Courses for parents

Our special needs webguide has links to heaps of useful organisations

The National Autistic Society runs EarlyBird courses, which are a three-month programme for parents with autistic children (in some areas the courses may be for children with other special needs).

The classes are free and combine information and advice about dealing with behavioural issues with home visits where video feedback is used to help parents with the things they're learning on the course.

"It's fantastic for meeting other parents and getting ideas for helping my son - also great for making contacts. The best part is you have home visits from the people running the course and it gives you the chance to get help with individual problems you may have." wooga

There is also an Earlybird Plus course for school-age children. While what you learn might not always be revelatory – particularly if you are already fairly clued-up on the issues – Mumsnetters recommend the courses because they have been brilliant for making like-minded friends, as one mum says: "I found EarlyBird very informative and great to meet other parents and share strategies and techniques of dealing with certain things."

If you know of other useful courses, please let us know.