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We are now celebrating World Autism Acceptance Month, yet only two years ago, we were marking Autism Awareness Week. What led to the move from Awareness to Acceptance – and are we moving to a position of more acceptance of autistic people using South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust services?

Oliver’s Training

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism was established following the tragic death of a young man named Oliver McGowan in hospital. Oliver was an autistic person with a learning disability. His death could have been avoided. In his memory Oliver’s parents campaigned to make it a requirement for all health and social care staff to undertake training to enable them to provide safe, compassionate and informed care to people with a learning disability and autistic people. Every part of Oliver’s Training is delivered in partnership with co-trainers, experts with lived experience of a learning disability or being an autistic person.

Brain-friendly feedback is an approach to providing feedback that aligns with how the brain processes information, aiming to enhance receptiveness and promote positive change. This method focuses on delivering feedback in a way that minimises stress and encourages constructive responses.