Thank you to all who attended the first Wangaratta Autism Community of
Practice meeting for 2013. Over 30 people attended our meeting on Friday 1st
March which shows great support within the community for working together for
those with autism. Thank you so much to NECAHMS for the meeting room (and
finding extra chairs). A big thank you to our guest speakers - Kelsey Graves
and Mary Harrington as well.
Please mark in your diaries the dates for our meetings this year:
May 31st
2013 – 12.30pm – 2.30pm
August 23rd
2013 – 12.30pm -2.30pm
November 29th
2013 – 12.30pm – 2.30pm
The minutes for the meeting are now available on the blog.
Here are a few items from the meeting to keep in mind:
Kelsey Graves is a Speech Pathologist with East Hume Regional Communication
Service. Kelsey’s main role is on raising awareness about communication
difficulties, facilitate training sessions and provide direct services 18 years
+
Ø Contact Kelsey for workshops / services
Email: ccnwang@ovensandking.org.au
Phone: 03 57232000
Mary Harrington is the Regional Career
Development Officer for DEECD.
Career action plans have been developed for inclusion in SSG meetings from year
7 onwards.
Career Action Plan Templates can be found at: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/careers/carframe/pages/cap.aspx
o Mary is looking for a working
party to be established for promoting career action plans. Contact Mary if
interested: harrington.mary.t@edumail.vic.gov.au
2014 Wangaratta Autism Conference - A working party is needed for the
proposed conference to get it up and running. Everyone has something to offer –
so please don’t hold back. Contact Judy Bennett if interested > Email: judyb@autismmansfield.org.au
DEECD – Update: The ReACT project has amalgamated with the Regional Autism
Leadership Group: Now referred to as RAPT: Regional Autism Planning Team. The
RAPT provides a forum to discuss issues, share info and plan training and
support for professionals working with children with ASD’s and their families.
Upcoming Events
·
Regional Autism
Planning Team (RAPT)
Next Meeting: Monday 25th March 10 – 12pm.
·
Autism Awareness
Day: ‘Different Not Less Campaign’
QE2 Square Dean St Albury
Tuesday 2nd
April.
1 – 3 pm Information and Networking 3 – 6 pm
Family Fun
·
Wangaratta Autism
Community of Practice Meeting
Friday 31st
May 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Venue: Ovens and King (TBC)
·
Open Door Neighborhood
House and Interchange (Upper Murray Family Care)
Wednesday Night Cooking Classes for Teenagers with Special Needs
Contact: Upper Murray Family Care Ph: 03 5720 0000
If you know of or have an event
coming up in the Wangaratta region please let me know: kgrantmass@gmail.com
Did you know?
Open Door Neighborhood House Wangaratta has a Community
Learning Program for young adults (18 years +). The program runs 3 days a week
on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The program includes community access,
cooking, literacy and numeracy, gardening, art and craft, computers, grocery
shopping and budgeting and public transport.
Social
Stories
Kelsey Graves highlighted the need to use social
stories to help with communication and anxieties for those with autism. I am
keen to collate a few examples to share with everyone. If you have a social
story that you have used and would like to share – please email me at kgrantmass@gmail.com. I am happy to alter names to ensure privacy if you
wish.
On behalf of Jenny Cleeland (Director Mansfield Autism
Services) & Judy Bennett (Regional Coordinator Mansfield Autism Services)
thank you for your involvement and interest in the Wangaratta Autism Community
of Practice. Hope to see you all again at the next meeting.
