ACN NOTICEBOARD
NEWS / EVENTS / UPDATES
ACN WEBSITE NOW FEATURES UPDATES AND RESOURCES ON COVID-19
To assist families as much as possible we have created a page where we will regularly add helpful information and links to resources to deal with the impact of the pandemic. We also have links to relevant government websites for up to date announcements and policies. To view the page simply click on the icon on our website or go to https://www.autismcommunity.org.au/covid19.html AUTISM COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS ONLINE
Starting NEXT Monday evening, ACN Founder Steve will host a meeting online via Zoom, from 7 to 8 pm. On Fridays, ACN Leaders Lucy and Belinda will host a daytime catch up between 10 and 11 am. To join either of these meetings simply see the codes below in Events. 
ACN SUPPORT GROUPS WILL CONTINUE VIA “ZOOM” AND OTHER MEANS
It’s a challenging time for everyone but we are determined to do all we can to continue providing support to the many families who rely on ACN. One of the ways will be to replace many of our physical meetings with online catchups using “Zoom”. Zoom is similar to Skype except you do not need to have an account to participate. You simply click on the link you are sent and enter the code to join the meeting. We will start posting the links for those meetings which will continue to run, as soon as possible. 
KAHOOT QUIZ NOW ONLINE
The Kahoot Quiz we have been running each month at our Autistic Adults Social Club will now be provided weekly as a fun activity for anyone in the network who wants to participate. Each Wednesdays 2 to 3 pm, we will run it via Zoom. All members welcome, but if you need to download the kahoot app onto your advice to play. 
LEGO CLUB ONLINE
We will be introducing a few new activities via Zoom to engage our kids while we all remain housebound. One of these is a weekly Lego club where children can connect with us (ideally with their parents present) and we set a task for everyone to complete. For example, everyone builds a ship at home and at the same time next week we meet up again to see all the amazing things created; and we post the best ones on our website for the world to see. Of course, they will all be great. If one or more of our parents know things Lego more than we do, we’d love to have you lead this group, which will only be a commitment of an hour a week. Please contact Steve on 0431 724 229 or steve@autismcommunity.org.au. 
ACN BINGO STARTING THIS WEEK
Another way to let our kids engage together for a bit if fun will be the start of a weekly game of bingo via Zoom. Each Thursday, from 2 to 3 pm, any of the ACN kids (siblings included) who would like to play, simply select 10 numbers from 1 to 100, and then watch our game host on zoom draw the numbers. We’ll play a few rounds each week, and the winners will be posted on our website for bragging rights
SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT AUTISM AND LGBTQI ISSUES
Sexuality is more fluid among people on the spectrum and for some, it can be a challenging time when trying to understand their sense of self – both from an autism point of view and their sexuality. If you want someone to talk to, who has been there, we want to help. Please read below and contact steve@autismcommunity.org.au if you would like to be put in contact with Jamie, a long time ACN dad, and his partner Josh. My name is Jamie and my partner is Josh, and we would like to give an open invitation to families who are wanting to talk to us about someone who has identified with the LGBTIQ+ sistergirl brother boy community. We offer listening ears and open hearts with no judgement. We are not health professionals; however we have lived experiences and two children with Autism. Personally, I spent some time working as a youth worker in a LGBTIQ + youth service. I ran a group for gender diverse and transgendered young people, many who also identified as having ASD. To both families and young people, I would offer support and happy to answer difficult questions. Josh has a background in coordinating and assisting with youth groups, in particular within the LGBTIQ+ groups in New Zealand. As a youth representative, he would go around to schools hosting open discussions and assisting with support groups. |
