Last updated:
13th October 2023
Meet Vicki
Providing support for families who have a child with an autism diagnosis, alongside championing and advocating for an autism perspective.
“Life with autism should not be about survival.”
About me
I’m Vicki Round and I’m a Senior Autism Support Officer and Licensed National Autistic Society (NAS) trainer for the council. I have worked in this role for 18 years.
I work in the ASSIST Team (Autism Spectrum Service for Information, Support and Training), which provides information, support and training to help children and their families, both pre and post diagnosis.
My job involves various aspects of providing support for families that have a child with an autism diagnosis, alongside championing and advocating for an autism perspective.
I love my job, which might reflect my long service! I am always learning about autism from families and their children. Everyone is an individual, so it is never the case that you know how everyone is impacted, both in their strengths and their challenges.
I am lucky to be able to see the difference that we can make, which might be meeting a parent at the beginning of their autism journey or helping a child to be understood and supported in a different way.
How I help residents
I work with Wokingham parents and carers and help them to see the world through the lens of autism. This might be by offering 1:1 appointments to talk through an issue and find solutions, or through the monthly parent/carer sessions I coordinate.
Most of my work is early support, and we run termly NAS programmes, including EarlyBird, EarlyBird Plus and Teen Life. These are offered to parents of children up to 16 years old, to give them insight into how their child experiences the world, alongside advice and support in tackling any issues that may arise.
We also offer workshops we have developed, which are open to anyone. They cover everything autism related, from basic understanding right through to writing social scripts, which help explain new experiences, and drawing while talking techniques.
There is a more focused part of my role where I work directly with families. A referral might come to me where there is a risk of family or school breakdown and that is where, in agreement with the family, we are working towards an agreed goal. I will then work alongside anyone involved with the child including schools, health, social care and leisure.
Often other practitioners contact us to talk something through, as we have the privilege of only working within the field of autism.
There is no average day. There are times in the term where I might be running several training events and also attending meetings, supporting parents in our monthly session or talking and emailing advice for a particular issue that someone might have. This might also involve signposting children to our teenage groups.
A different view of the world
More information is becoming available from research and importantly, from autistic people themselves, to inform us how we can adapt our approach and recognise strengths and a different world view.
I work in a small but fantastic team that is as passionate as I am about what we do, and making sure autism is better understood and celebrated. I am supported to offer a bespoke and creative approach and to think outside of the box.
We have been nominated for various awards by parents and children, which shows that we are providing a service that is needed and appreciated.
Life with autism should not be about survival
We are lucky to receive lots of positive feedback from children and to follow their journey. Here is some feedback from a parent, which makes even the trickier days worthwhile:
"I knew of ASSIST’s excellent reputation in providing support to families from parents and professionals alike, so I hoped they could help me at a time when I didn’t know who else to call.
"I contacted the team when the school attendance officer rang to discuss attendance. I felt helpless and desperate. My daughter is formally identified as autistic and school life has been difficult since Year 6, by Year 10 her attendance was 79%, despite having good academic potential she was struggling.
"I had exhausted my parenting skills. My internet research was equivalent to MI5 on a mission and yet I felt a failure. ASSIST listened and understood, without judgement.
"I began to understand that school drained her ‘social energy battery’ and time out was needed for her to recover. I met with school and successfully negotiated reasonable adjustments using ASSIST’s advice.
"I honestly don’t think we would have survived GCSEs as a family without ASSIST. Telephone support when needed, prompt replies to emails with some great hints and tips to challenges, especially around revision and exam strategies.
"The ASSIST team and Wokingham Borough Council deserve to have their vast range of targeted and individualised support recognised. Too often, gaps in service make the news but let’s acknowledge the diversity of creative and innovative schemes available.
"My daughter used to ‘shutdown’ to survive. Life with autism should not be about survival.
Following the amazing interventions from ASSIST my daughter is enjoying life and succeeding at college and in her part time job."
Support is available
If you think ASSIST would benefit you and your family:
