Women

1
Womens Group

• Sheffield Asperger Syndrome Service
• Sheffield Care Trust NHS
• St Georges Community Health Centre
• Winter St
• S37ND
• ? Christine Telford (3rd Yr. Trainee Clinical
  Psychologist)

2
Womens Group

• Why?

3
Why?

• A minority
• within
• a minority
• 
  (Catherine Faherty, 2006)

4
Why?

• Neurological science has not
• yet acknowledged the significant
• numbers of females who are on the
• autistic spectrum
• (Dale Smith, Communication, 2008)

5
Why?

• Women and girls tend to be
• pushed to the sidelines of any
• coverage of autism and Aspergers
• syndrome
• (Joanna Moorhead, The Guardian, June 4th 2008)

6
Why?

• I usually feel uncomfortable in
• all-male support groups
• (Service User Quote)

7
Why?

• I want to meet other women
• with Asperger Syndrome.
• (Service User Quote)

8
Why?

• Its not that the problems or challenges
• we experience are more serious than
• those of men with Asperger
• Syndrome theyre sometimes just
• different
• (Service User Quote)

9
Why?

• UNDER DIAGNOSED
• ? Effortful learning vs intuition
• ? Little philosophers
• Better coping and camouflaging
• ? Less idiosyncratic/eccentric interests
• ? Fewer motor coordination problems
• ? Fewer conduct problems
• Disappear in large groups

10
Why?
Why?

• Asheville, North Carolina TEACCH Centre Womens
  Group
• Catherine Faherty
• (Psychoeducational Specialist)
• UK Groups
• London
• Liverpool

11
Why?
Why?

• Increasing interest
• and recognition

12
Why?

• Women with autism often
• strugglebecause they lack what is
• often taken for granted in women
• (Joanna Moorhead, The Guardian, June 4th 2008)

13
Why?
Why?
PLUS

• SOCIETYS
• EXPECTATIONS
• STEREOTYPES
• ? school cliques
• ? fashion
• ? multi-taskers
• ? natural empathy
• ? unspoken
• relationship
• roles rules

• DIFFICULTIES
• ? understanding
• thoughts and feelings
• ? social communication
• ? social interaction

UNIQUE CHALLENGES
14
PREPARATION

• Reading

15
PREPARATION

• Visit Leeds Asperger Adults Drop-in

16
PREPARATION

• Advice
• National Autistic Society
• Sue Prestwood, Counsellor
• Sheffield Hallam University Monday Club
• Potential Group Members!

17
AIMS

• Provide a safe and structured environment

18
AIMS

• Working in Partnership

Working closely together Shared decision-making
Complementary expertise Agreed
aims and process Mutual trust
and respect Openness and
Honesty Clear Communication
Understanding/ flexibility
Negotiation
19
AIMS

• to bring women who want
• to meet other women with
• Asperger Syndrome
• together!

20
AIMS

• Share experiences

21
AIMS

• Encourage mutual support

22
AIMS

• Friendship !

23
INVITATIONS

• 10 women invited
• Most replied within the week
• 7 regular members
• Those who didnt come
• diagnosis too recent
• travel distance too far

24
STRUCTURE

• Large meeting room
• 12 meetings
• Weekly
• 10.30am 12.00am
• Tea / coffee break

25
STRUCTURE

• Talking and sharing
• together
• In pairs and in the larger group
• Writing / drawing ideas
• Role play
• Sharing useful sources of information
• Selecting important topics for each week
• Feedback

26
Topics

• Group Ground rules
• Sharing experiences
• Things that help!
• Strengths!!!
• Education and employment
• Staying Safe
• Relationships
• Sensory Sensitivities
• Asperger Syndrome improving awareness

27
Challenges

• Time! (never enough)
• Pace
• Allowing everyone a voice
• Structure vs flexibility
• Managing unstructured time (before / break /
  after)

28
Challenges

• Fear of offending / hurting others
• Supporting individual needs
• - getting out the room
• - time-out
• - support outside group
• Managing emotions

29
Challenges

• DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES
• DIFFERENT NEEDS
• DIFFERENT IDEAS

30
Balancing

• independent VS dependent
• working VS unemployed
• disability VS identity
• happy relationships VS abusive / difficult
• relationships
• skill development VS neurotypical change

31
Balancing

• average intelligence VS extremely clever
• straight VS gay
• under 20 VS over 40
• mental health issue VS no mental health issues
• adjusting to diagnosis VS diagnosed early on

32
Positive Feedback

• What I enjoy most about the group
• is just being there with other
• people with Aspergers

33
Positive Feedback

• I found talking about
• real problems
• and situations based on
• experiences helpful

34
Positive Feedback

• I felt I wasnt alone the only
• person in the world with this
• disability

35
Positive Feedback

• I have gained friends from this
• group which has given me
• confidence

36
Positive Feedback

• I dont feel as afraid of myself
• as embarrassed
• these other women are just like me
• they accept me for who I am.

37
Also Positive!

• Planning together how to evaluate the group
• Exchanging details forming friendships!
• Meeting outside the group fun / support
• Dales Communication article
• Improving staff training

38
Also Positive!

• Womens Group
• The Future
• How continue
• How to include others

39

• ? Christine Telford, Trainee Clinical
  Psychologist
• Sheffield Asperger Syndrome Service
• Sheffield Care Trust NHS
• St Georges Community Health Centre
• Winter St
• S37ND
• Telephone [phone]
• Email Carol.Salkeld_at_sct.nhs.uk