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Young people with Asperger Syndrome Speak at Sell-Out Conference

11 December 2006

Two young people, who have a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (AS), spoke at a conference organised by the charity SAFE (Supporting Asperger Families in Essex).  The conference entitled ‘Approaches to Social Skills Practice for People with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism’ was held on Saturday, 9th December at the Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford and attracted a mixture of professionals from health and education, parents and people with Asperger Syndrome.

Nita Jackson, 22 who lives near Colchester, was finally diagnosed with AS after 15 years of social isolation.  Her first book, ‘Standing Down, Falling Up’ written when she was 18, raised the profile of Asperger Syndrome and she is currently working on a second book.
James Scollen, 17 from Maldon, who attends Westcliff High School in Southend, was diagnosed at 15 and has found socialising challenging, sometimes overwhelming but has managed to develop skills that allow him to cope.

Both of these young people have worked with SAFE to develop social communication skills courses across the county.  They regard social skills training as being essential for most people with Asperger Syndrome.

The chair of SAFE and Nita’s mother, Carolann Jackson, said

“Involving young people with AS in the planning and delivery of our social skills courses has been a triumph.  They act as positive role models to the other young people with AS and they provide an insight in to the syndrome that is invaluable to the course facilitators.  I am extremely proud of them both.”

This view was echoed by one of the other speakers, Jan Barnes a retired specialist teacher for Autism in Essex. Jan has worked on several social skills course organised by SAFE and she described the structure of the 10 week courses and how several of them have carried on beyond the 10 weeks with the formation of social groups and a youth club at the Connexions Healthy Living Centre in Southend.

The key note speaker at the conference was Jenny Ronayne, a Child Mental Health Worker on the specialist team on Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the Maudsley Hospital, and herself the mother of a teenager with Asperger Syndrome.  Her speech highlighted different ways of improving social skills through role-playing, use of photos and video equipment.

The afternoon speaker was David Moat, who runs his own ASD Therapy service covering Essex and East Anglia which includes psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and life coaching and he covered the use of social stories and pocket prompts.

The response to the conference has been phenomenal.  Compliments from delegates have been flooding in to SAFE and one head teacher was heard to say that she had learned more that day than in all the training days she had attended.

Fern Potter, one of the trustees of SAFE, said:

“I never imagined when SAFE decided to organise the conference and I applied to Connexions to help support our effort that we’d sell out! Obviously, we have identified a very important area for professionals, parents and people with Asperger Syndrome to discuss. People are already asking for another conference!”

If you missed the conference (or just want to refresh your memory) you can download the speakers presentations below:

Carolann Jacksons Conference address
David Moat presentation
Jan Barnes presentation
Jenny Ronayne presentation

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