Parental Support
The following organisations provide support for those who have a caring responsibility for someone with additional support needs in East Dunbartonshire.
Carers Link
Support for those with a caring responsibility in East Dunbartonshire including 1:1 support, help applying for funding for short breaks and respite, coffee mornings, yoga, mindfulness, training, support for young carers and more.
At Ease With Autism
Local support group for parents, grandparents and carers for autistic people, meeting at the St Pauls Parish Church Friday at 1pm (except school holidays)
Contact Alison on 07925 380 990 for more information.
SAND (Supporting Autism and Neurodiversity) training
A free six week block of training run by neurodiverse Occupational Therapist Heather Wright on the subjects: ‘Understanding Autism and Neurodiversity’, ‘Communication’, ‘Processing Differences’, ‘Sensory Issues’, ‘Arousal and Behaviour issues’ and ‘Getting it right’. Once you have done the six week block then you can attend additional add-on sessions on various topics.
Visit the autism and neurodiversity section of the CarersLink website.
Trauma Informed Parenting Training
Training for parents and carers on how to support yourself and your child to cope with their behaviours that challenge (open to anyone with a child with additional support considerations).
Visit the Trauma Informed Parenting website for more information.
Local Area Co-ordinators Parent and Carer Forum
A monthly meeting for those in East Dunbartonshire who have a caring responsibility for someone on the autism spectrum, at any age and any stage of the diagnostic process (not just 14+ and formally diagnosed like their 1:1 work). Always on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 6-8pm alternating between in person and online on MS Teams. There are guest speakers invited to the online sessions to talk about a range of subjects, and also an ASN newsletter sent out every month to the mailing list along with the meeting minutes for those who couldn’t attend.
LACs@eastdunbarton.gov.uk (email the team to request more information or to be added to the mailing list)
Whole Family Wellbeing Team
Primarily supporting young people and their parents/carers preparing for the transition from Primary to Secondary school. Available services differ between the EDC locality areas so get in touch with the team to find out more.
Also offering more widespread training to families on subjects such as Sleep and NVR (New Vision on Relationships).
Visit the Whole Family Wellbeing Team page of East Dunbartonshire Council's website to find out more.
Or email requestforassistance@eastdunbarton.gov.uk, putting ‘Whole Family Wellbeing Team’ in the subject line.
Differabled
Providing peer support and training to support parents and carers of children with additional support needs and neurodivergent adults. Based in Glasgow but open to East Dunbartonshire families.
Salveson Mindroom Centre
Parent and carer support, and a children and young people’s outreach service for those supporting someone with a diagnosis of Autism, ADHD and dyslexia.
You Are Not Alone Sessions
Information sessions throughout the year run by Creatovators for those who have a caring responsibility for someone on the autism spectrum. Each session covers a different topic and has presentations from invited speakers – previous topics include: sensory processing, autism and females, sibling relationships, education inclusion and autism and eating (among others). There is also the chance to ask questions to a panel of local residents on the autism spectrum, as well as peer-support with teas and coffees.
This list has been developed by the Local Area Co-ordinators. If you have any questions, or think we should make any changes then please contact: LACs@eastdunbarton.gov.uk