April used to be known as Autism Awareness Month. But in 2021, the designation changed to Autism Acceptance Month. Although it’s only a small change to the name, it’s an important one. Awareness is knowing that somebody has autism, while acceptance is when you include a person with autism in your activities and your community. …
Friend in Me (FIM) is a registered Australian charity that promotes inclusion and acceptance in at risk and disadvantaged children through sensory friendly events, workshops and programs. One of the aims of the FIM organisation is to reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation that children can experience by bringing families together to meet, share, …
The Special Children’s Christmas Parties are the biggest events of their kind in Australia for special needs children and their families, and this year Spectrum Lawyers & Consultants are delighted to be a Bronze Sponsor. Can you believe we are even talking about Christmas!? Where did 2021 go? Even though we’ve spent a lot of …
As a parent, there are many concerns around COVID and the welfare of our children. But one definite concern for me is that our kids can’t enjoy just being kids. Things like not being able to go to school and learn face-to-face, not being able to run around or play on the playground and being …
Friend in Me is a registered Australian charity that promotes social inclusion and acceptance in children through sensory friendly events, workshops and online programs. As the Secretary and Legal Director of Friend and Me, I am very passionate and proud of this charity. This year has been incredibly difficult for Friend in Me (like it …
It’s funny how sometimes we take life for granted. You get up in the morning and you just follow your usual routine because that’s life. But every now and then, something will happen to actually make you stop for a moment and think. This month I have been surprised by a few people who have …
Last month we embarked on a new part of our journey through Autism. It was time to test Jayden’s sensory profiling. Jayden’s life, just like any child on the spectrum, is a constant round-a-bout of tests, questions and uncertainty. We are so grateful to D.O.T.S Occupational Therapy for Children for explaining this process to us …
As a lot of you may already know, our son, Jayden has Autism. In our most recent newsletter, Spectrum Speaks Vol. 4, we looked at whether the reason we spread information about Autism is because we want our son included, or whether it is because we want him accepted or understood. In a recent discussion …
I can’t believe the day is here, Jayden’s first day of Prep!! I know many people say, “where has the time gone?” and it sounds like such a cliché – but WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE!? Today, marks the start of our next chapter, next adventure, or next goal/hurdle. In 2017 when we received the …
Recently, Seven News aired a story about a family with an autistic child, who received a letter in their letterbox from their neighbour complaining about noise. The “noise” they were complaining about was the screaming of their autistic child. Noise sensitivity, emotional regulation and non-verbal communication are difficulties people with autism deal with every day. …