The Pond - mentoring & coaching

28/02/2024

Repeatedly sent home early = school exclusion

And it’s not ok!

School exclusion isn’t only about being suspended or expelled.

Your child is being excluded if you’ve been told they can only attend school for a few hours a day, or if they’re repeatedly sent home early.

If this is happening to your child, call the ACD Support Line today on 03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional) 📞

It's a FREE telephone advocacy service for all Victorian families raising children with developmental delay and disability.

We can help you to understand:

🔹 Your child’s rights at school
🔹 School-based funding
🔹 Reasonable adjustments
🔹 How to work together with the school

Phone lines are open Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Interpreters are available.

📞 03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional callers)

25/09/2023

Cancellation doesn’t have to = waste of money. What can your therapist provide without you/your child being able to attend?

Great ideas below.

Don't miss out if you have to cancel an appointment with an NDIS-funded therapist ‼️

If you cancel an appointment with less than seven days' notice, you generally still have to pay for that appointment and use your plan to pay the cancellation fee.

As you've paid for the time, you can ask your child’s therapist to work on something that doesn't require your child to be there. Examples of what you can ask for:

🔹 A social story for an upcoming activity
🔹 A visual schedule to use at home or kindergarten
🔹 A list of activities to play with your child at home
🔹 A one-page report to share with your child’s educators

06/08/2023

Looking for a reading list all about autism?
Well here you are…

I would definitely add to the list…
- can you see me
- different not less
- my daughter is not naughty

Just in time for the new school year! 😎

That Au-some Book Club has been hard at work updating our FREE Printable Book List for Parents New to Autism.

We hope this will be used by professionals in resource centers, packets, and handouts. (Feel free to replace that 100 Day Kit with this!)

You can find the printable PDF here:

https://notanautismmom.com/2021/05/01/free-printable-list-of-autism-positive-books-for-new-parents/

31/07/2023

Did you know?…

Getting a Carer Card (We care) is easy and can save you money. 👏

Discounts include:
• 5% off Woolworths gift cards for shopping
• 20% off at all Salvos stores
• Concession public transport on weekdays
• Free travel on weekends

You are eligible if you receive the Carer Payment or the Carer Allowance. However, even if you don’t get these payments, your GP can fill in the form and confirm that you are a carer.

To apply for a Carer Card, visit https://ow.ly/nb5650Plpfe

To register for the Woolworths discount, visit https://ow.ly/jI2H50Plpfc

27/07/2023

Oh these are good ones!
The older or younger friends is so common.

Often older friends are more predictable, accommodating and understanding.

Younger friends are more likely to take direction, follow the ‘rules’ and play less complex games.

It makes sense, but isn’t always noticed.

25/07/2023

This is a GREAT one!

GOOD FOR SHARING: Here are ten things to say at/before your next school meeting:

1️⃣ 📅 Can I please have a copy of the agenda a week before the meeting?

2️⃣ 👪 I'm looking forward to working together to get my child a good education.

3️⃣ 🤝 I will be bringing a friend/my Mum/an advocate. Who will be coming from the school/department?

4️⃣ 🙏 Thank you for being part of the team.

5️⃣ 📝 Who will be taking notes, and when will I receive a copy, please?

6️⃣ 🚸 How will that transition actually look?

7️⃣ 📚 Can I please have a copy of the school/department policy around that, please?

8️⃣ 📞 Who will be communicating with me about my child's progress?

9️⃣ 🗓️ When will these actions be put into place? Who will be responsible for each of them?

🔟 📧 Thank you! I will email a list of the action items I noted during the meeting.



Pic desc: a headshot of a very happy Ben, a young man with disability wearing school uniform and wide brimmed school hat and glasses, and his seniors jumper, giving the thumbs up. This photo is from about four years ago. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with school meetings anymore. Very very glad. It’s so very very exhausting.

18/07/2023

This Sunday 23rd I’ll be leading a walk for young people wanting to chat about goals, careers and self advocacy.

Know a young person who’s feeling a bit lost, doesn’t know how to get where they want to be, or is a logger heads with parents/teachers about career aspirations?…
This is the time for them to be heard. 📢

Contact Indigo Shire Council or me ☝️for all the deets!

We're hosting a series of relaxed and casual bushwalking sessions for young people to join well-being facilitators for a walk and talk ⭐️

Running for three consecutive weeks from Sunday 16 July in Stanley, Wahgunyah and Beechworth, join us to talk about wellbeing, goal setting and more while appreciating Indigo Shire's beautiful natural spaces. Find out more 👉 https://bit.ly/3Xgfr9w

13/06/2023

The Growing Space are at it again. Check out the very cool response they got from ChatGPT below.

