Wellbeing through problem solving and developing positive autism identity
This is a post diagnostic/self-identification support programme for autistic adults by autistic adults.
We are helping autistic people to process the diagnosis, to explore what autism means to them, how to lead your best autistic life and to improve their wellbeing.
(Scroll down if you want to be a mentor)
- Have you recently been diagnosed; or self-identified as autistic?
- Struggling to set and achieve your goals?
- Need a supportive community to navigate your autistic identity?
Take a step towards better wellbeing and join our free Pathway mentoring programme.
The programme is designed by autistic people for autistic people. It includes
- Weekly one hour online 1- to-1 mentoring sessions,
- A series of talks and discussions about exploring autism and wellbeing (online course)
- An online support group (zoom).
Our Pathway mentoring programme will help you to better understand what it means (and doesn’t mean) to be autistic and to help you to formulate and progress towards achieving your personal goals.
Below is the button to the registration form
The mentoring will help you to problem solve, deal with the complexity of your individual situation, help you to understand strengths, sort out a sense of direction in your life and gain confidence. It will provide tailored support and accountability for progression.
Goal oriented problem solving, positive autistic identity and a sense of connectedness and belonging are central to autistic wellbeing and quality of life. Research has shown that this is best achieved in a community of autistic people.
The Pathway programme provides such a community where you can be your authentic self without being judged. Feeling empathized with, accepted and validated goes a long way towards building wellbeing.
You can learn about the social group Zoom meetings here https://ndsa.uk/tool-up/how-to-use-zoom/
Our free mentoring programme is based on research by Damian Milton et al.*, the prominent autistic autism researcher. It showed that time-limited, goal-directed mentoring helps autistic people deal with challenges and demonstrates an improvement in the wellbeing of autistic participants.
Our programme is based on Dr Milton’s study and designed with his participation with valuable contribution from Dr Susy Ridout. It is developed by autistic people for autistic people.
We are aiming to help autistic people to realise their goals and lead fulfilling lives, including navigating their autistic identity.
The Pathway course designed and delivered by autistic people will provide helpful resources and will take you through various aspects of what it means to be autistic in the 21 century.
This programme will help autistic people to realise their potential, achieve personal growth and connect with the autistic community, thus improving their wellbeing.
You can get an idea about the programme content here: https://ndsa.uk/tool-up/courses/going-through-mentoring-programme/
Please note that the Pathway programme
- Is not a substitute for mental health support you may have received or are awaiting.
- Is not a programme for ‘fixing’ the autistic person – It is more about listening to you and working with you in helping you to identify, clarify and resolve issues.
- We do not offer legal advice or detailed advice on entitlements or benefits
- At the beginning and end of the programme we will ask you to fill out evaluation questionnaires. At the end of the programme we will ask you to participate in the evaluation interview with a researcher evaluating the programme.
Have more questions? Contact us at : toolup@ndsa.uk
Below is the button to the registration form
*Martin, N., Milton, D.E.M., Sims, T., Dawkins, G., Baron-Cohen, S. and Mills, R. (2017), “Does “mentoring” offer effective support to autistic adults? A mixed-methods pilot study”, Advances in Autism, Vol. 3 No. 4, pp. 229-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-06-2017-0013
Information meeting for prospective mentees
We are holding an information meeting for prospective mentees on Monday 28 August at 1 pm and Thursday 7 September 2023 at 1 pm.
Past mentees will be present.
Details will be emailed after registration or after contacting us on toolup@ndsa.uk.
Become a mentor
We are recruiting new mentors for Pathway.
- Looking for meaningful ways to volunteer?
- Wanting to help to make a life changing difference to both your own and someone else’s life? We are recruiting
Mentoring can provide a great sense of fulfilment and recognition. You could be helping an autistic adult to navigate their autistic identity, achieve their goals and remove the barriers that are getting in the way of their wellbeing. Our Pathway programme will train and support mentors throughout the programme.
What is involved?
You will receive a comprehensive free training developed and delivered by Dr Damian Milton. You will also join a mentors’ online support group and receive individual support and supervision from experienced mentors throughout the programme. You will mentor online one or if you prefer two autistic individuals to the rate of one hour per week for a duration of 20 weeks.
You would need to complete enrolment, mid-term and post programme questionnaires, attend the online training, consent to a DBS check and commit to 20 weeks of mentoring. You will receive payment of £13.2 per session. You may also choose to mentor on a voluntary basis.
To register click ‘Enrol’
You could be helping an autistic adult to navigate their autistic identity, achieve their goals and remove the barriers that are getting in the way of their wellbeing.
Find your community, hone your voice, and mentor the next generation
We are looking for autistic people with life experience and who feel positive about their autism, whether they have been diagnosed or are self-identifying – to mentor and create a collaborative resource bank for autistic people who are navigating recent diagnosis. We especially welcome late-diagnosed autistics. We are also looking for people with experience of addiction or the criminal justice system.
The project aims to build a supportive community to enable people diagnosed, self-identified or wondering if they might be autistic to navigate autistic identity in the 21st century and improve their wellbeing.
The Pathway programme offers access to:
- Training and professional support to become a mentor and to create impactful content
- Regular mutual support groups on zoom
- A private supportive online forum
- A modest compensation of £13.20 per mentoring session
- The chance to be a part of an exciting collaborative production of autistic culture
If you have identified as an autistic person for 2 years or less, please stand by – we are going to advertise for a support programme to help you navigate those first years very soon!
Mentoring can provide a great sense of fulfilment and recognition. You could be helping an autistic adult to achieve life changing positive framing of their autistic identity, achieve their goals and develop your own mentoring skills. Our Pathway programme will train and support mentors throughout.
What is involved?
You will receive a comprehensive free online training developed and delivered by Dr Damian Milton. You will also join a mentors’ online support group and receive individual support and supervision from experienced mentors throughout the programme. You will mentor online one or; if you prefer; two autistic individuals at the rate of one hour per week for a duration of 20 weeks.
You would need to complete enrolment, mid-term and post programme questionnaires, attend the online training, consent to a DBS check and commit to 20 weeks of mentoring. You will receive payment of £13.20 per session.
- Enrol as a mentor in the Pathway programme
- Contact us at: toolup@ndsa.uk
Information meeting for prospective mentors
We are holding an information meeting for new mentors on 28 August 2023 at 7 pm
Current mentors will be in attendance to share their experience.
Zoom link will be sent after registration.17
Testimonials
“The programme content has been so great, and it really feels like an amazing space because (a) everyone understands (and I’d gone my whole life thinking no one could understand me), (b) I was *so* inspired, right from the start, by Marie & Co for setting it all up (seeing what amazing autistic individuals on a forum can do working together dispelled any feelings I was useless or broken or ineffective – we can be powerful), but ALSO by the other people in the group – I identified with them, saw how they were ND and really liked them for it (I could NEVER like myself before I knew I was ND) – just the first information session was a great start for a positive autistic ID! NDSA has made such an amazing difference to my life in such a short time. I really mean it. The discussions are so good too – there’s a real hive kind thing going on. People saying things you thought were only ever in your head.” [A Pathway mentee]
Please click on the button below to view testimonials
