Episode 26 - Mentorship - Alex Blaze founded Optimum Support Services where he and his team of 17 support staff focus on providing high-quality mentorship for autistic children. Alex has spent a significant amount of time with families and sees the positive impact mentorship makes on children's lives.

Alex shares these experiences and answers the questions that have come through from the Postive Action Autism ADHD Group on Facebook.

- How can I tell if a support worker is going to make a good mentor for my child?

- Do parents in general know about peer mentoring from autistic adults as a viable option / would they consider this?

Links from this episode:

Optimum Support Services: https://www.optimumservices.com.au/

The PAAA Pod is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network, an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children.

https://spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au/

Episode 25 - Pathways for Musical Talent - Aspy Jones is an autistic musician, songwriter and member of the sibling band Favourite Kid. He has joined us to share his own experience as an autistic musician and answer the many incredible questions that have come in from the Positive Action Autism ADHD group on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/900624195016479

The questions are:

- I recognise my child excels at guitar. I am not musical at all, so how can I best support him to continue learning and progressing with guitar?

- My child has a clear interst in music, any tips to help identify if there is a special talent in a particular instrument?

- My son drums but suffers from stage fright due to anxiety and sensory overload in an orchestra. How does he continue?

- Are you familiar with music therapy as a form of capacity building / skill building support? If you are, what outcomes would we likely see?

- My child is clearly very gifted in music but won't consider lessons due to anxiety. How can I help foster this talent?

- Should I ask my child if they want any encouragement in the first place and if so, what might that be?

Links from this episode:

Little Black Book of Rock

Favourite Kid YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfEzg-K6zSiet3e364t3zFQ

Instagram: @aspyjpnes_ and @favouritekidmusic

The PAAA Pod is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network - an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children. www.spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au

Episode 24 - Post High School for Teens with Intellectual Disability - Kathy Harris founded CampusLife to fill the gap she saw when her own son was finishing high school.

Kathy shares her own experiences and answers the questions that have come in from the Postive Action Autism ADHD Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/900624195016479

The questions Kathy answers are:

- What education options are there post high school, to help my child continuing learning?

- If my child isn't able to work or do further study, what other options are there?

Links from this episode are:

CampusLife: https://inclusivesupports.com.au/index.html

The PAAA Pod is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network - an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children.

https://spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au/

Episode 23 - NDIS Updates - Kate Read from Inspires&Co joins us to share her insights to the NDIS Updates.

In March 2024, the Australian Gov't introduced changes to the NDIS Act 2013 through the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No 1) Bill 2024, based on key recommendations of the NDIS review, to make the NDIS better for participants.

The Bill passed the Australian Parliament on August 22, 2024.

Kate Read shares her insights on what we can expect as the changes are rolled out later on this year.

Links from this episode:

Inspires&Co: https://www.inspiresandco.com.au

Australian Gov't: dss.gov.au

The PAAA Pod is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network - an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children.

www.spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au

Parents can join the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/927674128832584

Episode 22 - Child Safety - Valli Slater is the founder of the charity Sacred Justice and is joinging us to share her lived experience with her daughter who is non-speaking autistic and sexual abuse. Her research post sexual abuse is what led her to begin Sacred Justice. Valli also all of the questions that have come through from the Positive Action Autism ADHD group on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/szLTvw5uNXi4sR1r/

The questions are:

- What should I look for in an STA providers to feel secure my child will be safe?

- How can I help teach stranger danger to my child who has none?

- What steps can I take to ensure my child is safe at school?

- Can you recommend anything to assist my tennager to navigate healthy friendships?

Links from this episode: https://sacredjustice.org.au/

https://attwoodandgarnettevents.com/sexuality-education-for-teenagers-with-aspergers-syndrome/

https://www.research.chop.edu/car-autism-roadmap/sexuality-instruction-for-tweens-teens-and-young-adults

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9915282/

The PAAA Pod is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network - an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children.

www.spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au

Episode 21 - Planning for Peace of Mind - Manny Mezzasalma founder of EJM Advice joins us to offer his advice and answer the questions that have come through from the Positive Action Autism ADHD Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/900624195016479 on the topic of Planning for Peace of Mind.

Manny answers the following questions:

- What does the process look like for getting this security in place for my child?

- What if I'm struggling to secure my own future, how can I plan for my child's?

- How does a disability pension work? Is there anything we should know that isn't often spoken about?

Manny also shares what some of the risks are, if parents don't take steps to plan for their children's future.

Links from this episode:

EJM Advice: www.ejmadvice.com.au

You can email Manny at [email protected]

The PAAA Pod is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network - an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children.

www.spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au

Access this community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/927674128832584

Episode 20 - Physiotherapy - Kristy Petrie from Adaptability Therapy joins us answer all of the questions that have come through the Positive Action Autism ADHD Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/900624195016479 on the topic of Physiotherapy.

Kristy answers the following questions:

- What does the role of Physiotherapy play in supporting people with Autism and ADHD?

- What are the early signs that indicate we should see a paediatic physio?

- What reports and inclusions can a phyiotherapist provide for NDIS purposes?

You can find Kristy at Adaptability Therapy: https://www.adaptabilitytherapy.com.au/

The PAAA Pod is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network, an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children.

www.spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au

Parent can join the Spectrum Success Network for more free resources here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/927674128832584

Episode 19 - Independent Living - Jarrad Hills, founder of Ability Homes Australia joins us to share his lived experience with his sister who has level 3 Autism and why he started Ability Homes Australia. Jarrad also answers all of the questions that have come through from the Positive Action Autism ADHD Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/900624195016479/

- What are some independent living options you see for autistic young adults?

- What are the first steps we need to take if we want our young adult child to live independently?

- What supports are available to support the transition to idependent living, assuming they will be able to, just aren't ready yet?

Links form this episode:

www.ahau.com.au

PAAA Pod is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network - an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children.

www.spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au

Episode 18 - Pathways to Higher Education - Will Wheeler, founder of Neurodiversity Academy answers all of our questions from the Positive Action Autism ADHD Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/900624195016479/ on the topic of Pathways to Higher Education.

The questions are:

- What are some of the pathways that you see, post secondary school that we may not be aware of?

- My child is really struggling with secondary school, are there any alternative options that we can start looking at now?

- What supports are availbale at University?

- What are some other alternative further education options, other than University or TAFE?

- What does a neuro-inclusive higher education provider look like?

- Why should a higher education provider have a Nuerodiversity coordinator / representative?

- What are the current problems regarding neurodivergent students in higher education?

- Bonus question... what are three things we can ask an education provider, to gauge how well my child will be supported?

PAAA Pod is hosted and produced by Lindsay Keating and is brought to you by the Spectrum Success Network - an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children. www.spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au

Episode 17 - Mum & Son Success Story - Aimee and Tyler Maynard share their experience with receiving the diagnosis, navigating school refusal, alternative pathways to education, offer tips to help other children be successful and celebrate Tyler's recent success as he embarks on university, studying to be a lawyer.

Questions that have come through from the Positive Action Autism ADHD Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/900624195016479/ are:

- When did Tyler first understand that he was autistic and did that experience look like?

- What have you found to be most supportive on your journey, both Aimee and Tyler?

- What tips do you have for transitioning into secondary school?

The PAAA Pod is brought to you the Spectrum Success Network - an educational and community building platform for families with autistic children.

www.spectrumsuccessnetwork.com.au

Also by Nature Moves - delivering school holiday camps for autistic children in SE QLD.

www.naturemoves.com.au