Dr Allison Moore from HiGSS has just completed a series of Trauma Informed Care and Autism training events for Health Professionals in Bradford. Working with Paul Davies, Associate Tutor on Critical Autism Studies and Autistic trainer, in partnership with Survivors West Yorkshire, they delivered half day sessions looking at contemporary approaches to Autism and the need for specialist support for Autistic people. Disabled people are statistically more likely to be the victim of abuse across a whole range of offences but existing support often fails to take into account the specific needs or challenges face in accessing appropriate support.
CEO of Survivors West Yorkshire, Rob Balfour stated,
“It was exciting to work with Allison and Paul to bring a new conversation to West Yorkshire. Survivors West Yorkshire (SWY) and its male-focused Ben’s Place online trauma-informed counselling service is survivor-led and focused. Its vision is to support the development of a range of evidence-based services that are gender-informed and accessible across West Yorkshire. Services which are user-friendly and proactively involve survivors.
Rob added, “Feedback was excellent”, and comments included, “an excellent blend of theory, information and personal experience” as well as, “It is good to listen to other perspectives to help improve services.”
It has directly led to two training attendees joining the Master’s in Social Sciences (Critical Autism Studies) course further strengthening the links.
Allison and Paul are in the process of presenting a bespoke and expanded session for Bradford District Care Trust Adult Community Crisis Psychological Services. There are plans in place to work in conjunction to look at ways of examining how they can be more supportive of Autistic people in crisis in their area.