Social Stories

Social Stories

Social stories and visual reflections form an integral part of our everyday when working and living with those with autism. As a follow on from our last meeting where the importance of social stories was highlighted - I would like to provide a couple of examples provided by attendees at the meeting.
* Warning* They do not necessarily follow the prescribed social stories formula - however hopefully they encourage EVERYONE to have a go. Providing a visual really helps to communicate meaning.

Newsletter Term 1 2013

Connecting Professionals and Parents within Wangaratta….

Thank you to all who attended the first Wangaratta Autism Community of Practice meeting for 2013. Over 30 people attended our meeting on Friday 1^st 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 31^st 2013 – 12.30pm – 2.30pm

August 23^rd 2013 – 12.30pm -2.30pm

November 29^th 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 25^th March 10 – 12pm.

Venue: 150 Bridge St Benalla. Contact: drysdale.jennifer.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

·         Autism Awareness Day: ‘Different Not Less Campaign’

QE2 Square Dean St Albury

Tuesday 2^nd April.

1 – 3 pm Information and Networking 3 – 6 pm Family Fun

·         Wangaratta Autism Community of Practice Meeting

Friday 31^st 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.

Wangaratta Community of Practice

AGENDA

Friday March 1^st

12.30pm – 2.30pm

“RIVERSEDGE”

Kelsey Graves –Speech Pathologist , East /Hume Regional Community Service

·         will talk about the services they offer, re access etc.

·         She will give us some information about “SOCIAL STORIES”

Mary Harrington –Regional Career Development Officer

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development –North Eastern Victoria Region.

·         Discussion of her role

·         Current projects

·         Information for Parents

M.A.S.S. :-

·         Discussion about CONFERENCE 2014.

·         Brief outline of the new pilot

·         Information sheet –Kerri Grant

·         Pathways Info sheet for new diagnosis.

·         Develop program of meeting dates for 2013, take suggestions for future presentations and participants.

Newsletter -positive partnerships- January 2013

Supporting school age students on the Autism Spectrum

Connecting North East Victorian Parents…

Happy new year to everyone! Hope you have all enjoyed a safe and happy break.

Let’s see what 2013 has in store for us:

Upcoming Events

·         FREE 3 Day Workshop – ‘Positive Behaviour Support’ – ASPECT

Our Ladies Primary School Wangaratta

Tuesday 26^th Feb 9.30am – 28^th Feb 2.30pm

More information visit: www.autismspectrum.org.au

·         Wangaratta Autism Community of Practice Meeting

Friday 1^st March 12.30 – 2.30 pm

Venue: NECAMHS – RiversEdge 66 – 68 Faithfull St, Wangaratta

·         Michael Whatam – ‘The Institutionalised Alien’

Information session: ‘Aspergers and Learning Difficulties, Education and Employment and Post School Transition’

Thursday 7^th March: 10.00 – 3pm Club Mulwala

Contact YNH services Yarrawonga – Ph: 03 5744 3911 Email: community@ynhservices.org.au

·         Autism Awareness Day: ‘Different Not Less Campaign’ – QE2 Square Dean St Albury

Tuesday 2^nd April. 1 – 3 pm Information and Networking 3 – 6 pm Family Fun

Read on for more information

Autism Awareness Day Tuesday 2^nd April - Albury

Autism Awareness Day is shaping up to be action packed in Albury. The Different Not Less campaign will incorporate an awareness and information day with family fun and fundraising for Aspect Riverina Middle Years School. 

Family Picnic

Expressions of interest are being posted on facebook – at the moment current thinking is for Albury in February.

Facebook

Have you joined? NE Victoria Autism Parent / Carer Page

31 Families throughout the North East are already connected –

You could find out that one local Mum is writing a book, another is trying to get once a month services to their town. You could offer advice to another about girls on the spectrum, or share your ideas about where the next family picnic should be!

Anxiety

This time of year can bring anxiety to a head – the prospect of starting a new school or new classroom can cause anxiety to build.

Tips:

·         Most teachers will be heading into their classrooms to set up for the new year – ask if you can visit the classroom with your child

·         Walk around the school, play in the playground, spend some time in the school

·         Make a list of all the things that will be the same and different (make the ‘same’ list longer than the differences)

·         Look at photos you may have taken at school

·         Use a calendar to mark important dates

·         Make sure to incorporate relaxation and physical exercise in every day

Make Time for Yourself

Easier said than done! But please don’t forget there are organisations such as Villa Maria in the Wangaratta area that can help. They can also run relaxation / yoga classes through Pangerang House for parents / carers throughout the year. It would be worth a phone call to have a chat! Villa Maria: 03 5722 9046

All the best for 2013

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or ideas for our area.

