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What to do while waiting for a diagnosis

We understand how frustrating it is waiting for a diagnosis. Our waiting times increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as we couldn't carry out our face-to-face assessments. We're working hard to reduce the waiting list. Currently our waiting times can be over a year.

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A whole person approach

The whole person approach is also known as a holistic approach. This is when you view every aspect of your child or young person's care as equal. Different elements of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing will affect other areas. For example, poor sleep habits can affect mood which can affect how they feel about themselves.

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Helping your child with sensitivities

Some children and young people will experience their senses much stronger or weaker than other people. This can affect their day-to-day life. They may not want to take part in everyday activities. There are various strategies that can be used to help your child or young person.

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Helpful books

Recommended books and booklets about neurodiversity

All cats are on the spectrum by Kathy Hoopmann

Amazon books Google books

All dogs have ADHD by Kathy Hoopmann

Amazon books Google books

My hidden chimp by Prof Steve Peters

Amazon books Google books
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ADHD Brain - Racing Cars and Whirlwinds

PDF Booklet Apple books
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ADHD in teenage girls - Take control and be the best you can be

PDF Booklet

Helpful resources

A wee and poo adventure story

A free resource from ERIC to show the journey of pee and pee in the body

Interactive booklet PDF Booklet

Sensory needs and toileting

Information about sensory needs and how it can impact toileting.

Sensory needs and toileting PDF Factsheet

Financial support for families

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Benefits - Autism Bedfordshire

Autism Bedfordshire offer free one-to-one confidential sessions online or in person. They can help you to find out what benefits may be relevant to you. They can help you to complete forms, check forms you've already completed and much more. This service is available to people in Bedfordshire and Luton.

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Turn2Us

A national charity helping people to get financial security. Find a free benefits calculator to find out what benefits you can claim. They also have a grants search to find charitable grants.

Bedford Borough services

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Bedford Borough local offer

Up-to-date information about what is going on in the Bedford Borough area. Find out more about how to access services. Learn about about childcare settings, childminders and early help support for all families.

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Bedford Borough early help team

The Early Help Team provides support to help families cope with difficulties and to prevent bigger problems emerging. These include sources of support, workshops, childcare, children's centres and children's activities. This help is assessed via an early help assessment.

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Bedford Borough educational psychology team

The educational psychology team work with schools and families. They want to improve children and young people’s learning experience when there are concerns around their learning, behaviour or emotional well-being.

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Bedford Borough SENDIASS

Bedford Borough Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service provide a free, impartial and confidential service to parents and carers for children who have special educational needs and or a disability.

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North Bedfordshire CAMHS

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides outpatient assessments, support and treatment for children and young people up to the age of 18 experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems. The service works to provide them with a greater knowledge of their condition and improve coping techniques.

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South Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides outpatient assessments, support and treatment for children and young people up to the age of 18 experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems. The service works to provide them with a greater knowledge of their condition and improve coping techniques.

Central Bedfordshire services

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Central Bedfordshire local offer

Up-to-date information about what is going on in the Central Bedfordshire area. Find out more about how to access services. Learn about about childcare settings, childminders and early help support for all families.

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Central Bedfordshire early help team

The Early Help Team provides support to help families cope with difficulties and to prevent bigger problems emerging. These include sources of support, workshops, childcare, children's centres and children's activities. This help is assessed via an early help assessment.

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Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS

Central Bedfordshire Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) is a statutory service, provided by but working at arm’s length from the Local Authority which offers a free, confidential support service for young people with SEND and their parents and carers.

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Home Start Central Bedfordshire

The Parent Mentor service is funded by Central Bedfordshire Council for families with children with special educational needs (SEND). The charity’s volunteer parent mentors offer one-to-one support for a period of time (usually six weeks) to other parents with children with additional needs.          

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North Bedfordshire CAMHS

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides outpatient assessments, support and treatment for children and young people up to the age of 18 experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems. The service works to provide them with a greater knowledge of their condition and improve coping techniques.

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South Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides outpatient assessments, support and treatment for children and young people up to the age of 18 experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems. The service works to provide them with a greater knowledge of their condition and improve coping techniques.

Luton services

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Luton local offer

Find information about local services, support and events for children and young people aged 0 to 25 years who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.

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Luton family information service (FIS)

Luton Family Information Service (FIS) provides information, advice and guidance on a variety of services, helplines and websites that are useful to parents, carers, children and young people under the age of 20, and professionals who work with them.

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Luton SENDIASS

The Luton Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) was previously known as the Luton Parent Partnership. The information, advice and support provided is to help enable children, young people and their parents or carers to participate in decisions regarding their education needs, in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.

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South Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides outpatient assessments, support and treatment for children and young people up to the age of 18 experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems. The service works to provide them with a greater knowledge of their condition and improve coping techniques.

Organisations

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ADHD Wise UK

An organisation set up by adults diagnosed with ADHD, who champion the possibilities, and ‘promote positive outcomes’ for ADHD people.

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Ambitious about Autism

A national UK charity offering a variety of different services. This includes education and employment support and advice, training for parent carers and professionals. They also raise awareness and campaign for change for autistic children and young people.

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Autism Bedfordshire

Independent charity dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and their families across Bedfordshire and Luton. Offering information, guidance, support and training for children and adults with autism, as well as their parent and carers.

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Autism Central

Autism Central is a peer education programme commissioned by NHS England. It aims to build knowledge and understanding of autism and empower families and carers to advocate for autistic people they support. Local support helps families to get the right understanding and adjustments in place across the services they use.

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Carers in Bedfordshire

Carers in Bedfordshire is a charity providing support for carers of family members and friends throughout Bedfordshire. They have offices in Bedford, Biggleswade and Leighton Buzzard.

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CHUMS

CHUMS are a local Bedfordshire and Luton charity. They provide mental health and emotional wellbeing services for children and young people. Parent and carers can self-refer through the website.

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Contact for families with disabled children

A free advice and information helpline for parents and carers with a disabled child aged from 0 to 25 years old, living in any part of the UK

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Daisychain

A free confidential service providing advice, support and information for neurodiverse adults, young people and their families.

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ERIC

The Children's Bowel & Bladder Charity is dedicated to give every child and teenager with a bowel or bladder condition in the UK the support they deserve to enjoy a life free from shame, isolation and fear. They offer a range of information and support for parent carers via online resources, workshops and their free helpline.

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FACES Bedford

A parent-to-parent support group for parents of autistic and ADHD children and young people. Offering advice and support for parent/carers, as well as signposting to other relevant services.

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IPSEA

Free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

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National Autistic Society

The UK’s leading charity for people with autism spectrum and their families. Providing support, guidance and advice. They also campaign for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

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Outside-iN

A voluntary organisation dedicated to supporting and educating families, adults and professionals living with or working with ADHD, ASD and associated conditions.

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This information has been co-produced with parents, young people, local parent forums, CAMHS, education psychology and other key partners. It was also created with a neurodiverse team. 

The language around neurodiversity is changing and evolving. We want to ensure our information is inclusive and sensitive. The terms used in this pack are the most up to date when the information was created. If there are any outdated words or terminology, no offense is intended and we will work hard to update these. We are grateful for your support and feedback.

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