Pretty much most situations, experiences and events that take place in our life every day changes on]]> by Elisa Ferriggi

Let’s face it… the world we live in is not going to accommodate us, so we need to make sure that we are able to cope in a dynamic world as it continues to change.

Pretty much most situations, experiences and events that take place in our life every day changes on a moment-to-moment basis. How we cope with them and how we deal with them is what can determine our quality of life. Take for instance driving; a very dynamic situation that many of us adults can relate to. It can be so challenging learning how to drive. We need to apply our dynamic intelligence to the max when it comes to all the different aspects of driving from how to physically get the car going to keeping an eye on the road, and listening to the instructor whilst trying to keep your cool and do the best you can. Its hard work, and I remember when I was learning to drive 6 years ago, it was extremely tiring and quite stressful. For those of you who are curious I passed my test and can drive very well now, and multi – task listening to the radio whilst having a conversation too (except for when I am parking the car, that’s a different story). So now I have the driving competence under my belt, I still cannot control what the roads, other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, traffic works, diversions and accidents will lead to, and that is where I have to apply my dynamic intelligence on an ongoing basis. This is just every time I get into the car, out of the car there are multiple dynamic situations that are dealt with, including every interaction.

So what has any of this got to do with autism? I hear you ask!

Well, a lot actually because if you can imagine what it felt like when you were in a situation like that, where you didn’t feel competent and were faced with a number of uncertainties and you just didn’t know what could jump out in front of you or what the next thing you have to deal with was, you will begin to have some understanding of what it is like for a person with autism living in a dynamic world.

You see, we all have different thresholds of dealing with dynamic situations and for some this can vary enormously to others. As parents we deal with plenty of dynamic situations and for many parents it is possible (albeit hard work) to stay on top of everything and sometimes it just all becomes TOO MUCH! And that ‘too much’ is the tipping point and what we do at that point is very telling in how we deal with dynamic situations, it is where our dynamic intelligence steps up and makes decisions, breaks it down, calms us down, and works through logistically and pulls on previous experiences that we have been through before that are similar to help us succeed. Or it is where we experience the flight, fight or freeze reactions to the situation we are in because we do not feel we can deal with it. If we are able to apply our dynamic intelligence competently we are less likely to get overwhelmed and stressed out, this includes stopping, pausing and taking moments to think about our actions, our choices and our decisions.

Now, I think you will be getting the link between what this means for your own child. So far I hope you can recall a time where you have had to use your dynamic intelligence, realized that we all have different thresholds of dealing with dynamic situations and maybe understood it in your own behaviour and possibly recognized this in your own child. So you may come to the conclusion that dynamic intelligence is important and the good news is can be developed and improved!

So now what?!
I told you the world isn’t going to compensate for those that struggle in dynamic situations and its getting more and more dynamic too, so we have two options; 1 – help children cope better, 2 – develop dynamic intelligence by following a developmental pathway.

Now before I list some ways to help children cope better in a dynamic world, you must understand that these ideas will merely be compensations and will not help to work on the core of the struggles. Ideally these should be short-term compensations and go hand in hand whilst developing dynamic intelligence. Developing the dynamic intelligence is what contributes to a better long-term quality of life, short-term compensations help the immediate quality of life become easier to deal with while addressing the core difficulty.

Ways to help children cope better in an ever changing world:
• Visual schedules to reduce anxiety and know what is coming up next
• Creating a safe space to escape to
• Establishing a way to say “I need a break/ to be alone”
• Make choices from two options
• Prompted through situations
• Social stories
• Calming activities
• Regular routines
• Lists

Developing dynamic intelligence
• Adding very slight differences to existing routines
• Adding variations to existing interactions
• Providing just enough support that the child can feel competent
• Experiencing new situations
• Experiencing new people
• Experiencing a new route
• Doing things very slightly differently just enough to be noticeable but not to create chaos

The two lists above are of just a few ideas that you can do and for some children it will be too much and for others can take on more, each child really varies.

Dynamic situations are subjective but include anything that requires moment-to-moment analysis and ongoing change, this is most situations and experiences in life and particularly interaction. Interactions are generally so dynamic because you just don’t know what the next person is going to say or do in response to your actions and then following on from that you can choose absolutely anything in how you decide to respond to them.

