Early Support parents workshops

Are you the parent or carer of a child with additional needs or disability? Would you like to meet other parents and discover what support is available for your family? Would you like to know who can help you and where to find them? Would you like to have a say in planning services for your child and would you like help with understanding confusing jargon? Would you like to hear and share ideas about enjoying life with your whole family however challenging that may seem at times? Early Support is the Welsh Governments mechanism to improve the quality, consistency and co-ordination of services for disabled children under five and their families. The parents workshops are a key element of this approach and parents have received funding from the Welsh Government to lead these workshops. These workshops were written by parents, for parents and are delivered by parents. Who the workshops are for? The workshops are aimed at parents/carers and the wider family of a disabled child. They can also be open to practitioners working directly with very young disabled children and their families but only if the practitioner has been invited to attend by a parent/carer. Though Early Support is focused on children under five, the workshops are open to parents of older disabled children who are feeling isolated or who feel they do not have sufficient information. Structure of workshops The sessions (10 am-2.30 pm) are FREE plus we will pay for childcare and travel. These four workshops are informal, with plenty of opportunity to meet other families, chat and share experiences. There are four workshops: Workshop 1 - Understanding this new world - explores national and local services, Early Support and the Early Support materials. Workshop 2 - Changing relationships - explores the implications of working in partnership with service providers. Workshop 3 - The child beyond the disability - explores the issues around dealing with feelings and enjoying your child. Workshop 4 - The importance of the ordinary in all our lives - considers the wider family and the importance of time for you. These workshops are financed by the Welsh Government, and Children in Wales provide the trainers. The local branch of the NAS are working with Children in Wales to organize a set of workshops for interested parents/carers. The dates are not yet arranged, however anyone interested would be expected to attend all four sessions, which will be arranged about a month apart. If interested please contact mariemacey@hotmail.com Or the NAS branch email nascardiff&theva@nas.org.uk or mobile tel: 07824 451207