Leeds Autism AIM Monthly Update: April 2021
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Hello and welcome to our latest monthly newsletter! In this update from Leeds Autism AIM, part of The Advonet Group, we have news on:
- Our monthly timetable of online groups
- A draft of a new autism health passport
- A resource on reasonable adjustments for vaccine appointments
- The Advonet Group's videos for Autism Acceptance Month 2021
- Easing of restrictions: What you can and cannot do
- A new mental health information guide for autistic adults
- Free volunteer mentor training coming up next month
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Online Groups timetable: April 2021
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We're holding Peer Support sessions on the 6th and 20th, both from 5pm-6pm. Our Women-Aligned Group is on the 13th from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
Our Gaming Group on Discord will meet on the 27th, while our Coproduction Group is on the 22nd. Our Creatives Group will be on the 30th.
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Online Groups mailing list
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If you are interested in joining any of our groups, we have a mailing list with information on how to join. If you would like to sign up, please click on the link below.
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Autism Health Passport: Share your thoughts on new resource
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Leeds Autism AIM have worked with Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust's Learning Disability and Autism Team, the Leeds Autism Diagnostic Service, Leeds Mind and Mentally Healthy Leeds on a draft health passport for autistic adults in Leeds.
To get your thoughts on what we have done so far, we have an online survey. If you would like to take part, please click on the link below. Please note that the deadline for responses is Tuesday 20th April at 5pm.
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COVID-19 vaccine: Reasonable adjustments resource
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On the theme of health, we have produced a handy resource with information on reasonable adjustments you can get before going to a Coronavirus vaccine appointment. The resource includes info on adjustments available if going to Elland Road or the Thackray Medical Centre, how to ask for them and what to do if going for an appointment at your GP surgery or any NHS hospital in Leeds.
The resource is available as a smartphone screen-sized PDF or printable A4 PDF document. To see them, please click on the link below.
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Autism Acceptance Month 2021: What being autistic means to us
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To help mark Autism Acceptance Month 2021, which runs throughout April, autistic staff and volunteers working for The Advonet Group have spoken about what being autistic means to them.
They spoke in short videos, which can be seen on The Advonet Group's YouTube channel. To watch them, please click on the link below.
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New Coronavirus restrictions: What you can and cannot do
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At the end of March, lockdown restrictions have been eased slightly, with further changes being brought in from Monday 12th April. As part of the first phase, you can now:
- Meet up to six people or people from two households outdoors, including in private gardens
- Use outdoor sporting facilities including tennis courts and golf courses
- Take part in formally organised outdoor sports
To see what you can and cannot do in more detail, please click the button below.
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Introducing... the Health Inequalities Project
Earlier this year, Leeds Autism AIM received funding to run a project in partnership with The Light Surgery and Leeds Student Medical Practice Local Care Partnership. The Health Inequalities Project aims to:
- Ensure the needs of autistic patients are met
- Give autistic patients a say in how the surgeries' services are run
- Involve autistic people more in the GP services they use
Please note that this project is only for people who are registered with those two GP surgeries.
The project starts work in May 2021. For further information, please email the AIM team at leedsautismaim@advonet.org.uk.
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Mental Health Guide for autistic adults
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We have produced a free resource with information on mental health support available to autistic adults in the Leeds area. This three-page guide has information on help in a crisis, online and text-based support, autism-specific counselling services in Leeds and how to access funding for counselling through your GP.
To download the free guide, please click on the link below.
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Free volunteer mentor training this May
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We are looking for people to become volunteer mentors with Leeds Autism AIM and have some free training available next month! Mentors are paired with an autistic adult to help them set and achieve life goals and overcome barriers.
The training takes place on Saturday 8th May and Saturday 15th May from 10:30am-3:30pm. Please click on the button below for further information.
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Advonet Group's Focus Group next week
The Advonet Group, the charity that Leeds Autism AIM is part of, are holding their monthly online Focus Group next week.
The group is meeting on Monday 12th April from 2pm-3pm on Zoom. It is open to all citizens of Leeds and looks at different parts of their work and policies, inviting you to give feedback.
For further information on what the group does and how to join, please click on the button below.
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Questionnaire on loneliness/
social isolation
Mentally Healthy Leeds have put together a questionnaire, asking all adults in the Leeds area about their experiences of loneliness and social isolation.
It should take about 10 minutes to complete, with a prize draw offering shopping vouchers at the end for anyone who wants to enter.
It aims to paint a picture of how much people in Leeds experience loneliness and social isolation. Please click below to take the survey.
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#AutisticJoy: Happy Tweets on being autistic
Throughout Autism Acceptance Month and Autism Awareness Month 2021, a number of autistic people on Twitter are sharing what makes them happy.
They are doing this by using the #AutisticJoy hashtag.
The hashtag was started by autistic people and is being used this month to put a more positive spin on being autistic.
To see what people have been posting about what their #AutisticJoy is, please click on the button below.
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