Whether you choose to use it or not, this demonstrates the many, many ways you can utilise special interests to make things more fun and engaging - whether you autistic, or simply need some extra motivation to get things done! 💪

👀 Scroll down and L👀k what I asked ChatGPT today, and l👀k how it answered!!
😲🤯💥WOW!!!!!💥🤯😲
📅 Join me for a live interactive webinar on ChatGPT – THIS Tuesday 20th June in the morning. 🌐 Register now at www.thegrowingspace.com.au/events
💡 Learn dozens more ways for NDIS participants, families and providers to use this FREE, easy-to-use online tool.
🚫 You don’t need to be tech-savvy at all.
🤞 You won’t regret it, I promise!

❓Sam asked❓: Give me some ideas on ways to spend my NDIS self managed plan capacity building budget for my 10 year old autistic son who is really into the Guardians of the Galaxy character, Groot. He is not good at self regulating, has high anxiety and would love to have some friends. Do you have some idea for ways his OT could use his interests to help him? I'm looking for very specific ideas that would help him.

🤖ChatGPT replied 🤖:
🌱 Groot's Growth and Change: Groot is known for his ability to regenerate and grow, which can be used as a metaphor for personal growth and development. The OT could use this to help your son understand and cope with changes in his life, such as transitioning to a new school or dealing with a stressful event.

💬 Groot's Limited Vocabulary: Groot is known for only saying "I am Groot," yet his friends are able to understand him based on his tone and body language. This could be used to teach your son about non-verbal communication and the importance of tone and body language in conveying messages.

🦝 Groot's Friendship with Rocket: Groot's relationship with Rocket can be used to teach your son about friendship and empathy. The OT could discuss how Rocket understands Groot even when others don't, and how they support each other in different situations.

🧘‍♂️ Groot's Calmness: Groot is often portrayed as calm and peaceful, which can be used to teach your son about self-regulation and managing anxiety. The OT could create a "Groot Calm Corner" where your son can go when he needs to calm down, with Groot-themed calming tools such as stress balls or fidget toys.

🕺 Groot's Dancing: Groot is known for his love of dancing, which can be used to encourage your son to engage in physical activity. The OT could create a "Groot Dance Party" where your son and other children can dance like Groot, helping to improve motor skills and coordination.

🛡️ Groot's Protective Nature: Groot is often seen protecting his friends, which can be used to teach your son about caring for others and standing up for what's right. The OT could discuss scenarios from the movies where Groot protects his friends and how your son can apply these lessons in his own life.

💪 Groot's Resilience: Despite the challenges he faces, Groot always manages to persevere. This can be used to teach your son about resilience and coping with adversity. The OT could discuss how Groot overcomes obstacles and how your son can use similar strategies when facing challenges.

🌳 Groot's Plant-Based Nature: Groot's unique plant-based nature can be used to engage your son in gardening or nature-based activities. This could help your son develop a new hobby, improve his fine motor skills, and provide opportunities for relaxation and stress relief.



Pic desc: an illustration of Groot, the calm, strong, growth oriented tree being from Guardians of the Galaxy. Groot is all kinds of awesome

06/03/2023

A great line up and very affordable price

15/11/2022

Is your child changing schools, starting Prep, or moving to secondary school next year?

It’s not too late to ask the school for support to make your child’s transition easier.

Call the ACD Support Line if you need help with this. 📞

It’s a FREE telephone advocacy service for all Victorian families of children with developmental delay or disability aged 0 to 18.

No diagnosis is needed to call us for support.

Our trained advisors can help you understand:
🔹Your child’s rights at school
🔹What you can ask for
🔹How to work together with the school

☎️Call 03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional).

The Support Line is open Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm



Image description: A mother hugs her young son. He is wearing a yellow t-shirt.

03/11/2022

What a wonderful step!!

Children with disability can now tell us about what they want play spaces to be like.

‘What do you think?’ is an accessible, fun and easy platform that gives children of all abilities the chance to have a say on things that matter to them.

Children can answer the questions in a way that suits them.

“Being able to watch the question in Auslan and answer by taking a photo was something I’d never seen before. It’s great that my child, who’s non-verbal, can have a voice.” – Parent

Watch a short video of ‘What do you think?’ in action here:
https://youtu.be/wLx_2SIBsx0

Get started with your child by visiting:
https://whatdoyouthink.acd.org.au/



Image description: The characters from ‘What do you think?’ are sitting on the grass. They have a big thought bubble over them that says: ‘What do you think?’. There’s text underneath that says: ‘Where children can have their say about what’s important to them.’