Broughton Lodge has implemented ‘Attention Autism Groups’ to support residents with autism and moderate to severe learning disabilities. This approach has been thoughtfully adapted to meet the specific needs of the service and its residents, led by the Psychology team, with the Speech and Language Therapist’s (SLT) additional guidance and support to ensure a well-rounded and multidisciplinary approach.
The intervention is designed to develop key communication and interaction skills that are often challenging for individuals with Autism. These include awareness of others, attention and listening, shared and sustained attention, turn-taking, and transitioning between activities. A central principle of the approach is to make activities “irresistible,” capturing each resident’s individual interests and fostering engagement in a fun, supportive environment.
The Attention Autism framework, originally developed by Speech and Language Therapist Gina Davies, is divided into four progressive stages, each building on the previous one:
Stage 1 – people are encouraged to focus their attention on a led activity, fostering shared enthusiasm and creating positive experiences.
Stage 2 – introduces activities that sustain attention for longer periods, building anticipation and excitement toward a final engaging outcome.
Stage 3 – people begin practising turn-taking and shifting attention between themselves and others in the group, helping to build social and interaction skills.
Stage 4 – focuses on transitioning to self-led activities, where residents independently carry out tasks after observing a demonstration. This stage emphasises progress and sustained attention over the final result, with group celebrations at the end to reinforce achievements.
Residents have been grouped according to their current attention levels to ensure tailored support. Some groups include residents from different houses, creating opportunities for social interaction among individuals who might not otherwise engage with one another.
By creating a structured yet enjoyable learning environment, the intervention has supported residents in developing essential communication and social skills, while also fostering a greater sense of community among participants.
The Autism Awareness Group has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both residents and staff, highlighting its impact and inclusivity. Residents expressed genuine enthusiasm for the group, with one resident eagerly asking, “Can I come to the group?” and requesting to attend again. She described the sessions as “fun,” echoing the sentiments of others, who also said the group was “good” and “fun.” Another resident shared that his favourite part of the session was “trying to catch the lights,” referring to the colourful light projector activity, which captured his interest and enjoyment.
Staff members were equally positive, noting the thoughtful structure and engagement within the sessions. One staff member praised the group’s pacing, stating, “The group is well paced, ensuring every resident is recognised and engaged with the task at hand. The group leaders ensure all residents get their turn at activities, if they wish to. The residents seem to be genuinely excited to attend group and are happy to be around one another.”
Another staff member commended the adaptability of the sessions, explaining, “The Attention Autism groups have been so enjoyable to observe. Sessions have been adapted to include all residents’ skill sets and abilities. Residents beam throughout because of the creative, enthusiastic facilitation and personable approach. I am excited to see what the next sessions have in store!”
The positive feedback from both residents and staff reflects the success of the Autism Awareness Group in creating an engaging, inclusive, and enjoyable environment.
