Making a CONNECTION – for kids on the spectrum

Making a CONNECTION – for kids on the spectrum

At a school holidays event in Adelaide, when Kathryn Grey, a children’s entertainer from Sydney had a conversation with the mother of an autistic child, who mentioned there was a real need for a safe space for autistic kids to socialise and build relationships. That discussion five years ago kickstarted a series of steps that brought about the creation of Spectrum Connect’s Kids Clubs.

Kathryn and Mathew Grey are children’s entertainers with decades of experience working nationally, and internationally for organisations such as Camp Quality, MS Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis Camp. From that conversation with a mother, Grey began a process of research, study and outreach to the autistic community.

It led to three things: her son’s diagnosis as autistic, her own diagnosis as autistic, and the structure of a new social program for autistic children aged 6 to 13 years.

Spectrum Connect has been running for three years with around 50 kids attending the weekly social get togethers. Each week the after-school kids club offer’s different ‘themed’ activities. The entertainment might be anything from sock puppet theatres, Minecraft themed crafts, animal visitations and more. In addition to the weekly events, each meeting also offers outdoor play spaces, quiet areas, art supplies and other play resources to ensure there are a variety of opportunities to interact with peers over a variety of shared experiences.

The group is hosted by a team of staff operating at a 3 to 1 ratio, the majority of who are also neurodivergent.

“Weekly emails are sent to show the kids what the activity will look like, along with photos of the staff who will be present, so the kids have visual cues. It means the full story is there for them beforehand,” Grey told Link “It’s all about encouraging wellbeing and self-confidence.

“We believe the Spectrum Connect concept is unique to Adelaide and possibly Australia. It is designed to be a relaxed space with no pressure to engage in activities. There are board games and craft supply tables, and a quiet or chill-out room with books for those who want to take a break.

We provide snacks if they get hungry. The important thing is they are sharing the space with other kids, so these side activities are available.”

Each term has a new schedule of activities to ensure a range of interests can be catered for and give children a safe space to explore potential new interests. Their first term of the year included a visit from Animals Anonymous with a selection of Australian Native animals, including marsupials, birds and reptiles, for the kids to interact with. They were also visited by AI Camps who brought some Artificial Intelligence robotic dogs where the kids programmed them to dance and play fetch. The term finished with a drone flying event with the kids navigating the flying toys through 3D obstacle courses before trying to shoot them with Nerf dart guns. Scheduled for May is a chocolate painting session where kids will get to make artworks out of coloured chocolates, which they can eat once they have finished!

The program has grown steadily over the past three years, with many referrals coming from word-or-mouth or through Facebook. Grey also finds families by hosting sensory spaces at festivals and family events in Adelaide with her Sensory-Room-2-U service.

The club is offered under NDIS pricing and costs $78 a meeting. Term bookings are flexible with members welcome to book as many sessions that suits their needs. Each meeting runs for 1 hour and 45 minutes. The activity is scheduled to run for 90 minutes with the extra 15 minutes available as close out for members to help with the pack-up process for children who have difficulties with transitions.

Children are required to have a parent of carer stay on site with many parents choosing to be activity participants in the group activities which help to foster a sense of community.

MENTORING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS

There is also a free mentorship initiative where local autistic students aged 14-16 are offered an opportunity to participate in work experience.

It gives them the support of trying a working experience in a supportive environment, with an understanding employer. These mentor roles have been offered to students from mainstream schools, Tafe programs and home school backgrounds.

Grey measure’s the success of the program through the number of children with social anxiety who come every week.

She also looks to members who have grown in the time they have attended, recalling a child who attended the group for two years. “From his first year of school until he was in Grade 4, there wasn’t a term where he wasn’t excluded from school, either through suspension or expulsion. Then he started coming to our kids clubs. Within three months he had his first term without suspension and by the end of Year 5 was voted into student council. His mother’s words to me were that she credited Spectrum Connect for making the difference.

“One member has just had his 100th meeting. For a social program that specifically works with children who have social anxiety the fact we have such a high retention rate is something we are very proud of,” she said.