Source Kids COVID-19 Survival Guide #2 by Source Kids

SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

COVID-19 COVID

adjusting to our new normal

When school is back to normal... BUT NOT! Managing your kids at home even when school has returned How COVID-19 has impacted our medically fragile and rare disease community

EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS FOR HOME THERAPY

PLUSâ&#x20AC;¦

THE LATEST NDIS UPDATES

SIX PRODUCTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

SPECIAL ISSUE #2

MENTAL HEALTH IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

welcome

SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

TO OUR SPECIAL COVID-19 SURVIVAL GUIDE

Firstly, I want to take my hat off to all the kids/youngsters/young adults with a disability and their parents, siblings, extended families, carers, teachers, therapists and the rest of their inner circle for making it to this point! It has been one hell of a journey for everyone, and I sincerely think of every special needs family out there who, I hope, now realise they are some of the toughest, most resilient and capable people out there. If COVID-19 can test anyone, it’s us. As a family unit, special needs families are often tested to their limits on a regular basis. When schools closed, for families with neuro-typical families it’s an inconvenience yes, but for us it means so much more – hands on support all day, every day, in a way neuro-typical families don’t understand. The inability to work or live our usual lives, limited support workers that allow us a small break and routines that we have worked tirelessly for, thrown out the window and new routines (aka chaos) replacing it. So seriously guys, well done! We are getting there. Many schools are back into things resuming some sense of normality for some. For many of our readers, your children will still be at home for a while yet until things fully resolve. Let’s hope we are coming out the other side of COVID-19 very soon! With the situation changing so quickly at the moment, we have committed to a three-part COVID-19 Surivival Guide from April to June, covering the most critical themes each month in our monthly e-mag series. We launched this in April and I have to say you

guys obviously LOVED it – over 14,000 of you read our issue online (thank you!). We love that we are bringing you the information as you need it, during this time. So, this is our MAY issue and we focus on getting back to school and what the ‘new normal’ is, managing your kids at home when they aren’t able to return to school, the latest from the NDIS, gaming – the benefits and why this might actually be good for your kids, loads of awesome products including stress relievers, therapy equipment for home and new products headed your way. Plus, Tanya Savva tells us how special needs parenting prepared her for a global crisis and we check in with our brand ambassadors. We could have doubled this issue there was so much cool content, but had to draw the line somewhere! I hope you love our COVID-19 Survival Guide #2 May, please let us know what info you need right now (FB/ Insta message or email to info@sourcekids.com.au). And for all the special needs mamas in case you missed it, we launched ‘SOURCE MAMA’ the other week, the most exclusive, inclusive club for special needs mamas with some super-cool stuff coming your way – shut me up right now, I can’t wait to tell you what’s coming; follow Source Mama on Facebook, Instagram, online or sign up for Source Mama Mail now to hear all the news first!

Much love, Emma Emma Price

SOURCE KIDS LIMITED PO Box 690, Noosaville QLD 4566 ABN: 36 614 552 171 www.sourcekids.com.au Send all letters and submissions to: editor@sourcekids.com.au

WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS Nicole Davis, Rachel Williams, Emma Price, Kelly Wilton, Ariella Lew, Marga Grey, Joanna Grayson, Tina Wild, Fiona Lawton, Heather Renton, Nicole Millis, Tanya Savva, Sonia Tzerefos, Deb Hopper.

PARTNERSHIPS Carmen Smith Head of Partnerships & Strategy 0438 847 969 carmen@sourcekids.com.au

ADVERTISING Matthew Rainsford Head of Sales & Business Development 0499 017 354 matthew@sourcekids.com.au Naomi Sirianni – 0447 755 043 naomi@sourcekids.com.au

CEO/FOUNDER

DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR

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Nicole Davis nicole@sourcekids.com.au

GRAPHIC DESIGN

We Love

7 School back to normal…but not! 9 Managing your kids at home – even when school has returned! 10

NDIS Coronavirus update

12 Game on – building skills without leaving home 17 Product review – stress relievers 21 Product review – equipment and products for your home therapy programs 24 How COVID-19 has impacted our medically fragile and rare disease community

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MAY 2020

27 Six products you need to know about 28 How special needs parenting prepared me for a global crisis 32 We check in with our Brand Ambassadors 35 Boosting your immune system as winter approaches 37 Immune boosting recipes 38 Mental health in uncertain times – the coping chain for anxiety protection

Richard Deverell, Dev Design & Creative www.devdesign.com.au

PUBLISHER/CEO Emma Price Editorial and advertising in Source Kids is based on material, written and verbal, provided by contributors and advertisers. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions, and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All material in Source Kids is subject to copyright provisions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission by the publisher. www.sourcekids.com.au

we love

SOURCE KIDS

WE LOVE

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Friend In Me is a not for profit organisation with a mission of enhancing social inclusion and promoting kindness in childhood in an effort to break the cycle of mental health that derives from being ostracised from society. “We want children to be empowered to celebrate their uniqueness and have the confidence and the tools to build their tribe so they can go forth with life when they never thought possible.” To find out how a Friend In Me can help you: www.friendinme.org.au

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Our friends Lah-Lah and Buzz presented an online sensory friendly concert recently. Don’t worry if you missed the live stream on Facebook, you can re-watch it right here www.facebook.com/sourcekids/ videos/2866204350163750)!

Teaching Kids to Manage Anxiety With the ongoing situation of Covid-19, sensory seeking and regulation strategies are needed now more than ever. Teaching Kids to Manage Anxiety offers parents and teachers simple strategies that can make a massive difference to a child’s ability to cope. Based on many years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist, Deb Hopper has WE HA been using her Just Right KidsTM Model to teach COPIES OVE 2 children to communicate and manage their BOOK TOF THIS GIV stress and anxiety. Deb provides simple and AWAY! E practical strategies that help children and Please en www.sourcter at parents alike. ek com.au/w ids. in www.lifeskills4kids.com.au/teaching-kids-book

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Our friends over at Just Like Jack are delivering ‘Adventure at Home Packs’ around the state of Tasmania. With the help of supporters and donors who have helped to make the Adventure at Home Packs possible, Aramex-Fastway Couriers in Launceston, have donated their services to have them all delivered! Despite restrictions beginning to ease, many young people and their families who Just Like Jack work with, will continue to isolate while the health risks from Covid-19 remain. justlikejack.com.au

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MAY 2020

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When school is back to normal... BUT NOT!

Over the past few months as the world has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all had to make sacrifices and learnt to adjust our ways of living and our expectations. Routines have been turned upside down and our regular schedule has been replaced with, in many cases confusion, abundant juggling and working through ours and our children’s anxiety.

1) S OCIAL STORIES: In situations like these, there are a myriad of uses for social stories and they can, of course, be made personal to deal with exactly what your child needs to understand more than they do already! If you haven’t already, it is a great idea to find a social story (there are many good ones online) that explains coronavirus and why we are having to be so careful all the time. This is also a good way to introduce the ideas that things are going to continue to change. Social stories can also be used to navigate why different members of the family are going back to school in different ways and at different times or to explain the new school rules (if you know them).

Nobody likes big changes to the routine but some people need structure, rules and black and white concepts more than others. This may sound very familiar if you are the parent or carer of a child with additional needs.

2) U NDERSTANDING THE CHANGES AT SCHOOL: Every school will be following guidelines that are similar, but individual practices may differ. It is a good idea to communicate with your child’s school to understand what changes are in place. Once you know these, try to find a visual way to go through these with your child before they return to school. It is important to be very specific with the school about what your child usually needs help with and therefore what changes they will individually notice e.g. if they need assistance to tie their shoes and they come undone, can they still get help for that and how will they know to ask? You can also ask the school for pictures of what is different e.g. front office or classroom layout so that your children don’t get a shock when they arrive.

For this reason and many others, parents the world over (and Australia-wide) breathed a sigh of relief when governments announced that schools would return in a staggered fashion. Whilst in Australia, the exact details of the social distancing measures in place are varied and still being finalised, one thing is certain – the school children are returning to, will seem different to the one they left! For many children the first few days will be the honeymoon phase. However, as strict social distancing measures come into force, the playground an emptier place without all of their friends and their classrooms laid out differently, this may cause anxiety and further confusion! This article hopes to share some ways we can best prepare the children who need consistency the most to cope with any changes they may face. These tips are aimed to help you to navigate not only the return to school but also the inevitable changes that may still be ahead and that may occur regularly for some time to come!