There are so many things that can be considered as helping a person improve their quality of life from developing speech to self help skills, learning to cook and interacting with others to developing relationships and holding down a job that provides good job satisfaction with friends in life and no fear of going out. Essentially these all come down to dynamic intelligence and dynamic analysis as the route of the ability. Considering this is one of the biggest challenges children and adults with autism face, this is what we should prioritise in terms of where our attention goes to improve dynamic intelligence.

About Elisa;

Elisa Ferriggi is dedicated to empowering parents to feel competent in raising their child with autism to improve quality of life. By addressing the core deficits of autism and unlocking potential, children are able to develop milestones required to connect with others and establish true relationships. Elisa Ferriggi has been involved in the autism field since 2003 and is trained in the following approaches Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Holistic Approach to Neuro Development and Learning Efficiency (HANDLE) Screener, The Listening Programme (TLP) Certified Provider.

www.facebook.com/ThinkAutismLtd

elisa@thinkautism.co.uk
Twitter: Think_Autism

Any comments? Please forward to hello@theautismdirectory.com

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In]]> By Harriet Stack.

Parents decide to home educate their children for various reasons.  For some families, home education is a lifestyle choice and their children never attend school.  Other parents remove their children from school later on, due to bullying, not finding a school with the “right fit” for the child, or special needs.

In England and Wales the law provides that parents have a duty to secure the education of children of compulsory school age, but makes clear that this can be “either by regular attendance at school or otherwise”.  “Otherwise” covers home education.  (Please note that the situation in Scotland and Northern Ireland may differ and Wales has some separate guidelines; my comments are based on experience of the English system.)

Parents are often surprised to learn that they are not legally obliged to cover the National Curriculum, to enter their children for any exams or to adhere to school hours, days or term dates.  In fact, doing away with the school week and/or terms can be very beneficial to children who find a change in daily routine unsettling.  Similarly, there is no obligation to provide formal lessons or to focus on one subject at a time.  For example, a trip to the zoo might cover geography (the route to the zoo), biology (animals), maths (working out how much pocket money we have to spend) and English (talking about our favourite animal, reading the signs at the zoo).  Moreover, most home educating parents would hold as equally important the many “life skills” that children ought to learn but which are not covered in the National Curriculum.

The law does stipulate that children should receive “efficient” and “full-time” education which is suitable to the child’s “age, ability and aptitude” and to any special educational needs.  These terms are open to interpretation but it would be universally accepted that younger children ought to be learning to read and do arithmetic if they are able.  On the other hand, “suitable” education may well mean that a child’s particular interests or talents should be specifically catered for.  Children who love music should be able to spend a high proportion of their time developing musical skills, and can also access much of their learning through music, for example.

So if I decide I want to home educate my child, what do I do? Of course this is a big decision, and you will not want to make it without doing quite a lot of research.  Check out the resources below, to start with.  It can also be a very good idea to write a plan which describes how you will educate your child.  Be prepared for this to change radically: the most creative and detailed plans are unlikely to be followed in reality but it can be an incredibly useful exercise and I would always recommend this.  Then, if you are sure you want to go ahead, and your child is currently in school, you will need to write to the head teacher to ask him or her to remove your child from the register.  Template letters are available from the Education Otherwise website (see below).  This is important, and it’s a good idea to obtain a signed receipt for your letter.

The school will advise your local authority who will contact you at some point.  The local authority representative’s role is to monitor and advise on your child’s home education.  In practice, this very often takes the shape of a friendly annual visit by an individual who loves to speak to parents and children, is keen to provide information, and respects the diverse choices that parents make in educating their children.  Neither you nor your children are under any obligation to meet the representative in person, or to let them into your home.  You do need to provide evidence, on request, that you are providing a suitable education, but this can be in the form of a written report. The local authority can, however, insist on seeing younger children if they have any concerns about their welfare.

Of course, there are often financial issues connected with home education.  One parent will usually need to be at home most of the time, and any costs (private tutors, books, equipment, trips etc) will be met by you.  Some families may be eligible for various benefits but home education in itself does not make you eligible, or entitle you to further benefits.  Most long-term home educating parents tend, therefore, to be committed and innovative; if you weren’t like this before, and you want to home educate, you soon will be!

