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The Liverpool Asperger Team
Information for carers, partners and supporters of people who have a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome.
Introduction
The Liverpool Asperger Team is an NHS service which offers an Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) assessment, diagnostic and intervention service for people in the Liverpool area. The Liverpool Asperger Team is open to adults 18 years old and over. People may self-refer to the service or be referred by another person (for example, a family member, their GP or a mental health professional). We will always ask if the person referred agrees to the referral.
Support available for parents
Research tells us that the social impact on families of a person with an Asperger Syndrome diagnosis can present significant challenges. Carers/partners of people with an Asperger Syndrome diagnosis have reported greater feelings of helplessness, personal failure, anger, frustration and guilt. A lack of understanding from wider society can also be increased due in part to the relative ‘invisibility’ of the condition.
Carers have also told us that there can be benefits to a diagnosis, such as increasing tolerance, compassion, independence and control. Following diagnosis, carers frequently report that seeking information around Asperger Syndrome from professionals or support groups can help with ‘sense-making’. Wherever possible, our service works alongside carers in order to develop initiatives that enable carers to shape and provide services themselves.
Other avenues of support
1. The Liverpool Asperger Carers Support Group
The Liverpool Asperger Carers Support Group is an independent group of carers of people with Asperger Syndrome diagnoses. The group offers a space for people to meet, share experiences and receive support from each other.
The group has worked alongside Mersey Care’s Asperger service on projects including the production of an ‘Asperger Passport’. The carers group felt passionate about improving the lives of those they care for, which included finding ways that service users could improve their day to day interactions. The passport size tool, which can be kept in a person’s pocket, enables individual’s to communicate with medical staff, police officers and other key professionals while out and about in the community.
The group is very welcoming and meet on the first Monday of the month 1.00pm to 4.00pm at Rathbone Hospital site, William House (1st floor), Mill Lane Liverpool, L13 4AW.
For further details contact John or Alicia on 07887369550.
2. The Drop In at Quaker House
The Drop In is a ‘collective’ of service users, carers and Mersey Care professionals who offer a service to help and support adults who have a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome, and their networks of support. The Drop In provides a warm and welcoming space for service users and carers to access services, participate in activities of interest and find out more information about what’s available in the local community.
Drop In events are held on the last Friday of the month 1.30pm to 4.00pm at Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BT (behind Primark).
If you would like further information about the Drop In or Asperger Collective, visit the Asperger Collective's website or contact us on 07887369550 or aspergercollective
Asperger Collective charity
To help the development and growth of the Drop In and other related resources, carers and service users have also formed a small charitable arm - ‘Asperger Collective’ – the charity can be contacted as above
Your feedback
Please contact us if you would like advice around support that might be available to you as a supporter of someone with a diagnosis. We are also really keen to hear any feedback you have about the Liverpool Asperger Team. This can be about something positive or something you think we could do better. Please contact us if you would like to share your comments.
Contact us
Liverpool Asperger Team
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Community Hub,
Norris Green
Falklands Approach
Liverpool, L11 5BS
Phone: 0151 472 7575
Email: Asperger.team@merseycare.nhs.uk
Asperger Team webpages
Further information and resources about the Team (such as our referral form), associated carers and service user groups, and related information, can be found on our Support for carers of people with Aspergers webpage
Mersey Care website
You can also read information about Mersey Care services on our Autism Spectrum Conditions page.
You may also be interested in the following which give more information on local services and Autistic Spectrum Disorders:
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Approval date: 6 June 2023
Review date: 7 June 2024
Version number: 1.1