B Brand, Glasgow. Parent

Having attended a course with Barbara Kennedy for parents/carers of a child or young person with autism, I found it immensely helpful. I learned so much from Barbara, from her niece with autism and the other parents and grandparents who were part of the group. I know this will be a long journey but I feel more equipped as a parent and I’m developing a better relationship and understanding of my teenage daughter. When I thought everything was so hard, this group gave me hope and encouragement.’

Mairi Tulbure CEO Up2Us, 3rd Sector charity supporting children and young people.

Email: mairitulbure@up2us.scot Date: 30/11/22

I have been using Barbara Kennedy’s Autism Support Service since 2018 and cannot recommend her expertise, and ability to build organisational capacity more highly.

In the Health and Social Care sector, caring for around seventy children and young people between the ages of twelve to twenty-six years old per year, we regularly encounter neuro-diversity. In Up2Us we are less interested in the labels or diagnosis of children and more in how we can understand and meet their needs. We do not talk about challenging children, we talk about children who challenge our ability to provide a caring service.

Barbara Kennedy understands more about children and young people who are neuro-diverse than anyone I have met in my thirty years of working in children’s services. She has worked with small groups of staff to help them understand individual children’s needs, encouraging their professional curiosity, and has taken project workers through a programme of understanding and supporting which can reduce the presentation of anxiety to almost non-existent. She has also developed and delivered training programmes for larger groups of staff which are tailored to our needs and structured in a way that encourages staff to develop and record their own learning which Barbara then builds upon week-on-week. She recognises that to empower children and young people who are not neuro-typical, you must first give the staff the confidence and resources to actively seek understanding so that together they can try different strategies, and not be afraid to learn as you go.

In my five years with Up2Us, I have seen some very positive outcomes for children and young people as a direct result of our autism advisory service, from: non-attendance to full attendance at school, to the self-management of sensory triggers; to safety management of young people who present risks; to eating full meals and bathing for the fist time.

 Nikki McDonald Up2Us. Shift Leader Rowans House

The training gave me a much more in depth understanding of how the neuro diverse mind interprets and reacts often differently and surprisingly to themselves, others, or situations. I felt I learned new approaches that are a valuable toolbox for my practice. I also had fun interacting at the training sessions.

 Emma Willie. Service Manager Shields House

Barbara delivered training for our organisation to help develop the way we communicate with young people who are neurodiverse. This training has given our team a range of methods, as well as better knowledge of how to support our young people while communicating effectively in a way which they will understand. 

Insurance

Holistic Insurance Services. Certificate of Insurance Cover: Malpractice/Professional Liability, Public Liability and Products Liability.