Regards,

Kerri Grant

Key Learning Facilitator Wangaratta

kgrantmass@gmail.com

ph: 0448 513 796

Challenges in learning, transition & employmentfor people with 

                                   Aspergers & LD                                                     

Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort,
National Disability Coordination Officer Program
and YNH Services present a seminar ‘The Institutionalised Alien’
Mick Whatham BA s.c.p (hon) PhD Candidature Sociology
Some topics explored are social equality versus social justice,
Informal versus formal education, basic barriers to learning,
types of learning and effective transition and reducing anxiety.
Where : Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort
When : Wednesday 6th March, 2013 (9.15—2.15)
Cost : $10 per person (RSVP by Fri 1st March)
Register with payment through YNH Services (Cash, EFT, Bank Deposit, Cheque)
YNH Services Inc
1 Hargrave Crt, (PO Box 308) Yarrawonga VIC 3730
Telephone:(03) 5744 3911 Facsimile:(03) 5744 2700
Email:office@ynhservices.org.au
www.ynhservices.org.au

Positive Behaviour Support Workshop: Wangaratta
From Tuesday 26 February 2013 -  09:15 To Thursday 28 February 2013 - 14:30
Aspect Victoria is pleased to offer a three day Autism specific Positive Behaviour Support Workshop for parents of children and young people aged 6 - 25 years with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Eastern Region of Victoria. Workshop materials and morning tea are provided. Particpants are required to bring their own lunch. To find out more -please refer to the contact details below.
Location : Our Lady's Catholic Primary School - 52-60 White Street, Wangaratta, Vic, 3677 Contact : Amber Day or Heather Kirkhope 9377 6600 or aday@autismspectrum.org.au

The next Wangaratta Community of Practice is coming up soon

When : Friday March 1st - 2013

Where : Riverside 

Time : 12.30 - 2.30 (Please note change of time  due to popular demand)

Dear All

Due a number of apologies and our key note speaker is  unavoidably unable to attend , we are CANCELLING , tomorrows Shepparton Community of Practice meeting.

I will be in touch shortly with a new date/time for the meeting.

Please accept our apologies.  Jenny Cleeland

The last minutes of the : for everyone's information - Regards Jenny

WANGARATTA COMMUNITY of PRACTICE   9^th November 2012

NECAMHS    “Riversedge”   1.00 – 3.00 pm

ATTENDENCE:  Jenny Cleeland/Simone Reeves//Judy Bennett/Danielle Cole/ Kerri Grant/ Prue Porter/ Carmel Corrigan/Tricia Glass/Heather Cross/

APOLOGIES:  Kym Andrews

SIMONE REEVES, MASS – DSMV – Handout Attached

From Olga Tennyson Research LaTrobe University

Comparison of the DSM1V to the new DSMV.  Main differences are

·         Subtypes are collapsed into 1“ASD”

·         3 Domains become 2.  –Social Communication deficit & Fixed interests and repetitive behaviours.

TRISH GLASS -  Research – Handout attached

“From Exclusion to Inclusion within Post Modern Learning settings

Research Project on Catholic Secondary Schools and families – flexible pathways.

Paper will be available  on the Sandhurst Diocese website in a few weeks.

Well worth a read!!!

Thank you to both Simone and Trish for sharing the information with us.

GENERAL BUSINESS:

Discussion re  proposed Conference – need to establish a “Steering Committee”.  Need to “THINK BIG”. Where will it be located/possible venues/Presenters and a “Keynote” speaker/ Aiming for Mid 2014.  This will be BIG for the ASD community, and of value to Parents/ Professionals/People with ASD’s.

We would like to “reinvigorate” the MASS CoP in Wangaratta – . Suggestions include putting the dates on the AMAZE website/The   www.wangasdcopblogspot.com /Advertising in the newspaper and  reminders by text message.  Maybe even “facebook”!

Next Meeting -   Date..01.03.13.Venue..”RIVERSEDGE “  CAMHS -  at the new time of

12.30 – 2.30  (bring your lunch )    Presenter to be announced – watch this space.

Hi to everyone

Just notifying all Wangaratta Community of Practice members that the next C.O.P meeting will be on:

FRIDAY 9^TH November 2012                                1PM – 3PM

Venue :  New NECAMHS office Wangaratta –“Rivers Edge” (Faithfull Street)

On the Agenda – we have

·        DSM 5  - Simone Reeves (M.A.S.S)

·        Trish Glass ( Catholic Ed ) – Research - Pathway from Secondary Education to  work.

·        Proposed Conference Discussion  – Develop organize a working party

​​​​​Hope to see you all there –Jenny Cleeland  J

AND

Notifying all Shepparton Community of Practice members that the next C.O.P meeting will be on:

FRIDAY 16^th   November 2012                            1.30 -3.30 pm

Venue :  “The Rise”

On the Agenda – we have

·        DSM 5  - Simone Reeves (M.A.S.S)

·       Proposed ASD Conference Discussion  

​​​​​

Hope to see you all there –Jenny Cleeland  J