About the service
Autism Connect is a community-based autism support service for adults (18+) either with or awaiting an autism diagnosis (but without a learning disability or mental health co-morbidity), living in the Southern Trust region - and is all about connecting with other adults with autism in a safe space, having fun and growing together as individuals.
The Autism Connect project has been designed to tackle the psycho-social* challenges that some autistic adults face. From the end of September 2024 it will run across three locations – Newry, Armagh and Banbridge – and is open to anyone living in the southern Trust region who are happy to travel to any of our three localities.
Services on offer will include:
- Autism Connect Social – A weekly peer led social hub in each locality
- My Mentoring – One to one and small group mentoring sessions
- Autism and Me – A six week psycho-social course for autistic adults and their parents/carers/partner or siblings (three times per year in each locality)
- Autism Annual – An annual networking/social event
- The A List – An online resource of services, activities, events, and news.
For further information or to enquire about joining any of the groups three locations, please contact the Autism Connect team (ask for Sharon or Orla) at Bolster Community on: 028 3083 5764
*NB: Psycho-social support describes social-communication interventions that tackles some core features of autism including understanding appropriate behaviours, social skills, boundary setting, relationships, education and employment, and self-care. It will be offered in a non-clinical setting by multidisciplinary team staff supported by mentors and will comply with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations on social learning programmes for autism.
Mental health and wellbeing support
- Mental wellbeing support