Beyond Barriers Support

06/01/2026

While we usually keep our participants anonymous, there are some stories that deserve to be shared, with pride, permission, and purpose. 💛

Meet Joshua Fry.

As we move into the new year, we want to honour something incredibly powerful Josh achieved: his first sober Christmas in well over a decade. He’s also now 6 months alcohol-free and smoke-free! A huge achievement that reflects courage, commitment, and support.

Josh’s progress didn’t start with the big wins, it started small:
🌙 cooking and cleaning at home
🌙 building routines and confidence
🌙 exploring interests and future possibilities

With the support of Corbyn (Coordinator) and Connor and Cameron (Key Support Workers), those small steps grew into meaningful change. Josh even used the money he saved through sobriety to invest in real-life, enriching experiences, including seeing the F1 at the Gold Coast 🏁, with dreams of Bathurst this year.

Josh didn’t become someone new; he became more himself.

For many neurodivergent people, years of pressure to hide needs or “fit in” can create deep stress and disconnection. Masking, often a survival response, has been linked to burnout and mental health challenges. Understanding this shapes how we support people.

At Beyond Barriers Support, our focus is on creating safety, choice, and empowerment, so people can reconnect with their strengths and sense of self. Our approach is informed by voices like Dr Devon Price (Unmasking Autism), who highlights the cost of long-term masking and the power of identity-affirming support.

Stories like Josh’s remind us what’s possible when support is built on respect, safety, and belief. We believe the power already exists within every person, and with the right support, people can go beyond barriers.

💛 If you’re looking for neuroaffirming, person-centred support that focuses on real-life outcomes, we’re here.

24/12/2025

Beyond Barriers Support wishes a beautiful holiday season to all our participants, staff, and their families. 💙

Our group workshops will be on hold until the week of the 5th of January, while our one-to-one supports continue as usual outside of public holidays.

We’ve got some exciting announcements coming in January 2026 so stay tuned! ✨🌙

11/12/2025

🎨☕ Coffee & Craft Fridays! ☕🎨

Our Art Club is a relaxed, low-pressure social group where you can create, connect, and explore your creativity at your own pace. Bring your own craft ideas or dive into the activities we provide, we’re here to support your confidence, skills, and self-expression.

Usually held at The Quad or the Library, it’s a gentle space to meet new people, try something fun, and enjoy a slow morning with community. 💛

Everyone is welcome, come as you are, create how you like.

03/12/2025

On this International Day of People with Disability, our hearts are with the beautiful community we’re so lucky to walk alongside in the Northern Rivers.

To every person we support whether you live with physical disability, are neurodivergent, live with chronic illness or any other diagnosis please know this, you are valued, you are important, and our community is richer because you are in it.

Each year this day reminds us how much of a privilege it is to do what we do. We’ve watched lives change in big and small ways new friendships, new routines, new skills, new confidence and we are endlessly grateful to play even a tiny part in those moments.

Thank you for your trust, your honesty, your patience and your humour. We see you, we celebrate you, and we’re here for the long haul.

Beyond Barriers Support proudly supporting our Northern Rivers disability community, today and every day.

27/11/2025

What we can help you with, and what sets us apart. Follow the link below for a more tailored experience on our website!
https://www.beyondbarrierssupport.com/

17/11/2025

Check out the social groups we run at Beyond Barriers Support!

Our Art Club is running right through the Christmas period.
Our Bowling and Adults DnD have availability; however, our Non-Binary and Under-18 DnD groups are currently full. We’re now taking expressions of interest for our Social Gaming Club and Outdoor Recreation group to start in the new year! (times for these groups may change)

You might feel anxious about joining a new group right now, and that’s completely okay. Our goal is to support you in building confidence and social skills over time so that things like starting a new job, volunteering, or even creating your own club feel achievable and within reach!

Send us a message if you’d like to get involved!

12/11/2025

Eat the Street is on this weekend!!

Just a quick reminder to our wonderful participants and community. Eat the Street is happening this weekend, and we encourage everyone to get out and enjoy all the amazing food and entertainment on offer!

Please note: there will be loud music, dancing, and bright lights, which might be overstimulating for some.
To make the most of your day, we recommend:
🎧 Bringing soundproof headphones
🌀 Keeping a favourite fidget toy handy
🌳 Identifying a few low-stim or quiet spaces around town
⏰ Visiting earlier in the day (between 12–3 PM) for a calmer experience
🤝 Or reach out to one of our friendly support workers if you’d like a bit of help navigating the event.

Most importantly, have fun, stay comfortable, and enjoy connecting with our wonderful local community! 💛

ONE WEEK TO GO!

Get ready for Norco Eat the Street on Saturday, 15 November, from 12pm–7pm along Keen Street, Lismore!

Taste your way through almost 40 incredible food vendors, enjoy live music, grab a drink at The Quad Bar and catch all the action at the Pie Eating Competition and Barista Smackdown.

It’s a full day of flavour, fun and local vibes, you won’t want to miss it!

👉 For all the delicious details, visit: www.visitlismore.com.au/eatthestreet

21/10/2025

💙 Invisible Disabilities Week 💙

A shout-out to our incredible community!, to our fellow dyslexic thinkers, those who are hard of hearing or low vision, our autistic and ADHD friends, those living with chronic pain, mental health conditions, or sensory differences and everyone whose disability isn’t always visible.

We see you. We honour your experiences. And we celebrate the unique strengths, perspectives, and creativity you bring to our world.

This week (and every week), let’s celebrate the diversity that exists within disability and remember that no two journeys are the same.

It’s Invisible Disabilities Week (19–25 October)! 🌻

Around 80–85% of people with a disability have one that isn’t visible. These include neurological, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and chronic conditions that aren’t always immediately apparent.

Not all disabilities are visible — but a little understanding and kindness can go a long way in making everyone feel seen and supported.

Image description: A green graphic with sunflower design promoting Invisible Disabilities Week, 19th–25th October. It features a Sunflower lanyard, a person icon with a sunflower, and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower logo.

13/10/2025

🎮✨Beyond Barriers Support at PAX 2025! ✨🎮

It’s no secret our team (and many of our participants) are passionate about gaming and anime. This weekend, we ventured beyond the Northern Rivers shire 🧙‍♂️ to PAX Melbourne, on a quest to explore how the gaming world is leading the way in disability inclusion and neurodiversity acceptance.

From low-stimulation rooms by Beyond Blue to inclusive panels and sensory-friendly spaces, PAX showed what true accessibility in community looks like. 💙

We connected with businesses and creators working in the ASD and tabletop spaces to learn, collaborate, and bring fresh ideas home, helping us shape social programs that reflect the diverse ways our participants connect, communicate, and belong.

Because at Beyond Barriers Support, we believe inclusion isn’t just about access, it’s about belonging. 🌈

Want to get involved?
Join our ever-growing community of gamers, creatives, and adventurers as we go beyond limits towards independence.

07/10/2025

We’re so excited to share that our Hidden Disabilities Sunflower wristbands and badges have arrived! 🌻

With summer events on the horizon, we want to make sure our participants feel supported wherever they go! whether that’s at the airport, the bank, or out in the community. 💛

The sunflower is an internationally recognised symbol that lets others know that someone may need a little extra time, space, or assistance. Our participants can now wear theirs anytime they wish to feel seen and supported. 🌞✨