Meet Julie

Julie is a 12 year old girl with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. She lives with her parents, who both work full time, and her older sister. She has no speech, no sense of personal safety, a poor sleep pattern, and her behaviour has been worsening over the past few years resulting in damage to property and equipment as well as aggression towards others. Because of her problems she attends a school for children with learning difficulties, physical disabilities or medical problems. 

Cornerstone’s Children’s Service started providing Enabling Support in October 2006.  This was the first time the family had accepted support from outside.

Since our involvement, Julie’s responsive behaviours have improved dramatically and she is able to take part in activities she would not have done before, e.g. swimming, going to the cinema, being able to go into a supermarket and take part in shopping. Although there are occasional incidents, these are less frequent and a lot more manageable by Cornerstone staff.  This has been achieved by having two consistent members of our staff who know Julie well and have built up a good relationship with her.

Further, since Cornerstone’s involvement, the family have been able to accept further input in the form of respite care as their confidence in others being able to support them and Julie has improved.  This means that the family can go and spend time together or do their own thing safe in the knowledge that Julie is in the best possible hands.