BeyondAutism Post-19
Having identified a critical gap in provision for our cohort, and knowing we had the expertise to help, in 2016 BeyondAutism secured a building in partnership with Yarrow Housing and a small team of staff to support Priyan in the newly formed pilot of BeyondAutism Post-19.
In the first year, the team did fantastic work supporting Priyan in his new setting, reducing behaviours that challenge and teaching independent living skills that would be critical in his adult life. Staff then focused on developing his communication to give him the ability to request for the items, activities, locations and actions (e.g., asking to take a break) that he wanted. He learned to engage in short durations of peer activity (playing darts, Connect 4, and reading with a peer), and to exercise to support his physical health.
He also learned to transition independently in the Post-19 Hub and in the community. As a result, he began to thrive in the community, making huge progress whilst accessing a wider variety of locations on a daily basis; including shops, cafés, parks, the gym, and the local garden centre. Priyan also completed vocational tasks – participating in a social enterprise making cards, and gardening at the hub and a local care home as part of a work experience placement.