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Support for neurodivergent children and their families
Preschool aged children: Speak to your Health Visitor or GP
School aged children and young people: Make an appointment with a teacher or the school's Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to discuss your concerns. You can also speak to the School Nurse or 0-19 service.
If your child is struggling with their mental health visit our Children's Mental Health pages.
If you are a young person visit our Young Person's Mental Health pages for advice and support.
Healthier Together is not responsible for any content posted by the organisations listed below. Online groups may help you to meet others with similar experiences to your own but please remember to keep you and your child safe online. Some of the sites below have been recommended by parents and carers with lived experience.
Autism Support Services and Resources
Autism.org.uk provide advice on diagnosis, education and managing behaviour
Ambitious About Autism has lots of information including a Parent Toolkit with tips for the whole family and checklists for appointments, childcare and school
BBC Parent's Toolkit on autism
The Autism Education Trust have resources to help with education:
- Parents Guide for Working Together with Your Child's School
- Guide to finding the right school
- School refusal and anxiety
Autism Central offers parents and carers access to autism education, training and support
Read the National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) Mini Guide on Girls and Autism: Flying under the radar
The Curly Hair Project is an organisation that supports autistic females but many of their resources are also helpful for autistic males. They use cool things like animated films, comic strips and diagrams to make their work interesting and easy to understand
The Art of Autism aims to empower through the arts. Subscribe to their blog and read the parent perspective blog.
The Aspie World, Ask an Autistic and Dr Pooky Knightsmith
Local Autism Support
Bradford and Craven
AWARE is a parent run group supporting families with autistic children (formal diagnosis not required). The group covers the Airedale, Wharfedale, Bradford and Craven areas and beyond. Call 01535 661275 or email info
Bradford Early Advice Team provide support whilst your child is on the waiting list for assessment. This service is run by AWARE. Call 01535 661275 or email info
ASpire is a support group for parents and carers of children and young people up to 25 years old.
Calderdale
Unique Ways is a parent and carer led organisation. A formal diagnosis is not required.
Unique Ways offer a broad range of services for parents and carers, from training courses and independent supporters to social events, focus groups and discounts on family days out. Call 01422 343090.
Open Minds provides brief support for parents and carers of school aged children who are waiting for an assessment for autism or ADHD. Call 01422 300 001 or complete their online form.
Kirklees
Call Thriving Kirklees on 0300 304 5555 to find out what support is available.
PCAN Parents of Children with Additional Needs making a difference in Kirklees. They welcome all parents or carers, whether you are just beginning to become aware that your child or young person may have additional needs, or if they have confirmed diagnosis.
Northorpe Hall offer family support. Call 01924 492183.
The Huddersfield Support Group for Autism and their facebook group offer advice, meetings, trips and events amongst other things. Email info
Wakefield
Wakefield Awareness Support Project (WASP) provide emotional wellbeing support to young people. WASP is a targeted service and referrals need to come from a professional involved with the family. The referral form can be found on Wakefield's Local Offer website. Call 01924 683890.
Leeds
Visit Leeds Mindmate Neurodiversity Information Hub for neurodivergence information and support for all children, young people and families.
ZigZag Leeds Autism Support Group supports children with or without a diagnosis. The group is run by people with lived experience.
SNAPS (Special Needs and Parent Support) is based in Leeds but accepts children from all areas. They provide support services for children with additional needs of all kinds, and their families. They support the entire family by enabling the child, along with siblings, parents and other carers to participate in a shared experience of physical activity, fun and conversation in relaxed surroundings. Call on 07738 287024 or email jo
Leeds ABC Group. Their Next Generation Youth Group runs every Wednesday during term time. Admission is £5 per child, age 11-18.
ADHD Support Service and Resources
ADHD Foundation has lots of resources and have published a booklet for children with ADHD
ADDitude provides guidance and support for living better with ADHD and its related mental health conditions.
Podcast SENsational: The Special Educational Needs Podcast including What every parent needs to know about ADHD
West Yorkshire ADHD Support
Visit Leeds Mindmate Neurodiversity Information Hub for neurodivergence information and support for all children, young people and families.
Leeds ADHD website. A peer support group for adults and young people with ADHD and their families. Join their monthly in person meeting or zoom meeting.
West Yorkshire ADHD Support Group. A peer led voluntary support group offering a wide range of support to both adults and parents or carers of children with ADHD. Email support
Local Offer
The Local Offer is a term from the national government. Each area must provide information for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 0 to 25 years. The Local Offer for your area will explain services available to help you and your family.