Spectrum Centre

27/06/2025

The language we use shapes how people are seen and how they’re supported.

“She has meltdowns” makes the person or their behaviour the problem.
“She becomes distressed when things are unpredictable” makes the environment part of the picture and points us toward real support.

When we shift our words, we shift the lens…
And when we shift the lens, the strategies become more clear and more respectful.

That’s neurodivergent affirming behaviour support.

25/06/2025

“We need to stop just pulling people out of the river.
We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” – Desmond Tutu

Behaviour support shouldn’t start after someone is in distress.

True neurodivergent affirming practice means recognising early signs, meeting needs proactively, and adjusting environments before a crisis.

Let’s stop reacting and start preventing.

24/06/2025

We currently have capacity for new behaviour support referrals in July 2025.

Now is a good time to give us a call on 0499 930 811 to discuss your location, appointment availability, and individual needs, or complete the PBS EOI form: https://forms.office.com/r/1fcCcivyfw

22/06/2025

Neurodivergent affirming behaviour support isn't about fixing someone. It's about creating environments that feel safe, respectful, and predictable.

🌱 Behaviour is communication - letting us know something isn't working well.
🔍 The real work is understanding what needs aren’t being met and adjusting the system, not the person.

12/06/2025

When access is contingent on performance, it assumes a motivation issue.

But what if motivation isn’t the problem?

For many neurodivergent people, the barrier isn’t willingness - it’s ability. Executive functioning challenges, sensory overload, or communication differences can make it hard to do the expected thing consistently or correctly.

When access to something meaningful depends on getting it "right," and we can't, even though we want to, it doesn’t feel like encouragement.

It feels like punishment. 💔

07/06/2025

When a child is distressed, how we respond matters deeply.

Do we co-regulate with them - offering presence, safety, and support?
Or do we control, punish, or silence -teaching them to hide their needs to avoid consequences?

❤️ Co-regulation isn’t about “fixing behaviour.”
It’s about showing up with compassion, helping a child feel safe enough to learn about their emotions and trust support.

😔 Without this safety, children may learn to mask their distress, disconnect from their internal cues, and appear “compliant” while still struggling inside. Over time, the effort to hold everything in can lead to emotional exhaustion, burnout, shutdowns, or explosive outbursts - not because they’ve failed to cope, but because they’ve been coping alone for too long. 💔

27/05/2025

Parenting neurodivergent children often comes with a lot of "expectation noise" from society, family, professionals, and even our own childhood experiences.

These layered expectations can make it harder to understand and respond to our child’s unique neurodevelopmental needs.

Becoming aware of our own expectations is a powerful part of co-regulation. It helps reduce stress, shift out of reactivity, and prevent us from falling into the “expectation gap” - the space between what we thought “should" happen and what’s really happening.

23/05/2025

We are setting up a small neurodiversity affirming therapy group for young autistic adults in Clarkson. Please click the link below to find out more and register your interest and availability:

https://forms.office.com/r/Zs7ZeSmWuM

02/04/2025

20/12/2024

The Spectrum Centre office is now closed until 6th January 2025. A heartfelt thank-you to all of our community and connections for being part of our journey in 2024. Wishing you all a safe and joyful holiday season. See you in 2025! ☺️

06/11/2024

If you are looking for an experienced behaviour support practitioner in the Perth northern suburbs you are in luck! One of our team is currently able to take referrals ✨ Please call 0499 930 811 or complete the expression of interest form on our contact page: https://www.spectrumcentre.com.au/contact

28/09/2024

Great resource from Lived Experience Educator explaining different aspects and profiles of neurodiversity 💕

Are you tired of seeing neurodiversity only ever described as a list of medical diagnoses? Do you ever imagine having access to language to describe our human differences without relying on diagnostic labels?

Welcome to The Neurodiversity Smorgasbord.

Consider the Neurodiversity Smorgasbord as an opportunity to understand our unique profile, or plate, of human differences beyond the DSM.

You can read the full essay explaining The Neurodiversity Smorgasbord below but in the meantime, I'll leave ya'll with a quote by yours truly:

I don't need to and I shouldn’t have to rely on the DSM and diagnostic labels to justify or explain how I am human.

www.livedexperienceeducator.com/blog/theneurodiversitysmorgasbord