Parent Workshops
Practical support and guidance for families of autistic children and young people
Autism support and information workshops for parents
Autism Hampshire offers workshops for families of autistic children and young people. These are funded by the local councils and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) accredited.
The aim of each course is to give insight, advice and support to family members of autistic children. Each session will explore a child’s unique experiences. They will also suggest practical ways in which their differences can be accommodated and supported.
What will happen during the course?
The course consists of six workshops, lasting up to two or three hours. They will give you information, support and advice on various aspects of being autistic. This can be pre, during or post your child’s assessment/diagnosis. The workshops are open to family members and others closely associated with the care and support of the child. Professionals may only attend in their role as parents or carers.
Each session will cover a different area. The aim is to increase understanding of your child’s perception of the world. It will also look at ways this may show itself in how they react to everyday situations.
Schedule
Session 1 – Introduction to autism
This session will give some general context for the other sessions.
Session 2 – Thinking
Explores how differences in brain structure can produce some unique and individual styles of thinking. Offers practical advice on how to support some areas of difficulty.
Session 3 – Communication
Looks at autistic perspectives on the use and processing of communication. Ideas for adapting interactive styles in order to respect and accommodate them.
Session 4 – Social interaction
The focus is on rethinking social expectations and helping autistic people develop relationships in an authentically autistic way.
Session 5 – Sensory perception
Explains how atypical sensory perception appears in stimming behaviours and how to interpret them. Suggests strategies to try when the person hasn’t developed their own coping methods.
Session 6 – Behaviour
Explores how accepting, understanding, and adapting to the way children and young people perceive the world can significantly reduce anxiety. Demonstrates how this approach helps to minimize behaviours of concern.
Funded by the Integrated Care Board. This course is open to parents/carers who live in the Hampshire County Council (HCC) area or whose child attends an HCC school or doctors’ surgery. For those in Southampton, please see below for courses.
Unfortunately, we do not currently have any courses available for residents of Portsmouth or the Isle of Wight. If this is you and you are interested in the above course, please contact us at trainingadmin@autismhampshire.org.uk. We can let you know if anything becomes available in your area.
Course dates for 2025
| Group 6: Online |
| Via Microsoft Teams |
| Time: 10am-1pm |
| Monday 10th November |
| Monday 17th November |
| Monday 24th November |
| Monday 1st December |
| Monday 8th December |
| Monday 15th December |
| Book here: https://buytickets.at/autismhampshire1/1730428 |
Please check your availability for all six sessions before booking.
Course dates for January to March 2026
Group 7 : Online |
Group 8: Online |
| Via Microsoft Teams | Via Microsoft Teams |
| Time: 6pm-8pm |
Time: 10am-1pm |
| Tuesday 6th January | Wednesday 21st January |
| Tuesday 13th January | Wednesday 28th January |
| Tuesday 20th January | Wednesday 4th February |
| Tuesday 27th January | Wednesday 11th February |
| Tuesday 3rd February | Wednesday 25th February |
| Tuesday 10th February | Wednesday 4th March |
| Book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/autismhampshir... | Book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/autismhampshir... |
Please check your availability for all six sessions before booking.
- Please be aware that we expect participants to attend and actively engage with all six sessions.
- A certificate will be given when the full course is completed.
- If you are unable to make a session, please let us know in advance, where possible, at trainingadmin@autismhampshire.org.uk.
- All sessions will all be held online via Microsoft Teams. You will need to have access to the right technology, including camera and microphone. If you need any reasonable adjustments to attend, please contact us ahead of the start of the course.
Any queries, please email: trainingadmin@autismhampshire.org.uk.
Funded by Southampton City Council (SCC), these courses are open to parents/carers who live in the SCC area or whose child attends an SCC school or doctors’ surgery.
Course dates for 2025/26
| Group 3: Online | Group 4: Online |
| Via Microsoft Teams | Via Microsoft Teams |
| Time: 10am - 1pm | Time: 10am - 1pm |
| Thursday 6th November 2025 | Thursday 29th January 2026 |
| Thursday 13th November 2025 | Thursday 5th February 2026 |
| Thursday 20th November 2025 | Thursday 12th February 2026 |
| Thursday 27th November 2025 | Thursday 26th February 2026 |
| Thursday 4th December 2025 | Thursday 5th March 2026 |
| Thursday 11th December 2025 | Thursday 12th March 2026 |
| Book here: https://buytickets.at/autismhampshire1/1535080&nbs...; | Book here: https://buytickets.at/autismhampshire1/1535081&nbs...; |
Please check your availability for all six sessions before booking.
The course is open to family members and others closely associated with the care and support of the child. Professionals may only attend in their role as parents or carers (except for CAMHS professionals).
Course dates for 2025
| Group 7: Online | Group 8: Online |
| Via Microsoft Teams | Via Microsoft Teams |
| Time: 10am-1pm | Time: 6pm-8pm |
| Tuesday 4th November | Wednesday 5th November |
| Tuesday 11th November | Wednesday 12th November |
| Tuesday 18th November | Wednesday 19th November |
| Tuesday 25th November | Wednesday 26th November |
| Tuesday 2nd December | Wednesday 3rd December |
| Tuesday 9th December | Wednesday 10th December |
| Book here: https://buytickets.at/autismhampshire1/1730294 | Book here: https://buytickets.at/autismhampshire1/1730436 |
Please check your availability for all six sessions before booking.
Course dates for January to March 2026
|
Group 9: Online |
Group 10: Online |
| Via Microsoft Teams |
Via Microsoft Teams |
| Time: 10am-1pm |
Time: 10am-1pm |
| Monday 5th January |
Tuesday 6th January |
| Monday 12th January |
Tuesday 13th January |
| Monday 19th January |
Tuesday 20th January |
| Monday 26th January |
Tuesday 27th January |
| Monday 2nd February |
Tuesday 3rd February |
| Monday 9th February |
Tuesday 10th February |
| Book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/autismhampshire1/1787337 |
Book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/autismhampshire1/1789533 |
Please check your availability for all six sessions before booking.
|
Group 11: Online |
| Via Microsoft Teams |
| Time: 6pm-8pm |
| Monday 9th February |
| Monday 23rd February |
| Monday 2nd March |
| Monday 9th March |
| Monday 16th March |
| Monday 23rd March |
| Book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/autismhampshire1/1789588 |
Please check your availability for all six sessions before booking.
- Please be aware that we expect participants to attend and actively engage with all six sessions.
- A certificate will be given when the full course is completed.
- If you are unable to make a session, please let us know in advance, where possible, at trainingadmin@autismhampshire.org.uk
- All sessions will all be held online via Microsoft Teams. You will need to have access to the right technology, including camera and microphone. If you need any reasonable adjustments to attend, please contact us ahead of the start of the course.
Any queries, please email: trainingadmin@autismhampshire.org.uk.
Don't live in Hampshire? We offer bespoke training courses for individuals or organisations. Find out more here.
