Absolutely Autism has launched a new workshop that will help parents and professionals develop closer relationships with children with autism. Entitled Autism and Behaviour, the workshop will be run for the first time in Bairnsdale on 16 March by two experts in autism, Leanne Potter and Rhonda Jackson. The workshop is then planned to be run in regional centres across Australia.

“Sometimes life is tough living with or working with a child with autism. Many parents and professionals feel lost and there is little support available in East Gippsland. Some believe that children with autism will not improve. Others assume that all of their behavioural issues stem from their autism. Much of what people believe about autism simply isn’t true. We are looking to help turn this around”, explains Leanne, a special educator and kinesiologist that has worked with children with special needs for the past 16 years.

“Some children with autism suffer from low self-asteem and self-confidence. Every child is different too, so that the ‘one size fits all’ approach never works. Our objective is to help parents, child care workers, teachers, early intervention specialists, and therapists understand that autism means a different way of thinking and learning”, says Rhonda. Rhonda is a specialist in early childhood intervention, supporting families with a child with autism.

The Autism and Behaviour Workshop will be held in the Anzac Room at the Bairnsdale RSL on 16 March, from 9 am to 3pm. For more details, visit the workshop website www.absolutelyautism.com/workshops. To find out when Absolutely Autism is visiting your region, please email us at info@absolutelyautism.com

Absolutely Autism is a service for families and Early Years Professions that work with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), providing practical strategies and recommendations to empower those caring for them.