Local Support
- Ohana Parent Support Group
Parent support group based in Ripon for families coping with the unique challenge that is involved in raising a child with special educational needs or a disability
- Neurodiverse Community Catterick
NeuroDiverse Community Catterick was founded in 2019 by Lesley Collier after noticing a gap in the neurodivergent support ‘market’. Because of our high quality service provision we receive referrals from both GPs and social prescribers. Our members are from different background except for one – being neurodiverse.
- Harrogate & District NAS Branch
https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/branches/nas-harrogate-and-district-branch
The branch offers support to families in Harrogate, Richmondshire and Craven who have an autistic member
- POSCH (Parents & Carers of Special Children) supporting families of children with additional and special needs
We are a small charity supporting parents and families of children with additional and special needs who live in the Hambleton, Richmondshire and surrounding areas
- Daisy Chain Project
https://www.daisychainproject.co.uk/autism-central/
A programme co-designed to provide high-quality and accessible autism information, education and coaching for families, and carers, and co-delivered by autistic people, families and carers
- Time Together
A local charity supporting disabled and autistic people to live life well
- Autism Angels
https://www.autismangels.co.uk/
At Autism Angels we strive to balance the needs of the child with those of their siblings and you as their parents. We understand that your role as a parent can be challenging and sometimes you can feel lost, worn down and exhausted. Our aim is that we can provide you with a place where you feel welcomed, accepted and find the support and guidance that you need. We hope that you leave feeling refreshed and with the tools you need to support yourself and your family.
- SENDIASS North Yorkshire
https://sendiassnorthyorkshire.co.uk/
SENDIASS North Yorkshire is a service for parents and carers of young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and /or disabilities (SEND) as well as young people themselves. It is impartial, which means it is not bias and gives confidential information, advice and support that is arms length to the Local Authority.
- Kids Inclusive Social Saturday
https://hadca.org.uk/directory/organisation/5242
Every Saturday during term time. Activities for children of all abilities 5 – 18 years. Specialist staff can support children with disabilities and health care issues.
- North Yorkshire Sport
Free activities for children and young people this summer holiday
- Geek Retreat Harrogate
https://geek-retreat.uk/stores/geek-retreat-harrogate/
We are on a mission to share our love for all things geeky – from games and superhero movies to anime and sci-fi. Geek Retreat is the friendliest place to meet, eat, trade and game.
Other Services
How to find a neuro-affirmative therapist
Developmental Language Disorder:
- Barnsley Speech & Language Therapy
https://www.youtube.com/c/Barnsleyspeechandlanguagetherapy
l share videos and advice tips to help children’s speech, language and communication
Tourettes:
- Tourettes Action
https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/
Information, resources and community for Tourettes
- Tourettes Association of America
https://tourette.org/about-tourette/overview/
An overview of Tourettes – videos and resources
ADHD:
- ADHD Foundation – The Neurodiversity Charity
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/resources/
Resource hub for ADHD, including documents, podcasts and websites for all ages
Foetal Alcohol:
- National Organisation for FASD
Information about Foetal Alcohol Syndrome for those who have FASD, for those caring for people with FASD, for pregnant women and for professionals wanting to know more about FASD
Learning Disabilities:
- Mind – Mental Health Charity – Learning disability support
Information on learning disabilities followed by a list of useful resources for learning disability support; for people with a learning disability and mental health problems; and for carers
Developmental Coordination Disorder, Motor Skills Difficulties & Dyspraxia:
- Dyspraxia Foundation: Incorporating Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/
Advice, information sheet and more on Dyspraxia and DCD
OCD:
- Mind – Mental Health Charity – Self-care for OCD
Information on self-care for OCD
Other Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. Dyslexia, Dyscalculia):
- National Numeracy – What is dyscalculia?
https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/what-numeracy/what-dyscalculia
Information of dyscalculia and video resources on lviing with dyscalculia
- Made by Dyslexia
https://www.madebydyslexia.org/
A website with information on resources for dyslexic kids, their parents and their teachers with the aim of empowering dyslexic thinking.
