This workshop has been created to allow you to explore what causes the behaviour of the person you care for that you find difficult to manage or hard to change. You will have the opportunity to analyse their behaviour, learn how to understand its function, and develop a support plan specific to them, which can be used to support their personal difficulties with communication and help you to teach them alternative and more appropriate behaviours to communicate and help to develop their confidence and self-esteem.
Event Details
Wednesday 26th November
7.00-9.00pm
Online via Zoom
This workshop will teach you the approach of “Teaching Reading to Teach Talking”, the effectiveness of using the “Whole Word Approach” and how you can use this to help your child to learn to read.
Wednesday 29th October
This workshop has been tailored specifically for parents and carers of children under 5 and will focus on learning and development from birth through the early years up to school age. We will discuss health and development, specific learning profile and professional early years support available, and also explore successful strategies that you can use to support your child’s everyday development and learning.
Wednesday 27th August
Please come along to our in-person ABC Next Steps session for adults aged 18 years and over on Sunday 22nd March at 12.30pm in Seafield, West Lothian (session ends at 13.45pm).
Sessions take place at Cill Mhanach Wellness Studio, Redhouse Road, Seafield, West Lothian, EH47 7AL and will be hosted by June Flynn, ABC Tutor, from our Achieving Better Communication (ABC) team.
ABC Next Steps provides a literacy and communication session for adults. You can expect lots of the same activities included in our online sessions – introductions, getting to know you, topic-based conversations and follow up literacy activities and games.
Face-face sessions also provide a great opportunity for adults to meet and continue their communication journey.
To attend this event please complete the form below. We will then email a reminder of the details of the event (usually a few days before from abc@dsscotland.org.uk).
Event information:
There is no additional cost for those who subscribe to our ABC programme as it includes monthly face-to-face sessions throughout the year. A £5.00 charge (per session) applies to families who aren’t signed up to the ABC Programme.
Face-to-face ABC Next Steps sessions will be in addition to weekly online ABC or ABC Anytime sessions, which will continue weekly throughout term time.
Each event can accommodate a maximum of 12 adults plus a parent/carer and will be on a first come first served basis. Please book only one ticket per family.
Each event needs to be booked on an individual basis, but more than one session can be booked by each family.
We are delighted that we can introduce some more in-person ABC Songs, Stories and Signs sessions for children aged 6-12 years (up to 12th birthday or older depending on communication stage)
Come along to our ABC Songs, Stories and Signs face-to-face event on Sunday 22nd March at 11.00am in Seafield, West Lothian (session ends at 12noon).
The sessions will take place once per month (usually last Sunday of the month) and will feature lots of familiar aspects of our ABC online sessions – songs, Makaton signs, stories and communication activities. Face-face sessions also provide a great opportunity for meeting other parents.
Face-to-face ABC Songs, Stories and Signs sessions will be in addition to weekly online ABC or ABC Anytime sessions, which will continue weekly throughout term time.
Each event can accommodate a maximum of 8 children plus a parent/carer and will be on a first come first served basis. Please book only one ticket per family.
When: Wednesday 26th February
Time: 7-7.30pm
Come and join Karen Philip from our Family Support Team and Katy Lironi, Development Lead and Makaton Tutor from our Achieving Better Communication (ABC) Team for a Q&A session – a chance to gain information and ask any questions you may have about your child’s early years development and communication from birth to up to 3 years old.
When: Tuesday 31st March
Time: 7-8pm
We are delighted to be welcoming back Lee House, Events Engagement Officer at Independent Living Fund Scotland (ILF Scotland).
At this session, we will learn about the ILF Transition Fund, which provides money – for up to one year (£4000) – to support young people with a disability or impairment as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
The purpose of the ILF Scotland Transition Fund is to help young disabled people, between the ages of 16 and 25, with the transition after leaving school or children’s services to be; more independent, more active and engaged in their community, and to build and maintain relationships with other people.
Lee has worked with the organisation for 8 years. His role is to promote the Transition Fund and work closely with young people, parents and charities/organisations/schools to support applications and present information about the fund. There will be the opportunity to share experiences and ask any questions you may have.
Please come along to our in-person ABC Next Steps session for adults aged 18 years and over on Sunday 22nd February at 12.30pm in Seafield, West Lothian (session ends at 13.45pm).
Please come along to our in-person ABC Next Steps session for adults aged 18 years and over on Sunday 25th January at 12.30pm in Seafield, West Lothian (session ends at 13.45pm).
Come along to our ABC Songs, Stories and Signs face-to-face event on Sunday 22nd February at 11.00am in Seafield, West Lothian (session ends at 12noon).
Come along to our ABC Songs, Stories and Signs face-to-face event on Sunday 25th January at 11.00am in Seafield, West Lothian (session ends at 12noon).
Choir 21 – Makaton Choir! Wednesday 29th January from 4.30- 5.15pm
Our online Choir 21 song group is for anyone aged 10+ to join us to sing along to a mixture of pop songs and songs from favourite musicals and stage shows and learn some Makaton signs* too!
*These sessions will teach Makaton signs but don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with Makaton, or you use other sign-supported communication, you can still join in and have fun!
All members with Down’s syndrome aged 10+, siblings and family members welcome!
The Zoom details, along with any song lyrics and information for this session, will be emailed to attendees ahead of time or on the day to those booking on the day.
Important Information for Choir 21 Attendees
Our Choir 21 sessions will be filmed. This allows you to practise between sessions and those who missed a session won’t miss out!
Attendees who do not wish to be filmed can turn their cameras off prior to filming starting. The recording of each session will be emailed via secure Vimeo link to each attendee. This will be for your own personal use, cannot be downloaded and should not be shared.
If you can’t attend a session one week, please contact Katy directly at katy@dsscotland.org.uk and request a copy of the week’s recording instead.
Any recordings/photos from Choir 21 may also be used occasionally for promotion purposes on DSS social media and/or Hub 21. Please contact Katy if you do NOT consent to this.
Any other questions on Choir 21, please send to ABC@dsscotland.org.uk and we will be happy to respond.