Nelle Frances Autism Education Consultant & Trainer

20/08/2025

Thriving Kids & Inklings – any one else concerned about this direction for developmental delays & Autism????

Today’s announcement by Minister Mark Butler of the new Thriving Kids program raises serious concerns for children with developmental delays and autism — and for the sector that supports them.

The Government plans to roll out Thriving Kids in July 2026, drawing heavily on models like the Inklings program. These programs may sound well-intentioned. But let’s be clear: both Inklings and Thriving Kids are based on research frameworks that are not evidence-affirming for neurodivergent children. I believe they risk pathologising developmental differences rather than supporting them.

The NDIS Provider sector doesn't support these programs as appropriate interventions for developmental delay and autism. Why?

- they prioritise surveillance and “correction” over strengths-based, neuroaffirming practice.
- they ignore the lived experience of autistic and developmentally delayed children and their families.
- they divert funding away from therapies and supports that are PROVEN to build capacity and quality of life.

While sustainability of the NDIS is a valid concern, shifting children into programs that are NOT ALIGNED with best practice is not the answer. Early intervention should empower children, not attempt to "normalise" them.

If the Australian Government is genuine about listening to the disability community, then consultation must centre autistic voices, neuroaffirming practitioners, and NDIS providers who understand what truly works.

18/08/2025

Anxiety is common in Autism. Nelle Frances can help!

Anxiety isn’t just “worrying”— for our autistic kids, it shows up in the body: racing heart, tight chest, sweaty palms, nausea.

The Go Zen Anxiety Program helps children understand WHY this happens and what they can do about it.

With this proven support program, children will:
+ Recognise anxiety triggers
+ Learn how thoughts affect feelings
+ Develop calming strategies that make sense to their brain and body

Parents, you'll gain practical tools too—so you can support your child beyond the program.

10 week program, suitable for 7-12 year olds. Deliverable in person OR online.

NDIS claimable. REGISTER TODAY

15/08/2025

Sharing this here to save it, and for those who need it.

Is it just to incarcerate autistic individuals for having autistic traits?Autistic law/biomedical science student, Tom Oliver believes that for most autistic...

14/08/2025

The Sensory Detective Program empowers autistic children
to:
+ recognise body signals linked to sensory input
+ trust and act on these signals
+ take action before emotional overwhelm kicks in

Parents learn to
# trust their child's feedback
# link sensory signals to dysregulation (meltdown)
# validate & support sensory needs (movement, balance, ear defenders etc) before behaviour

If you're sick of the "behaviour / reprimand / repeat" cycle in your home, enrol your child today. Suitable for ages 5 - 10 yrs.

Phone 0482 830 158 to secure your place today.

11/08/2025

Step Inside the Autistic Sensory World
Full-Day Workshop for Professionals & Parents

What if you could FEEL why sensory differences change everything?
Join Nelle Frances (Sensory Specialist & Creator of Sensory Detective®) and dive into the neuroscience of autism. Discover how sensory homeostasis – the body’s equilibrium between input and capacity – holds the key to:
✅ Emotional resilience
✅ Consistent engagement
✅ Empowered self-advocacy
✅ Lifelong well-being

IN THIS WORKSHOP, YOU’LL:
🔍 EXPERIENCE the autistic sensory world firsthand
🧠 UNDERSTAND how sensory processing impacts performance, learning & connection
🛠️ LEAVE WITH TOOLS to create supportive environments (classrooms, therapy, home)
Shift from seeing “behaviour” to understanding performance – because autistic people are always doing their best.

📅 FULL-DAY IMMERSIVE WORKSHOP
📍 Location: Kawana Surf Club, Buddina Sunshine Coast
🔗 Register Now: Book your spot now! https://bit.ly/3HrQDIc

FOR: OTs • Teachers • Therapists • Parents • Support Workers
Anyone ready to support autism with neuroscience, empathy + actionable insight.
Change how you SEE. Change how you SUPPORT.

10/08/2025

:

I'm gay. I'm disabled. I'm poor.
So when you say, "We just disagree politically, but we can still be friends,"

I need you to understand something:

Your politics decide whether I eat, get healthcare, marry, survive.

This isn't just a disagreement. It's my life.

04/08/2025

AUTISM MELTDOWNS: Understand, Don’t Escalate

Do the strategies you've been given just… make things worse? 😔
Nelle Frances gets it. As an autism parent and professional, she learned that conventional meltdown advice often fuels the fire —and damages connection.

In this webinar, she shares what actually works—through the lens of neuroscience, lived experience and deep respect for autistic neurology.

💡 You'll learn to:
+ Understand what's really going on in a meltdown
+ Spot sensory triggers you're missing
+ Build safety—before, during and after dysregulation

19 August 2025
🎟 Register now → http://bit.ly/4mpa43o

02/08/2025

AUTISM MELTDOWNS: Understand, Don’t Escalate
Do the strategies you've been given just… make things worse? 😔

Nelle Frances gets it. As an autism parent and professional, she learned that conventional meltdown advice often fuels the fire —and damages connection.

In this webinar, she shares what actually works—through the lens of neuroscience, lived experience and deep respect for autistic neurology.

💡 You'll learn to:
+ Understand what's really going on in a meltdown
+ Spot sensory triggers you're missing
+ Build safety—before, during and after dysregulation

19 August 2025
🎟 Register now → http://bit.ly/4mpa43o

31/07/2025

Autism Meltdown Webinar – Understand, Don’t Escalate

Do the strategies you’ve been told to use during your child’s meltdowns just… not work?

