Support for families with children on the Autism Spectrum
Our team have put together a Self-Regulation Toolkit – 10 Tips for calming your child.
There are some great ideas on how to teach your child to regulate their emotions, manage anxiety & avoid meltdowns.
Check it out! Download and share with your child’s teacher, teaching assistant and whanau.
We are thrilled to support Tim Bray Theatre Company with Extraordinarily Creative, drama classes for those children and teens who are differently wired. A positive and fun programme in a safe and nurturing environment where children can use the creativity of drama and theatre to enhance their life skills and express themselves in extraordinary ways.
These classes are for ages 5-7yrs, 8-10yrs, 11-13yrs and 14-16yrs and based on the North Shore.
Scholarships are available for families experiencing financial hardship, kindly funded by Stewart Germann administered by Cognition Education Trust.
Follow this link to find the class to suit your child and send the team at Tim Bray Theatre Company an expression of interest.
https://enrolmy.com/tim-bray-productions
Girls with Autism are often diagnosed much later than most boys, and sometimes not at all.
Make yourself a coffee or tea and join us on Zoom for a virtual meet-up. Our Family Consultant Jeanita Cush-Hunter is passionate about equipping our girls and young women with skills for life & will be on hand to guide discussion and answer your questions.
This is a great place to share experiences, ask questions, discuss issues, and learn from each other.
This online group has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Women, enabling Children’s Autism Foundation to provide support to New Zealand women.
UPCOMING MEETING DATES (2nd Thursday of each month) 7.30pm to 8.30pm
Thursday 8th April
Thursday 20th May
Thursday 10th June
Thursday 15th July
Never used Zoom before?
Zoom is super easy, it takes you through a simple installation process when you click the meeting link. Please phone us on 021 792 855 if you have any questions or email enquiry@autism.org.nz if you wish to set up a “practice” meeting beforehand.
We are thrilled to again be supporting the wonderful folk at Tim Bray Theatre Company to bring you Sensory Relaxed performances in 2021.
Tim Bray Theatre Company is celebrating 30 years by bringing two of their cherished shows back to the stage with Sensory Relaxed performances.
Monday 26th April A Lion in the Meadow and Other Stories by Margaret Mahy, adapted for the stage by Tim Bray, and songs by Christine White. Created for ages 3-10, approximately 50 minutes.
Book tickets here
October/November show– Roald Dahl’s The Twits, adapted for the stage by Tim Bray, songs by Christine White. Created for ages 5-10, appoximately 50 minutes.
Sensory Relaxed performances are for anyone who would benefit from a less formal, supportive theatre atmosphere and may be especially benficial for children with sensory, movement, communication, and learning needs.
About A Lion in the Meadow and Other Stories:
A Lion in the Meadow and Other Stories brings to life Margaret Mahy’s timeless tales in a magical show that celebrates the wonderment of children’s imagination. Weaving through Mahy’s much loved stories ‘A Lion in the Meadow’, ‘Leaf Magic’ and ‘The Witch in the Cherry Tree’, and her poems ‘Magic’ and ‘The Reluctant Hero, or Footprints in the Snow’, we journey with a young boy on his spellbound adventures. Celebrating the places a youthful imagination can take us, the young boy’s mother misses the magic lost in the tasks of adulthood – a reminder to keep the fires of our imaginations burning.
About Roald Dahl’s The Twits:
A delicious Roald Dahl creation. Mr and Mrs Twit are nasty and love playing tricks on each other. The things they get up to are a sight to behold! Would you like a glass eyeball in your drink? How about some worms in your spaghetti? Who doesn’t like a slimy frog in their bed? And would you believe how they make their favourite treat, Wednesday Bird Pie….it’s a sticky idea. Their antics will have you gasping in amusement and giggling along.
But when Mr Twit turns his nasty attentions to creating the World’s First Upside-Down Monkey Circus with Muggle-Wump the monkey, things get turned upside down and the Twits get a dose of their own nasty ways.
The pre-show introduction, where you’ll meet the actors and have a demonstration of the lights, sound, and surprises in the show, begins 15 minutes prior to show time. Shows are on at The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna. For show dates, booking information, and online resources to prepare for your Sensory Relaxed performance, visit our website: https://timbray.org.nz/accessible-performances/#Sensory
To book a familiarisation visit to the theatre please contact the Tim Bray office on 09 486 2261 or email katie@timbray.org.nz
Book a half hour Autism CHAT with a Children’s Autism Foundation Family Consultant. Meet with one of our friendly, experienced consultants for a relaxed session to discuss any issues or questions you have related to autism (eg. behaviours, school, anxiety, communication, social skills, diagnosis, toileting, sleeping etc). These sessions are designed with a focus on your family, equipping you with the strategies & information you need to be able to support your child and be confident in your parenting. Includes follow-up support by phone, email or Zoom.
CHAT Q&A’s
Should I bring my child to my CHAT session? You are welcome to attend with or without your child.
Can I bring my pre-schooler to my CHAT session? Yes, younger children are welcome.
Does my child need to have an Autism diagnosis? Yes, our CHAT sessions are provided to whanau of children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, you are welcome to make an appointment if you are currently on the pathway to diagnosis or need advice around seeking a diagnosis.
What happens if I need to cancel my CHAT session? You can cancel your CHAT anytime (must be no later than 7 days prior to receive a refund of your booking fee) but please phone or email us so that we can offer the slot to another family on our waiting list.
What can I expect from my CHAT session? This session is an opportunity for you to discuss any issues or challenges that you may be facing as a parent or caregiver of a child with Autism. Our Family Consultant may be able to provide you with information, tips, tools and strategies to enable you to better support your child and whanau at home, at school and in the community.
Is there a charge for my CHAT session? Our Autism CHAT sessions (valued at $80) are provided FREE thanks to support from our funders. A booking fee of $20 applies but we are able to waive this fee for any family or individual who cannot afford to pay right now. Simply phone or email us and we will book your CHAT session at no cost. Please don’t be afraid to ask!