3) V ISUAL SCHEDULES OF ROUTINE : Visual schedules that show the order of activities at certain times of day are a great idea for children with additional needs even when we aren’t dealing with COVID! Some children will respond well to a schedule for the whole day and others will need it broken down into smaller portions. But one idea of these schedules is that they introduce and hopefully enforce a consistency for that part of the day and help children to

BY ARIELLA LEW, BSC (PAEDIATRIC NURSING)

visually process what is expected of them. If their timetable in school is changing, ask the school to please send you an updated version so you can go through it with your child the day before and they know what to expect. Other places a visual schedule may be useful is for the morning and evening routines. 4) P HOTO FAMILY CALENDAR: It is highly likely that children may be in school on different days and during different times. Parents also will likely be returning to work slowly and things may not be as predictable as before in terms of who is taking them to school; when are certain people at home and who is at what activity when. One idea is to have a weekly planner and have photos of each family member placed next to where they will be on each day and at what time. Whilst this may change over time, it is something you can go through with your child each night ahead of the next day. 5) P ROMOTING RESILIENCE AND ACCEPTANCE OF CHANGE: There is no doubt that this period of time with the uncertainty it has brought with it has been extremely unsettling. However, in addition to the practical strategies that I have suggested, it can also be helpful to use books, conversations and games to use this time to teach that change in life is inevitable and by showing some flexibility, their resilience will grow and develop and they as a young person will thrive. Some of these strategies may be things that you are already doing but any consistency you can introduce at this time is likely to help your child. It will make it easier for them to process information, calm any underlying anxiety and make them feel as though they understand their reality and your expectations. Ariella Lew, Bsc (Paediatric Nursing) is the founder of Kids on Track Consultancy in Melbourne: for more info www.kidsontrackconsultancy.com | Tel: 0429 222 670 SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

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BY MARGA GREY

Managing your kids at home even when school has returned! WHILE SCHOOL MAY BE RETURNING TO ‘NORMAL’ FOR MANY, THERE ARE STILL THOSE WHO ARE STAYING HOME FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. HERE ARE SOME GREAT GUIDELINES FROM OT MARGA GREY ON HOW TO HANDLE CONTINUED ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL AND HOME LEARNING. These guidelines will help you develop a plan of action. Have a read and decide on how you can implement them, and communicate them to your child/ren, considering their ages and ability to understand. And be sure to use pictures, visual images and social stories where appropriate to explain them to your children: 1. School closure is not equal to a school holiday. These measures are not for the benefit of the child, but for the benefit of community and world health. 2. Routines, chores, tasks and more will be expected of the children to assist parents and the community during this troubled time. 3. Use this time to catch up on revision of schoolwork, to learn tasks of housekeeping, to support others and to contribute to the community in various ways. 4. Incorporate the daily needs of children, as follows:

LEARN:

Although many children will say they don’t want to learn, all children are eager to expand their knowledge about interesting subjects. Present interesting activities and learning experiences every day to prevent boredom and challenging behaviour. Tap into the child’s interest, e.g. if you are intrigued by space and planets, your child might not be interested at all; however, your child might be interested in monster trucks. Then use monster trucks to teach at your child’s level, e.g. you might talk about the different colours of monster trucks, you can count the number of trucks participating, you can draw a road for them, you can build a track in the mud outside, or in the older child the engine strength and why the size of the wheels matter (if you are like me with zero interest in monster trucks, use Google and You Tube and you might

be amazed to find material that interests you and your child!) • Use your child’s recent homework and expand on the subject, e.g. they might have learned about shelters. Use this to create a broad background knowledge of all kinds of shelters for humans and animals. Do the mathematics they have been doing when measuring ingredients, when doubling the ingredients of a recipe or when doing craft activities. • Ask your child’s teacher to email examples of work in the classroom and keep up the spelling, maths and specific tasks that your child finds challenging. • Read interesting books, magazines and watch documentaries. Tap into your child’s interest, e.g. horses. Find articles and simple information on the internet about horses. Encourage your child to read, watch and do a show-and-tell at the dinner table about the facts found on a given day.

ROUTINE:

Maintain a routine at home, e.g. wake the children at the time they would have been woken to attend school, have meals at the same time.

HEALTHY FOOD:

Google Maps and ask each child to plan a route for each day of the week. You can learn landmarks in your area or in neighbouring suburbs. • Scavenger hunts in your garden or in a group of gardens – involve your neighbours’ children, too. • Visit nature areas – there won’t be too many people and the fresh air will be great for all.

WORK:

Participation in meaningful activities and tasks are essential to create a good self-image and to feel satisfaction at the end of the day. • Participate in chores such as cleaning, laundry, gardening, baking for friends and neighbours, doing something to create a pleasant home, and a sense of belonging. • Plan and prepare meals. • Schedule cleaning chores for the family.

• Stay away from unhealthy ‘treats’– as said, children are not having a holiday, they are participating in a serious matter for their community and the world.

• Plan tasks, crafts, activities to support the community.

• Children should participate in food preparation and serving. Making a list of ingredients, shop (online if necessary) and prepare food. Depending on the age, the child can assist the parent to prepare and to serve or the older child can plan, prepare and serve a 3-course dinner for a special family night.

SOCIAL INTERACTION:

• Talk about healthy food, why it is essential, how it energises and creates health.

EXERCISE:

Daily exercise maintains muscle strength, fitness, and encourages self-regulation. • Hikes and walks as a family – this doesn’t just apply to families who live out in the country. If you live in the city, walk in the neighbourhood, use

• Care for self and others in the home.

Children are used to interacting with friends for long hours at school, they’ll miss this interaction. Schedule time to chat, to play games, to share experiences in person (if possible) or online. • WhatsApp, Facetime, and Messenger video conversations with friends. • Online games with friends. • Organised excursions with friends. Marga Grey (MSc OT) is a paediatric occupational therapist with a keen interest in children and their families. She is CEO in charge of program developing at CoordiKids - www.CoordiKids.com Marga provides therapy at Tyack Health, a multi-disciplinary private practice in Brisbane. SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

SOURCE KIDS

NDIS UPDATE

NDIS AND THE CORONAVIRUS

LATEST UPDATES HERE’S A ROUND-UP OF THE LATEST SUPPORTS IN PLACE FOR NDIS PARTICIPANTS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

(correct as of print publication w/c 25 May).

As the outbreak evolves, so does the NDIA’s response and they are regularly updating their website with the latest information, guides and a very useful FAQ. You can find all the information and support info here – www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION The latest major change for NDIS participants came on April 27 when the NDIA announced further initiatives to support NDIS participants and disability providers during the coronavirus pandemic. The biggest news was that for the next five months, eligible participants will be able to flexibly use their existing NDIS plan funding to purchase low-cost Assistive Technology, including smart devices, to enable continued access to disability supports through telehealth and telepractice while physical distancing regulations are in place for the coronavirus pandemic.

THE INFORMATION ON THE NDIA WEBSITE STATES THAT: To help participants continue to receive their NDIS funded supports and services during this period, the NDIA has temporarily broadened the flexible approach to purchasing low cost AT items. This allows participants to access low cost AT items, such as smart devices and fitness equipment, in consultation with their existing support providers.

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MAY 2020

Participants can now use their existing NDIS funding to purchase an item if:

PLAN REVIEWS

• it will maintain funded NDIS supports like a program, therapy or requirement (for example physiotherapy or Auslan interpreting provided via video conferencing), and

There have also been some recent updates on the NDIS website regarding Early Intervention plans (children under 7 years old) and plan reviews. The most important thing to note is that plan reviews have not been cancelled. According to the latest advice: plan reviews are continuing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, however, how your child’s plan review is conducted may have changed because of physical distancing.

• the provider of supports has confirmed in writing the device is necessary to continue supports and services while maintaining physical distancing requirements, and • it is the lowest specification that will maintain funded supports, and • they do not already have the item, another suitable item or access to the item, and • the item has not been funded by another service system (such as education), and • the item or circumstances are not specifically excluded. Participants are able to spend up to $1500 on low cost AT items from their existing budgets. Participants should not spend more than $750 on electronic devices needed to maintain existing services. In the case of computer tablets or iPads for telehealth and care or participating in online video classes, advice from AT specialists is that most NDIS participants will not need more than a standard tablet, which costs no more than $600. Participants can use their funding flexibly to purchase low cost AT using funding in their core – consumables budget. Plan managed or self-managed participants can purchase these items from any provider, and Agency managed participants can purchase these from any registered NDIS provider (this could include a therapy or support coordination provider). This is a time limited policy, which will be in place until September 2020 and will be reviewed at the end of June 2020. To find out more about this new policy and the limits and exclusions head to www.ndis.gov.au/ participants/home-equipment-and-supports/ assistive-technology-explained and there are a significant number of FAQs relating to the new policy here - www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus/ participants-coronavirus-covid-19/using-yourbudget

Where you may have had a face-to-face plan review meeting in the past, your child’s planning or plan review meeting will be held over the phone, or if you would prefer, by email. For children under 7, a plan review is usually required every 12 months as it is important to take into account any upcoming transitions, milestones or changes in your child’s goals and support needs, such as starting school. If your child’s current plan ends without a review, it will be automatically extended by 12 months to make sure your child has the funding they need. Some families may be worried that their next plan may be impacted as they have not been able to spend funds in their current plan due to social distancing, services not being available etc. The NDIS website specifically states you will not be disadvantaged if you haven’t used your funds because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. They state that at your child’s plan review, you will have the chance to discuss your child’s circumstances, what your child’s developmental and functional needs are and what your goals are for your child’s future. After your child’s plan review, your funding may change in their next NDIS plan, but this is determined by your child’s developmental and functional needs, not by assessing unspent funds from your previous plan. For more questions and answers plus an easy read guide on Coronavirus, which may assist you to have conversations with your child visit www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus www.sourcekids.com.au

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MAY 2020

BY TINA WILD, CPA

GOANM>>E>>> G HOME

BUILDING SKILLS WITHOUT LEAVIN Normally, parents worry about limiting their kids’ screen time – to ensure lifestyle balance and encourage active play and recreation. But with coronavirus creating a new normal, where parents are juggling working from home with keeping kids occupied, entertained, and homeschooled, the reality is that screen time will likely increase significantly and remain high for the foreseeable future. While the negatives of gaming have been well documented, in the present climate of staying home and limiting physical contact, we thought you’d like to hear the glass-half-full approach and look at the benefits of gaming. We also recommend some great games that won’t make you feel bad about allocating screen time.

