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Building Effective Partnerships for Autism Support in Laois and Offaly

The Laois and Offaly Families for Autism (LOFFA) emphasizes the importance of creating partnerships among parents, educators, healthcare providers, and support organizations to meet the needs of children with autism. Parents seek simple access to support services and interventions but face challenges such as long waiting lists and lack of resources. LOFFA advocates for a unified approach to delivering timely services, improving communication, and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders involved in autism care. Together, we aim to ensure children reach their full potential and improve family wellbeing.

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Building Effective Partnerships for Autism Support in Laois and Offaly

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  1. Edel Shaw Laois Offaly Families for Autism (LOFFA)

  2. ‘Partnership Now’ A partnership is an arrangement in which parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests. A partnership is a relationship between individuals or groups that is characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility, as for the achievement of a specified goal:

  3. As a Parent of a child with a disability who do I need to create Partnership with? • Teachers • SNAs • Doctors • Therapists • Service Providers • HSE • Dept of Health • SENOs • National Council for Special Education • Dept of Education • Support Groups • Politicians

  4. What Parents are looking for? • Simple? or Complicated? VERY Simple • Support and Intervention which will allow our children to reach their full true potential

  5. What are we met with?... EXCUSES • Waiting Lists • Lack of Resources • Embargo on Recruitment • Everyone looking for Assessment of Needs

  6. What is the reality? • 3 years waiting for Occupational Therapy • 2 years waiting for Speech & Language Therapy • 18 months for Psychology • Lack of therapeutic support in ASD units / special school setting • AON only way to get written information • No Respite And if you challenge this? ……

  7. Culture of Circling the Wagons

  8. Response from those in charge? • Suspicion - of parents who ask questions • Arrogance – if you don’t like it complain • Lack of Information & Engagement • Sinister undertones – clinical outputs • Differing answers at local vs national level - resources available local vs PQs • Progressing Disability – another talking shop but excluding organised groups of parents

  9. Effect this has on Families? • Families crying out for help …….. • Stress / Anxiety / Depression • Children fall through the cracks • Leave school early • Don’t reach full potential • Martial breakdown • Siblings affected • Reach out to support groups

  10. Parent Support Groups - LOFFA • 350 families in Laois / Offaly • raise awareness of autism in our area and • seek health, educational and support services that are appropriate to meet our childrens needs • subsidised private therapies SLT / OT • 2012 €13,100 • 2013 €11,678 • 2014 €11,205

  11. Is this our first priority? NO …. because our 1st priority is as a PARENT

  12. What do we want? • Organisations to deliver on the services they are suppose to -- Stop making excuses • Consistent standard approach across the country • Respect • Communication • Information • Openness

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