Direct Help and Support
Mindroom's Outreach Service offering Direct Help and Support was launched in spring 2005.
Already attracting great interest from schools, this service offers direct help and support by phone and email as well as in person in response to individual requests and enquiries .The programme also offers a range of tailored talks, presentations and assistance on request to professional organizations .
Director Mig Coupe explains: "We are prepared to go anywhere and talk to anyone who requests us to do so! And there's no charge - only our travelling expenses."
Mig is a speech and language therapist with over 30 years experience working with children. She has a specific interest in communication problems and people with special learning needs.
Among the first to link with Mindroom's Direct Help and Support Service were the charity Riding for the Disabled, and an Edinburgh Primary school which requested separate talks for parents and for the professionals involved with the children - health visitors, educational psychologists, specialist teachers and staff.
THE SERVICE SO FAR
Enquiries
Responding to individual enquiries and providing support and information either directly or by phone or email continues to be a priority.
We have received a range of enquiries relating to specific children or problems.
Some have been accomplished with a single email or telephone response. Others have involved several hours of internet searching, telephone conversations, correspondence exchanges by email or letter. Several have necessitated ongoing support in person with attendance at meetings , hospital appointments or family discussions. Enquiries have been local, national and international. Those who contact us have been reassured by our prompt response and continuing support.
“ Just to know that someone cares, understands, is there to find out the answers means a great deal.”
Presentations
Several presentations have now taken place enabling us to sharpen our focus and respond to specific demand .
A menu of presentations has been developed but all talks can be tailored to specific requirements.
Requests for presentations have been received from a variety of sources.
These include specialist and mainstream schools, professionals working in the field of mental health and learning difficulty, organizations such as Riding for the Disabled,
Raising awareness of learning difficulties through our presentations and through providing a consultancy service will be a constant and ongoing aim .
Mindroom hopes to produce a booklet about learning difficulties to accompany the presentations in its Direct Help and Support Service.
Attending meetings
Attending meetings held by community organisations, school support groups, parent groups, in order to raise awareness about Mindroom and the service we offer.
Staff training
Staff training for personnel involved with people with learning difficulties and especially for those working in schools.
Lobbying and research
Lobbying and research into better training for teachers and improved provision for those with learning difficulties both in education and in the workplace.
Liaising with other agencies
Working with complementary agencies and charities e.g. Enquire , SNIP .
Contact has been made with some 60 agencies, support groups, charitable organisations etc exchanging information and creating mutual website links.