Deirdre Lynch
Local Area Coordination - Dublin North Central established the needs of the following groups associated with ASD: People with ASD and their families Education providers Healthcare professionals Employers Local Community Groups Local Service Providers Resulting in a solution called
Autism spectrum disorder, also called ASD, is the name used for a specific set of behavioural and developmental problems and the challenges that go with them
Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disorder that generally appears before the age of 3 Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function When you have met one person with ASD you have met one person with ASD
DSM 5 includes both Autism and Asperger on the ASD spectrum (Guideline) Distinguishes between three levels of ASD by the level of support required Fastest growing developmental disorder in the world
Dormant Account Funded project January 2016 June 2017 Based on Western Australian Model 7 Projects assigned nationally LAC informed the need for new approach developed by
LAC Service Delivery Model
16 years of Senior Management experience with Irish Times 6 years of Social Inclusion Experience as Enterprise & Employment Manager in Dublin North Central Lived experience of ASD Supporting 4 family members on spectrum (Guardian to two)
Provide one to one support (education, training and employment) Road mapping services - increase access Providing personal action plan based on individual Working with local services to improve access Identify gaps and provide solutions
Gerard - 54 years old (on the spectrum) Long term unemployed, (5 years) Living alone (no social contact) Worked kitchen porter 3 years and as a carer 8 years Deemed unsuitable for labour market programmes Referred to LAC.
Gerard had completed QQI 5 & 6 horticulture (passion) One-to-One support (managing anxiety) Secured a place on Tús (work) Working in Parish Centre with garden (new family) Completed Train the Trainer (increasing knowledge) Presented gardening module for local school (experience) Currently completing therapeutic horticultural course with plan to be a trainer (Growing in confidence)
Local Area Coordinator changed my life. She understood ASD and my anxiety issues (being on the spectrum herself). She focused on what was holding me back and how to overcome these barriers. She knew of so many services and courses available in the area." "She believed in me when no one else did. She let me follow my passion and she trusted me. She was always there for me. I felt supported and understood and she listened to me Success is dependant on the expertise of the LAC
84% of 153 clients supported by LAC reported that their awareness of services has greatly increased. all but one client accessed at least one service almost 70% accessed more than one.
Limited understanding of ASD outside of medical Limited capacity to support people with ASD Little or no awareness of services locally Little or no knowledge of how to access services Lack of supports for students with ASD No employment prospects for people with ASD Silos HSE clients know only of HSE services, and so on
Deirdre Lynch Founder CEO
100 people completed 20 hours training
75 people attended
60 children completed course
Training Centre established
45 people completed programme
LAC is a vital resource as evidenced in the outcomes Continue to finance the LAC role Road map existing services Identify gaps and bridge gaps in existing service provision Employ people with ASD for their ability not their perceived disability
WE MUST STOP ALIGNING ASD WITH MEDICAL MODEL WE ARE NOT IN NEED OF A CURE WE ARE IN NEED OF ACCEPTANCE WE ARE MORE THAN A DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER WE ARE PEOPLE WITH UNIQUE TALENTS AND THE WORLD NEEDS US
ANY QUESTIONS? email: deirdrelynch@notsodifferent.ie website: www.notsodifferent.ie