The E-PAtS Parent Support Programme focuses on areas that families of children with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
need support with including communication, sleep, positive behaviour support and personal well-being.
E-PAtS (Early Positive Approach to Support) has been developed by the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent by Dr Nick Gore and Dr Jill Bradshaw. It was co-produced by professionals in the field of learning disabilities and family carers.
The E-PAtS programme provides parents with space to share the joys and challenges they have faced and provides a practical toolkit to support communication and
independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
as well as strategies to minimise risks associated with
challenging behaviour
Challenging behaviour can be when someone hurts themselves, hits or pinches someone else, or breaks something. Some people might behave like this because they are upset or because people do not understand them.
and support the whole family’s wellbeing and resilience.
Its main aim is to meet the needs of families at an early stage and is for families with children aged 0 to 5 who have a learning disability, developmental delay and /or
autism
Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different.
. Children do not need to have a diagnosis for families to access the programme.
The programme is delivered over 8 weeks (8 sessions x 2/2.5 hours) and can be delivered face-to-face or virtually. All parents and carers are given weekly resources and information as part of the course.
The programme is always co-facilitated by trained professionals and parents who have lived experience of raising a child with additional needs.
To find out more about availability please contact the family support team at familysupport@mencap.org.uk.
E-PAtS Randomised Control Trial
We want to find out if E-PAtS helps to improve the wellbeing of parents/caregivers of children with additional developmental needs and has benefits for their child’s development and behaviour.
We will be working with a team of researchers from across the UK for this randomised control trial. To find out more check out the poster below, or head over to the E-PAtS randomised control trial
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
via the link here.