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Gamers Cage (Gaming sessions) We run monthly sessions at the Gamers cage. 8 to 12 years 13 + 18 + (siblings over the age of 8 years only may also be booked onto the event in under 18's sessions only unless sibling is also over 18 ) ​ The Gamers Cage is situated near to the Harlow Town Library. PACT for Autism (registered) families may attend only, this is due to restricted spaces and insurance purposes. ​ A Parent or Responsible adult must remain at the venue for the duration of the session for all under 18's attending , if support is wanted or required for an individual over 18 then please do attend with an Allie ( eg friend, P.A, carer , partner or Parent. ) . Our Parent Support team and PACT Volunteers will be there for a chat and signposting over a cuppa. ​ Please book your ticket to reserve your place for child / young person or individual attending these Adult / Carer / P.A tickets are free. ​ Up to 16 people can game at any one time, with flexibility. There is a café with relaxed seating area selling hot and cold drinks and light snacks. ​ ​ INFO: This event is for Families / individuals registered with PACT, monthly emails are sent out with booking links and times. to register with PACT click here VENUE: The Gamers cage 1-5 Harvey Centre Approach, Harlow, England, CM20 1HF Gamers cage is located in the same building as Q Entertainment - Quasar Harlow. More information about the venue: If you would like to visit the Gamers cage, for a look around ahead of the event, to familiarise yourself and your child/young person with the environment, or if you need to arrange wheelchair access/level access due to difficulty using stairs then please contact them directly on 01279 445444 ​ ​ ​ ​

Team PACT The PACT Board Chloe Rich Board Member/ Chair Dr. Longville-Carr Board Member / Vice Chair Wendy Dunlop Board Member / Treasurer June Fleming Board Member Andrew McIntyre Board Member Debbie Hannam Board Member Sam Draper Board Member Advisory Board Members Vern Lacey IT Systems Selina Avery Supported Studies Aimee Carr Legal Ryan Carr Autism/Aspergers Consultant

How to Support Us There are a number of ways that you can support PACT for Autism and all donations are gratefully received, no matter the amount. Here you will find information on the different ways you can support PACT for Autism: Donate through Virgin Money Giving Donate through JustGiving Donate through PayPal Giving Fund Support us through Amazon Smile Join the Essex Lottery. Sponsor our Annual Charity Ball Other ways to support us on the Web

Coronavirus (COVID 19) ​ Links to some online social stories and visuals that may be useful to you or your family during lock-down ​ ​ Autism Little Learners (‘Coronavirus. What is it?’) Autism Little Learners - More stories, including testing for the virus ​ Books Beyond Words - Books with just pictures for adults around a variety of topics including covoid 19 ​ Carol Gray Social Stories (Learning about the Coronavirus) ​ Nurse Dotty Books (‘Dave the dog is worried about Coronavirus’) ​ The Gruffalo - From the Gruffalo Cave and to the Family Tree: Staying home with your favourite characters Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have been inspired to create an extraordinary set of illustrations and verses to help share the important message about staying safe and to help lighten the spirits of families everywhere. ​

Coronavirus (COVID 19) ​ Selection of useful links for Education and Training services and Information ​ We also share lots of short notice webinars and Live events on our FaceBook page. Links to Education based information ​ ​ ​ Cauldwell Children - Caudwell Children are delighted to offer the ASDAN LifeSkills challenges in an free online format, to learners between the age of 8 – 18 years across the UK. ​ ​ ​ Essex Local Offer - Coronavirus letters of support – Vicky Ford is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families at the Department for Education. Her responsibilities include special educational needs and so, she has written open letters to children and young people with SEND, their families, and all others who support them during this time. ​ ​ ​ Gov.UK - Guidance - Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening Gov.UK - Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak​ ​ Gov.UK - EHCP - Education, health and care needs assessments and plans: guidance on temporary legislative changes relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Gov.UK - EHCP - Secretary of State for Education issues a second notice to modify the duty relating to education, health and care (EHC) plans during the coronavirus outbreak. ​ ​ ​ ​ Gov.UK - Advice for parents and carers, helping children with SEND continue their education during Coronavirus (COVID-19) ​ IPSEA - Independant Provider of Special Educational Advice - Educational updates. IPSEA - Latest update on COVID-19, school closures and SEN provision ( Updated 10.07.2020 ) ​ Reachout ASC - Links for some brilliant resources for returning to an educational setting. ​ ​ ​ ​

Assessment / Diagnosis Rights and Support Health and Well Being Out and About Finance and Housing Resources Family and Carers Employment / Education Health and Wellbeing Helpful Links and information ​ Ambitious About Autism - Some useful toolkits with information on inclusive youth groups and physical / mental health. Great resources for young people, parents and professionals. ​ ​ ​ National Autistic Society All about health and how to best access support and services from the hospital to the dentist. North Essex CCG - Annual Health Checks (Adults with a learning disability or autism) People with a learning disability can have a free health check every year to help them stay healthy, their Annual Health Check should result in a Health Check Action Plan to make sure they receive the very best healthcare. The North Essex CCG website provides further guidance on Annual Health Checks but also some other great health resources and advice. Advocacy An advocate is a person who can support you and speak on your behalf if you want them to. Advocacy services help you access information and ensure your voice is heard when decisions that affect you are being made. Advocates are independent. They don't represent the views of others, such as your local authority or the NHS. They won't make decisions for you or give you their personal opinion. ​ An advocate can: contact people on your behalf go to meetings with you to give you support speak on your behalf when you don't feel comfortable speaking yourself write letters and emails on your behalf You can self refer to this service ​ Essex - Gov - Mental health - Emergency or crisis help and information Essex -Summit ​ ​ Essex - Rethink Hertfordshire - Gov.uk ​ ​ MENCAP - Clear advice and support on accessing services in easy read format Preparing for Adulthood - Giving Everyone Equal Life chances as they move into Adulthood ​ ​ Princess Alexandra Hospital Autism and Learning disability support team . Contact to discuss and plan ahead to make your visit to the hospital go as well as it can, Andrew Dixon Email: learningdisabilities@pah.nhs.uk Telephone: 01279 694905​ Community Dental team Dentists that have experience in working with Autistic individuals / learning difficulties / complex needs. Health Watch Essex - An independent and confidential information service to help you understand and navigate health and social care in Essex Essex Social Care team and Occupational Therapy If you are finding it difficult to look after yourself and manage everyday tasks, you can contact the team to discuss your care and support needs. The discussion will identify: If you need care and support The level of care and support you need How these could be met Your family and social support networks Meaningful lives Living Well Essex - Essex County Council’s Living Well Essex website provides information, advice and guidance for adults, families, carers, providers and other professionals. ​ Healthy Minds ​ ​ Challenging behaviour support

