AIM Sunderland

Our psychoeducational course 'Me, Myself & Autism' is a self-awareness course designed specifically for autistic individuals. 

Over eight weekly sessions, we celebrate the unique characteristics of autism and address everyday challenges that autistic people may encounter (the MMA course can only accessed by people who have an autism diagnosis). 

 The MMA course runs for eight weeks. 

At the end of the course we hold an online 'Me, Myself & Autism for Families' session where relatives/friends have an overview of the course content.

Practical support with things that you might find difficult. This could include help with communication, building self-advocacy skills (speaking up for what you need), learning new things, or gaining confidence. 

Emotional support from people who listen, understand, and take your experiences seriously. 

Our support is designed to help you live the life you want, feel more independent, and avoid needing more stressful or intensive types of support in the future.

 Our dedicated Health Link Worker is here to support you with:

• Getting the healthcare you need from your GP or other primary care services
• Making appointments and going with you if needed
• Working out what reasonable adjustments might help (like quieter waiting rooms or extra time)
• Helping you explain what you need to doctors or other health staff

This support is here to reduce stress and make healthcare easier to access and understand.

Our Admissions Avoidance Co-ordinator is here to support autistic people who are at risk of being admitted to a mental health hospital. 

They will:

• Work to stop avoidable or inappropriate hospital admissions
• Connect you with support for both your mental and physical health through your GP or other services
• Help plan for discharge so that you have the right support in place when you leave
• Make sure your communication needs are understood (like using a hospital passport or sensory plan)
• Help you get reasonable adjustments while you're in hospital

This support is here to make sure you are listened to, understood, and not left to manage things alone.

Our pre-diagnostic course ‘Exploring Autism’ is a three-part course which offers insight, support, and validation for individuals exploring the possibility of being autistic. 

Together, we look at the strengths and challenges of the autistic experience, demystify the diagnostic criteria, and provide tools for emotional wellbeing during the waiting period for assessment. 

The course is delivered online.

Speech and Language (SALT) 

On completion of our Me, Myself & Autism course you will be offered the opportunity to access a SALT assessment.  

A SALT assessment is a speech and language therapy assessment that evaluates a person's communication abilities and difficulties.

Following the assessment a report is produced.

Sensory Occupational Therapy   

If you experience sensory differences that are making everyday life harder, you may be able to have a sensory occupational therapy assessment.

After the assessment, you’ll get a sensory plan - this is a personalised guide to help you manage sensory challenges in a way that works for you.

We can support you to understand and follow your sensory plan, at your own pace.