Home education isn’t for everyone; in fact, it isn’t for most people.  But if you think it might be right for you and your child, do spend some time finding out more.  It could be the most fulfilling and beneficial choice you make as a parent.  Good luck!

Resources:

www.education-otherwise.net

www.heas.org.uk

www.home-education.org.uk

Free Range Education, ed. Terri Dowty

How Children Learn, John Holt

 
Any comments? Please forward to hello@theautismdirectory.com

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by Gary Baker, Wales and West Media

LOCAL charity The Autism Directory were as pleased as punch that businessmen and women throughout South Wales have helped in raising funds for its’ work.

Networking company Introbiz brought fifty companies together at Penarth’s Pier 64 for a business breakfast which also doubled as a fundraising event]]>

by Gary Baker, Wales and West Media

LOCAL charity The Autism Directory were as pleased as punch that businessmen and women throughout South Wales have helped in raising funds for its’ work.

Networking company Introbiz brought fifty companies together at Penarth’s Pier 64 for a business breakfast which also doubled as a fundraising event for The Autism Directory, which was formed just a year-and-a-half ago.

The St David’s Day auction raised over £550 (pounds) for the charity, with the star item, a pair of boxing gloves worn and signed by legendary Welsh world super-middleweight boxing champion Joe Calzaghe, going well.

After several rounds of bidding, Acorn Recruitment Group Marketing Director Dan Langford delivered the knock-out bid for the gloves and assorted accessories, including a signed poster of Calzaghe’s successful title defence fight against Armenian Mger Mkrtchyan in 2004.

Mr Langford, who had spoken earlier at the event about the importance of businesses investing in the right people said: “It’s been an interesting morning, and I’m delighted that I was able to offer some support to The Autism Directory.”

Introbiz, under managing director and founder Tracey Jenkins, has been a partner of The Autism Directory since its’ launch in November 2010.

Ms Jenkins said: “As a supporter of this outstanding charity, it was the most natural thing to put on an event that helps raise funds for The Autism Directory to grow and develop.

“Without even asking the companies who attended our business breakfast and auction, there would have been at least half-a-dozen people – if not more – who have been directly effected by this disability.

“It is a neurological disability which tends to go unrecognised. The general public see children being naughty when they are, instead, confused and overwhelmed with the environment and as a result, have what looks similar to a tantrum in public places like supermarkets, libraries and buses.

“The Autism Directory helps parents of autistic children and adults cope with advice, friendship and support at times when they need it most.

“I am glad that we have been able to help the growth of The Autism Directory with our business breakfast and auction. It was a fantastic success and we look forward to hold our next one in the coming months.”

Mrs Nadine Honeybone, founder of The Autism Directory, whose son Tommy has the disability, was also at the breakfast, and said: “I really would like to thank everyone for their support, for bidding for the auction items and contributing to the raffle we ran at the same time.

“We have many initiatives that we want to take forward that will help the lives of parents and children who are living with this disability.

“Tracey has been a supporter of The Autism Directory from the start and we cannot thank her and her team enough for all their efforts.”

One mission of the charity is to help businesses understand autism through free training sessions for staff with the aim of those companies becoming autism friendly.

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For more information about Introbiz and their regular forthcoming meetings across South Wales or to book a place, please go to www.introbiz.co.uk, via e-mail on info@introbiz.co.uk or by ringing 0845 434 7540

Picture caption:  Mr Daniel Langford, Acorn Recruitment Group Marketing Director (left), and Mr Paul Smolinski, of Moss Bros, Cardiff, (right), with Introbiz managing director Ms Tracey Jenkins after their business breakfast and auction for The Autism Directory.

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About Gary Baker and WALES and West Media Ltd:

Whether your business is small, medium or large, getting your message across to the outside world is the most important part of any business. If nobody knows who you are, how do you expect them to buy off you?  WWM has a team of journalists and PR practioners with a collective experience in the media of decades. We have all been at the sharp end of the industry, in broadcast, print and PR, so we know what journalists want and what news editors accept. We have the contacts across all sectors of local, national and international newspapers to get the very best awareness of your specific campaigns.  For more information visit  http://www.walesandwestmedia.co.uk

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Recent statistics claim that the divorce rate of couples with an autistic]]> By Caroline Ashby

February is the month in which a lot of focus is placed on love, relationships and the perfect partnership.  What happens though, when you believe you have all the above and then … you have a child diagnosed with autism?

