The practitioners at Nature & Nurture Collective all have lived experience of various kinds. This includes being parents, neurodivergent and lots more. We have all needed therapeutic support ourselves at times, or to find support for our children.
We want to share what we have learnt about the support that is available in and around Bristol. We only share information about services and organisations that one of us has had direct experience of.
This list is a work in progress and we will try up update it regularly.
SEND Support
Bristol Autism Support
https://www.bristolautismsupport.org/
and Facebook group.
Support and advice about everything to do with Autism. They offer support and education groups (for parents), and 1:1s. A lot of their info is relevant to ADHD as well.
Send & You
https://www.sendandyou.org.uk/
Independent (but funded by the council) information, advice and support service for Children and Young People with SEND and their families in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
You can book telephone calls with them, send them documents to check over, and if available they can attend meetings with you.
Support for young people
Empire Fighting Chance
https://empirefightingchance.org/
Self-refer for individual or small group boxing with specially trained coaches and therapists.
Pathways to Short Breaks
https://www.bristolparentcarers.org.uk/2023/07/06/newservice/
I’m not sure if they have their own website but info in link above. Parents can self-refer their children (8-18, experiencing isolation and have social communication needs) to a number of organisations that provide specialist, supportive groups for them to join – these organisations include Neon Daisy and Exar.
Alternative Learning Communities
Bean Learning Bristol
https://www.beanlearning.com/bristol
Consent-based, inclusive learning community. Young people 9+ can attend Tues-Thurs, and younger children can go on Mon and Fri. They also offer online groups.
Support for parents
Mindful Parenting & Community Project
https://www.mpcp.info/
Free mindfulness courses for SEND parents
Murmurations Community Therapy
https://www.murmurationcommunitytherapy.com/
Pay what you can afford nurture groups for SEND parents
Books about neurodiversity - for adults
The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy, Steph Jones
(interview with Steph Jones here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL_s6dKitH0)
This is a great guide to figuring yourself out, and how to find the right therapist if you feel you need one!
Unmasked, the ultimate guide to ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence
Ellie Middleton. This is a really interesting short-ish book on masking, especially for late diagnosised girls/women.
Autism Unmasked, Dr Devon Price. This is great as a follow on to Ellie’s book.
ADHD an A-Z, Leanne Maskell. Very accessible and easy to dip in and out of
Un-Typical, How the world isn’t built for autistic people and what we should all do about it. Pete Wharmby. Former teacher who writes in part about his experiences as a child and teacher in schools, from his perspective as an autistic person.
The Power of Neurodiversity, Thomas Armstrong. Lists all the strengths associated with various forms of neurodivergence and suggests careers that might appeal.
Can’t not won’t: A story about a child who couldn’t go to school, Eliza Fricker. Heartfelt illustrations re PDA.
Aspergers in Love, couple relationships and family affairs, Maxine Aston. Outdated language but lots of wise words.
Books about neurodiversity - for children/young people
All Cats are on the autism spectrum, Kathy Hoopman. All about autistic traits, playfully illustrated through photos/descriptions of cats
Just like me, 40 neurologically and physically diverse people who broke stereotypes, Louise Gooding
Wonderfully Wired Brains, Louise Gooding
A Different Sort of Normal, Abigail Balfe
A graphic novel about an autistic girl journey to realising she is autistic.
Books about parenting
The Explosive Child, a new approach for understanding and parenting easily frustrated, chronically inflexible children, Ross W. Green
Websites and other resources
Why everything you know about autism is wrong | Jac den Houting | TEDxMacquarieUniversity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1AUdaH-EPM
Intro to social model of disability, double empathy problem
ADDitude Magazine
https://www.additudemag.com/
Lots of well researched, online articles about ADHD
ADHD UK
https://adhduk.co.uk/
Lots of useful information.
Affinity Hub
https://www.affinityhub.uk/1/Welcome.html
Website resource for parent carers of SEND children.
This includes a paper on trauma in parent carers of children with additional needs. It is for both professionals and parents; it can be accessed here: https://www.affinityhub.uk/userfiles/documents/PARENT%20CARER%20TRAUMA%20Discussion%20Paper%20-%20FINAL%20May%202024.pdf
NHS podcast, interview with Dr Megan Yakeley about the work she’s been doing for neurodivergent children in care — the interview is relevant to all parents of ND children: https://youtu.be/28olG5GximQ
Self-testing/screening for adults
https://embrace-autism.com/
Monotropism
https://dlcincluded.github.io/MQ/
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