Autistica is the UK’s leading autism research charity. We fund research, shape policy and work with autistic people to create breakthroughs that enable autistic people to live happier, healthier, longer lives. People like the 80,000 autistic children, whose lives are currently dominated by anxiety.
For autistic children with a severe or profound learning disability, many of whom speak few or no words, communicating feelings of anxiety can be especially difficult. Vital support from The Pixel Fund has enabled our team to build the first parent-led therapy program to alleviate anxiety for these children. It was co-designed with clinicians at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital and 24 families consulted in the local area.
Revolutionising care for autistic children with a learning disability
Over the next 12 months, our team – led by Dr Jane Waite of Aston University – will pilot four months of one-to-one therapy, training and coaching that will be given to 16 parents, to help autistic children aged 4-12 years old.
Among other things, it will include advice about how to identify when their child may try to escape or avoid stressful situations; co-developing and implementing a care plan for their child; and weekly, professional supervision for each parent, to help them conduct therapy.
If this relatively small-scale study is successful, we can use those results to apply to the research arm of the NHS for a large-scale trial of the therapy in NHS services. The Pixel Fund is therefore pioneering research into mental health, whilst supporting the unique way in which we work - supporting small-scale innovations that can be implemented in the future. Importantly then, this project could lead to the therapy being included as a core part of care for autistic children and changing many more lives for the better.