BENEFITS OF GAMING

video games allow players to interact in ways not possible with more passive forms of entertainment such as movies or television, they can also be played alone, with others, or in competition with other online players.

Creativity Kids are naturally creative. Gaming helps children to be curious and explore new environments, concepts and ideas online.

According to Isabela Granic and her fellow researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands, recent media stories relating to the video game phenomenon largely ignore how video games have changed to become more complex, realistic, and social in nature.

Social interaction

Researchers at Radboud University suggest newer interactive video games, developed in the last five years, provide young people with compelling social, cognitive, and emotional experiences, while also potentially boosting mental health and well-being.

Problem solving

Here’s a snapshot of some of the key benefits:

Increase technology fluency Gaming helps introduce children to the language of technology. As our social and workplace interactions increasingly move to digital platforms, it’s essential for children to become digitally fluent in order to function successfully.

Play Children need play in order to learn, and research has shown it’s much easier to learn if they’re engaged and enjoying what they’re doing. There is no question that ordinary play can provide a wide range of benefits for young people. Granic and her co-researchers argue that playing interactive video games produces the same benefits. Not only do 12

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Some games allow parents to play too, and many involve engaging with the global online community, playing in teams, testing out different social scenarios and forming new friendships.

Social games can also teach kids to handle the kinds of problems and conflicts they might face in the real world. This allows children to develop social experiences that can be valuable as they mature. Themes such as power and dominance, aggression, pain, and separation can be rehearsed under non-threatening conditions. This allows children to learn to cooperate and accept their peers.

there are games specifically designed to make therapy fun, such as Lusio (detailed below).

Neuroplasticity – training the brain Researchers have demonstrated that just one hour spent playing video games has an effect on the brain. The research team found changes in brain activity and increased performance on tests of visual selective activity in subjects who had spent one hour playing the League of Legends video game. Their results are published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. “The potential therapeutic applications of gaming is massive! But in order to really leverage the motor and cognitive benefits, it’s key that games are selected and matched according to a person’s individual goal, at the right level of difficulty yet challenging enough to progress their skills… this is where I see our clinicians really come to the forefront when it comes to harnessing the therapeutic benefits of gaming,” says Natasha Langford, Therapy and Innovation Manager, CPA.

WHICH GAMES ARE SUITABLE?

Games such as MinecraftTM help children to learn how to manage money and resources, an essential skill to learn as they mature.

The good news is gaming is affordable and there’s a lot of choice out there. To help parents navigate the minefield of options and decide which games are appropriate, positive, relevant and educational, here are some recommendations for various age groups:

Therapeutic application – cognition and movement

Minecraft™ - building block game for children and adults

Although gaming is seen as a largely sedentary activity, many games involve and encourage physical movement. In fact, for children and adults with physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy,

Both children and adults are easily captivated by the world of Minecraft™ – an open-world buildingblock game for PC and console. Minecraft™ has been rated for people ages seven and up by Pan

Resource management

www.sourcekids.com.au

Lego® – creative play, learning and therapy for all ages

>>>

Lego® is a great game to entertain and challenge kids of any age, with a range of benefits and skills that will travel with your child as they go through life. These small colourful blocks appeal to almost every individual, attracted by the idea of the endless possibility of building things. The emphasis on creativity is evident in LEGO® fans being able to not only choose what they will play, but also how to play and which tools they will use during their playtime. It gives a sense of empowerment when the player has control over their imagination. Paediatric neuropsychologist, Daniel B. LeGof pioneered Lego® Therapy, a social development program for children and teenagers with ASD or social communication difficulties. Through structured and shared play-based therapy, children learn to communicate with others and express their feelings, learn a variety of ways of relating to others, modify their behaviour and develop their problem-solving skills. Benefits and outcomes of Lego® Therapy include:

European Game Information (PEGI), and ages four and up for the iOS version. Minecraft™ is like discovering a limitless container of LEGO® blocks. The open sandbox format of this game makes absolutely anything possible. Avatars can collect resources by punching trees and digging up dirt. Eventually, these resources can be used in formulas to create other tools. Tools can be simple at first, including hammers, axes, and shovels, but as players gain enough resources they can build more complex tools, such as circuits, trains, and even houses. The many benefits for kids are well documented, including easy access, creativity, resource management, problem solving, geometry skills and community engagement. MinecraftEdu, an academic organisation bringing together educators and programmers, recommends the game to teachers because it is “easily adaptable to curriculum” with “sandbox play [that] allows for ANY kind of experience.”

• Improving social competence and social behaviour • Targeting various social skills: • Non-verbal communication (eye contact, body language) • Perspective taking • Negotiation • Conversation initiation • Joint attention (i.e. having a shared interest) • Verbal and physical turn taking and sharing • Collaboration • Targeting various types of language: • Verbal and non-verbal social communication • Describing • Active listening Joanna Grayson, Senior Speech and Language Pathologist, CPA Illawarra and Shoalhaven, comments: “With the recent COVID-19 outbreak I am finding that Lego® Therapy can easily be provided through telehealth with a clinician, the client and their parent or carer. With a little preparation and initial coaching around the rules and roles of Lego® Therapy, it is possible to build some great models and have lots of fun while targeting underlying core language and social skills. “The flexibility of Lego® Therapy means it can be stepped up or down depending on the child’s ability. Equally, once established, it is an activity that can be accessed time and time again with a range of different people including family members and friends either face-to-face or online. Lego® has a great website where building plans are easy to download, making construction of models simple,” says Joanna. Lusio – Putting the fun and games in rehab A challenge for almost anyone doing a program of rehabilitation is that it can get boring and hard to maintain focus on movement goals. US-based fellow Australian

David Putrino’s Tedx talks about the clinical outcomes achieved by patients when fun is intentionally included as part of their therapy program. LusioMATE was created by Lusio Rehab, in partnership with occupational therapists and physiotherapists, who are now able to monitor and prescribe goal-based exercises (Prescription Gaming™) to clients, either in person or via the unique Lusio dashboard. This gives LusioMATE fantastic flexibility to be used remotely, and it’s therefore ideally suited to these challenging times of self-isolation. Esports – interventions to include people with disability Esports is a form of competition sports using video games, with some of its teenage competitors becoming more popular than professional athletes. Taking the form of organised, multiplayer competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams, there are now Esports tournaments all over the world. Participants battle it out to win massive cash prizes, with an audience estimated at over 385 million. This figure includes enthusiasts and occasional viewers who watch the tournaments, either streaming online or watching live. The primary audience for Esports is males aged 16-25. While there are approximately 147,000 males with disability in Australia in this age group, their rates of inclusion are significantly lower than able-bodied Esport athletes competing on the world stage. However, recent technology interventions are removing disabling barriers to make participation and inclusion possible. For example, Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller allows a link up to switches, tubes, sticks and buttons, accommodating users with a vast array of physical limitations, and enabling them to participate in Esports competitions. These interventions can be a real game-changer (pardon the pun) for people with a physical disability by providing the opportunity for inclusion in online sports and games. CPA are developing a range of gaming options for clients as part of their CPA@Home service, ensuring you stay supported, entertained and educated from the comfort of your own home. Chat to their team now on 1300 888 378 or visit www.cerebralpalsy.org.au to see how gaming could be beneficial for you or your child.

Disability Services Support Workers You Choose 1300 52 56 56 WWW.YOUFIRSTSERVICES.COM.AU

SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

CPA

WRITTEN BY TINA WILD, CEREBRAL PALSY ALLIANCE

From brain tumour to bike rides in Hawaii – Jett’s 12 month journey Crystal and Peter are the proud parents of three active boys –Braxton (7), Jett (5) and Cruz (22 months). To look at them now they’re like any happy, busy family, yet twelve months ago their story was very different. Diagnosed with a brain tumour last year, five year-old Jett has battled chemotherapy and five brain surgeries, resulting in left side hemiplegia and third nerve palsy in his right eye. “Jett was in a bad way, he was in a wheelchair, struggling to walk more than a metre or two, had severe left weakness and had lost all his fine motor skills,” says Crystal. Crystal and Peter were recommended to Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) because of the organisation’s expertise with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions. The combination of this expertise, Jett’s resilience and adaptability, and the unwavering love and support of his entire family and community, have helped his recovery.

sounds, naming common objects, early literacy skills, and stuttering. Jett also presented with a slight facial droop on his right side which meant he had difficulty making an even smile and keeping his right eye open.

“Since moving to Telepractice, Jett has just continued to progress his strength and achieve his goals. Now he can walk upstairs and do ten laps of his house riding his bike, it is just outstanding,” says Claire.

Jett has thrived with one-on-one bimanual, play and goal-directed therapy. By working with his occupational therapist he significantly improved in left hand and arm coordination, which positively impacted his play, eating and self-care tasks.

Twelve months after his final brain surgery, Jett's communication skills have significantly improved, as well as his ability to convey his needs. Jett now uses speech sounds accurately in longer words, names common objects, and attends to activities for longer. He also spontaneously uses both hands when playing and is more independent.

