Creating Unique Approaches to Support Adults with Autism

Autistic people have very specific needs and can experience a number of related conditions. That’s why Consensus has specific services to support autistic people and the individual challenges they may have. We use research and best practice to inform the design of living environments to ensure sensory needs are met. Every aspect is carefully considered, from the location and design of the building, to the interior decoration and furnishings.

Autism affects how a person communicates and interacts with others. It also affects how they see, hear and feel the world around them. It is a lifelong condition and there are many different presentations of autism, which has led to it being described as autism spectrum (ASC). It’s thought that more than one in every 100 people is on the autism spectrum.

At Consensus, we can provide support and accommodation for autistic people who also may have a range of additional complex needs. However, we also have a service in Ipswich called Belstead Mews, suitable for younger individuals aged between 13-18 years old who have learning disabilities, autism and complex needs who require dedicated support in a caring, nurturing setting as they transition toward adulthood. To find out more information on Belstead Mews, please visit Services for Children and Young People.

Compatibility is a key issue when we’re supporting autistic people, as individuals may also demonstrate behaviours that others might find challenging. We minutely work through how each individual in a service will respond to a potential new person moving in, and how a new person will react to them.

We also take into account the routines and activities which take place at the service. These will reflect the challenges and needs of those who live there, particularly around sensory-perceptual issues, communication, socialisation and flexibility of thought and behaviour.

Colleagues working in these specialist services are specially trained to support autistic people and they keep their skills up-to-date with ongoing education and training. This is vital, as a range of strategies and approaches – from cognitive behavioural therapy to specialist autism-related techniques – are needed to support individualised needs.