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- gems.4health@nhs.net
As a parent or carer, you may want more information, guidance, or connection to better understand and support your child’s unique ways of thinking, learning, and experiencing the world. At GEMS, we recognise this and provide a variety of FREE virtual courses and workshops to help you build your understanding of autism and/or ADHD.
Your child does not need to have a diagnosis for you to attend — they may be waiting for an assessment, or you may simply recognise traits of autism and/or ADHD. Our trainers have extensive lived and professional experience in these areas, and you’ll also have the opportunity to share ideas and strategies with other parents and carers in a supportive environment.
If you live in, or your GP is based in, East Berkshire (Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead, or Bracknell), you can easily book a place by clicking the “book here” option next to each virtual workshop or course below.
Workshop Title | Course Description | Target Audience | Dates | Time | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AuDHD | Hosted by Parenting Special Children This neuro-affirming, strengths based, interactive workshop is designed to help parents/carers better understand the unique experiences of AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD) children and young people. Exploring AuDHD strengths and challenges, Practical strategies for home and school, Reframing so called 'difficult' behaviours, Supporting child's self-esteem and self-advocacy. | Dual pathway Support For parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: Tuesday 3rd February 2026. | 7 - 9pm | |
PDA - Demand Avoidance | Hosted by The Autism Group This workshop will allow you to explore what PDA really means and how anxiety drives demand avoidance. Learn practical and compassionate strategies to reduce pressure, build trust and support autistic children and young people with a PDA profile in home and school settings. | Autism support For parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: Wednesday 11th March 2026, Fully booked, waiting list only. | 10am to 12noon | |
Interoception | Hosted by Parenting Special Children Interoception helps you to understand and feel what’s going on inside your body. Those who struggle with the interoceptive sense may have trouble knowing when they feel tired, hungry, full, thirsty, hot or cold. Having trouble with this sense can also make self-regulation a challenge. Helping with self-regulation, Recognising hunger/Always hungry, Toileting, Making a connection with emotions. | Autism & ADHD Support For parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: Tuesday 3rd March 2026. | 7 - 9pm | |
Understanding Emotional Regulation | Hosted by Parenting Special Children Understanding emotional regulation, Factors affecting regulation, The window of tolerance, The neuroscience of emotional regulation, Fight/flight/freeze/flop/flood/fawn responses, Strategies to return to and stay in the window of tolerance. | Autism & ADHD Support For parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: Wednesday 21st January 2026. | 7 - 9pm | |
Empowering Calm | Hosted by The Autism Group: Understanding and responding to distressed behaviour in autistic young people' with the aims being; To understand physical responses to anxiety, distress and overwhelm. To explore what this might look like and think about who is challenging who! To learn some strategies to try to help. | Autism Support For parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: Thursday 5th March 2026, fully booked, waiting list only. | 7:30 - 9:30pm | |
Barriers to School, Can't go, not won't go | Hosted by the Autism Group: To understand what EBSA/ERSA is. Recognising potential early signs in our children. Exploring strategies to support our children. Encouraging questions and sharing experiences. Places are very limited and we can only allow parents and carers to attend whose child is experiencing school avoidance. | Autism or Dual Support For parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: Wednesday 25th March 2026. | 10am - 12noon | |
Managing Anxiety | Hosted by The Autism Group: What to do when worries take over. Looking at what causes anxiety & some tried & tested strategies to tackle it. | Autism Support For parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online:. Wednesday 14th January 2026. | 10am - 12pm | |
Autistic Burnout | Hosted by The Autism Group: This workshop explores what autistic burnout is, how it differs from general stress or exhaustion, and why it happens. Families will learn to recognise early signs of burnout in children and young people, understand the impact of masking and overwhelm, and explore ways to support recovery through rest, regulation, and realistic expectations. | Autism Support For parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: Wednesday 4th February 2026. | 7:30 - 9:30pm | |
Sensory Processing | Hosted by Parenting Special Children: Understanding sensory processing, sensory overload, sensory seeking behaviour, strategies to support & how to manage sensory arousal. | Autism & ADHD Support For Parents & carers of primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: New date to be released soon. | 7 - 9pm | |
Autism Course A 3-week course | Hosted by Parenting Special children: Topics Covered What is autism? Sensory differences, anxiety and behaviour. Strategies and supporting the child. Assessment overview. Signposting and support available. | Autism Support For parents & carers of children up to the age of 18. | Online: Tuesday 13th, 20th and 27th January 2026. | 7 - 9pm | |
Sleep - Autism & ADHD | Hosted by Parenting Special Children: Topics covered: Children’s sleep cycles and sleep needs. Reasons behind night settling and night waking. Strategies to feel less stressed when sleep training. Strategies for settling your child to sleep, and staying asleep | Autism & ADHD Support For Parents & carers of pre school, primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: New date to be released soon. | 7 - 9pm | |
ADHD Course A 3-week course | Hosted by Parenting Special Children: Topics Covered What is ADHD? Challenges & concerns. Strengths and opportunities. Learn to understand children's anxiety and how this relates to ADHD. Gain an understanding of attention deficit behaviours & how to manage these. | ADHD Support For Parents & carers of children aged 3 and over, primary & secondary school aged children. | Online: Wednesday 4th, 11th, 25th February 2026. | 7 - 9pm | |
Support Sessions | An online or phone, 60 minute session offering support and advice. Conducted by The Autism Group | Autism Support Suitable for parent/carers requiring strategies for a new presenting issue. | Online or Phone. | Please call or email GEMS to book | |
Home Visit | An online or in person, 1.5 hour visit offering one to one tailored support. The aim of home visits is to give parents and carers the information they need, along with practical strategies, to help them to support a child or young person on the spectrum. Conducted by The Autism Group | Autism Support For those that do not have access to IT, English as a second language, hearing or vision impairment, parent/carer who are Autistic themselves or have additional needs or difficulties with group settings. | In person or Online. | Due to high demand and limited availability GEMS will only offer in exceptional circumstances. |
