Buckley

Karen Furlong

Catherine Fedorca

Please Note

All information contained in this booklet is iscorrect upto and including Saturday31st December 2016.

ABOUT CAN

The Cottage Autism Network Company Limited by Guarantee (CAN Ltd.) is a support organisation for families living with Autism. Ourgeographic areasareNew Ross and Wexford, however families from outside these areas are very welcome to become members and participate in our initiatives/activities.

CAN was born on the kitchen table of a group of parents who had set up a small school to meet their children’s educational needs. Through litigation the school became integrated with Scoil Mhuire Wexford as one of the first applied behaviour analysis (ABA) based, Autism specific units in mainstream education in the south-east. Parents of the students attending this unit formed a parent support group but in response to the growing demand for support from parents outside the school , CAN was formed in 2004. CAN has grown from strength to strength since then and continues to be a voluntary, parent-led group, striving to provide support to those facing the challenges of autism. CAN is also a founding member ofIrish Autism Action(IAA).

ACTIVITIES

CAN organises a range of activities for children and young people with autism and their siblings. These include:

New Ross

Karatein St. Mary’s School on Saturday mornings for kidsaged over 5yrs. Facilitator: Christy St. Ledger

Soccerin St. Mary’s School on Friday evenings @ 5-6pm for kids aged over 5yrs. Facilitator: Jamie Kelly and Clint Smithies

For further info contact: Mag @ (087) 4188902

Wexford

Judo Assiston Wednesday evenings for kids aged over 4 yrs. This runs in the Collective Sensory Group Centre in Westlands. Facilitator: Sean Davitt

For further info contact: Sean Davitt @ 086-1734031

Socceris on Saturdaymornings @ 11am – 12pm for kids 5-8yrs and @ 12pm – 1pm for kids agedover 9yrs. FAI Coaches: Jamie Kelly

For further information contact Catherine on

Gorey

Judo Assistis on Friday nights @ 6.30- 7.30pm in the Worx Gym in the IDA Business Park, Gorey. Facilitator: Sean Davitt.

For further info contact Sean Davitt - 086-1734031

In addition to our regular weekly activities, CAN also organises a broad range of activities forthose with Autism and their families. These have included surfing, drama, art, dance, pottery, archery etc. and also visits to venues such as Hook Lighthouse, the Seal Sanctuaryandthe Irish National Heritage Park in Ferrycarrig.

SUPPORT FOR PARENTS

CAN organises a variety of activities throughout the year for both children/ young people and parents.

Parents/ Carers

Fortnightly on Friday mornings CAN organises a coffee morning in Kelly’s Caféat Meadows and Byrne, Drinagh Retail Park in Wexford town from 10am – 12pm. This is open to members and non – members.

CAN has organised severalMammies Night’s Outevents, which gives mams an opportunity to meet up socially.

Training

CANorganises training workshops/ inputsfor parents, carer’s and interested individuals in areas such as speech and language, occupational therapy, Applied Behaviour Analysis, paediatric first aid etc. These are financially supported by CAN,so as tominimise the cost to attendees.

CAN also organises information sessions from experts on topics such as rights and entitlements and writing a will for your special needs child.

In addition to providing direct support to families, Cottage Autism Network Ltd. aims to create awareness in the local community. Annually, we organise events to raise awareness and encourage organisations and businesses to Light It Up Blue on April 2nd to mark World Autism Awareness Day.

Please contact the CAN board if you have a specific interest on a particular topic or skill and we will endeavour to organise a training.

DIAGNOSIS & ASSESSMENT

“It does not have to be about tragedy or pain or loss. Bearing an autistic child is not losing that child. It’s gaining very special new son or daughter.” – Jasmine Lee O’Neill, a mute autistic savant who is a poet, writer, illustrator and musician.

As yet, there are no medical tests to diagnose autism. An accurate diagnosis must be made on observation of the child’s communication, behaviour and development levels. It has been proven worldwide that early, accurate diagnosis coupled with early, intensive intervention increases the child’s opportunity for positive development and success.

There are a number of ways to seek a diagnosis/assessment. You may have taken your child to your local GP, may refer the child for a hearing test. This is the most obvious thing to do if you report that your child for instance: is blanking you or not responding to loud noises. Assuming the test comes back clear, you will most likely be referred to a local HSE team or to a developmental Paediatrician who may in turn refer you to the local HSE multi-disciplinary team. The multi-disciplinary team should at least consist of a Clinical Psychologist, an Educational Psychologist, a Speech and Language Therapist and an Occupational Therapist.

With lengthy waiting lists some parents choose to get their child assessed privately. Asiam.ie provide a good article of exploring this route.

The professionals involved:

Autism Liaison Nurse: The Autism Liaison will be one of the first point of contact for the family with a member of the HSE. When your child receives a diagnosis the Liaision Nurse may arrange a home visit to discuss your child’s needs, services and entitlements. The LN role is in the form of support to a family once they receive a diagnosis.

Psychologists:The Psychologists are most often involved in the diagnosis and assessment period as part of the Multi-disciplinary. Intervention can include parent training, development of behavior management strategies, links with schools and other professionals

Speech & Language Therapy:Speech and Language Therapists will assess, diagnose and deliver therapy to people with communication difficulties. They can develop an individualised programme of therapy to work on your child’s strenths and weaknesses with language. There are many different ways for children with autism to learn to communicate if they are non-verbal such as sign language (Lamh), PECS (picture exchange communication) or speech generating devices (e.g. apps on an ipad including Proloquo2go, MyCoughDrop, Superspeak, Graceapp).

Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy assess and develop programs to support your child’s motor skills, coordination and self-help skills including eating with utensils, toilet training,brushing teeth, pencil holding, riding a bike, dressing etc. They can also develop and implement a sensory integration program for children with sensory issues (problems with what they see, hear, feel, taste and smell).

