On 13 November, Prior's Court staff members Pari Jevant and Bridget Tahourdin represented Prior’s Court at the Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting hosted by Dr Fiona Knott, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, at the University of Reading. The event brought together around 30 professionals, creating a lively and engaging forum for sharing knowledge and practice.

Pari, an Assistant Care Manager at Prior's Court and a Research Board staff representative, and Team Manager Bridget delivered confident and professional presentations, highlighting the meaningful work taking place at Prior’s Court in supporting autistic young people with complex needs.

Bridget’s presentation focused on Story Massage, an approach that supports autistic young people to engage with stories through positive and appropriate touch. Story Massage can help build attention, reduce anxiety and provide valuable sensory regulation, supporting wellbeing and engagement in a safe and enjoyable way.

Pari’s presentation explored how autistic young people learn to identify and communicate pain. She shared how recognising body parts, facial features and different physical sensations can support understanding and expression, helping young people to communicate their needs more effectively.

Find out more about our Research Programme

Following the event, Dr Knott shared her feedback:

Would you please pass my thanks to Pari and Bridget for talking to our Autism SIG on Thursday. Their talks sparked a lot of interest from the attendees, and many people appreciated hearing about the work that Prior’s Court is doing with these young people. I know it can be daunting to talk to a group, but Pari and Bridget gave presentations that were slick and professional. I also appreciated that they came along in their ‘blues’ as it really showcased their roles. Bridget got all of us singing while trying out the massage technique, which was a sight to behold.