Recent statistics claim that the divorce rate of couples with an autistic child is 80%, with the likelihood of divorce remaining high when the child reaches its teens. 

“They don’t know what the future holds for their child, and feel a sense of hopelessness about the future of their marriage as well – almost like getting a diagnosis of autism and a diagnosis of divorce at the same time”   Brian Freedman, Clinical Director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Autism does not just affect the life of the child with the diagnosis, it also has a profound effect on every relationship within the family as well.  It changes the dynamics of all the family relationships, in ways that you did not plan, find difficult to adjust to and cope with, and creates a huge amount of stress and uncertainty about the future of the whole family.

The couple that used to spend their evenings and weekends with each other and socialising with friends, are suddenly aware that babysitters are not available to care for an autistic child!  Couples either spend a lot of time at home, feeling isolated from the life that is happening outside, or they start to socialise separately, so there is always one parent home to care for their child.

This starts to alter the balance of their relationship with each other.  Parenting a child with autism is a 24 hour a day/7 day a week challenge.  Parents can get overwhelmed with all of the approaches to autism – behaviour based, diet based, chemical based.

It can be extremely stressful to go on family outings, family celebrations or even to the local supermarket.  Couples have to cope with people staring at their child and making unkind comments.

Divorce rate remains high as the child gets older, when the issues surrounding them get more complex – hormones, physical strength, frustration at inability to effectively communicate, and now your child is older, their sometimes ‘odd’ behaviour is even less well tolerated by outsiders (or indeed, close friends and family members).

The once happy, loving couple are now exhausted through sleepless nights, isolated from social events, judged by complete strangers, stressed about providing for their child for the rest of their life and they are struggling to find time for themselves and each other.

So how do you protect the relationship you have with your partner, helping it to grow and to flourish, rather than become a statistic?

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”, Charles Swindoll

You cannot change the diagnosis your child has received, but you do have complete power over how you react to it and how you face the challenges ahead of you and keep your relationship healthy, happy, special and strong.

CREATE GOALS  - When everything seems to have fallen apart, the most empowering thing to realise is you still have options and choices and then decide, as a couple, what you want and go for it.

Go with your instincts, assert yourselves and gather people around you who will support you.  Choose your friends wisely though – you need people who are happy, positive, inspiring and energetic for this amazing life you are living.

FOCUS ON EVERYTHING GREAT IN YOUR LIFE – Never focus on all the things you feel your life lacks.  Give all your energy and excitement to things that are going right.  You may have a wonderful relationship, a great home, a job you love.  You may have your health and hobbies that help you relax – celebrate these with all the energy you can muster – together.

Other people may not recognise all the beauty and joy in your life because they just see the challenges you face, but you must see all the great things in your life in glorious technicolour.  Focus on all the beautiful things that your amazing child can do and then you will have the joy in your heart and the energy to help them tackle the things they find challenging, in a happy and fun way.

There are few things in life that are impossible and we always have a choice.  Don’t live in the shadows, looking out at what could have/should have/might have been.  Instead, shine a light on what is working and allow it to grow.

LOOK AFTER YOURSELVES

If you are happy, healthy and positive, you will be in such a powerful position to help your child be the best they can for themselves.

Looking after yourself and your relationship is of paramount importance, so do 4 things each day to nurture your mind, your body, your soul and your relationship.

You could read or learn a new skill for your mind; perhaps you could go for a walk or dance around the kitchen for your body; listen to beautiful music or laugh with friends for your soul and for your relationship – when your child’s needs demand your time and energy, romance may be the last thing on your mind!  Rekindling your relationship, however, is crucial if you and your partner are to stay strong and happy.  Make a point to schedule regular dates with each other.  They don’t have to be complicated – a beautiful meal together, a picnic on the lounge floor, watching a movie or going for a walk.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Live in the now!!!  View yourselves as other positive people view you.  Recognise what you are doing well, instead of dwelling on what you wish you did better.

