The Teen Life programme focuses on understanding autism and supportive approaches for autistic children between the ages of 10 and 16.  Each session focuses on a different topic:

• Understanding autism – including different profiles, key areas of difference and one-page profiles
• Understanding autistic identity – including talking about autistic identity and disclosing this to others, interests and spending time with other people
• Stress and anxiety/understanding behaviour – including meltdowns/shutdowns, masking and supportive approaches
• Health and wellbeing – including self-esteem, health and wellbeing challenges and supporting health and wellbeing
• Puberty – including bullying, online safety, gender identity, friendships and relationships
• Education/transition to adulthood – including school avoidance, supportive school strategies, independence skills and person-centred planning

Programmes are delivered by local professionals who are licensed users of the programme and consist of 6 sessions (2 and a half hours long) usually delivered one session per week for 6 weeks.  There will be a maximum of 10 families per programme with each family being offered spaces for up to 2 parents/carers plus, if parents choose, a supporting professional.  

Each session is a mixture of information, activities, videos and sharing experiences.  There is always time to reflect on how the topic relates to the individual child/family.

Resources:

• Teen Life one page profile
• Teen Life suggested resource list July 2024