Being neurodivergent means that a person’s brain works differently than what is considered typical or normal and sometimes it can be tough to fit into a world that doesn’t understand us well. Seeing the world in a different way can have a big impact on a person’s mental health, and lead to feelings of low self-worth, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and stress.
Here you can find factsheets, tips and information, organisations, apps, podcasts, and services available in West Lothian, which can help you better understand the challenges neurodiverse people face and ways you can help and support yourself and others.
Let us know what resource works well for you. If you have any other suggestions for our self-help pages, please email westspace@health-in-mind.org.uk.
For young people
An extensive range of resources can be found on CAMHS website
A guide from National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to help to understand what to expect from the autism assessment process and what should happen if an autism diagnosis is confirmed
NHS website ‘Every Mind Matters’ provides various resources to improve mental wellbeing as well as resources for carers
Solihull provides access to free online courses for parents and young people using the access code ‘TARTAN’
The Salvesen Mindroom Centre has resource guides, real life stories and lived experiences, and advocacy support for young people.
Young Minds Charity provides information about emotional wellbeing, and can provide guidance about finding support
Royal College of Psychiatrists has information about parenting, young people’s mental health, and includes weblinks, book references and advice
National Autistic Society provides a variety of advice and guidance
Branch Out Together was formerly the Lothian Autistic Society and provides social activities and events.
Embrace Autism is a place to find research & experience-based autism content for personal elucidation & empowerment. By autistic people, for autistic people.
Ambitious about Autism is the national charity for autistic children and young people. We stand with autistic children, young people and their families to champion rights, campaign for change and create opportunities.
MIND provides information and tips about living with ADHD
Sleep Action is a Scotland-based Charity promoting sleep hygiene
NHS Every Mind Matters is an NHS Health Information Website with info about sleep
The Teen Sleep Hub – Getting the support you need to achieve a good night’s sleep
Advice on various mental health topics from the National Autistic Society
Free online courses and worksheets covering low mood, stress and resilience from LLTTF
NHS GGC offer a range of online resources to help support children’s independent living skills, including information about sensory processing differences and strategies to try.
Canongate Youth have a variety of groups which one can access without a referral, they provide support for children and young people who face barriers and challenges
Move on match volunteer mentors to vulnerable young people aged 14-25 to support them to achieve goals and reach their full potential
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) support pupils, parents and teachers with a comprehensive range of career information advice and guidance (CIAG) services
For Parents and Teachers
Edinburgh Psychoeducation Intervention for Children (EPIC) provide leaflets on the typical strengths and challenges of neurodivergent children aimed at both parents and teachers. They also offer a more detailed booklet covering some practical strategy ideas.
The National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) are a practitioner researcher partnership who are based at Queen Margaret University. They have parent information sheets to support children’s communication, eating and drinking, autistic masking, and anxiety related attendance.
Edinburgh Council offers a range of parenting programmes which are self-referral based and free for parents and carers with children living or attending school in Edinburgh
Family Lives is a charity providing advice, web links, helplines and videos for parents
The Neurodevelopmental Pathway (ND Pathway) in West Lothian is the name for the process where a child or young person is being assessed for one or more neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning/ Intellectual Disability (LD or ID), Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Feotal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
Who can make the Request for Assistance –
- When parents, carers or young people are seeking a Neurodevelopmental (ND) Assessment the ND Request For Assistance (RFA) form can be completed and sent in by any key professional e.g. GP, Teachers, Health Visitors and other health professionals. There is no default professional who should make the request, rather this should be agreed in collaboration with the family and the most appropriate agency should support.
School Role in ND Assessment Requests
- When schools have the most relevant information to support the process and families have requested that they assist, it has been agreed that West Lothian schools can assist with this using the Request for Assistance Form As part of the RFA process, schools can also submit existing assessment and Child’s Planning information to support the process.
- In West Lothian, it has been agreed that, in order for schools to support in this way, the child should be at at least Level 3 of the Continuum of Support as this level of planning is aligned with the NHS requirement for evidence of significant impact on day-to-day functioning for ND requests for assistance.
- When children and young people are at a universal level of planning, school staff should advise parents, carers and/or young people of this. Schools will not be expected to assist with the Request for Assistance process in these circumstances. Parents, carers and young people can link with their GP or Health Visitor to explore the Request for Assistance process through that route in these circumstances. It should be noted that universal level support does not align with evidence of a significant impact on day-to-day functioning in school.
Further information and Frequently Asked Questions on the process and relevant supports can be found on the NHS Neurodiversity website.
FAQs – Children and Young People – Neurodiversity
There have been recent increases in the numbers of parents seeking private assessments and diagnoses for their children in relation to recognised Neurodevelopmental concerns. West Lothian Council Education Services has provided the following guidelines for schools and parents in relation to engagement with private requests for assessment.
- Current GDPR guidelines require written permission to the school from parents in order for existing assessment information to be shared with an external agency.
- Based on capacity within the education system, there would be no expectation that significant, additional assessment would be undertaken in school by education staff for this purpose. Where relevant however, the completion of either the CONNERS 4 (ADHD) or the Social Responsiveness Scale (ASD) by school staff will be considered appropriate.
- Recommendations made by private assessors in relation to learning environments, differentiation of learning or delivery of teaching and learning will be considered by the school and may inform reasonable adjustments where appropriate. Schools may seek further advice from their allocated educational psychologist or additional support needs service regarding what is proportionate and reasonable to implement.
West Lothian’s general approach to safeguarding means that it will not be possible for schools to enable external professionals to spend time in school buildings for observations and assessment processes.
Videos
If you are looking for local support, please go to our service directory to find out what services and projects are available to you – West Space service directory