Working to repair and strengthen your marriage can be hard work, but if you and your partner agree on your overall goals, the journey you go on together will be so much more rewarding.  It will bring you together as a couple, in a very special way.

Your marriage is a union of two unique people with individual needs.  Your child and family situation are also unique to you.  Working together, you and your partner will find the best path to take.  The rewards will come when your understanding and love for each other deepens and you allow it to grow.

Having a child with autism does not have to make you a ‘divorce statistic’. There is a good chance your marriage and family will not only survive – but also thrive – from the challenging, exciting, life changing, amazing experience you are going through.

So go for it and give it all you’ve got!

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain”, Anon

About Caroline …

I am the mother of a beautiful daughter, Emily, who was diagnosed with severe autism when she was 2 1/2 years old.  I tried many approaches, therapies and treatments with Emily and when she reached 13 years old, she was in a position to go to school for the first time.

I have always been very happy and positive about Emily, but realised that many families struggle to help their children and cope with negative, judgmental comments of others and their own lives become ‘stuck’.  I decided to train to help these families and have set up Challenge Life Coaching.

Challenge Life Coaching is a unique life coaching practice that specialises in helping clients who have a child in their lives, with a disability.  Based on deep knowledge, understanding, experience and a huge passion, I help my clients achieve their own goals and dreams, whilst at the same time, helping their child be the very best they can.

www.challengelifecoaching.com

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From Anna Kennedy:

This promises to be a great event not only for those in the audience but also those who are coming together to join us on the stage.

We are bringing]]>
On Saturday 12th May at the Mermaid Theatre in London, Anna Kennedy Online will be presenting with Pineapple Studios  ‘Autism’s Got Talent’.

From Anna Kennedy:

This promises to be a great event not only for those in the audience but also those who are coming together to join us on the stage.

We are bringing together a diverse group of people who are all on the Autistic Spectrum to come and show everyone just how talented they are.

All too often many people in society make the mistake of thinking that anyone with a disability is capable of very little……HOLD THE PRESS…….on this evening we will be showing everyone just what all these great people really are capable of and just how good they are at it!!

Talent comes in many forms so, as you would expect from us, we will be covering many different genres on the night ranging from performers with instruments to singers and dancers. We have some great stars who will be performing not only as soloists but some will also be coming together to perform in a group, something we are all too often told is too difficult to do! Talent also stretches way beyond the field of performance so on the night we will also be hearing from, and championing, people that have done other amazing things showing great skills in such areas as writing, art and even extreme physical endurance.

This is a night that will surely open the eyes of those who previously didn’t realise just what someone on the Autistic Spectrum can be capable of.

As ever, in a bid to keep reaching out far and wide across our nation, we have perfomers that are coming to us from right across the country and even across the sea! This is not just a night to celebrate a small section of people but rather EVERYONE that is on the Spectrum. We want people to see the show or hear/read about it from others so they stop and realise just how capable that person they always ignore or walk past really could be. This is about those on the Spectrum actually being counted for.

For some it would be enough just to offer a few perfomers……..but not us!! On the night there will also be informative dipslays for the audience to view in the foyer beforehand. Within these displays will also be included some of the great work that people you will be hearing from on the night have done such as art and pieces of writing. Doors will be opening at 6pm so we do encourage people to come along at that time so they can take advantage of the displays in plenty of time before the grand performance starts.

We have kept tickets to a low price of £10 but we will obviously help any concessions where we can. Everyone is welcome and we will do our very best to ensure that the evening is open to all. This is not just a performance for those on the spectrum to appear in but also for those that can to come and join us in the audience to enjoy themselves and also be inspired to start building on their own talent. Anyone with any queries about the suitability of the show itself or the theatre can contact us on the Ticket phone number/email address below. Obviously a theatre/audience situation is not suited to all on the spectrum but this will be a very understanding and Autism Aware Audience so we don’t want anyone to feel that they can’t come or that a parent should automatically think they can’t bring a child with them. If you are not sure then please do contact us as we really do want this to be an audience that is mixed of those on the spectrum and those that aren’t.

The most important thing to remember is that this is going to be a proud night with many a laugh and lots of fun to be enjoyed by all.

