Posts tagged publicservices
Summary of the Public Services seminars: trying to find a ‘lingua franca’ …
The Newcastle and Cardiff Public Services seminars brought together researchers, autistic people and family members and service professionals working in government, NHS, education and charities.
Our first goal was to create an opportunity for engagement, and forge new partnerships. We know that people from these communities tend to operate in separate worlds. So we equalised the numbers attending from each community - being able to bring people together across the two days to talk about the same questions was itself an accomplishment! Across the two days of each seminar we heard different views, different interpretations and debate. But we also saw real connections emerge, and attempts to understand and share a common purpose. Engaging with those who have different views and experiences can lie outside our comfort zones and this was a learning process. As Lynda Morgan points out in her comments, the different groups each have a different vocabulary and a different culture – but a real desire to make progress toward a common goal – that of improvements in people’s lives. There was a sense that we were trying to find a ‘bridge language’ (what is called a lingua franca) so we could communicate with each other to achieve a common level of understanding amongst the difference.
One thing I want to know more about is …?
At the end of Day 1 at the Newcastle and Cardiff Public Services seminars, we set everybody the task of completing the sentence, “One thing I want to know more about is…..?” Read people’s responses here.
Reflections on the Public Services seminar - Cardiff
Photo: Cardiff Speakers including Lisa Hurt, Jules Akers, Bev Winn, Anne Marie McKigney and Jill Grange
Jules Akers, an autistic adult participant at the Cardiff seminar, described his experience of the seminar in his in Reflections on the Public Services Seminar. Jules gave a presentation in the session called Consulting young adults about Services in which he offered some important insights from his own life as advice for future autism services. Another Cardiff presenter, Alex Lowery, shares Jules Akers’ story in his blog Alex Lowery Speaks About Autism. You can also read Alex’s own story and his other recent articles about autism here.
Co-host of the Cardiff Seminar and the mother of a young adult on the autism spectrum, Lynda Morgan, gives her thoughts on the seminar in Reflections of a Cardiff Co-host.
Public Services Seminar Outcomes: Small Group Discussions
We asked groups of ten people who were from different backgrounds (researchers, autistic individuals, parents and professionals from health, government or charity sectors) to discuss these questions;
- What new partnerships and ways of working are needed to undertake high quality public services research? (Newcastle)
- How can we reduce disparities in access and entitlement to adult services? (Cardiff)
- How can we ensure that evidence-based services are being provided for children and their families? (Cardiff)
Here is an example of the themes that emerged from one of these questions (Cardiff).
Public Services slides - Cardiff seminars
You can download slides from most speakers at the Cardiff seminar here:
- Sue Leekam, Jeremy Parr, Lynda Morgan: Welcome
- Patricia Howlin: Outcome for adults - How can the future be improved?
- Dami Benbow: Ambitious about autism - MyVoice
- Alex Lowery: Support for people with autism
- Sarah Bunce: Diagnosis, navigating university, entering motherhood
- Bruce Etherington: Research impact and public services
- Ian Jones: National Centre Mental Health
- Jo Manikiza: Welsh Government Strategy and Resources
- Angela Martin: Involving and engaging the public
- Barbara Moore: Engagement in research
- Lisa Hurt and Kate Langley: Care pathways
- Catherine Jones: What new directions for autism research?
- Bev Winn: Relationships
- Sarah Barrett: Imagination and repetitive behaviour
- Georgie Powell: Attention
How did the Cardiff seminar fare?
Feedback from participants who attended the Public Services seminar in Cardiff.
NB: In each case the maximum possible score is 5. Higher scores indicate more positive ratings. Ratings reported only for delegates who were unconnected with the seminar organisation and the Wales Autism Research Centre.
Our second seminar in Newcastle - what were we trying to achieve?
In November 2015, we held the second in this series of six seminars in Newcastle. The seminar programme provides more details about the structure of the seminar over the two days and Jeremy Parr’s introduction slides explains what we set out to achieve.
Autism research is very important to our community. Partnership working is essential.
Third Seminar - Cardiff
The Cardiff Autism Services Seminar takes place on 4th and 5th February. While the Newcastle seminar focused on public services for older individuals, the focus for the Cardiff seminar is on younger adults and children. Both seminars address key questions in relation to the inclusion of individuals in accessing services and the role of advocacy. They also highlight the importance of involving the views of autistic people and their families in decisions that affect their lives and the need for integration and partnership working in research and services. Day 1 particularly focuses on services for adults and Day 2 on children’s services with a special focus on services in Wales.
Questions we will address.
- What can we learn by listening to the experiences of autistic individuals and family members in relation to services?
- Why are there disparities in access to services and how can we reduce them?
- What changes are needed in public services and why?
- How can researchers engage more effectively with service professionals, autistic individuals and their family members?
- How can we ensure evidence based methods of assessment, support and social care take place across different agencies?
*please note seminar attendance is by invitation only. The seminar will not be recorded but you can follow it on twitter. There is also the discussion space on the Autism Research Policy Practice Hub http://www.autismrpphub.org/
Cardiff programme schedule
Day one
10:15 Tea and coffee
10:45: Introductory talks and seminar
12:35: Lunch
13:35: Afternoon seminar
15:10: Tea and coffee
15:40: Seminar
17:30: Finish
Day two
8:45: Tea and coffee
9:15: Seminar begins
10:45: Tea and coffee
11:15: Seminar
12:45: Lunch
13:30: Afternoon seminar
15:00: Tea and coffee
You can view the full programme here.
You can view an accessibility summary here.
Cardiff Seminar: Accessibility Summary
Click here to download an accessibility summary that has been prepared following an inspection of the venue by our autistic consultant David Malins.
The Venue: Glamorgan Building
The
seminar will take place at The Glamorgan Building at Cardiff University’s
Cathays Campus. The venue has been inspected by autistic individuals for the presence
of unpleasant sensory stimuli or other obstacles to autistic accessibility.
Committee Room 1 will be well signposted and you will be greeted by members of the Wales Autism Research Centre team as you arrive – you can see additional pictures here.
Post event drinks
On
the Monday evening everyone is welcome to come along and join us for post
event drinks at the Park Plaza Hotel Laguna Bar pub in the Park Plaza Hotel,
about 5-10 minute walk from the venue. You can find out more about the Park Plaza Hotel here.
Food
Our catering company is Green Shoots a Social Firm established to offer training and employment opportunities to young people who face disadvantage and barriers to employment. [email protected]
On arrival on Monday there will be pastries, tea and coffee. Tea and coffee will also be served during the breaks. Lunch will consist of a cold buffet on both days. If you would prefer to purchase food, The Glamorgan Coffee Bar is on the ground floor selling a range of sandwiches and snacks. However, please note that this venue is used by both staff and students so it can be busy.
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