SAVS Quarterly Newsletter Apr-Jun 19

FANTASTIC WORKSHOPS BY GEOFF
EVANS
“
If you’re feeling worn
down and doubting
yourself and your
parenting abilitiesplease,
take some
time to recharge. Do
something for yourself,
lift your mood a little
and take another look.
You are enough, you can
do it.
You are enough.
“
For those of you that are
familiar with Little Heroes
ASD Support Group you will
recognise we work extremely
closely with our local SENDIASS
service and are fortunate
to have a positive working
relationship. Over the past year
we have been collaborating
and together we felt as though
our local families could benefit
from a visit from Geoff Evans,
with many years experience in
the world of autism we knew he
would empower so many.
And without fail that is exactly
what he did! Four parent
workshops were delivered
locally offering over 240 seats in
total for people within our local
community in early June. No
words can express the positivity
in the room better than how
MRS T puts it:
Today I attended a free
information event hosted by
SENDIASS and Little Heroes. I
had the pleasure of meeting
today’s speaker Mr Geoff
Evans, who talked passionately
and shared his expertise and
wealth of knowledge on all
things Autism- more specifically
Autism and anxiety, stress
and managing behaviours of
concern.
Within the first half hour
of Geoff’s presentation I
found myself overwhelmed
emotionally and temporarily
removed myself from the room
to have a little cry… why?
Before me stood a man
with years of experience of
understanding and helping
individuals with Autism. He has
made a difference to so many
children’s lives, helping whole
families. But more than that.
He not only understood and
helped… he really, truly got
it. I was completely caught off
guard to be made to feel like
I was doing the right thing. To
be built up. To be made to feel
valid- my parenting is right. My
concerns are right. The way I
choose to deal with things are
good enough and sometimes
just doing what it takes to get
through the day- is ENOUGH.
So often as Autism parents
we are made to feel less
than enough. Perhaps offered
parenting courses. Being told a
lot of the things we are doing
wrong. I’m sure the intentions
are well meant, ‘you should
be doing this instead’ always
offered in consolation. But not
today.
Today felt like a real
connection, a genuine
understanding of what we go
through as parents and there
was SO much useful information
and insight delivered, but
in an empowering way. The
whole family is important when
it comes to helping a child
with Autism. The whole team
around the child- professionals
included- matter. Everyone
has to be ok. If you get the
opportunity to hear Geoff
Evans speak in future I highly
recommend you do, whilst funny
and engaging he brings a wealth
of information to help us along
through our Autism journeys.
If you’re feeling worn down
and doubting yourself and your
parenting abilities- please,
take some time to recharge. Do
something for yourself, lift your
mood a little and take another
look. You are enough, you can
do it.
You are enough.
To follow MRS T and ASD please
visit: https://www.facebook.
com/MrsLTblog
www.savs-southend.org | info@savs-southend.co.uk | 01702 356 000
SAVS Newsletter 19/20 Q2 | PAGE 23