Tickets are available now and can be purchased now by calling 01895 619734 or enquiries to lisa.robins@thevines.org.uk

We have a great team putting this evening together and there have even been rumours of a red carpet and possible a few well known faces……….we could tell you more but surely it is better to come and see for yourselves!

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Having a child with special needs brings with it more responsibility as a parent or carer than usual. The prospect of them getting into trouble with the law and being arrested can be too frightening to think about, when the lack of understanding by the police of their condition, their difficulty]]>

By Harriet Stack. 

Having a child with special needs brings with it more responsibility as a parent or carer than usual. The prospect of them getting into trouble with the law and being arrested can be too frightening to think about, when the lack of understanding by the police of their condition, their difficulty with communication or even their behaviour when anxiety goes through the roof could make the stuation worse, or at least more difficult to handle. In this article, Harriet Balcombe covers the basics of what happens when a child is arrested. If you have any comments or questions please email us at hello@theautismdirectory.com

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In England and Wales, children can be arrested and held criminally responsible for their actions from the age of 10.  This is known as the Age of Criminal Responsibility and is amongst the lowest in Europe.  It is very worrying for parents, especially those with no knowledge or experience of the criminal justice system, to find that their child is in police custody, but some of that worry may be alleviated with a little information.

Police powers in this country are covered by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the Codes of Practice attached to that Act.  These instruments provide for special measures to protect child and vulnerable suspects, but there are no extra measures for children with special needs.

The first thing to bear in mind is that, although we were brought up to think that the police are there to protect us and are on our side, in this situation they are on the other side.  It is their job to identify suspects, detain them and investigate any crime.  A significant number of detainees, both children and adults, have done nothing wrong.  Yet the police are perfectly entitled to arrest and detain them within the dictates of the law.  Any lawyer would therefore suggest that a suspect (or parent of a suspect) take independent legal advice rather than accept any advice from a police officer in these circumstances.

The Custody Officer is a police officer, usually a Sergeant, whose responsibility is the wellbeing of the detainees in his or her Custody Suite.  He or she must take such steps as are practicable to ascertain the identity of the person responsible for the welfare of a child who has been detained and inform that person.  The welfare of any child in custody will be a prime concern for a Custody Officer but it still may take some time for parents to be informed if Custody is busy.  If your child has special needs, the time to inform the police about this is on receipt of the initial phone call.  The details should be noted on the Custody Record and most Custody Officers have a good understanding of all sorts of vulnerabilities.

Children are detained in Junior Detention Rooms.  These rooms are cells in all but name, sometimes a little larger than the adult cells, and usually nearer to the Custody Officer’s desk.  This is the safest place for your child, particularly as there are often angry, frightened or drunk adults in the Custody Suite and being locked in the Detention Room will protect them from such people.  Children can be detained for up to 24 hours (and more in certain circumstances) but it is unlikely that the detention will be this long unless the allegations are very serious.

Detainees below the age of 17 (as well as vulnerable adults) are entitled to an Appropriate Adult (AA) whose role is to support, advise and assist the young person.  A parent will be the first choice for the police when identifying an AA, so that, if they are able to contact a parent by telephone, this person would most often end up acting as AA.  If no parent or relative is available, trained AAs (usually very competent and empathic) are available from the local AA Service.  Parents can’t act as AAs if they are the complainant or if they are suspected of involvement in the offence.

The police will often ask parents to attend the station as soon as they are contacted.  There may then be a long wait at the front desk before they are taken into Custody, however.  This is often due to the Custody Suite being populated by the angry, frightened and drunk detainees already mentioned.  If you wish to contact the Custody Officer, a phone call to your local constabulary’s non-emergency number, followed by a request to be put through to “Custody at XXX Police Station”, should reach the right number.  Actually getting through may be a different matter, however, again usually due to whatever mayhem may be taking place.  If you are able to get through, or if you receive further phone calls, a reminder to every person you speak to about the special needs of your child is a good idea.

