Diverse Minds Learning and Support Services

05/08/2024

Many people’s first thought when one mentions home-schooling is about the social isolation. Truth of the matter is it does not have to be socially isolating, for many children school in itself is a place of social isolation.

There are endless options for socialization amongst the home-schooling community and wider community organisations.

For some, the move to homeschooling can result in the time and space to recover, and really begin to discover whom one is.

If you are in this position, and would like some further support or guidance please get in contact. I am available to help either with navigating an supporting in the education system, or helping devise learning as part of a home school program. Every child has a right to an education. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a safe, supportive environment, however that may look.

04/06/2024

Supporting decision making with choice cards removes the pressure of an instant response to a verbal question, which for many autistic children and especially those with a PDA profile creates so much stress.

Often mixed into the complexity is auditory processing issues, and a difficulty to retain information. Something simple like this, can support a student to develop their own independence, without the feeling of overwhelm when choices are provided.

Are you in need of support setting up some visuals and supports for your child? Do you need help working with your child’s diagnosis and how best to communicate their needs to important people in their life (such as teachers, therapists etc)? I can work with you to create profiles summarizing their reports in a user friendly manner, that provides all the important facts and advocates for your child’s needs.

If you think this could be helpful for you, please get in contact 🙂.

25/02/2024

What do you think these could be used for?? Leave your answers below.

22/01/2024

Heading back to school soon? Worried about how the start of the year is going to go? There are a number of things that you can do to make sure that your child is prepared (as much as we can do!) for the new school year. Here are a few tips. If you would like to discuss this further, and chat about how Diverse Minds can support you are your child, please do not hesistate to make contact.



admin@diversemindslearningandsupportservices.com.au

10/01/2024

Being an educator myself I know the job is incredibly taxing and the expectations are high. However, we need to be mindful of how we are supporting some of our more vulnerable students.

Every child deserves an education, but not every child has an opportunity to receive an education. It is important that we break free from the stereotypes and old school views of “naughtiness, disruptiveness, rudeness” and look closer at what the children are trying to tell us.

The most important thing for our vulnerable students is relationship and trust. They need to know that you care. Many of these children have endured school trauma in many different shapes and forms. They need to know that you care, and you understand how it feels for them to be in their shoes. Every child is capable of learning, and does innately want to learn, but their learning style preferences may differ. They may be situationally mute - so verbal presentations in front of a class may cause a fight or flight response, so how else could they achieve the curriculum outcomes - does it have to be an oral? Do they have low tone, is handwriting an absolute necessity or could they type?

Once we establish these two bases we can look at creating and maintaining a safe learning space. Somewhere that isn’t distressing to their overwhelmed sensory systems. Is it alternative seating, is it allowing them to wear headphones or a hat in class (to shield the sound/lighting).

Establish a sensory diet that works for them - know that it’s essential to give regular breaks, and not just the “I think you need a break”. Regular breaks will help their nervous system maintain a regulated state.

Only then, when all this is addressed and laid down first can we actually expect and engage in learning. No child is going to be able to learn when their nervous system is overwhelmed and dsyregulated. Demanding their focus and attention is only going to further traumatize and add to the struggles rather than taking the time and care to establish solid foundations.

After all, EVERY child DESERVES an EDUCATION, that is right for them.

16/12/2023

An excellent resource for the holiday season (or any time really!)

This blog discusses preparing for house guests in the context of neurodiversity. The author, an advocate for neurodiverse children, emphasises the importance of actively engaging in anti-ableism.

08/12/2023

The vast majority of the time our traits are not inherently ‘rude’- they are simply different to yours. They are unfamiliar, and that might be uncomfortable for you. They are also very much appreciated by plenty of people who share our neurotype.

So often our kids get held to arbitrary neurotypical social rules.
Many of those rules are not for us.

Trying to follow those rules for a lifetime can break us.

I have a million more thoughts about this but I am utterly failing at turning them into cohesive words on a page.

So that’s it for now.

Em

11/11/2023

How to help an autistic person who is having a meltdown, and also create an environment that helps them avoid meltdowns.

02/11/2023

Diverse Minds currently has vacancy to support families around North and North Eastern Adelaide in-person or any one willing to participate in online supports Australia wide.

27/10/2023

The message of this is ‘stop looking at every different behaviour, deciding it’s a problem, and trying to fix it’.

Autistic traits are different to neurotypical traits. That doesn’t mean they are worse or wrong. It just means that many neurotypical people are unfamiliar with them.

The work is not for us to do.

Em

27/10/2023

25/10/2023

When a haircut drains your battery….

What seems like a simple common task for many can be a cumbersome and overwhelming experience for someone who is neurodivergent.

A trip to the hairdresser this morning completely drained someone’s battery. To the point language disappeared, and they themselves disappeared under the weight of the beanbag for the rest of the morning.

The fact is for someone with sensory challenges a trip to the hairdresser is a massive undertaking.

It took energy and effort to get to the car, and then more to get into the Centre. To then sit and have their haircut - when even the hairdresser noticed their sensory struggles with the hair falling as it was cut.

The surrounding noise of the shopping Centre only heightened the senses and probably drained whatever fuel was left in the battery.
🪫.

It was later described that his neck felt like it was on fire ….as we attempted to remove all the hair that we could.

Nothing else can happen today, with an empty 🪫 it’s just not going to work. If we force anything we run the risk of damaging the batttery - beyond the point of recharge.

Instead we have taken the opportunity to let the battery recharge - doing things that regulate and calm the nervous system. To fill the battery 🔋 back up.

So yes, we only managed a haircut today, but to a sensory avoiding child who has significant anxiety that’s a huge deal - and worth acknowledging the bravery it took.

And mummas be kind to yourselves. Neurotypical and neurodiverse children are like electricity and petrol - their power sources require different input and different engines!!