Disability Support
Disability Support
About
Our aim is to help everyone achieve their goals and develop their potential, regardless of disability or learning barrier through targeted disability support. Neurodiversity, mobility limitations, hearing loss and visual impairment can all contribute to loss of confidence, anxiety and under-performance in both study and employment. We want to change that – by putting in place the technology and training required to encourage skills development and foster personal growth.
Our initial aim is to create an environment where people feel comfortable discussing their disability and its implications. From there we can prepare a comprehensive assessment of individual needs and identify disability support pathways for progress. Our qualified staff are experts in understanding what help is available, who it works best for and how to implement it in real-world situations.
Assistive technology training has a simple objective – to ensure that disabled people have the skills they need to succeed. At Concept Northern we deliver on that goal by providing support at all stages from initial contact, to training, to aftercare. This comprehensive and inclusive approach is key to initial progress and on-going achievement.
Who we help
People with autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), have a developmental disorder that can cause them to have difficulty in communicating with and responding to other people. It is developmental because it develops before a person reaches adulthood.
For some people affected by autism, autism can co-exist with other conditions. These include: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); learning difficulties; mental health issues; Down’s Syndrome and epilepsy. This adds even more complexity to the autism spectrum and can also affect diagnosis and treatment.
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which affects how the brain processes information. It can negatively impact the ability of employees with dyslexia to read, write and organise.
Dyslexia occurs across the full range of intellectual abilities and is best thought of as a continuum, rather than a distinct category. People who have dyslexia are affected in different ways but inhibited language skills are a common problem area.
Other difficulties like dyspraxia or dyscalculia often occur alongside dyslexia. This can complicate assessment, diagnosis and intervention methods.
This learning difficulty concerns difficulties with numbers rather than words. Those who are affected by it are often said to lack “number sense”.
People with dyscalculia often:
- Struggle to count.
- Cannot recognise number symbols.
- Have difficulty connecting numbers to a real-life situation.
- Lack confidence in situations which require mathematical calculations.
A previously stated, it’s common for dyscalculia to co-exist alongside other learning difficulties. People with dyscalculia often have dyslexia too.
This negatively affects physical co-ordination in children and adults. For people with dyspraxia, it impacts gross motor skills (big movements) and fine motor skills (small movements). This can involve difficulty with –
- Movement, such as walking, running, jumping or crawling.
- Use of hands, such as handwriting, doing up buttons on clothing, or catching a ball.
- Keeping still.
- Concentration, paying attention, organisation and following instructions
People impacted by dyspraxia, often develop their own coping strategies which can be supplemented by formal training.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) often occur alongside dyslexia and it can be difficult to distinguish when a reading issue is due to one or both.
People with ADHD may suffer from inattention, restlessness, unpredictability and inappropriate behaviour. People with ADD behave as if they’re not paying attention, without the hyperactive characteristics.
Both of these can impact literacy and communication skills on their own but, as stated before, often co-exist with dyslexia. It’s important to remember that it’s not just children who are impacted by the disorder. Adults with ADHD are common too.
The range of conditions and barriers to performance attributable to neurodiversity is complex and extensive. From dysgraphia to Tourette’s syndrome, people are impacted by distinct conditions in different ways. However, our experience in dealing with individuals who identify with neurodiversity enables us to provide relevant support, training and coaching across a range of neurodiverse issues.
Find out more
To find out how Concept Northern can support neurodiversity in education or the workplace, get in contact today.
Benefits
Leverage our expertise
Expert funding advice
We offer specialist support guiding individuals through applications for funding, including eligibility and application assistance.
Identify change
We identify and implement practical adjustments like assistive-equipment installation, coaching and adaptations to the working environment.