“Jett’s family have worked incredibly hard to implement his physio, speech and OT during a challenging time with many hospital admissions, chemotherapy sessions and trips to Sydney. It has been great to be able to continue to support his family through this time and ensure Jett gets the benefits of early intervention after his surgeries,” says Claire Smart, CPA physiotherapist. Just when the family thought they were getting back on track another challenge threatened to derail Jett’s progress: COVID-19. With social restrictions in place, the family were worried Jett would regress if he couldn’t continue therapy. They were relieved that CPA was providing their sessions via Telepractice (video). At first Crystal (Jett’s mum) was unsure how this would work, particularly physio, without physical contact. Crystal initial concerns were immediately alleviated after the first session: “Jett becomes very engaged in the Telepractice sessions, it’s almost as if it’s a normal physical session for him. It actually really surprised us. He’s taken to it like a duck to water and his therapists are able to get his attention and keep it for the whole duration.”

One of Jett’s first challenges to overcome through therapy was a significant motor impairment, caused by his brain tumour. He was having difficulty walking in a straight line and needed help walking over obstacles. Supported by CPA experts, Jett started to achieve his goals; improving the use of his left arm, hand and speech, and maintaining his health throughout his chemotherapy journey. Hydrotherapy proved to be an effective way of improving Jett’s cardiovascular fitness and strengthening of his left side. Speech therapy sessions addressed Jett’s difficulties with counting, using accurate speech

In association with

“Jett’s goals remain the same as before the lockdown, we believe because of Telepractice these are still easily achievable. If he didn’t have Telepractice, Jett would have to miss out on physio, speech and OT for many months. This would be a massive detriment to his recovery.” Jett’s been so resilient - from initial diagnosis, chemo, surgeries, and adapting from hydrotherapy in person to Telepractice. His therapists have found creative solutions which Jett has embraced wholeheartedly. For example, Claire and Jett go on virtual bike rides to Hawaii and stop for ice cream! Crystal commented that Jett doesn’t see therapy as work - the bike riding, Simon Says and other activities are all fun games that he looks forward to.

“I no longer hear him say ‘I can’t’. The Jett I see today is a happier, more confident child compared to when I first met him. He is back to doing the things he loves, such as building Lego,” says Lauren Atkins, CPA occupational therapist. “Jett has come so far in the past twelve months. In addition to physical strength goals, he’s more confident, independent and motivated to challenge himself. We look forward to seeing all that Jett is going to achieve in the future!” Says Claire, CPA physiotherapist. Jett's speech therapy goals continue to target his stuttering and making an even smile, while his occupational therapy goals are focused on building skills to get ready for school. Crystal commented on how proud she is of Jett. He’s taken every setback in his stride, and despite being knocked around by chemo he’s still the same big-hearted, empathetic, happy-go-lucky boy. Nine days after his final brain surgery, on the way to his first CPA therapy session, Jett realised he only had one eye open. “He looked at me in the mirror and said “Oh mum, why do I only have one eye open.” I told him it was from his operation and that it may open one day but it doesn’t matter because he’s still the same strong, cheeky boy. He was completely unfazed by it,” says Crystal. “We’re so grateful to still have the Jett we know and love, humankind could benefit from Jett’s qualities and simple attitude to life,” says Crystal. CPA supports clients with a range of physical and neurological conditions. CPA@home provides expertise into your home, delivering evidencebased resources digitally, and funded through your NDIS plan. For a list of CPA services download our service catalogue today.

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Compression squishy animals These compression squishy animals are a great tool to calm and ease minds. They look and feel like a stuffed toy on the outside but have a squishy interior. They feel wonderful when squeezed and are fruit scented! RPP $7.50 www.mydiffability.com.au

BOX IT OUT! The Hart Ultimate Jnr Boxing Set is not only a great workout with many benefits, including cross patterning, it’s also a great stress reliever! The kids range from Hart sport will keep them on their toes, and help keep their anxieties at bay. RRP $59.00

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Insight Timer – #1 free app for sleep, anxiety and stress Insight Timer is a great app that has a load of free mindfulness, meditation and music to choose from. From Coping with Anxiety, Managing Stress and Improve your Sleep as some of the groups, this app is designed for the whole family, including a section for children. insighttimer.com

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MAY 2020

ADVERTORIAL

IRABINA AUTISM SERVICES

What is ABA at Irabina? Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) has a long history within the autistic community. Since its inception in the 1960s, it has gone through decades of iterations and refinement. ABA looks very different today compared to its inception, and is now a fully-realised, scientific approach to identifying, understanding and affecting a positive change in behaviours. In an era where social media is rife with ‘pseudoscientific’ solutions and scaremongering, ABA is one of the few (if not only) treatments for autism that has been thoroughly researched, proven and developed on stringent scientific evidence. I spoke with Rebecca McLinden, a Behaviour Analyst at Irabina, to get a better understanding of what ABA really looks like today, and what makes ABA at Irabina so unique.

Irabina is also a family centred practice. We see parents and caregivers as an essential part of each individual’s team, and so a lot of support is given to them. Finally, we are a multi-disciplinary team here, which is great for collaborating on goals.

Who are the staff members that implement the plans? Our team is led by masters in the field of behaviour analysis with extensive experience in ABA. Some of them have been in the ABA field for 7-10 years, and in the autism field even longer. Behaviour technicians are typically university graduates, who receive extensive training and practice under the ongoing supervision from the experienced team. In addition to the experienced behaviour analysts, the team work very closely with other allied health professionals within Irabina to ensure we provide a comprehensive plan for our clients.

First, could you please give a brief introduction to ABA?

Is there only one way to deliver ABA?

Most people know it as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with autism, but ABA is first and foremost a branch of science concerned with the application of basic principles of behaviour and learning. When used in therapy, it applies the science of how behaviour works to reallife situations.

No, not at all. ABA refers to a science, or practice of the science – think of it as an umbrella above many different ‘teaching strategies’ that can be implemented to effect behaviour and learning. At Irabina we leverage a variety of teaching tools. This could include Discrete Trial Teaching, Natural Environment Teaching, Incidental Teaching, video modelling, group and 1:1 learning, and even strategies such as Precision Teaching. We don’t stick to one ‘method’ here. At the end of the day, it’s about meeting the needs and goals of that individual and their family. We want to be as flexible as possible to support that.

What does an ABA session look like? Each session looks different for every individual, dependent on their age, skill set and interests. A very brief overview would be that we make effort to constantly establish ourselves as a reinforcing person to the individual, whilst simultaneously teaching. In sessions, individuals are encouraged to repeatedly practice new skills, with additional skills added as their repertoire increases. Over time, these skills may be combined to form more complex behaviours, such as: conversations, cooperative play, daily living routines etc.

How is ABA different at Irabina? I think what makes us different is the knowledge base and experience of our team. We have all been in the field for many years, and have come from quite different backgrounds within the field. This means we are able to create a ‘bespoke’ ABA package for each client, working together to use an approach that best suits them. We also have a dedication to longer hours, with sessions being a minimum of 3 hours and upwards to 7 or 8 a day, allowing us to maximise learning opportunities.

Is ABA just for young kids? No, while there is a lot of evidence that ABA when delivered as an Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) has amazing outcomes, that doesn’t mean it should stop there or cannot be applied to school aged children, teens and adults. Everybody’s behaviour works on the same principles; therefore, ABA can be applied to a baby, a child, a teen and even me and you. ABA can be used at any age - plans are personalised to be effective in a way that meets the needs of that individual.

Is ABA only used in autism treatments? No. ABA is used in a variety of settings – from athletes training for the Olympics to diabetics needing to manage their sugar intake. ABA can help those with acquired brain injuries or dementia, or improve workers productivity and wellbeing in business, and many more situations.

Achieve everyday goals with ABA at Irabina Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is the behavioural intervention model of choice for children with autism. It’s a unique and wellestablished clinical discipline, supported by scientific evidence. At Irabina our ABA-based programs can help to improve communication skills; develop positive learning behaviours; decrease problem behaviours that interfere with daily-life and learning; and improve attention, social skills, memory and academics.

World’s best-practice ABA model We incorporate knowledge from over 50 years of research, compiled in hundreds of peer-reviewed papers.

Wrap-around support

“I don’t think a week goes by where I haven’t cried with pride for our clients.”

Combine ABA therapies with other services and supports for children with autism. You won’t need to go anywhere else.

Family-centric approach We work with families to build the knowledge, understanding and skills to help their child learn, interact and develop.

Sessions available now ABA is simply about applying a behavioural science to a population so we can understand certain behaviours to bring about socially significant change, which means to effect behaviour in ways that is important to the person and those around them.

Skip the waitlist. We have Behaviour Analysts and Technicians ready to start taking appointments today.

What are some of the goals you’ve seen individuals achieve with ABA? It’s funny, but when most people think of achieving goals they picture these big outcomes, like flying to the moon. But for so many of our clients and their families it’s the small things that make all the difference. Being able to tolerate a haircut or go to the optometrist. Walking safely next to their parent or carer. Asking for a hug. Learning to go to the toilet. Being independent in school or able to carry out their own food shopping. These ‘every day’ goals can make all the difference for an individual with autism and their caregivers. As behaviour analysts it’s our responsibility to identify these goals and then break them down into the tiny steps needed to get there. And trust me, we’ll be cheering (and crying) just as hard as the parents at every sign of success. I don’t think a week goes by where I haven’t cried with pride for our clients. Irabina Autism Services has grown to become Australia’s largest paediatric Autism-specific service provider, developing its ABA program with the needs and goals of its children and their families at its heart. If you’re interested in learning more about ABA and how it can help someone in your care, reach out to Irabina on 03 9720 1118 or visit www.irabina.com/applied-behaviour-analysis

Attend sessions in-person or online with Telehealth From 26 May 2020 we have returned to providing in-person services at our centres in Bayswater, Pakenham and Bundoora. However our ABA programs are still available via Telehealth should you need to remain isolated, or if you are unable to travel to our centres.With Telehealth, sessions are run online using your phone, tablet or PC. Learn more at www.irabina.com/telehealth

Start achieving everyday goals

Visit: www.irabina.com/aba

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EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS

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PRODUCT REVIEW

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Include a step up for physio strengthening and stretches with this great basic step from Kmart.

