Ask, Accept and Develop (AAD)

I am so excited to be writing the first Ask, Accept and Develop (AAD) blog. The last few months have been an exciting and busy time creating and developing the Autism Strategy. 

Now we are launching the strategy across our homes and schools. 

I have already seen some amazing examples of how the autistic individuals and colleagues are embracing and implementing the key concepts of Ask, Accept and Develop. 

I have been working closely with Susannah Davis from our Learning and Talent department to develop and deliver the pilot courses of the Introduction to Autism and Foundation to Autism training programmes. 

Susannah and I would like to say a special thank you to Jess Glover, Trevor Hammond and Patrick Howells for their contributions so far. And thank you to our colleagues across care, education, fostering and central services who, not only attended the pilot programme, but through their engagement and feedback have shaped its development.  

When asked about the pilot so far, Keelan Lacey, an autistic Support Worker at Acorn Park said:  “This has been a brilliant course, it’s liberating to see how far autism understanding has come, and empowering to be part of the spear head behind the latest wave”.