The event saw parents and professionals coming together in the Lothian Chambers, Edinburgh (24 April) in the first in a series of seminars which are taking place across Scotland. Speakers from Scottish Autism presented case studies demonstrating how they create strategies to enable people living with autism to develop personal coping skills.

Approximately 80 per cent of delegates rated their experience as good or excellent and are planning on attending other events in the series. Many people also took the opportunity to ask questions to the speakers and network with others in the field.

Charlene Tait, Director of Development and Chair of the event, commented:

“We were really delighted with the feedback from our first seminar and would like to thank everyone who attended. It was our objective to create a platform on which we could share our knowledge and experience of supporting individuals with autism and their families. We aimed to provide an insight into our approach which delegates could consider and apply to their own experiences.

“Based on the feedback received, it was clear that the majority of people attending the seminar understood the value in developing personalised approaches and picked up skills and techniques to help them in their own practice.

“All comments received in the evaluation forms will be considered thoroughly and help us to develop and refine our seminars going forward.” 

The same topic will be presented to delegates in Elgin on 15 May and again in Greenock on 29 June. The Knowledge Share series will go on to explore other key themes including ‘Supporting the Development of Skills for Independent Living’ and ‘Supporting the Development of Understanding Relationships and Sexuality’ later in the year and into 2013.

Photographs by Michael Dawson