Apps and Blogs
- Summer Farrelly Blog
Blog – Autistic Perspectives – Summer Farrelly
- Apps
Better Sleep – supports calmer, better sleep.
Mesmerize – engaging visuals with relaxing music and guided meditations to give you an all-encompassing medication experience.
Tappy Fidget – Tapping and sliding with incredible haptic responses and delightful sound effects.
Antistress – Interactive fidgets and games to help alleviate stress.
Finch – Self-care journal and habit tracker.
Sweepy – Home cleaning scheduling apps – turns cleaning into a game.
Fluid – Interactive visual stimulation app that relieves stress.
Heat pad – reacts to your fingers to create patterns of different modalities such as rainbows and flames.
- SmartyPants – Apple and Android
This app allows children to explore and talk about feelings.
- Smile at Me – for the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
Designed to help autistic children interpret social cues to determine when smiling is a good response.
- Book Creator
Book Creator lets children make up their own stories, put in photos, add voices, write text and export them to iBooks. Families with young children might make books about home or nursery, for teenagers the same app is an ideal vehicle for social stories.
- Brain in Hand
This app to increase independence. It lets users plan out their week, identify with help the possible stress moments, and plan strategies to help them cope. (£1000 for the year).
- Goblin Tools
This app helps break down difficult tasks (visual strategy)
BLOGS:
- The Autism Blog by Seattle Children’s
https://theautismblog.seattlechildrens.org/
- Not an Autism Mom
- Autism Adventures
http://www.autismadventures.com/
- Stimeyland
- Four Plus an Angel
- Finding Cooper’s Voice
https://www.findingcoopersvoice.com/
- The Art of Autism
https://the-art-of-autism.com/
- The Sensory Spectrum
http://www.thesensoryspectrum.com/
- The Autism Site
https://blog.theautismsite.greatergood.com/
- Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism
http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/
- Pete’s Blog – Autistic Writer & Speaker
https://petewharmby.com/petes-blog/
- Dr Pooky Knightsmith Blog & Resources
https://www.pookyknightsmith.com/
Other Neurodivergence
- Dyslexia: Breaking Educational Barriers
Dyslexia: Breaking Educational Barriers – Ian Wright’s Everyday People (pca.st)
Podcast where a remarkable student from South London who is refusing to let the barriers presented by severe dyslexia and dyspraxia stand in the way of the highest academic success.
- If you’re also considering an ADHD assessment, please complete this questionnaire and send it to CAMHS as this is a separate service. (Link to NeuroPack).
Developmental Language Disorder:
- Barnsley Speech & Language Therapy
https://www.youtube.com/c/Barnsleyspeechandlanguagetherapy
Videos and advice tips to help children’s speech, language and communication
Tourettes:
- Tourettes Action
https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/
Information, resources and community for Tourettes
- Tourettes Association of America
https://tourette.org/about-tourette/overview/
An overview of Tourettes – videos and resources
ADHD:
- ADHD Foundation – The Neurodiversity Charity
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/resources/
Resource hub for ADHD, including documents, podcasts and websites for all ages
Foetal Alcohol:
- National Organisation for FASD
Information about Foetal Alcohol Syndrome for those who have FASD, for those caring for people with FASD, for pregnant women and for professionals wanting to know more about FASD
Learning Disabilities:
- Mind – Mental Health Charity – Learning disability support
Information on learning disabilities followed by a list of useful resources for learning disability support; for people with a learning disability and mental health problems; and for carers
Developmental Coordination Disorder, Motor Skills Difficulties & Dyspraxia:
- Dyspraxia Foundation: Incorporating Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/
Advice, information sheet and more on Dyspraxia and DCD
OCD:
- Mind – Mental Health Charity – Self-care for OCD
Information on self-care for OCD
Other Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. Dyslexia, Dyscalculia):
- National Numeracy – What is dyscalculia?
https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/what-numeracy/what-dyscalculia
Information of dyscalculia and video resources on lviing with dyscalculia
- Made by Dyslexia
https://www.madebydyslexia.org/
A website with information on resources for dyslexic kids, their parents and their teachers with the aim of empowering dyslexic thinking.