focusinterview. Back, L-R: Rachel Trevilyan & Donna-Lee Redfern. Front: L-R: Sharni Cooper, Karen Huf and Beryl Smith. Theme: Light it up Blue.
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lease introduce us to you, your partner and children ... My name is Nicole Galea and together with my husband of 22 years, Andrew, we have 5 beautiful children. We have four boys: Alex (11), Zayn (8), Izaiah (6) and Zakkiah (4), all of whom are on the Autism Spectrum, and our gorgeous daughter, Xanthiah, who is 15 months old and has Down Syndrome. You mentioned you have children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) ... what is your understanding of Autism and how it affects both behaviour and learning ability? Children with ASDs will usually have impairments in social interaction, communication difficulties, restricted interests, and repetitive or stereotyped behaviours. Autism affects people in varying degrees, which is why it is referred to as a ‘spectrum’ of disorders and although we have four children on the Autism Spectrum, they are all very different – no two people with Autism will be exactly alike! We have found that Autism can affect behaviour and learning ability in different ways. The boys can find it difficult to move from one activity to the next, may need more time to process what is being said, have difficulty understanding social cues and take things literally. They have very restricted interests and obsessions and can suffer high levels of anxiety. This can make school a challenging and overwhelming place to be – often holding it together all day at school may mean chaos at home. Using the boy’s interests as a motivator for good behaviour is usually successful. We are very fortunate that the boys attend an excellent school where they are supported wonderfully with excellent teachers. What do you find is the most challenging aspect of living with Autism, and conversely, what is the most rewarding? The most challenging aspect of living with Autism would definitely be the meltdowns, which are usually caused by anxiety or a disruption in routine. Sensory issues can also be challenging to 82 greater port macquarie focus.
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deal with; sometimes I wonder how our house is still standing with all the jumping, flapping and spinning that goes on at times! We have been very fortunate to have our Occupational Therapist, Beryl Smith of Sensory Smart OT, involved in this regard – she has provided us with so many strategies to help reduce sensory issues. Having four boys with Autism can be hectic, but it can also be very rewarding – they are intelligent, curious and have an infectious enthusiasm for life – you just have to find the best way to work with their Autism by focusing on their strengths. Seeing the results of all the hard work they put into therapy is also very rewarding – Zayn’s most recent school report showed excellent results in English – which is amazing, when you consider he also has an Auditory Processing Disorder and had so much difficultly with communication. It’s a testament to his speech therapist, Karen Stevens, and four years of hard work! How has HAARG helped you and your family? I discovered HAARG about 5 years ago. They were so supportive and knowledgeable; they provided us with a wealth of information about local services and resources. The meetings were also a great place to meet other families who are in a similar situation. Why would you encourage people to attend the local Autism Awareness Day event on April 6? It’s an excellent opportunity to meet other families and learn more about the supports and services provided in the Port Macquarie area. Finding out your child has Autism can be quite daunting, but having a fantastic support network and the right professionals working with you can make the journey much easier. Autism Awareness Day will be recognised locally with a special event on April 6. Karen Huf from HAARG tells us more ... What is HAARG? The Hastings Autism and Aspergers Resource Group known as ‘HAARG’ is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers who are dedicated
to helping people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. HAARG began in Port Macquarie over 20 years ago as an Autistic support group called CASPERS (Country Autistic Support Persons). This group evolved into the incorporated association known as HAARG, which now offers a wide range of support services. What are the aims of the organisation? HAARG aims to help individuals and families affected by an ASD through all stages of life and provide an ongoing resource network that connects people with the support and events that are available in our local area. We also hope to raise community awareness of ASDs and the effects on individuals and their families. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability characterised by difficulties with social interaction, communication, restricted and repetitive interests and sensory sensitivities. About 1 in 100 people have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. HAARG has developed strong partnerships with key service providers, public schools and health professionals in our region. Our members include parents, grandparents, teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists – anyone can become a member for free online at our website. The services we offer have grown to include support groups, a monthly newsletter, a Resource Manual, supported Family Fun Days and a current Facebook page. Information on all our services can be found on our website at www. hastingsautism.org.au - This is all possible thanks to the generous community support given to our HAARG Op Shop on Ocean Drive in Lake Cathie and its wonderful Op Shop volunteers. How did you personally become involved with HAARG, and what is your role with the organisation? I first became involved with HAARG when both my sons were diagnosed with an ASD over 6 years ago. Although my involvement was irregular until the last 2 years, it has always been reassuring to know that there was a group of people who understood my situation and were
available if I needed help or someone to talk to. My current role with HAARG is as Secretary. I write our informative monthly newsletter, maintain our website and organise our Family Fun Days once a term. What is Autism Awareness Day, and where and when will it be acknowledged locally? Autism Awareness Day is a worldwide campaign on 2 April to shine a light on Autism as a growing global health issue and to raise an awareness of Autism throughout society. The theme ‘Light it up Blue’ sees many iconic landmarks worldwide shine blue, including the Sydney Opera House. HAARG has joined forces with Beryl Smith at Sensory SMART OT to host an Autism Awareness Day event in Port Macquarie. This event was made possible through a Community Grant from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. It will be held on Saturday 6 April at St Columba Anglican School from 10.30am to 1pm. This day aims to create awareness about Autism in the Hastings area, provide opportunities for networking and provide families facing Autism with additional support and exposure to services available in the area. What activities are planned for the day? The Autism Awareness Day will include seminars for the adults, display tables of services available in the local area, morning tea and sausage sizzle and heaps of fun activities for the children, with ‘Autism aware’ child care available. The guest speakers will be paediatrician Dr Mark Johnson and psychologist Dr Natalie Green. How much will it cost for people to attend the event, and where can people register, or find out more information? Tickets to the event are FREE and can be booked online through the link on www. sensorysmartot.com.au or www.hastingsautism. org.au - Numbers are limited, so book quickly. People can also find out more information via email at autismdaypmq@gmail.com or info@ sensorysmartot.com.au Thanks Karen.