Power to Parent is Autism Champions flagship programme.
At Autism Champions we see autism as just another way of being human. Power to Parent focuses, not only on the child, but all those around them. We believe that meeting your own needs as a parent is paramount and must take centre stage if you are to be the parent you want to be.
Power to Parent can be delivered in a range of ways, and purchased privately or commissioned by services such as the NHS or Social Care.
How Power to Parent will help you
Aims
By the end of the Power to Parent course you will:
Understand autism, through the lens of your child.
See your child’s behaviour for what it really is - their attempt to communicate with you.
Understand how to support their needs and in doing so see their behaviour change.
Learn real-life ideas for your own family which will make a difference.
Explore your anxiety and your child’s and understand it better.
Allow yourself to set boundaries and to make mistakes. Allow yourself to say no to things, to meet your own and yours child's needs.
Understand what works for your child and feel empowered to speak to your child’s education setting or workplace so as to ensure they are being supported adequately.
Learn how to become the parent you want to be for your child.
Remember, you need to be willing to challenge the ‘normal way’ of doing things and be willing to take some risks. Change is easy, sticking with it takes courage!
Is this course for you?
Your child’s
experience
If you identify with some or all of the below, Power to Parent will be beneficial to you and your child.
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…like your child controls the home, when you leave the home, and/or how you leave the home?
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…can’t be on their on their own?
…always needs someone with them?
… can’t even let you go to the loo on your own?
…will only be in one room of the house?
And bedtimes, don’t even talk about it - let's just say you dread them.
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…what clothes they wear?
…what foods they eat, when they eat, what they eat with, where they eat, who they eat with?
Or perhaps your child is no longer eating at all.
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…biting their nails too far, banging their head, picking at their skin, pulling their hair, scratching, or cutting?
We all have ways of coping, but when it’s causing our children distress and pain, it needs to be acknowledged.
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…your child won’t leave their room, won’t interact with anyone, or refuses to go to school.
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…and even though we don’t want to admit it, can be frightening, and at times violent, hurting you and others.
The school’s
experience
Your child's school may say things like…
“He is fine at school.”
“You just need to be more consistent.”
“She is playing you.”
“He is very manipulative.”
“Just leave her, she will be fine when you go.”
“He just won’t sit still, he is always messing.”
“She is choosing to behave this way.”
“He likes being on his own.”
“She just needs to learn how to fit in.”
Or has your child just been excluded completely?
Your own
experience
Do you…
…feel like you are constantly walking on eggshells,
…constantly trying to avoid meltdowns,
…making continual changes to your day, so as to keep the peace,
…continuously on edge,
…and feeling like you are getting this all wrong…?
Oh, and are you completely exhausted?
Do you…
…believe you are the expert on your child?
You know what they like, you know what they need, but feel constantly gaslit by your child’s school and extended family.
…know something isn’t right, but you don’t have a diagnosis?
Are you waiting for a diagnosis? Do you hope that once you get that diagnosis - that piece of paper - things will change and life will improve?
If some or all of this is familiar to you, then Power to Parent can help.
whenever you need a friendly face or helping hand
Future support
and community
Part of the benefit of Power to Parent is the support and community that is created on that day. We are therefore careful to keep the group small.
Once you have completed Power to Parent you will be encouraged to join the Power to Parent Facebook Group. This is a community of like-minded people and a place where we can continue to learn from, share with and support each other. We know families who have met through Power to Parent who in years later continue to support each other.
What have others said about our course
Feedback
received
Over 100 families have completed our Power to Parent course.
100% of course participants would recommend the course to a parent in a similar situation to them.
86% of course participants said the course either improved their ability to parent a lot, or completely transformed their ability to parent.
Words uses to describe the course:
Life changing | Transformational | Practical | Useful | Empowering | Enlightening | Supportive | Therapeutic | Constructive
Testimonials
Further
information
An autism diagnosis is not needed to attend the workshop
This event is not suitable for children and young people.
Parents/carers can attend by themselves, in a couple or with extended family members.
We’re looking forward to meeting you
Power to Parent
Trainer Introductions
Sarah Phelen
Kitty Nolan
Vicki Selby
Power to Parent in your home
Vicki Selby
Virtual Power to Parent
Olivia Johnstone
Power to Parent Options
Power to Parent
Our standard Power to Parent programme includes six 60-minute virtual (online) sessions plus a Hello Call and a Goodbye Call with your Consultant. You can read more about our Power to Parent Consultants here. The cost of this programme is £1500 per family and up to two adults can attend each session. Please contact us to register your interest.
Power to Parent Group
Autism Champions currently offers Power to Parent privately to groups of up to 6 families at a cost of £1998 (£333 per family) for six 90-minute virtual sessions.
Our primary motivation is to reduce the price of Power to Parent, making the course accessible to more families. However, working in an online group with other parents can also provide families with the opportunity to form friendships and to learn from each other’s experiences.
If you have found a group of up to 6 families (2 adults per family), and are able to pay £1998 up-front, please contact us to take the next steps.
Power to Parent Pre-Recorded
Autism Champions will soon be offering our Power to Parent course as 6 individual pre-recorded videos, delivered by Dee Nic Sitric (CEO, Autism Champions). This makes Power to Parent significantly more affordable, at just £180 for the full course. Please contact us to register your interest.