Mencap NI Youth Team, as part of the EA regional development fund have developed training, resources and
guidance
Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well.
for support to local services to work with children and young people with ASD and additional needs with inclusion in mainstream youth provision.
The training offered by Mencap NI Youth Team aims to support mainstream youth groups to become more inclusive as well as to provide staff with appropriate skills to further support the young people with additional needs and ASD accessing their services.
Trainings and Descriptions
ASD Awareness - To have a better understanding of ASD and inclusion for young people into mainstream groups. To explore
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.
and the challenges young people might face. To discuss communication and the barriers young people face when socialising with peers and youth settings and to explore methods of person-centred approaches.
Disability Awareness - Enable participants to become more aware of disability and
equality
Equality is when everyone is treated fairly.
issues. Consider the ideas behind the models of disability. Explore attitudes and levels of awareness around disability. Discuss and explore attitudes towards, and levels of awareness about disability. OCN Accredited Training.
Inclusion – Staff feel more aware of what inclusion is like for young people in youth work. Youth work staff can identify and put strategies in place to support inclusion.
Workshops
ASD triggers and strategies – To understand some of the potential triggers that young people living with ASD may encounter in a youth work setting. How to develop and implement strategies to support young people living with ASD.
Behaviours that challenge - Understand why children and young people become challenging. Recognise the different behaviours which challenge. Recognise the stages of a crisis. Describe appropriate responses to give at the different stages of behavioural crisis
Accessibility- planning and adapting practice - Learn how to make your centre more
accessible
Accessible means something is easy for people to use or join in with. For example: Accessible writing means the writing is easy to read and understand.
, and how to adapt your documentation to meet the needs of young people with ASD and/or additional needs.
Other
Buddy mentor training for youth - Understand disability and attitudes to disability. Understand the role of a buddy mentor. Know the skills and
values
Values are the things that are important to you. Mencap's values are being passionate, inclusive, brave, positive, and kind.
required of a buddy mentor for a child or young person
These projects are funded by the
Education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
Authority through the Regional Project Funding Strand.