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This Week in Autism Community
S U N D A Y
1 5 M A Y
2 0 1 1
I S S U E 6
Steve Drakoulis
Coordinator
Autism Community Network
0431 724 229
Hi everyone,
Our network continues
to grow and that allows
us to be able to share
more information and
ideas with everyone.
Another pretty full
week for me, which in-
cluded a few support
groups and a lunch with some people who do a
lot to support the autism community all around
our city.
The pampering and Information day was also a
highlight and I encourage everyone to come
along to the next one, to be held at St.George
Leagues on June 29.
Looking at the amount of people who are now
reading the Steve’s Blog section I’ll leave it to
you to read there about what else has been
happening.
I’m very optimistic that I will soon be able to
announce another support group starting in the
southern suburbs, hopefully more about that
soon.
Our newest star, Matt, whom I introduced you
to in last week’s issue has been answering your
questions so please have look at his page in the
Parents Forum and continue sending any ques-
tions you would like a young bloke on the spec-
trum to give you his insights on.
I’ve spent the last couple of days enjoying my
kids so this week’s newsletter is shorter than
usual, but there is lots of new staff on the web-
site again this week.
Steve
THIS WEEK IN autismcommunity.com.au APPS
As I receive new information I post it onto my website so that parents in our support network (and in the wider community) may benefit from it. Some of the en-tries below refer to updates while others may be com-pletely new pages I create as result of valuable info supplied by others or ideas brought forward by parents in our network.
I have created a fan page on Facebook for Autism Community. Please help me get it noticed by adding it to your likes list. Just
type autism community in the search sec-tion and you’ll find it.
I now have quite a few apps listed on the Apps page of the website, but even so there are so many others out there that you may have come across. If you know of any apps that could help our ASD kids, please let me know.
HOME
Updated information on Home Page
HOME / STEVE DRAKOULIS
Stuff about me
SERVICES / EVENTS / MAY
Sue Larkey events and more
SERVICES / EVENTS / JUNE
Tony Attwood talk in June
SERVICES / NDIS
NEW
SERVICES / PARENTS FORUM/ SCHOOL SUPPORT ANSWERS
Principal answers some common questions
SERVICES / SAFETY
NEW PAGE
SERVICES / SIBLINGS
Siblings camp info and application form
SERVICES / SUPPORT GROUPS
New information
SERVICES / MEDICAL / O.T. / FINGER / HAND DEX-TERITY
New page
YWCA Mentoring for Girl Siblings aged 7-17
The Big Brother Big Sister program matches trained
volunteers aged 18+ and children between 7 -17
years old.
Current vacancies exist for girls – this would suit
siblings of children with disability (volunteers are not
trained in special care for children with disabilities).
The friendship develops through regular outings
together, usually on weekends. Outings might in-
clude roller blading, bike riding, seeing a movie or
going to a museum.
There are no fees; everyone pays their own way.
To make a referral or to discuss the program, the
referrer can phone 9285 6250 or email
[email protected] to speak with a mentoring
programs coordinator.
NOTE: Men are most welcome to volunteer as Big
Brothers.
Matt’s involvement with the Autism Community has already started to pro-vide us with some valuable insight into a life of a young person growing up as
an Aspie.
See his page in Parents Forum this week for answers to these questions.
Were you treated well by other kids
at school or were you bullied?
What can I do to help my child avoid
getting picked on at school?
Did you have friends when you were
at school?
Did you get depressed in your teen years and if so how did you deal
with it?
Is there something I can tell my teenage son to help him get over his
depression at being different?
BOOKS
AFRIEND LIKE HENRY By Nuala Gardner
A fantastic book written by a mum with an ASD son who was non verbal for many years and was making little progress in any area—until the family bought a dog named Henry. I highly recom-mend it. Remember that I have a section in the Books section where you can click onto the various book suppliers to compare prices so you can find the best price for what you want. —Steve
Useful Information
I don’t know anything about this company, but they are listed in this
month’s Warringah Disability News newsletter. It may help some of
the families whose children have issues with normal clothing.—Steve
Seams Away - Clothing for Children
Soft clothing line for children aged 3-12 with sensory sensitivities (autism,
Aspergers, sensory processing disorder) including tees, tops, skirts, pants, dresses, jeans, socks. Prices
range from $15 to $35 plus postage. For information, see www.seamsaway.com.au or contact Kate
Whelen on 0438 195 876, email [email protected], or mail to Seams Away, PO Box 2266, Kew
VIC 3101.
Parent Line NSW
1300 1300 65 – www.parentline.org.au
Parent Line NSW, a service provided by CatholicCare,
has been funded by Ageing, Disability and Home Care
(ADHC) to include the Early Childhood Intervention In-
formation Service within its current information service.
This funding will enhance the current service provided
by Parent Line to address the information, counseling
and emotional support needs of families with a child or
young person with a disability, aged 0-18 years.
It will assist families to link with a range of mainstream
and disability specialist services within their communi-
ties.
Parent Line operates for 24 hours, 7 days per week,
and is staffed by a team of trained professional counsel-
ors with qualifications in social work, psychology, edu-
cation, health and social welfare.