Assessment / Diagnosis Rights and Support Health and Well Being Out and About Finance and Housing Resources Family and Carers Employment / Education Out and About Helpful Links and information ​ ​ CEA card - Provides a card for a small fee enabling carers to get free entry to cinemas when accompanying someone with a disability or additional need. Dimensions - Autism friendly screenings, museums and libraries ​ Gov.UK - Optional badges/lanyards to promote ongoing social distancing Plant Pots and Wellies - A welcoming local project that provides opportunities for horticultural and outdoor therapy on a Harlow Allotment for children and adults. Essex Outdoors - From climbing to canoeing There’s something for everyone. Men’s Shed - The Harlow Shed - Is a shipping container that has been converted to the Harlow Men's Shed and sited at the walled Gardens within Harlow Town Park. Any man over the age of 18 years is welcome, come and join us and have some fun! Contact: Matt Hume Phone: 07935 216808 Email: matt@essexshednetwork.co.uk Travel Training Essex Travel Training Hertfordshire Essex.gov.uk - Transport options in Essex including Bus pass and Blue badge Herts.gov.uk - Transport Options in Hertfordshire including Bus pass and Blue badge Accuro - A small vibrant local charity providing a range of specialist services for children and adults with a disability across West Essex. Offering a range of Social and Leisure activities.

Abseiling Forms ​ Please click on the links below in order to view/open/download the appropriate Forms. 1a abseil 2020 leaflet 1b abseil 2020 applicant form

Wild 'n' Wacky (Soft play) Our Wild ‘n’ Wacky family Sessions, give parents and carers a chance to meet and chat in a friendly environment, while the soft play area is available for children 12 years and under to play in. The play area is autism-friendly and siblings are welcome! Staff from PACT will be available to talk to. ​ We find that these sessions are the perfect time to keep the children occupied as much as possible while you grab a drink, a snack and some time to talk and relax. If you are new to PACT, or coming back after a break, our Wild ‘n’ Wacky sessions are the perfect way to get what you need and find out what we’re about! ​ You can find full details for the event below: TIME: 6.00pm – 7.30pm PRICE: £2.50 per child. plus eventbrite booking fee Siblings welcome! INFO: This event is for Families registered with PACT , registered families are sent monthly emails with booking links. to register with PACT click here You can also keep a look out for our event dates on facebook and Eventbrite, you can pay by contactless card on the evening. VENUE: Wild n Wacky, Unit 5, Mill Court, Edinburgh Gate, Harlow CM20 2JA (opposite Harlow Town Station). ​ Please see the Wild ‘n’ Wacky website and the map below for more details about the venue.

Feel Good, Care Well Event Forms ​ Please click on the links below in order to view/open/download the appropriate Forms. Photography Event Information

Where do I begin? Where do I begin? Education Health & Wellbeing Family Support / Care Financial & Benefits Resources Other Useful Links If you have concerns about the development of your child or young person. ​ Begin by collecting together your own observations and concerns together with reports from nursery/school or any other people involved. Then speak with your G.P, Health visitor, Speech Therapist or other Health professional and ask them to refer your child or young person to the local Child Development Team. You can also call us at PACT on our Support line . If your child is in education you do not need a diagnosis to get support for them, your school or nursery should be working with you to record their strengths and needs and to provide support. Please scroll down to the Education section for further information. ​ Click below for further information on the JADES Diagnostic pathway: Journey of Autism Diagnosis and Early Support (JADES) ​ Our top websites to find a wide range of support, services and activities? . Local Offer - This is the local government run directory of Information about all services and local opportunities and activities for Children and young people up to 25 years with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). To find your Local Offer, type your county name and Local Offer into your search engine. Alternatively, click on one of the local links Essex Local Offer Hertfordshire Local Offer ​ National Autistic Society - All the most up to date information from diagnosis through to all sorts of services and useful information from Child to Adult. ​ Short Breaks - The Short Breaks programme is open to all children and young people who are aged between 0-25 (Please note some services post 19 will require a personal budget) and have a diagnosis of Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability. Providing support and a wide range of activities. Essex Short Breaks Hertfordshire Short Breaks ​ Contact - A national organisation with a wealth of information supporting families of Children and young people with SEND, from benefits through to education and clothing. Essex Child and Family wellbeing - Virgin care manages the Children’s Health and developmental health needs along with the family hubs/Children’s centres in Essex, the site has a wealth of information on therapy, services and ways to help your child/young person. ​ SNAP (Special needs and Parents) - An excellent easy to use resource to find activities, Parent and Professional courses/talks, and the services SNAP offers as well as an extensive local directory for Essex, aimed at families of children with SEND 0-25. ​ SPACE - a Hertfordshire based Charity supporting Parents/Carers of Children and young people on the Autistic Spectrum or a related condition ​ ​

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