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AIR MATS FROM ANACONDA – FOR INDOOR THERAPY SOMERSAULTS! These air mats from Anaconda are the perfect addition for home therapy for rolling, tumbling and even sneaky ninja moves! RRP $79.99 www.anacondastores.com

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ART THERAPY – CHALK WHILE YOU WALK! Art therapy can be carried out in many ways. From drawing with chalk on the pavement – think of the rainbows during COVID-19 for our neighbours during lockdown or painting colourful rocks for people to find within our community. Here are some great products to get you started! Jumbo Chalk RRP $5.00

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FLEXION DISC SWING The Flexion Disc Swing is a great piece of equipment to encourage both vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation for your child. A great addition for any in-home therapy room. RRP $375.00 www.specialneedsplayequipment.com.au SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

ADVERTORIAL

A Message from our General Manager Dear Valued Customers, Here at Atlas McNeil Healthcare, we have been diligent in closely monitoring our supply chain situation, and are committed in serving you, our customer. There has undoubtedly been a massive spike in demand for personal health and hygiene products at the supermarket checkout; similarly, we are experiencing it with our phone and website enquiries. This does mean that it may take you longer to speak to one of our Customer Service team, or receive a response from your email, so placing your order online will help alleviate this wait time.

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Understandably many in our community are fearful of the long-term impacts of the virus and securing items needed for day-to-day comfort. Our products come from overseas, but also from around Australia and New Zealand. While availability can be impacted by this unprecedented demand, most of our product lines are securely supplied. Items that we are experiencing intermittent availability on, such as wipes, washroom paper and face masks can be safely ordered knowing that if stocks are not in our warehouse, they will be as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about product availability, we recommend checking availability on our website, and following it up with an email enquiry to our team. We will not substitute any products with inferior quality or easier-to-obtain items. Our duty of care to you remains firm, and this may mean that there is a longer than usual wait time for specific products, but this ultimately guards your safety and peace-of-mind.

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The full Atlas McNeil Healthcare team is working hard every day to ensure you, our customer, receives the best service and possible outcome available during this challenging time. We appreciate your patience. Kind Regards,

Steven Pezzetta General Manager Atlas McNeil Healthcare

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SOURCE KIDS

COVID AND MEDICALLY COMPLEX KIDS

BY RACHEL WILLIAMS

How COVID-19 has impacted our medically fragile and rare disease community They say that isolation is a way to know ourselves – it provides time to think more deeply and prioritise what’s really important. In some ways, the impacts of COVID-19 have made typical Australians more aware of the ongoing struggles faced by those with life-long health and wellbeing issues. The government-imposed lockdowns and quarantines have stripped society back so much that what’s been left in the spotlight are the nonnegotiables – that everyone has a right to quality healthcare and the notion that, at the end of the day, no matter race or religion or social status – we are all truly equal as humans. And the very real panic and fear that spread among the general population when the pandemic hit

should act as a reminder that those with extremely complex and rare diseases live with similar conditions every single day.

She says social hibernation is a bubble many special needs families live in – with restrictions and constraints permanently in place.

Fears about health – how a single sniffle can cause irreversible damage to those with compromised immune systems.

The mother of three children – Bridget, 21, Matthew, 19, and 16-year-old Connor who has Angelman syndrome, epilepsy and Simpson-GolabiBehmel-syndrome, works full-time and is also the National President of Angelman Syndrome Association Australia.

Fears about money – the struggle of budgeting to afford medical needs and everyday expenses when you can’t physically work enough hours while caring for your special needs child or partner. Fears about the future – when and if things will ever be “normal”. The chaos of Coronavirus will one day pass but for many in the special needs community, it’s hoped the new normal will be a nicer place to live. Just ask mum Fiona Lawton – who’s desperate for the world to have new found empathy and consideration for those most vulnerable.

Connor requires daily medication for epilepsy, a severe sleep disorder, gastrointestinal reflux disorder and iron deficiency and they are hypervigilant about keeping him healthy. “When kids are sick on the school bus or in the classroom, we just wonder how long until Connor catches it and ends up in hospital with seizures or pneumonia,” Fiona admits. “It affects all of your choices and decision making. We stopped going to the Ekka show in Brisbane because it was always a source of viral infections and was just not worth the risk. “If we think that Connor is coming down with something we actively monitor and go on 'seizure watch' wondering what will be the trigger to call the ambulance.” Adding Coronavirus to the mix highlighted the fact that people with a rare disease are always vulnerable and often forgotten. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that there were some cohorts more vulnerable than others, like the elderly, and we paid attention and protected them. “But, who mentioned disability group homes when we mentioned aged-care homes? “Who mentioned rare diseases when we talked about pre-existing conditions? “Who talked about the challenges for people with an intellectual disability when the Government talked about compliance with hand hygiene and social distancing. “And who spoke specifically to our rare disease and disability community to tell us – ‘You are okay, we see you and we are protecting you?' No one! Sure, we got some new rules for NDIS and a Guide for Disability in COVID-19 after we lobbied for weeks and weeks but no real public or civic leadership.”  Two organisations fighting on behalf of people like Fiona are Syndromes Without A Name (SWAN) and Rare Voices Australia.

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MAY 2020

www.sourcekids.com.au

seamlessly.” Heather reports that there have been challenges with technology for some kids requiring routine. “Virtual school classes have not worked well for many children with disabilities, particularly those who have behavioural challenges or parents who are juggling work commitments with homeschooling duties,” she says. “Parents are exhausted and struggle with being, parent, employee or employer and teaching their child concurrently. We have heard of frustrations growing and tensions rising and parents comfort eating and drinking. Looking after themselves has decreased as a priority as they focus on their children.” Adapting to the challenges has been paramount with SWAN noticing an increased need for parent support, through phone calls, messenger and emails. “Our informal virtual catch-ups that were offered on a monthly basis are now being offered on a weekly basis. We joined forces with SCN2A (a rare disease advocacy group) to record two podcasts with a mental health social worker and counsellor. One podcast provided strategies for carers around supporting themselves through staying at home and one podcast provided insights on how to support children in these unprecedented times. SWAN CEO Heather Renton says not being able to leave the house during the crisis has isolated families further. “Many of our families have not permitted support workers into their home, for fear of them transmitting COVID-19,” Heather explains. “Others have felt they have had no option but to continue with allowing support workers to come into their home, as they could not cope without their support. “Every time you leave your house to shop or take your child to medical appointments or therapy you run the risk of infections. Every time you have support workers or therapists visit your home, you are potentially letting COVID-19 into your home. “Parents can feel guilty whatever way they go; stopping face-to-face therapy and running the possibility of your child regressing with what they have achieved so far, moving to virtual therapy that won’t work for every child, or run the risk of exposure to the virus by continuing with face-toface therapy. It is a tough decision to make when families feel vulnerable and isolated.”  Rare Voices Australia Chief Executive Officer Nicole Millis agrees that the challenges have been exacerbated. “Social distancing and isolation measures have resulted in school closures and in the reduction of respite and disability support services, which has increased the burden for carers and families,” Nicole says.  “We have seen the majority of our RVA Partner organisations transitioning their support services online through the use of technology fairly

“We have a guest psychologist presenting at our upcoming monthly ‘Meet the Expert Series’, which will hopefully provide more coping strategies for our parents at this difficult time.’’ Nicole says that RVA led advocacy across a number of issues including the prioritisation of COVID-19 testing and turnaround times. “The lack of priority testing was initially resulting in an increasing number of cases where people are experiencing delays in treatment and surgery for their underlying rare disease,” Nicole says. “Such delays increase anxiety and can have serious implications for people living with a rare disease. “We also contacted all state education ministers and Chief Health Officers regarding the need for flexible school attendance requirements for the rare disease community as students begin returning to classrooms this month. “People living with a rare disease require heightened preventative measures and personalised, collaborative and consultative approaches to treatment and care. It is imperative that these patients have continued access to their ongoing treatment during this crisis, and that special requirements are considered for rare disease patients diagnosed with COVID-19.” Thankfully, both SWAN and RVA have not seen any cases of Coronavirus among their members. They hope governments and community leaders will take greater notice of the special needs community and its requirements moving forward. A focus for RVA will be its 2021 National Rare Disease Summit and the National Strategic Action Plan for Rare Diseases.

implemented (during COVID-19) align with Action Plan recommendations – for example, increased tele-health services, and state and federal health departments working in collaboration,” Nicole says. Heather says SWAN postponed its Undiagnosed Children’s Awareness Day which has impacted on the organisation’s financials but there have been some positives to come from an on-line reliance. “We have seen our state-based closed SWAN Facebook groups grow in members and communities as our Tasmania and South Australian groups embrace these connections with gusto,” she reveals. “We are hoping these supports can continue and we are looking forward to the day when we can once again host face-to-face SWAN catch-ups.” Nicole concludes: “It’s incredibly important that we maintain a positive outlook. I firmly believe that opportunities always present themselves alongside challenges and that’s what the team at RVA is focusing on. We believe that we’ve been able to continue building key relationships throughout 2020 that will assist with the implementation of the Action Plan in the long-term.”  And as for the return to Fiona’s ‘normal’? “Just because it is our 'normal' doesn't make it easy. So, reach out with a message to say 'Hello', genuinely ask how people are doing and be prepared to actively listen to the answer,” she advises.

“ KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY,

SO SMILE AT A STRANGER PUSHING A WHEELCHAIR, TALK TO OUR LOVED ONE WITH A RARE DISEASE, HOLD THE DOOR OPEN FOR US. AND IF YOU ARE A FRIEND, DROP BY FOR COFFEE, LEND A HAND OR ASK TO DO THE SHOPPING/LAUNDRY/ IRONING OR CHORES BECAUSE WE ARE CONSTANTLY TIRED!”

“Interestingly, a number of the responses SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

Psychology

for children Psychology is often thought to be about counselling for mental health issues, but you might enlist the help of a psychologist if your child has difficulties with learning, behaviour, communication, or social skills. At Growing Early Minds, our psychologists are experienced in working with children who have experienced trauma, complex needs, developmental delay or disability, including autism. PSYCHOLOGY FOR LIFE SKILLS • managing behaviour and relationships • transition to school • establishing healthy sleep routines • dealing with grief and loss

TELEHEALTH SESSIONS AVAILABLE Telehealth is an alternate and flexible way of delivering therapy services. Instead of driving to a clinic, your face-to-face appointment is virtual, using a phone, tablet or computer. No wait times, no travel costs, and ensuring the continuation of support during difficult times are just some of the benefits. 02 9622 8500 growingearlyminds.org.au

PSYCHOLOGY FOR SOCIAL SKILLS • making conversation, sharing, taking turns • developing empathy • building self-esteem and confidence • managing conflict, teasing and bullying PSYCHOLOGY FOR COGNITIVE SKILLS • maintaining attention and concentration • using expressive language • reading comprehension • working memory tasks

Click here for more information on psychology or to get started Servicing North West and Western Sydney regions, or from anywhere in Australia via telehealth services

SIX PRODUCTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT What’s here for COVID and beyond!

SOURCE KIDS

PRODUCT REVIEW

JENX ATOM SEATING SYSTEM This new modular seating system for kids from 6 months to five years is modern and styled just for children! The range of support options make the Atom the ideal seating system to give kids with additional postural needs the right amount of support to develop correct seating posture and function. Importantly, the seat can be wiped clean so the kids can be kids! And all of the support structures can be adjusted, added or removed as the child grows and needs changes. Find out more about the Atom at www.medifab.com.au

JENX MULTISTANDER ABDUCTION The Multistander size 1 now offers the option of abduction, which allows 0-30 degrees of individual leg abduction in 5-degree increments. This product opens up the opportunities and benefits of abducted standing for even the smallest of children down to 9 months old. Available as either a standalone accessory to retrofit to existing Multistanders manufactured after 2015 or as a complete base unit ready to customise with your choice of accessories. Find out more at www.medifab.com.au

INTRODUCING THE EXPLORER MINI! The Explorer Mini is a powered mobility solution that facilitates self-initiated movement and early exploration for young children 12-36 months of age with mobility impairments. Designed to support development, the Explorer Mini is an ergonomic device with multiple weight bearing surfaces to help promote safe, stable upright postures while providing opportunities to improve strength, endurance and postural control. Find out more at permobil.com.au

A WHEELCHAIR BUILT JUST FOR YOU – THE TILITE PILOT! Watch your kid soar in the ultra-lightweight TiLite Pilot! And the best bit – this chair moves and grows with your child and maintains optimal rear wheel access with the built-in forward growth adjustment. This gives kids the most efficient propulsion possible without needing to adjust or relearn their push mechanics. The TiLite Pilot lets kids cruise their world like never before. And the clean frame design features a seat pan and side panels that provide easy access to the adjustment bolts, making changes simple and intuitive. All of these adjustments can be done without compromising access to the rear wheels. Find out more at permobil.com.au

Special Tomato has created the Out and About Seat (OAS) providing comfortable support in a portable package. While you might not be venturing out into the usual places like restaurants or cinemas right now, there are still plenty ways this seat will come in handy and of course it will be ready and waiting for you to take out and about when it is safe to do so. The Special Tomato OAS provides comfortable upper body support using a padded, adjustable 8-point harness system and height adjustable headrest and can be attached to most standard, stable chairs. Once the child is properly seated, the 3-point pelvic harness and 5-point chest harness help to maintain a stable well-aligned position of the pelvis and trunk. Slots are available at 5 different heights on the base fabric back for the threading of shoulder straps. This ensures proper angle of pull and accommodates for growth of the child. Find out more at www.dejay.com.au

THE SPECIAL TOMATO OUT AND ABOUT SEAT IS READY TO GO WHEN YOU ARE!

LEMONSLICE+ Designed to assist little ones with pre-crawling mobility, the LemonSlice+ is a wooden support device with two pillows filled with foam rubber that adapt to the child’s body and safety straps hold them. This support device gives opportunity to move more independently and also stimulates development of crawling by strengthening arms and legs and giving children the opportunity to understand how to move them correctly to achieve intended movement and direction – and how much fun does it look! The child is put in a prone position while using this device, which helps stimulate deeper breathing, digestion and eye convergence. It is also designed to promote vestibular stimulation to strengthen inner ear and better develop understanding of their body in space. And the extendable base allows the Lemonslice+ to adapt to the size and need of the child. Find out more at www.avantinnovations.com.au SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

BY TANYA SAVVA

HOW SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTING PREPARED ME FOR A GLOBAL CRISIS Raising a child with special needs has given me so many invaluable lessons, opportunities and experiences. I’ve jumped through hoops more times than I can remember. I’ve begged for mercy, pleaded for one more breath, and emotionally lost my mind. Each moment has shaped me and slowly carved out a new version of Self, allowing me to cultivate a unique perspective of who I am, how we fit into the world, and how I perceive the human experience – it is a perspective where I know pure joy, and deep suffering.

One where I understand love and light, bathed in shadow and darkness. One where the polarity of life is so clear that there is nowhere to hide. One where energy speaks louder than words. One where there is no room for bull shit, only truth. One where the veil of illusion was dropped so my heart and soul could lead the way. Special needs parenting opens your heart to a way of living many are unable to truly understand. I’ve seen, experienced, witnessed and felt every spectrum of human life – no stone has been left unturned. I’ve been thrown into a cauldron of fire on many occasions and wondered if I’d come out alive, let alone thriving. I’ve been smacked in the face with the reality of death and experienced suffering so deep that I’m still finding ways to release the trauma from my body. I’ve felt incredibly isolated and disassociated from friends who are raising neurotypical children.

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They’ve been invited to ride the conditions of societally constructed journeys through raising, educating and entertaining their children in sheltered ways, fulfilled social, financial and relationship goals and traversed through life seemingly smoothly with minimal awareness of the full spectrum of life. I was heading down the same path as an adult. But Mackenzie had other plans. She threw me off that path and demanded I forge a new one. Through her needs, I was gifted new eyes to see with. And through my role as a special needs mama, I started to live in a new way. While the world is coming to terms with this new way of life that demands a reduction in human contact and connection, awareness of political uncertainty and an awakening to the numbers of people that die every day from environmental diseases such as heart disease and cancer. This new way has lead us into social isolation, much needed forced rest, loss of freedom, lack of access www.sourcekids.com.au

I’VE QUESTIONED IF MY NON-REACTIVITY TO COVID-19 IS COMING FROM A PLACE OF IGNORANCE, OR FROM HEARTCENTRED TRUTH.

to services that were available at the click of a finger, altered occupational performance, significant financial pressure, obstruction to routines and an inability to carry out activities that cultivate purpose, pleasure and presence in the community. And while many are feeling incredibly unsettled in this new way, I feel like I’m sitting back watching the frenzy unfurl wondering what all the fuss is about. What most of the world is perceiving as a new way – an unfamiliar and uncertain path – has been my reality since I became a mother over 11 years ago. Being a special needs parent has invited me to stay present and grounded and given me the tools to welcome the change with a sense of awe and wonder so I can meet this global crisis with softness, acceptance and reverence in my heart. Rather than fear the unknown I’ve asked questions like, “What can we learn from this?”. Being a special needs mama has: • Minimised my social interactions and allowed me to love my self fully and be comfortable with my own company. • Required self-isolation and allowed me to view my home as a haven rather than a prison. • Understand the medical system and the pressures it’s under, not just now, but always, and feel deep gratitude for our health care system. • Impacted on my ability to do what I want, when and where I want, so learnt to celebrate every moment I have. • Shown me that no matter what I put in place I am never in control and I can’t be certain about what the next moment holds, but I can control my breath, my health and how I react to these situations. • That joy is an inside job and if I let external factors dictate my happiness, I have relinquished my power to a force beyond my control, and I’d be a fool to do so. • Changed my ability to engage in work in a way I was brought up to believe was the only way and forced me to find a new way to create, serve and earn that fulfils me deeply and makes a difference to the lives of others. • Shown me a way to deep presence and stillness, where nothing is more important than right now. • Has made me capable of living within a tight budget, always within my means and never without anything I truly desire. • That despite external circumstances I can remain internally calm and this allows me to gather enough information to empower me to respond from a place of awareness rather than react from a place of fear. • And given me the tools and resources to cope with the full spectrum of life including trauma, unexpected change, suffering, fear, and pain.

