“Thank you for always standing by him and for treating him as the individual that he is. We often talk about how it was your input in the school that made everyone aware that he wasn’t a ‘naughty’ child with behaviour issues, and that he needed the right level of support to get him to where he is now. 6 years on and he is doing so well.”
— Parent
“I wanted to say how helpful I found my sessions with Olivia. Right from the start she made me feel at ease as she was so friendly and kind. She had a wealth of knowledge and explained it all in a way that I could understand. She clarified lots of things for me and helped me to understand and work out how I could support my daughter in a way that would reduce the frustration we were both feeling. I’d also like to let you know how well my daughter has settled into college (100% attendance). I know she is working really hard with her DBT but she has told me how our morning routine, especially me talking to her less, has helped.”
— PARENT
“Dee, my Autism Whisperer!”
— Lisa, Mum
“Thank you so much for attending the meeting yesterday. We could not do this without your support. As usual I am humbled (and I do mean that) by the experienced insight you all have and your kindness and dedication to the children and families you work with.”
— Parent
“A big thank you from us all at One-Eighty for coming in and doing the two training sessions. We really appreciate your time and the team just think you, and your charity, and what you do for young people and stand for is amazing- it has given the team a real boost with their Autism awareness.”
— Charlie Lewis-Pryde, One-Eighty
“Thank you soooo much for your help, input and attendance at the mediation.
I think it would have been quite a different meeting without you. You really managed to decipher my ramblings and helped me convey my points clearly.
Once again thank you, you were brilliant.”
— Mum
“Thank you so much for Monday.
I think I was in a really heightened state all day and the tribunal hearing was not really structured and run how I expected it to be.
Thank you so so much for everything: for being so dedicated to getting it right for our son; taking part all day even though the hearing notices said it was morning only; for supporting me in all the ways you did and helping me to regulate.
I left it a few days to send this as I think we’ve been processing it all week. I hope you have been ok. I was so glad to have you there. Your skills and experience were clear.
The role you play changes lives.”
— Emma, Mum
“Dee was really helpful, in-fact probably the most helpful reports I have ever read relating to these children.”
— Julie, Head teacher
“Every educational professional should attend this training - it has had such a positive impact on my staffs confidence.”
— Alan, SENC0
“I feel like I have finally met my daughter! Thanks!”
— Annie, Mum
“This training was invaluable - I cannot wait to get back to school and begin using some of the knowledge and strategies I got from today. Dee is great - personable, motivating and passionate!’”
— Kerry, TA
“I just wanted to say thank you so much for the help you gave us; going above and beyond in order to give us the support that was so desperately needed. And also for putting us in touch with Lawrence. It is amazing to see how far our son has come with him and how much he gets from the sessions which is clear from how he now enjoys going to see him.
You and your team have helped beyond measure; even in getting Chris on board with what our son needs. Words cannot express how much that has improved all our lives for the better. Autism Champions comes up regularly whenever people ask how I am as I am only in a much better place thanks to you.”
— Parent
“Amazing training provided to our team, totally inspiring. I want to get involved with the support you all provide!”
— Collette
“Please pass our thanks on to Dee for today’s session, I know the group found it really valuable”
— Kate, Yellow Submarine
“It’s been a few weeks since our meeting now but its still something I very much think about and reflect on day to day. I just wanted to email to say that I’ve been recognising more and more when I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed and have been practicing advocating for myself. There’s been a lot of self-awareness happening over the past few weeks that I don’t think I’d have been able to achieve without your help! So for that, I cannot thank you enough. ”
— Parent
“I have had nothing but extremely positive feedback after your staff meeting. Several TAs said it was by far the best training they had ever had and everyone really enjoyed your passion, humour and engaging presentation. Your aim to get everyone to view ASD children differently and understand that their behaviour is linked to anxiety was clearly put across and we all learnt a huge amount.”
— Susan, Senco
“Thank you Dee for everything you have done for our son and all the support you have given us during some very touch times. We wish that everyone had your commitment, empaths and knowledge of autism and your understanding of day to day difficulties faced by parents and carers.
Thanks to your dedication, our understanding of our son’s condition has resulted in us becoming a closer family. Where once we felt helpless, we now feel confident that we can help him achieve everything he want to in life.”
— Alan and Sarah, Parents.
“I heard two of your team speak last Monday at the mental health conference - they were great!”
— Radley College
“Our son was diagnosed with autism in 2010, we knew little about the disorder at this time and struggled to deal with him on a daily basis.
We first met Dee when she was working at our son’s school as the lead ASD teacher and it was clear from the start how dedicated she was. She was in constant contact offering help and assistance with any problems we had. Then she enrolled us into an autism parents programme, an intensive 10 week parenting course which she was running at the school. This was the turning point in our ability to deal and understand our son’s daily battle with his autism, she provided so much information, help and advice and throughout the course we put lots of routines/practices in place which we are still using and are still working today.
Dee has an amazing ability to help us to see what our child sees, feels, experiences on a daily basis and in turn make our life and his less stressful. Our knowledge and understanding of autism has increased considerably since meeting her and it is clear to see that she has an incredible insight and understanding of this disorder, she is fiercely passionate about her job and this is plain to see as she goes above and beyond normal expectations. We consider her a valued friend and feel blessed to know her.”
— Angie & Martin, Parents.
“I came to the Power to Parent course with no expectations, having done various general and autism specific parenting courses in the past and feeling like I had tried and failed with pretty much everything and nothing would ever change.
This course has blown me away - you have framed things in a completely different way, which is actually useful and the techniques are approachable, manageable and effective. I now have hope that things can change, it’s not too late, there is hope. You’ve knocked it out of the park!”
“Yes, we absolutely loved the training. A massive THANK YOU to Dee for all that she gave of herself that day and to the team in the background who made it happen.””
— Susan
“Power to Parent gave me much greater confidence in my parenting abilities. I realised how much I was already doing to meet my son’s needs.
The course leaders helped me be kinder to myself and stop feeling like my son’s problems were my fault. They gave me the confidence to tell the school what worked for my son.”
— Parent
“The Power to Parent workshop was very positive and empowering - it didn’t shy away from the challenges of parenting an autistic child in our society including as a neuro divergent parent but the emphasis was on the child’s integrity and dignity - so much of the time people just focus on all the things that are wrong with our beautiful children and that is so relentless and hard to bear.”