Applied Behaviour Analysis Therapy

ABA is widely recognized as an effective behavioural intervention for people with autism. In particular, ABA principles and techniques can foster basic skills such as looking, listening and imitating, as well as complex skills such as independent life skills, social skills, and addressing challenging behaviour. ABA is not funded by the HSEbut can be availed of through the HSE home tuition scheme if a therapist is also registered by the Teaching Council or self-funded by parents.

Further information and links on these topics and more can be found in the section “develop your toolbox” at the bottom of this document.

Entitlements

Domicillary Care Allowance

Domicillary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires ongoing care and attendion, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. It is not means tested.

To qualify, the child must have a severe disablity that is likely to last for at least 1 year and

  • Be aged under 16 (at 16, the child can apply for a Disabilty Allowance)

The Domiciliary Care Allowance current rate is €309.50 per month.

There is no restriction on the number of children for whom you may claim Domiciliary Care Allowance. (In other words, if you are caring for more than 1 child who qualifies for Domiciliary Care Allowance, you may claim the monthly allowance for each).

Payment is made on the third Tuesday of every month for the current month.

Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is a payment to people on low incomes who are looking after a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness (including mental illness).

If you qualify for a Carer's Allowance you may also qualify forfree household benefits(if you are living with the person you are caring for) and aFree Travel Pass. Carer's Allowance is not taken into account in the assessment for amedical card.

Carer's Benefit

Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for aperson(s) in need of full-time care and attention.

You can get Carer's Benefit for a total period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. This may be claimed as a single continuous period or in any number of separate periods up to a total of 104 weeks. However, if you claim Carer's Benefit for less than six consecutive weeks in any given period you must wait for a further six weeks before you can claim Carer's Benefit to care for the same person again.

If you are caring for more than one person, you may receive payment for each care recipient for 104 weeks. This may result in the care periods overlapping or running concurrently.

Household Benefit Package

The Household Benefits Package is a package of allowances which help you with the costs of running your household. The package is available to everyone aged over 70 and to people under age 70 in certain circumstances.You must be living permanently in the State (this means full-time and all year round).

Only one person in a household can qualify for the package at any time. You must show that you are the registered consumer at the address for which you are applying for the Household Benefits, for example, by providing a utility bill. If you are renting your home, your landlord must provide written confirmation that you are a tenant (including theMPRNorGPRNof the address you are living at) and confirm that you are paying your own energy bills.

Incapacitated Child Tax Credit

You can claim an Incapacitated Child Tax Credit if you are the parent or guardian of a child who is permanently incapacitated, either physically or mentally and

  • Became so before reaching 21 years of ageor
  • Becomes permanently incapacitated after reaching the age of 21, but while still in full-time education or while training for a trade or profession for a minimum of 2 years.

You can also claim the credit for:

  • A stepchild
  • A formally or informally adopted child
  • Any child of whom you have custody, who is maintained at your own expense and who is permanently incapacitated

You can claim a credit for more than one child where more than one child is permanently incapacitated.

Where the child is maintained by one parent only, that parent is entitled to claim the full amount of the tax credit. However, where the child is maintained by more than one person, the tax credit is divided between them in proportion to the amount paid by each towards the maintenance of the child.

Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability. You can get Disability Allowance from 16 years of age. If you are in education when you turn 16, you can continue to attend school.

If you qualify for Disability Allowance you may also getextra social welfare benefits with your paymentand othersupplementary welfare payments.

To qualify for Disability Allowance (DA) you must:

  • Have an injury, disease or physical or mental disability that has continued or may be expected to continue for at least one year
  • As a result of this disability besubstantially restrictedin undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications
  • Be aged between 16 and 66. When you reach 66 years of age you no longer qualify for DA, but you are assessed for a State pension.
  • Satisfy ameans test
  • Satisfy thehabitual residence condition.

Respite Care Grant

The Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers by the Department of Social Protection. The scheme name was changed in 2016 to better reflect how the Grant is used by carers. It was formerly called the Respite Care Grant. Carers can use the grant in whatever way they wish. You can use the grant to pay for respite care if you wish, but you do not have to do so. More information aboutrespite care facilitiesis available.

In June of each year (usually on the first Thursday of the month), the Department of Social Protection pays the grant automatically to carers gettingCarer's Allowance,Carer's Benefit, orDomiciliary Care Allowancefrom the Department. Only one Carer's Support Grant can be paid for each person getting care.

AON (Assessment of Needs)

You can obtain the form from your local Health Centre or by contacting the HSE information line: 1850 24 1850

Any child born after June 1st 2002 is eligible to apply for an assessment under theDisability Act 2005regardless of their age at the time of application.

Children who qualify for an assessment of need under the Act have a right to:

  • an assessment of their health and education needs arising from their disability;
  • an Assessment Report;
  • a statement of the services they will receive;
  • make a complaint if they are not happy with any part of the process.

Who can apply for an assessment?
Any parent who feels that their child (born after 1stJune 2002) may have a disability can apply for an assessment. An application can also be made by a legal guardian. There is a provision under the Disability Act, 2005, for a personal advocate to be assigned by the Citizens Information Board

An assessment of need is an assessment of the full range of your child's needs associated with his or her disability. After this, you will receive an Assessment Report detailing your child's needs and the services required to meet those needs

Home Tuition Scheme

The purpose of this Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early educational intervention for children with autism.

Home Tuition is provided by the Department of Education. Children with Autism can avail of this grant to provide tuition If there is no space available. Children as young as 2 and a half have received this grant in the past. The current allocation is 15 hours for childen until the age of three and 20 hours over 3 years.