Once you are taken to see your child, the Custody Officer will explain your child’s rights to both of you together. This is not a good time to enter into any discussion with the police other than the subject of your child’s welfare and special needs.  It may be tempting to explain that your child has done nothing wrong or meant to do nothing wrong, but the Custody Officer shouldn’t enter into such discussions and you may unwittingly complicate matters.  Such explanations are more safely made after receiving legal advice.  Your child’s rights include the right to legal advice and the right to read the Codes of Practice.  If you take up the former, you are unlikely to need the latter.  Your child will be entitled to advice from either:

1.  The Duty Solicitor, or
2. A solicitor of your choice.

Duty Solicitors are usually the most experienced police station lawyers and work on 24 hour duties.  They are completely independent from the police.  The only reason to ask for a lawyer of your choice is if you happen to know a firm or a solicitor specialising in criminal law.  As the law currently stands, you will not need to pay for legal advice from either of these.

Parents sometimes worry that waiting for a solicitor will delay matters further, and these worries can occasionally be encouraged by the police.  Such concerns are unfounded; it is accepted good practice for solicitors to attend within 45 minutes of being called to the station, and investigating officers will try to organise the timing so that they, themselves, are not delayed any longer than necessary while waiting to interview your child.

Once a solicitor has been contacted they will usually telephone to speak to the client.  If you are available, you should be able to speak to them too, and advise them of your child’s special needs.  Most criminal solicitors are used to working with vulnerable people.  The solicitor will only be asked to attend once the police are ready to interview your child.  This can take some hours; for example, officers may be taking statements or otherwise gathering evidence.  During this time you may be allowed to sit in the Detention Room with your child, at the discretion of the Custody Officer.

When the solicitor arrives, they will first speak with the investigating officer and Custody Sergeant to obtain information about the allegations against your child.  They will then meet you and your child and may ask to speak with your child alone initially. This is an important safeguard as they are acting for your child, not you, and need to be sure that your child would like you present during consultation.

Whether you are present at the consultation or not, this is what takes place:  the solicitor will tell your child what the allegations against them are, and the evidence that the police have found.  They will then ask your child what happened (called “taking instructions”) and finally give advice about the legal position and the best way of handling the impending interview.  If you are present your role is an important but often difficult one; you may be able to help a great deal with communication between the solicitor and your child, and your explanations of your child’s special needs will be valuable, but the instructions need to come from your child, not you.

Most solicitors will make a point of preparing a child for interview by explaining in detail what will happen and even running through some example questions.  They will want to make sure your child understands the Caution (“You do not have to say anything.  But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in Court.  Anything you do say may be given in evidence”) and the offence they are accused of committing.  They will advise whether, in their opinion, your child should answer questions in interview or not.  If you, personally, don’t understand any of this, or if you think your child doesn’t understand, you should tell the lawyer.

Both you and the lawyer will accompany your child in interview.  This is a fairly formal affair, recorded on tape and commencing with introductions and an explanation of everyone’s roles.  You can’t answer questions for your child but you can help with communication and intervene if you think your child is distressed or being treated unfairly.  It is important that you do point out if you think the police misunderstand what your child is saying or if it is ambiguous.

After the interview you and your child should have an opportunity to speak with the solicitor privately and this is a good time to ask what might happen next.  There may be a wait while the police consider this or they may already know what they want to do.

There are a number of possible outcomes.  The police might take no further action, in which case nothing more happens.  They may want to bail your child to return to the station at a later date; this is usually so that they can carry out further investigations or liaise with prosecutors.  Or, if your child hasn’t been in any trouble before, they may offer a “diversion” in the shape of a Reprimand or Final Warning (to be replaced by Youth Cautions when the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill is enacted).  If this offer is made, it is a good idea to discuss the ramifications with the lawyer.  Finally, if the offence is serious, your child may be charged.  Don’t panic!  You will probably want to have a longer discussion with the lawyer in this case.

Whatever the outcome, at this point you will be relieved because your child will be released and you will go home.  It may all have taken much longer than you hoped, and no doubt will be a horrendously stressful experience which you will not want to repeat, but if you have remained calm and your child has received legal advice, you should have ensured that your child’s rights are observed and that the conclusion of the matter is the best it can be in the circumstances.

Resources:  The Children’s Legal Centre produce a useful booklet entitled “At the Police Station: Children and young people’s rights”.  Available from clc@essex.ac.uk

Article written for The Autism Directory by Harriet Stack; a solicitor who has five years’ experience advising suspects in police stations and has conducted academic research into the legal position of child suspects.

Any comments?  Please forward to hello@theautismdirectory.com

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