It’s given me a new perspective. And welcomed me to this new way. I am aware of many who are seriously impacted by this global crisis. I empathise and fully validate that so many are experiencing a very difficult time. I can’t say that everyone and everything’s going to be OK. Maybe it’s not. Many have lost their lives and their jobs. Businesses will crumble. Livelihoods in shambles. Serious physical and mental health conditions from the chronic fear and stress will likely rise over the coming months. I know of many special needs parents who are not ok right now. I’ve questioned if my non-reactivity to COVID-19 is coming from a place of ignorance, or from heart-centred truth. I’ve sat in compassion for my personal experience and allowed it to be as it is. I’ve meditated, journaled, had beautiful conversations, rested well, eaten well and kept my nervous system in a wholesome and grounded state. And I’ve expressed compassion, love and empathy to those who’s beliefs and experiences are vastly different to mine. There is no right way to respond to this. Reacting isn’t one of them. My hope through this time is that you find moments to sit and listen to your body. To feel anything that’s there and let it rise to the surface to be felt and expressed. This is a time for all of us to be open to the light and dark. It’s a time for everyone to drop the veil of illusion and invite their heart and soul to lead. It’s time to drop the BS and speak your truth. It’s time to tap into the infinite source of energy to express our highest desires, no longer conditioned by a contractive society that strips away your authenticity and creativity. Even when it feels like it’s all been taken away. Maybe it needed to be removed to entice you into this new way. Because from this seat of non-reactivity I see an opportunity to practice compassion for everyone’s experience. I see a desire to connect with our neighbours in a way we’ve never done before. I see a portal to step into this new way of living where rest is paramount to our healing. I see a window open up which invites creativity to become alive. I see a foot slam on the brakes to stop us running to the next external distraction to consume our over-indulgent mind to evade the feelings that are bubbling inside our hearts. We have sensations – we need to feel them. I see courage firing up in the pit of our bellies to have conversations that have been suppressed for too long.

I see a beautiful opportunity to sit in silence and listen to your internal dialogue. It’s time to get to know your self a little better and deal with the shadow aspects of ourselves we’ve been avoiding so we can tap into our highest truth and live in full integrity. I see a possibility for people to better manage their finances to live within their means and eradicate astronomical debt which forces us to rely on a system that has us believe we need to work in a certain way, under certain rules, away from the things that matter to us most, like family and rest. It’s asking you to realise that death and suffering were always there, you just chose not to be aware of it. It’s demanding that you remember that change is a part of life and your resistance to the flow of life is what impacts on your joy. Not the change itself. It’s asking you to be more receptive to the transient nature of life and be open to all it has to offer. I see an opportunity to tune in and be anchored into the awareness that the only thing you can control is your breath. And in taking control of your breath, you can ease the busy-ness of the mind, and ultimately change your reality. I see an opportunity to develop a relationship with your nervous system and notice what it’s telling you before it triggers chronic disease. I see an opportunity to stop and rest, deeply. Where stillness becomes the new norm, and busy-ness is scoffed at. There is so much more for us to endure here. And so much more to feel. Can you be open to the possibilities, rather than consumed by the limitations? Can you step into this new way with childlike inquisition and ask, “What can I learn from this?” Can you allow this catastrophic and unexpected moment in time allow you to calm down and slow down enough to give you a new perspective? We’re being shown the truth. We’re being shown the full spectrum of life. Don’t let this be a lesson that doesn’t result in the change we need to see in this world. Tanya is an author, Wellness & Life Coach and speaker. She’s passionate about empowering mothers to reconnect with the essence of their true Self. Her book ‘The Adventures of Kenzie-Moo’ tells of her blind daughter’s adventures in a caravan and all the things she ‘saw’ without sight. www.tanyasavva.com Follow Tanya on Instagram and Facebook SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

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Find out more at kiddylicious.com.au

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@kiddyliciousAUS

Find out more at kiddylicious.com.au

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MAY 2020

SOURCE KIDS

BRAND AMBASSADOR UPDATES

OUR BRAND AMBASSADORS

WE CHE BRAND ACKED IN ON OU HEAR HO MBASS ADOR R DURING W THEY WERE S TO WE LOVE THE COVID CRI DOING S IS H THE BES OW THEY HAVE AND T AND EN OF THE SITUAT MADE J EXPERIE OYED SOME GREION LISTEN) NCES, READ (A AT TO T HEIR ND UPDATE S.

BRYDI SAUL We are still in iso and homeschooling, however looking forward to things starting to resume to the new normal. Brydi has been keeping super busy with school, training and spending time with the family... especially the fur babies! This is “nanna” our boxer and Brydi’s companion. Nanna keeps her company while she trains too! There's been lots of gym work and pushing on the rollers and Brydi is excited for the end of the month she will be doing a virtual 5km fun run for #runrona run by Clothing the Gap to help raise money for indigenous health and communities! We like to go for walks around our local lake too! There are heaps of fun things to see and we have been hiding painted rocks for other local kids to find too! We hope you're staying well and safe!

RILEY SABAN Riley, our NSW brand ambassador has been enjoying his home schooling while in isolation. Here’s his latest video update for you all.

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MAY 2020

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KAI SEYMON Hi everyone, hope you are all staying safe and surviving schooling at home (mum said to put that in lol…. she’s finding it the hardest I think!). I had to come home from the remote property as my poppy got sick and needed the doctor. It is good to be home again with my mum and my therapy dog, Princess. I missed her so much. She sleeps with me and does everything I do pretty much so it was really hard to be away from her for 4 weeks. It wasn’t safe for her to be with me due to snakes, the river and flies though! I am also really loving being home with all of my model building things. I love making Gundam model kits which are a type of Animae. Each one takes me a few days. I love it mostly because it takes a lot of concentration but doesn’t necessarily need painting like many other model kits. If you love building Lego you might love Gundam. They are quite different but both fun to build. I recommend starting with High Grade or SDCS ones.

are hopefully all similar to me so I will fit in better. The best bits are that there is no homework and I am allowed to wear sports uniform every day which is so cool as I hate the feel of most of the uniform I was wearing. My class starts back next week. The teacher and students seem really nice and I can’t wait to meet them soon! I have also spent a lot of time making fidgets as I was excited to get a very big order of 700 fidgets last week. I like putting my headphones on and watching Animae whilst I make the fidgets. I hope you are all coping with the changes we are living with at the moment and hope you all transition back to school and work safely! Kai

I changed schools 3 weeks ago in the middle of the Covid crisis, which has meant I have only met my new teacher and class over the computer. I have changed from a mainstream school which I was finding super hard to a school with a specialist class where the work is modified for all of us. I like it as there is only 14 others in my class and they

FINLEY COLL I am finding this time of Covid19 to be a hard one. I am still going to school but it’s not the same. I really love the normal atmosphere in my classroom. I really enjoy class discussions, even though it can be tricky to communicate with my communication device talking is my favourite thing to do! I am really missing all my friends and can’t wait to be back in a regular classroom. Some things I have enjoyed over the last couple of months is camping with my family in the back yard where we had potatoes cooked in the fire (which was the best tasting potato I have ever had) and toasted marshmallows (I like them better raw!). Zoom meetings with my Boccia team mates have been lots of fun but not as good as the real thing. I have really enjoyed being with my family though and if I had to be locked up with anyone, I would choose to be with them! We have spent a lot of time playing games on our deck and playing board games together. I am a champion at Monopoly. I hope everyone is doing ok and I hope things go back to normal really soon.

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BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

boosting your immune system as winter approaches

Even without the threat of COVID-19 complications; compromised immune systems, seizure disorders, and a myriad of other factors mean that one person’s cold could end up as a trip to hospital and a medical emergency for a child with disabilities. Keeping them firmly ensconced in isolation, while momentarily tempting, is not an ideal solution. We know that there is no magic bullet to protect us from COVID-19 (yet), it is just too new, our immune systems have not come across the virus before – hence the unpredictable and in some cases devastating effect it has been having around the globe.

Nevertheless, it still makes sense to ensure that the immune systems of your whole family are as robust as possible, especially as we head into winter and the regular cold and flu season. Prevention against colds and flu means keeping on top of all the usual healthy living advice: eat plenty of healthy food (up the fruit and veg and cut down on the sugars and carbs); keep hydrated; get enough sleep; make time for exercise; and try to get outside and see the sunshine, if possible. Also, check out the following advice from a Naturopath:

1. BONE BROTH Good digestive health is imperative to a healthy immune system. Having bone broth daily will help to heal Leaky Gut Syndrome and will also protect your intestinal integrity. So, use bone broth in your soups, stews, pasta sauces, risottos or anywhere else.

2. HEAL YOUR GUT Your digestive system has a direct link to how our immune system performs. Make it a part of your daily health regime and incorporate a good quality probiotic daily and eat probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir (water or milk) and good quality yogurt. These help to maintain the bacterial balance within our digestive system, which in turn keeps our immune system healthy.

3. GARLIC Garlic is God’s gift to health and contains antibacterial and anti-microbial properties as well as reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and is a natural anti-histamine. A little mix you can make up to keep those nasties away: gently warm 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds and 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds in 100ml of Apple Cider Vinegar (don’t boil), take if off the heat and add in about 10 peeled and crushed garlic cloves and mix through. Strain the mix, add 2 tablespoons of raw honey and use it as both a medicine and salad dressing.

