New Talkability scheme will help parents to support kids after autism diagnosis

Parents of autistic children are being introduced to a special programme to help them support youngsters who have challenges with social interaction.

Talkability, run by NHs Lanarkshire, gives parents tools to help children with social interaction or communication disorder, who may also have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (AsD).

Parents who have taken part in recent courses expressed their delight about how helpful it had been for them and their children.

one father said he had seen “rapid improvement” in his 10-year-old son, who has AsD.

He explained: “Talkability was something that appealed to me as soon as I heard about it. I hadn’t been to anything like this before.

“Cameron has made a lot of progress through Talkability.

“I have learned an infinite amount about how to deal with his social challenges, the ways to improve my interaction with him and how to develop his conversational skills.”

Rhona Williamson, NHs Lanarkshire speech and language therapy (sLT) clinic coordinator, said: “Talkability enables children to develop their people skills by providing the parents with strategies they can use in everyday situations.

“Topics covered include ‘get ready for conversations’, ‘help your child tune in to others’, ‘help your child become a story-teller’ and ‘be your child’s play coach’.

“Parents work with sLT staff to set individual goals for their child that they will feel comfortable with and able to use day to day.”