Content tagged: autism spectrum
Four autistic people in family of six: a lesson in the vastness of the spectrum
Jessica Offer, a contributor for The Mighty, offers some insightful thoughts on living with the spectrum: How many times have I heard the phrase, “She doesn’t look autistic to me”? Too many times to count, that’s how many. But here’s the thing: No two autistic people are the same. So once you’ve met one autistic person, you have…
What does spectrum mean to you? Comic busts some myths
Rebecca Burgess, a freelance artist and illustrator, is frustrated by the way many people perceive autism. She has attempted to cut through the confusion by creating a comic explanation for “the spectrum”. Burgess maintains that the spectrum can be best described by dispensing with a linear autism spectrum image. She dismisses the notion that you’re…
Building autism-friendly environments: Amaze submission
Amaze has made a submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s inquiry into building inclusive and accessible communities. In Amaze’s submission, we advocate strongly for changes to our built environment so they are more inclusive and accessible to autistic people. There are a number of recommendations that outline how simple changes to existing standards…
Girls & autism: Ella’s race for understanding
By Miki Perkins, first published in The Age: First, it was the clothes Ella’s parents noticed. The little girl would tell her parents nothing fitted quite right; she wanted her shoes and clothes to feel “tighter”. For her birthday, the six-year-old asked for Barbie dolls, and pink, sparkly clothing she’d noticed other girls wearing. But the…
Senators quote Amaze for World Autism Awareness Day
In a rare show of unity, political parties have come together for a Notice of Motion regarding World Autism Awareness Day. On Wednesday, senators Carol Brown (ALP), Rachel Siewert (Greens) and Linda Reynolds (Liberal) moved that the Senate: a) Notes that: a. Sunday 2 April 2017 is the ninth anniversary of World Autism Awareness Day;…
Mum’s photos of son capture “beauty and challenges of autism”
Photographer Kate Miller-Wilson takes photos of her son Eian every day. About a year ago, she began a photo series to communicate her son’s “unique and magical perspective” as someone on the autism spectrum. Loving someone on the spectrum Sometimes, she’ll find a photo she took of her 10-year-old son Eian that speaks to her…
Strategies for when the “honeymoon period” ends for a child at school
Following any holiday period, there can be feelings of relief for a parent. It’s natural to worry about how your child will manage the return to school and classroom routine, but you may discover your child’s transition from holidays to school is smooth. The “honeymoon” phase of school can be a consequence of your child…
From the CEO: Females on the spectrum and the need for change
The needs of autistic women and girls is a subject we’ve been hearing more and more about in recent years. With good reason. Autism has been growing over the past decade _ Amaze’s most recent polling showed that 52% of Australians have a personal connection with autism. Awareness of women on the spectrum needs more…
Does your child on the spectrum wander? Online training
Amaze, in conjunction with the Department of Education, has launched a free online training module for parents of children who wander. This training will introduce you to positive behaviour support as a method to manage wandering behaviour. This on-line course covers: Wandering & behaviours of concern Positive behaviour support How to use positive behaviour support…
Is the NDIS meeting your needs? Take our survey
Amaze today launches a survey seeking important feedback about our community’s experience of the NDIS. The survey is designed for NDIS participants, or people going through the NDIS planning process, and we want to hear about your experiences as the scheme rolls out across Victoria. Your responses will be used to inform Amaze’s ongoing advocacy, to…
Participate in Spectrospective: Time’s running out
Spectrospective offers a unique opportunity to tell your story of autism. Our contribution to World Autism Awareness Day, it recognises that every story of autism is important and that by sharing yours you are playing an important role in building community understanding and acceptance of life on the spectrum. In its third year, Spectrospective has broadened its…
Women on the spectrum, pregnancy and motherhood: My story
Lana Grant discovered she was on the autism spectrum in 2007, when she was 38. She tells Spectrum Women of her journey: “I was already a mother of five children when I received my diagnosis. The process was not straightforward and it followed on, as is quite common, from one of my son’s diagnosis of…
Spectrospective 2017: share your story of autism
Every story of autism is unique and important. That’s why it’s time to share, time to tell your story of autism. The Spectrospective film is our contribution to World Autism Awareness Day (April 2, 2017) and is an incredible initiative that gives autistic people a voice and increases awareness and understanding about autism within the broader community….
From the CEO: welcome to our new eSpectrum
I’m delighted to share our revamped eSpectrum e-newsletter with our Amaze community. We are always encouraged by the extent to which eSpectrum is read each fortnight and hope the new look enhances its readability and usefulness. eSpectrum will continue to provide the valuable information our community wants. We will report on what’s keeping Amaze busy…
My story: female rally champ inspires my little girl
Molly Taylor recently became the first female winner of the Australian Rally Championship. In the process, she made an extraordinary impact on Ella Bibby, a girl on the autism spectrum. Ella’s mum, Jade, shares the story: “It was February 15, 2016, and we were sitting in the paediatrician’s office with our beautiful, five-year-old daughter Ella….
He was non-verbal but became a respected public speaker. Here’s his incredible journey in comic form
He was non-verbal at two-and-a-half and diagnosed as being on the spectrum at four, but nothing was going to stop Kerry Magro from setting and achieving his life goals. An award-winning public speaker and best-selling author, Magro is a role model who’s mentored many young people. The Masters graduate from Seton Hall University and CEO…
How my three autistic daughters demonstrate the vastness of the spectrum
Jessica Offer, a contributor for The Mighty, offers some insightful thoughts on living with the spectrum: How many times have I heard the phrase, “She doesn’t look autistic to me”? Too many times to count, that’s how many. But here’s the thing: No two autistic people are the same. So once you’ve met one autistic…
The beautiful bond between a little boy and a miracle dog
Jonny Hickey was quiet. He’d spend hours alone playing with marbles and avoiding communication. His family adopting a pup rescued from near death, however, has had a profound effect on the nine-year-old. WATCH VIDEO: JONNY AND XENA’S INCREDIBLE BOND That Xena, his dog, is alive is some kind of miracle. She was severely abused and given…
Ten Suggestions That Might Help Your Child’s Teacher
Teachers do an incredible job. Standing in front of children every day, inspiring them on their journey to adulthood, requires deep reserves of commitment and dedication. The reality, though, is that some teachers may not be familiar with autism and some of the strategies that can assist them in teaching children on the spectrum. It’s…
Girls and women on the spectrum: the emotional rollercoaster
Dr Lori Ernsperger, a US expert on Autism Spectrum Disorder in girls and women, says many parents of girls on the spectrum experience an “emotional rollercoaster”. While they’re excited and celebrate their daughter’s developmental milestones, they become increasingly concerned and anxious over puzzling behaviours. “Obtaining an ASD diagnosis for a female can be very challenging,…