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The ASSERT Programme (Academic, Social skills, Employment & Relationship Training) enables young adults, who are on the Autistic Spectrum, to develop their independence and employability. This is achieved through a designed learner journey that offers intensive case management and an individually tailored programme which promotes confidence, self-advocacy and inclusion, giving them the opportunity to develop and practise social and communication skills to build and maintain relationships, reduce anxieties and enable learning.

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Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Health/Wellbeing Health/​Wellbeing
  • Beneficiaries

    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other

    Situation

    People with autism have characteristic ways of learning and understanding and can make a positive difference in society. Individuals with this condition are statistically more disadvantaged than other disability groups especially when leaving full-time education and they begin the transition to adulthood. Although academically able this outwardly hidden disability affects every aspect of their day to day life. Research has shown that mainstream courses and training do not give Autistic Young People adequate skills. The Assert Programme has developed over a 10 year period to remedy this. There is no other autism specific service in Northamptonshire and surrounding counties. Many people are now referred to us having left college with low self-esteem, feeling inadequate and not having acquired the skills they need to move into employment. We have seen their successful progression. The learning modules are presented on a 1:1 basis or in small groups although this has major consequences on resources it is the best environment in which to engage individuals with this condition to ensure progress and future integration into society. In 2007 we introduced a new innovation for High functioning Autism/Aspergers Syndrome young people introducing a Self Awareness Module which combines learning skills which will serve them throughout their lives and enable them to access employment appropriate to their abilities and talents. The results have been outstanding and had a dramatic effect on the learner once they developed an insight into their disability, their strengths and challenges giving them the motivation to alter behaviour and learn new skills enabling them to reach their social and vocational goals. However following this success came the disappointing news that we no longer fit into the Learning Skills Council criteria for funding this group who are not in Employment, Education or Training and this together with changes in eligibility criteria means that many of this group are no longer able to access social services care funding packages to access the appropriate services or support which can give them the necessary skills and training to enter the workplace or live an independent life. The NSA has to find support to help this disadvantaged group. The costs for this type of programme at first seem very high and can be off putting as an investment. However, if you weigh the estimated costs of providing care and benefits to this group for the rest of their lives against the cost of this programme that will make them independent and give them a fulfilling life, there is no comparison. The solutions are not always quick but they are long term. Currently our costs are £80 per day per client. We run our project over two days in a 12 week course throughout the year for this group. Each 12 week course costs £11520 totalling £46080 for the year. This would provide training for between 12 – 48 young autistic adults to receive the necessary skills to enable them to move into employment or further education and improve their opportunities of Independent Living. Some individuals would only need to attend for twelve weeks others may take longer depending on their needs and abilities.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Health/Wellbeing Health/​Wellbeing
  • Beneficiaries

    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other