Nelle Frances knows that pain. As both an autism parent and professional, she discovered that traditional advice often escalated distress and damaged connection. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this game-changing webinar, Nelle shares practical, relationship-first strategies rooted in neuroscience and lived experience.

You’ll learn how to:
+ Understand what’s really happening in a meltdown
+ Spot sensory triggers you may not realise you’re activating
+ Build trust and safety—before, during and after dysregulation

If you believe your child would "do better if they could"—this is for you.
Join “The Meltdown Webinar – Understand, Don’t Escalate”
Real strategies. Real results. From someone who truly gets it.

WHEN: 19 August 2025
Register now http://bit.ly/4mpa43o

31/07/2025

Autism Meltdown Webinar – Understand, Don’t Escalate

Do the strategies you’ve been told to use during your child’s meltdowns just… not work?

Nelle Frances knows that pain. As both an autism parent and professional, she discovered that traditional advice often escalated distress and damaged connection. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this game-changing webinar, Nelle shares practical, relationship-first strategies rooted in neuroscience and lived experience.

You’ll learn how to:
+ Understand what’s really happening in a meltdown
+ Spot sensory triggers you may not realise you’re activating
+ Build trust and safety—before, during and after dysregulation

If you believe your child would "do better if they could"—this is for you.

Join “The Meltdown Webinar – Understand, Don’t Escalate”
Real strategies. Real results. From someone who truly gets it.

WHEN: 19 August 2025
Register now http://bit.ly/4mpa43o

Meltdown Webinar: real strategies, real results, from someone who truly gets it.

30/07/2025

Take action by signing the petition 🙏🏼

Stand Up for Disability Support: Stop the NDIS Cuts

24/07/2025

AN OPEN LETTER TO Barnaby Joyce AND Garth Hamilton MP

✉️

Dear Garth and Barnaby,

20% of the population are Disabled. Yes, that much, that high, that many. Ask the ABS if you don't believe us.

That’s not a debate — it’s a fact.

Pretending Disabled people - in this case, boys - don’t exist won’t solve anything. And under international law, Australia has binding obligations to listen to Disabled People's Representative Organisations (DPROs) and incorporate our advice into law and policy.

Let’s be clear: none of us in DPROs support the direction you’re taking.

Yes — more Australians, including children, are being identified as Disabled than 15 or 20 years ago.
That doesn’t mean we’re faking. It doesn’t mean we’re broken.

It means we’ve improved at recognising disability early and intervening to support people. That is progress — and we should be proud of it.

We should be investing in Disabled children so they can grow, learn, and participate equally in community life.

When we invest early, we prevent harm later.
And harm from a lack of early supports always costs more — in lives, in hospitals, in family breakdowns, in lost potential.

15% of children in the NDIS is not a failure.

It says: “We can see you. We can support you. We won’t fail another generation the way we did in the past.”

It says: “We are a country that takes the needs of children seriously.”

Let’s get to the real crisis

Providers are not the problem, as people in your comments have stated. This is total BS.

That narrative — pushed by both Labor and the Coalition — is political spin to justify austerity.

Here’s what’s actually happening in the NDIA right now:

💔 Most small to medium allied health providers have been operating at a loss for years. The most successful are making less than 3 percent profit. The ALP created the market, and now it is blaming providers for the market it created - but actually, they hold all the cards.

💔 The pricing caps imposed by the NDIA have now made it impossible for many to stay afloat.

💔 Some small businesses are reporting deficits of over $75,000.

💔 Lawyers are now advising providers to shut down to avoid insolvency risk.

💔 Those that remain are being bought out by large corporate players, consolidating the market and driving down quality.

People have asked - why do YOU care? Why do participants give a crap about providers?

We care because this is how you kill competition. This is how you destroy diversity in service delivery. This is how you demolish choice and control in the current system, and create a CAPTIVE market. This is a return to what we escaped.

That’s why we — alongside others — have reported the NDIA to the ACCC for market distortion.

The NDIS is not broken — it’s being sabotaged.

Let’s look at the numbers:

💡The NDIS returns $2.25 for every $1 invested (Melbourne Institute & Per Capita, 2023)

💡It’s created over 500,000 jobs

💡Fraud is only 0.04% of spending annually

💡The fraud taskforce cost five times more than the fraud it detected

Wow, right?

All this destruction of plans, attacking Disabled people, their families, and small providers — just so the NDIS could be raided by the ALP in partnership with the Liberals and Nationals, to pay for AUKUS.

Grossness factor 1 billion, fam.

Meanwhile:

🫠 Kids can’t get therapy or go to school

🫩 Disabled people are dying in their homes

😬 Communities are being gutted

🙃 Small, values-driven providers are collapsing or being swallowed by corporates.

Yuck.

For our friends and allies:

You know as well as us that -

The problem IS NOT participants.
The problem IS NOT providers.
The problem IS the Agency. The problem IS government.

The problem IS the corporates and private interests who run this country behind the scenes.

The problem IS the fact that Australian politics is pay-for-play, and what you see printed in Murdoch media is largely bought and sold by rich and powerful families with their own agendas.

*hits play on Dirty Deals Done Dirt Cheap by ACCA DACCA*

Folks who know nothing about living on the breadline - like us.

Folks who know zero about needing the social safety net to survive.

Fight the real power and don't let them distract you, friends.

Stop the cuts.
Listen to DPROs.

And to Barnaby and Garth - Do your job, as outlined under International Law.