Support for Parent/Carers and adults aged 18-25
We know how confusing and difficult the autism diagnostic assessment process can be, and the daily challenges of living with autism in the family. We aim to provide autism-specific information, advice and support to parent/carers, as well as linking you with similar parents and children if you wish.
We provide practical information and advice, details of relevant services, or sometimes just a listening ear.
Our two family support staff, Becky Loveless and Sam Burkin, cover the whole of Oxfordshire, so are kept busy running advice surgeries, training, and support groups; as well as coordinating our holiday activities.
For parent/carers of children aged 13 and under
Becky Loveless, our Family Support Worker, supports families who have a child aged 13 and under.
For young people aged 14 – 25, and their families.
Sam Burkin, our Community Outreach Worker, supports young people aged 14 – 25, and their families.
We provide
- Regular email bulletins with news, events, and useful information.
- Individual support and advice through advice surgery appointments and occasional home visits.
- Strategies to alleviate and cope with challenging behaviour.
- Connecting local families and children.
- Support groups – we run two parent support groups but there are many more across Oxfordshire.
- Abingdon Aspies – a monthly support group for parents who are themselves on the autism spectrum (or who suspect they are!).
- Signposting and access to other services.
- All Things Autism – a 6-week course for parents/carers whose child has recently been diagnosed with autism by CAMHS. We are commissioned by CAMHS to deliver their very popular “excellent” All Things Autism course.
- Autism and Behaviour that Challenges – a popular training course for parent/carers which we run twice a year in venues across Oxfordshire.
- Other training courses and workshops, on request.
Parent Support Groups
There are a number of support groups for parent across Oxfordshire – some are autism specific and others are more general for parents with children with additional needs. For a list of parent support groups in Oxfordshire please see visit the
Family Information Service Directory run by Oxfordshire County Council.
Make a referral for a child or adult aged 18-25
We recommend all families refer to us soon after their child / young adult has received a diagnosis; or when they arrive in Oxfordshire. Referral Forms are for each person on the spectrum, so if there is more than one child on the spectrum we will need a form for each child.
Referral Forms may be completed by parent/carers or professionals – but we do need the form to be fully completed, ideally including an email address.
Once we have received a Referral Form the parent will receive a welcome email/letter and be added to our mailing list to receive regular email bulletins and all our news of training, activities, and events (unless you tell us you do not wish to receive this information). Parents may then book an advice surgery with our Family Support Worker, Becky; or Community Outreach Worker, Sam.
Please complete the relevant Referral Form:
If you’re already known to us and would like to contact a member of staff, please see our Contact Us page for details.