Creating a calm space for autism parents is an essential part of the #happyinschool project’s philosophy. However, some families require practical help them support their children get from point A to point B. Imagine Point A is when you’re unable to manage in school, and Point B is feeling resilient enough to get in to the school building and even find strengths and talents to engage fully in school life.

Mediation for every mind.

Photographer: Venessa Bobb

In order to help families practically, beyond the scope of the #happyinschool project workshops, later this year, I will be studying a course of low-intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which will enable me to support my natural gifts with a recognised professional qualification.

I quit my career in corporate communications for a year when my son was out of education. I needed to work closely with the local authorities to search and secure a suitable school to meet his needs: a process which was vastly incompatible with a full-time managerial position.  I’m aware there are many parents in my position; unable to work because they have been blind-sided by an education system that struggles to meet the needs of their talented child or young person with autism or ADHD.

Using my communications skills to constructively to advocate for my son and undertaking many hundreds of hours of research has enabled me to stabilise my son’s education and set up the #happyinschool project, passing on some of my knowledge to other families. But I want to do more.

I will be started a certificate level course in Cognitive Behaviour (CBT) Therapy in December 2019 and plan to work with families adding CBT to #happyinschool project offer. CBT is a form of counselling or talk therapy that uses the brain as a muscle, encouraging individuals over time to be aware of and ultimately, change their thought processes. ‘Resilience’ is the buzz word being used to explain this complex process. It’s not a fast process, especially when working with issues that may exist in addition to the autism and ADHD but I will give it 100%

So excited to keep learning, so I can keep helping families. Sometimes the issues surrounding are so complex and multi-layered, it’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling powerless. This is when I think of all of the individuals who have done brave, selfless acts alone, probably thinking they wouldn’t achieve much and they have by their actions, literally changed the world. Well working for change, one child or family at a time is good for me.

© Suzy Rowland

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