Susanne Nelson and Associates

Susanne Nelson and Associates provides Outreach Therapy Services to children and families with autis

Susanne Nelson and Associates provides comprehensive and holistic therapy services to children and families with autism spectrum disorders. SNAA is an Outreach Therapy Service, providing therapy for children from the ages of 2 to 18 either in the family home or the child’s Kindergarten or School setting. Susanne Nelson formed the practice as an Outreach provision in 2006, as she believes that the

21/08/2023

Sense Rugby is a rugby based Occupational Therapy program designed to help kids who usually find it difficult to be part of a sports team. There are many reasons why kids may struggle to find success and enjoyment in sport. Sense Rugby is here to help you get to the bottom of it and send each child on their way to success.

Some of the goals families have when they join a Sense Rugby program include for their kids to:

Have fun!
Develop their confidence and self-esteem
Find a regular activity that can be their own
Find a way to get the movement they seek in an appropriate environment
Learn a new skill that gives them a great community to belong to for life
Develop co-ordination and gross motor skills
Make friends
Learn how to follow instructions, wait their turn and be part of a group
Learn how to manage their emotions
Improve their ability to self-regulate
and many more!
Sense Rugby has a few key values that help us help kids. We always have an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist present to help the kids achieve success in the activities. We use modified rugby skills and drills to provide the calming sensory benefits to then work on our identified therapy goals. We utilise a child’s strengths and their motivation to help them to participate and we focus on creating a positive successful social experience first and foremost.

Sessions can be covered using NDIS funding.

If you would like to sign-up please complete: https://sensetherapies.snapforms.com.au/form/sense-rugby-prahran?fbclid=IwAR0qNJe0Dn95guR_IHMzHlz70QQ38AWCdS8rsNY7PaGGX-bbq4ccyBcVUpk

If you have any questions or enquiries, please contact via [email protected] or 0422 522 162.

10/05/2023

It fills me with frustration and sadness when I hear teachers say ‘I can’t do something different for ONE student’.

I’m sorry- why can’t you?

Surely it’s important that each kid has their individual needs met. And it’s obviously nonsense to think that all kids need the same thing.

To give all kids the exact same thing, to expect them to learn the same way, to think the same, to demonstrate understanding the same, to BE the same- is setting our neurodivergent kids up to fail at school. This isn’t speculation. This is happening widely.

‘But if I do that for him then everyone else will want that too. The rest of the class won’t understand.’

Hmm. The class also doesn’t understand fractions yet and I know that you’re going to spend a whole lot of time teaching that. Let me tell you, ‘everyone is different and has different needs’ will be a much quicker lesson.

‘The behaviour system works well for the majority. We can’t just not use it for these two kids. EVERYONE uses it.’

The behaviour chart rewards neurotypical behaviour. Our kids should not have to go to school everyday and spend all their energy pretending to be neurotypical. It teaches us that we’re not good enough as we are, and that does so much damage. Also, are you happy to stand up and advertise that you are actively ignoring the needs of minority students in your school?

Teachers have such an opportunity to teach their class that difference is good. That individuals all have differences, and it is these differences that make you special. Our neurodivergent kids would be so much happier and comfortable in a classroom where this was the culture. It wouldn’t be hard to do. I know that there are teachers out there getting it done.

When an autistic student is Stimming in class, and a peer asks ‘why are they doing that?’, the simple answer is ‘they concentrate best when their body moves around. Everyone has different brains and different ways of learning. I bet there are more of you who concentrate well when you’re moving!’

It’s not ‘oh, just ignore him.’
It’s not ‘ugh, I know. I’ll tell him to stop.’

It’s simply embracing difference.
It’s talking about it in a positive light.
It’s not that hard.
And it will save lives.

Em 🌈🌻❤️
AuDHD SLP

10/05/2023

📣Shout out to all of the parents (and grandparents!) out there who never give up! We see you, and we think you're awesome! 💙❤️💚💪

https://tacanow.org/what-we-do/family-resources/

05/04/2023

05/04/2023

Reach out and make a difference.. ❤️

23/03/2023

23/03/2023

People who don’t understand can make judgements and assumptions that don’t support or empower us. That puts us in a negative light -and we can sense that. Our inner critic can then kick in if we aren’t in positive mindset.

Coby Watts