4. VITAMIN C

An old faithful and something you can easily get from both your diet (fresh fruits and vegetables) and as a supplement from any pharmacy or health food store. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, which is great not only for the immune system but also for our cardiovascular system and skin.

5. ZINC Zinc is one of those minerals that serves many purposes in our body and deficiencies can lead to poor immune function, neurological issues, leaky gut, hair loss, skin conditions, food allergies and diarrhoea just to name a few. Supplementing with Zinc can be done by increasing Zinc containing foods to the diet or using a commercial supplement. Foods high in Zinc include beef, baked beans (home-made versions not those sugar filled commercially available varieties), cashews, egg yolks, ginger, herrings, liver, milk, lamb, oysters, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, wholegrains and yeast.

6. HERBS This could be a whole section in itself, as far as how effective the right herbs are to keeping us healthy this winter. Echinacea, Andrographis, Golden Seal and Olive Leaf are great all-round immune boosting herbs, as well as brilliant at supporting the body to perform its natural immune function by promoting an increase in your white blood cell count. Additionally, using herbs such as Yarrow, Elder and Peppermint combined as a hot infusion is fabulous as a remedy for colds and flu, too, as they have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-catarrhal and a diaphoretic effect on the body.

against digestive, skin and throat infections. When a sore throat hits a spoonful of honey doesn’t just make the medicine go down, it is the medicine. It can be used topically for skin infections, burns and blisters and is great to use on a daily basis just for health maintenance.

10. JUICING Fresh juices provide our bodies with a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to keep our immune systems healthy throughout the winter period. Combining ingredients such as kale, spinach, broccoli, beetroot, brussel sprouts, apples and berries provide the body with high levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which keep our immune system healthy. Add in some ginger and garlic and you’ve really got yourself a winter warmer. Sonia Tzerefos N.D Naturopath, Western Herbalist, GAPS Practitioner Specialising in children, in areas such as Autism, ADD, ADHD, behavioural issues, digestive disorders and recurrent illness. www.abetteryou.com.au sonia@abetteryou.com.au

7. WATER So simple, yet during the colder months something we often forget about. Water flushes out toxins from our body, supports the production of lymph, keeps our bowels working well (if we don’t drink enough water then we will often suffer from constipation) plus it supports mood and concentration by keeping our brains hydrated.

8. SLEEP A very important aspect of a healthy immune system is simple yet something we find so difficult. Like growing children, we need our sleep otherwise we’ll find our immune system becomes compromised and we become susceptible to illness. As adults we require eight hours of sleep per night to enable our body to produce hormones, proteins and chemicals to maintain a healthy immune system. Sleep deprivation leaves us more vulnerable to viruses and bacterial infections.

9. MANUKA HONEY Manuka Honey contains strong anti-bacterial properties that have been found to be effective SPECIAL ISSUE

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healthy recipes SOURCE KIDS

IMMUNE BOOSTING RECIPES

to give your immune system a boost

Give you r family a good fig hting ch ance against colds an d flu with the se nutrie nt packed ideas…

smoked salmon breakfast muffins

They’re called breakfast muffins but who cares, they can be eaten at any time of the day! Eggs are full of B vitamins and selenium. They are also one of the few foods containing naturally occurring vitamin D. According to research, you can be more susceptible to illness when low in vitamin D. Salmon is also great for the immune system as it’s rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. You'll need: 6 eggs, 3 spring onions, sliced (leave these out if your child doesn’t like them), 50g smoked salmon, pepper, shredded tasty cheese

smoothies smoothie icyandpoles

Getting kids to eat all their greens and micronutrients every day is a near impossible task so why not try adding tonnes of healthy veg into a delicious smoothie? What you need: A liquid: water, coconut water, milk (coconut, almond, rice are all great dairy-free alternatives). Fruit and veggies: spinach, avocado, kale, beetroot, carrots, cucumber, apple, berries, banana.

What to do: Preheat your oven to 200c and grease and line a muffin tin with baking paper. Whisk eggs in a bowl and season with pepper, add the spring onions if your using them. Cut the salmon into strips and divide between the muffin cups. Pour the eggs on top of the salmon and top each one with tasty cheese. Bake for around 15-20 minutes. These ‘muffins’ can be adapted with a huge range of ingredients depending on your family’s tastes. Some ideas you could try include: spinach, grated zucchini, sweet potato, mushrooms, ham…

Flavours: nuts, cinnamon, seeds, yoghurt, honey, cacao, ginger, herbs, maple syrup. What to do: Blend it. If you make it a bit thicker (add less liquid) it can be a fun finger/first food to practice eating with a spoon. Freeze it. If your child struggles with the texture of a smoothie or you feel like a cool treat, try freezing the smoothie mixture in icy pole moulds.

healthy fish fingers

Fish is a great source of Vitamin A, protein and omega 3 fatty acids. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. These fish fingers are simple to make and you can pair them with your child’s favourite dip to make them even more yummy. Get your kids involved in the prep by having them whisk the egg and milk together or even rolling the fish in the egg, flour and breadcrumbs. You’ll need: 1 egg, ¼ cup milk, 400g white fish fillets cut into 2cm thick chunks or strips, ½ cup plain flour, 2 cups breadcrumb, olive oil spray What to do: Whisk together the egg and milk and then coat the fish in the flour and dip into the egg mixture. Next roll in the breadcrumbs. Place on a lined baking tray and spray with olive oil. Pop into a 200oc oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.

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SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

BY DEB HOPPER

MENTAL HEALTH IN UNCERTAIN TIMES – THE COPING CHAIN FOR ANXIETY PROTECTION Feeling uncertain, worried and perhaps anxious in changing times is to be expected. We feel overwhelmed and anxious when we feel not in control of our situations. This is a physiological reaction in the brain, which was created to protect us in time of danger, to save us from the unexpected.

FACTORS THAT PROMOTE COPING AND PROTECT AGAINST ANXIETY The following four factors in The Coping Chain for Anxiety Protection are paramount in looking after ourselves as adults, which in turn allows us to support our children and the children we work with. We need to be mindful of our own levels of stress and anxiety, be proactive to ground ourselves through looking after our body, our sensory needs and our own thoughts and mental health. Only then can we give support to others in the best way, whilst been sustainable for the longer term.

THE COPING CHAIN FOR ANXIETY PROTECTION There are four main components to The Coping Chain. These four links in the chain are all necessary for us to remain calm, self-regulate and be engaged. If one or more of the links break down, anxiety can creep in. Let’s look at these four links in the chain and how we can support both ourselves and the children we care for or work with.

1. Nurture and Relationship Nurturing ourselves and reaching out to others to continue relationships is vital in this time. How are our relationships going at home? Reaching out for Zoom birthday parties or Mother’s Day has perhaps been one way we have maintained these relationships. It’s not the same as being face-toface, but are we seeking enough nurture? For children, are we reaching out to them and giving them the nurture they need? This is hard when we may be home 24/7 together and we are craving personal space. Think about your child’s love language. How do they receive love? Is it time with you? Is it acts of service, physical touch? We need to work out how we can fill our children’s love tanks. It will make a massive difference.

2. Structure and Support When we don’t know what to do, when we don’t know what’s happening around us, our brain flips into fear and anxiety. This releases chemicals in the brain that shuts down our frontal lobe which is our calming and problem solving headquarters. Our emotions take over and we can start an anxiety or fear spiral. We can help ourselves through creating a daily structure for chores and other routines. For schooling from home, we can create a visual or checklist of what subjects are happening at what time. For partial return to school, a whiteboard or a calendar to show what days are at school and what days are ‘school at home’. On these ‘structures’ or calendars, we include other activities such as who is cooking each night, what is the fun activity each

afternoon, exercise time, play activities. Ramp up the structure and over-communicate so that your child, your team and your family can say “I know what is happening and I know what is next”.

3. Just Right Challenge The Just Right Challenge in the midst of anxiety and uncertainty is happening when our children can say “The next step of my task is doable, even with my level of anxiety”. When there is so much change and uncertainty, we can’t expect the normal level of problem solving ability. Our brains are overloaded, our frontal lobe is offline and we can’t problem solve as well. We can’t expect adults or children to focus for as long as usual. Spelling tests that have been easy in the past might appear to be too hard all of a sudden. The child who was able to focus in class all day may appear oppositional or defiant. It’s important to understand that this is not just ‘negative’ behaviour. It’s a brain feeling overwhelmed, unable to problem solve and focus as long as usual. If a task in this time of Covid-19 pandemic suddenly seems ‘too hard’, again, we need to be the support to others to make it simpler, break down the task, increase the structure and increase our nurture, towards others.

4. Environment The final link in The Coping Chain of Anxiety Protection is the environment. We need to be aware of our physical environment and make sure that our surroundings are meeting our mind and body needs. We need to be aware that anxiety puts our nervous system on high alert, and this can be tiring and draining. Monitor your environment for excess noise, light and sensory input that might be getting on your nerves. Take time out. Find a quiet place and be mindful of the birds outside, look at the clouds in the distance and just BE. We also need to feed our body and our nervous system with regular movement and exercise, which helps us to keep calm and grounded in ourselves. Being aware of The Coping Chain of Anxiety Protection are four simple ways we can relook at practical strategies that work for support our selves as well as our co-workers and the children we work with. Deb Hopper is an Occupational Therapist, Mum, and the author of Teaching Kids to Manage Anxiety: Superstar Practical Strategies. To connect with Deb for more tips you can join our newsletter here www.lifeskills4kids.com.au/connect

SPECIAL ISSUE

MAY 2020

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