Upcoming Support Groups
KOGARAH
MEETS EVERY SECOND FRIDAY
NEXT MEETING: Friday 27 May10.00—noon
St.George Leagues Club
Princes’ Hwy Kogarah
In the café / restaurant
KOGARAH
MEETS EVERY SECOND SATURDAY
NEXT MEETING: Saturday 28 May 10.00—noon
St.George Leagues Club
Princes’ Hwy Kogarah
In the café / restaurant
BALGOWLAH
MEETS EVERY SECOND THURSDAY
NEXT MEETING: Thursday 26 May 7.30—9.30 pm
Club Totem
195 Condamine Street Balgowlah
upstairs, through the restaurant to the function room behind
the bar
TERREY HILLS
MEETS EVERY SECOND SUNDAY
NEXT MEETING: Sunday 22 May 2.00—4.00 pm
Piemonte Cafe
287 Mona Vale Rd Terrey Hills
in the back near the children's play area.
Located at Hills Flower Market, near Bonds Nursery
PENSHURST
WILL MEET EVERY SECOND MONDAY
Starting Monday 16 May 10.30 am— 12.30 pm
The Pole Depot
23 St.Georges Rd Penshurst
Please contact Amal to register
9580 0688
PEAKHURST
MEETS EVERY SECOND FRIDAY
NEXT MEETING: Friday 20 May 10.00 am— noon
Georges River Life Care
23 Stanley St Peakhurst
If not already in this group must email Tonya
[email protected] to register
GRLC has a waiting list for a number
of ASD support groups running. Tel 9580 0688
.
BANKSTOWN
MEETS FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH
NEXT MEETING: Thursday 2 June 10.00 am— noon
Bankstown Sports Club
8 Greenfield Parade Bankstown
In the café
BELMORE
MEETS FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
Sunday 5 June 2.00 –4.00 pm
Canterbury Leagues Club
26 Bridge Rd Belmore
In the bistro just inside front entry
.
MORTDALE—GEORGE’S FUN CLUB
MEETS LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
NEXT MEETING: 29 May 10—noon
All welcome—a chance for our kids to have a relaxed
play in an enclosed, safe park.
Ruby Wing Reserve—Universal Street Mortdale
Monday 16 May PENSHURST
Friday 20 May PEAKHURST
Sunday 22 May TERREY HILLS
Thursday 26 May BALGOWLAH
Friday 27 May KOGARAH
Saturday 28 May KOGARAH
Sunday 29 May MORTDALE—SOCIAL
Thursday 2 June BANKSTOWN
Saturday 4 June DEE WHY—SOCIAL
Sunday 5 June BELMORE
5
NEXT MEETING: SATURDAY 4 JUNE from11.00 a.m.
SOCIAL DAY FOR KIDS ON THE SPECTRUM
Bowling at Dee Why RSL
Meet at the club for a game and then stay for lunch, at the bowling alley or at the RSL,
giving our kids the chance to socialize together.
Booking will be for 11 am under ―Steve‖. I will advise them of numbers,
Please let them know you are there as part of Steve’s group.
Please email me by the Friday morning before so that I can book ahead.
I recommend you get a membership card at the AMF when you are there, (it’s free)
as you get discounts on games and food with it.
All Autism Community families welcome, just RSVP to me first.
A little while back we established a number of groups based on similar situations families find them-selves in. If you are interested in being added to any of these groups, just send me an email.
We have already had a number of social interactions between parents in some of these groups, and they are a very good way to connect with others who understand you.
TEENAGERS TEENAGE DAUGHTERS UNDER 7s MORE THAN ONE CHILD ANXIETY ADHD PRIMARY SCHOOL AGED (6-12) ADULTS DADS
From Julie: Hi Steve, I just wanted to say Thank you very much for organising the bowling event. ….Dean thoroughly enjoyed it and is looking forward to it becoming a regular event so I do hope we can all continue to keep it going.
SHARED INTERESTS GROUPS
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE WORKSHOP: CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY
OR DEPRESSION Learning Links Peakhurst
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE CARERS DEPRESSION GROUP
Pole Depot Penshurst
1st Wednesday of every month
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE GET LOST MR SCARY
Early Intervention program for anxious children Learning Links Peakhurst
EVENTS
TUESDAY 24 MAY FATHER’S / GRANDFATHERS EVENING
CAMPBELLTOWN CATHOLIC CLUB
FOR FULL DETAILS OF THESE EVENTS PLEASE SEE RELEVANT MONTHS UNDER EVENTS ON WEBSITE
eg. SERVICES / EVENTS / MAY
MONDAY 16 MAY Information Session for Parents of a Child
aged 0-5 with Special Needs
NARAWEENA
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders –
with DR TONY ATTWOOD
Campbelltown Catholic Club
SUE LARKEY: Autism/Aspergers: Teaching
Strategies & Behaviour Support Workshops
MONDAY 30 MAY HORNSBY
TUESDAY 31 MAY NEWCASTLE
SUNDAY 29 MAY
Open Day at Respite Centre in Castle Hill
Castle Hill Respite, 3 Belvedere Ave, Castle Hill The Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s respite house offers overnight respite stays for children and teenagers aged from 9 years up, in a friendly, home-like envi-
ronment with opportunities to make new friends
WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE PARENTS’ & GRANDPARENTS’ EVENING
CLUB BURWOOD
WEDNESDAY 29 JUNE PAMPERING & INFORMATION DAY
ST.GEORGE LEAGUES CLUB
POSITIVE PARTNERSHIPS
NOW ONLINE
The PP program under its current structure will be ending at the end of this year. In fact, the St.George workshop just held was the last one for the Sydney metro area. We are optimistic that there will be funding for the program to continue in some format next year, but we don’t yet know what. On the bright side, the program can now be undertaken online. I won’t pretend that it’s as good as being in a room with other parents sharing ideas, but the content of the program is all there. And there might be a few familiar faces among the parents in the interviews section.