ONLINE EVENTS
Tue 7 Apr 10 – 11 am ACN kids connect https://zoom.us/j/559821152?pwd=WUdsU3RXUlBuem5ZeDdMVVRvSlpEdz09 Wed 8 Apr 2 to 3 pm Kahoots Quiz - Pixar https://zoom.us/j/658438440 Thu 10 Apr 2 to 3 pm Bingo Club https://zoom.us/j/991634193 Mon 13 Apr 7 to 8 pm ALL AREAS Online Support https://zoom.us/j/558844866?pwd=Y0dCOG9GYVNwR3dxOEk0Y1lOeUNnUT09 Wed 15 Apr 2 to 3 pm Kahoots Quiz – Star Wars v Star Trek https://zoom.us/j/658438440 Thu 16 Apr 2 to 3 pm Bingo Club https://zoom.us/j/991634193 Fri 17 Apr 10 to 11 am ALL AREAS Online Support https://zoom.us/j/826568444?pwd=eHY5QUliWXYrTURQODgxeTJ5ajlPQT09 Sun 19 Apr 2 to 3 pm Lego Club https://zoom.us/j/134690183?pwd=ZTRiY0RLNmZHZnVDbjNGRCtDZ1h3QT09 Mon 20 Apr 7 to 8 pm ALL AREAS Online Support https://zoom.us/j/558844866?pwd=Y0dCOG9GYVNwR3dxOEk0Y1lOeUNnUT09 Wed 22 Apr 2 to 3 pm Kahoots Quiz – Kids https://zoom.us/j/658438440 Thu 23 Apr 2 to 3 pm Bingo Club https://zoom.us/j/991634193 Fri 24 Apr 10 to 11 am ALL AREAS Online Support https://zoom.us/j/826568444?pwd=eHY5QUliWXYrTURQODgxeTJ5ajlPQT09 Sun 26 Apr 2 to 3 pm Lego Club https://zoom.us/j/134690183?pwd=ZTRiY0RLNmZHZnVDbjNGRCtDZ1h3QT09 Mon 27 Apr 7 to 8 pm ALL AREAS Online Support https://zoom.us/j/558844866?pwd=Y0dCOG9GYVNwR3dxOEk0Y1lOeUNnUT09 Wed 29 Apr 2 to 3 pm Kahoots Quiz – Kids https://zoom.us/j/658438440 Note: You will need to download the Zoom app if you are using your phone.
OUR NOTICEBOARD https://www.autismcommunity.org.au/acn-noticeboard.html OUR GROUPS https://www.autismcommunity.org.au/our-groups.html BOOKINGS https://www.autismcommunity.org.au/book-in-to-acn-event.html#/bookings |
ACN NOW PODCASTING
Coming Soon – ACN will publish regular podcasts covering a range of discussions, interviews, talks and tips. We’ll let you know when there is something new, or you can just click on the podcast button on our website. |
CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH FRIENDS AT OUR ADULTS PEERS EVENTS
Starting from January (our January dinner will be Monday 14 Jan) we will be including the opportunity for adults on the spectrum to celebrate their birthday with friends at the event. This is something ACN has done across other groups for some time. Simply, if you have your birthday that month, let us know in advance, and we can include you on our birthdays list as we wish you a happy birthday (we won’t sing that terrible song, we know many of you hate it) and you can be up the front as we cut a cake for all to share with you. |
FREE 30 MINUTE CONSULTATIONS AT ADULTS SOCIAL
As of December, Chiu Lau, a prominent psychologist who has been a volunteer with our Autistic Adults Peer event, has offered to provide the opportunity for guests to receive one 30-minute consultation with her at no cost. First priority will be given to adults on the spectrum in attendance, however, any other member of the community who is Autistic or who is caring for someone with Autism can also book in to see Chiu during the event. If you would like to reserve a time slot (between 6 and 8 pm, (next event is Monday 2 December) please contact steve@autismcommunity.org.au
As of December, Chiu Lau, a prominent psychologist who has been a volunteer with our Autistic Adults Peer event, has offered to provide the opportunity for guests to receive one 30-minute consultation with her at no cost. First priority will be given to adults on the spectrum in attendance, however, any other member of the community who is Autistic or who is caring for someone with Autism can also book in to see Chiu during the event. If you would like to reserve a time slot (between 6 and 8 pm, (next event is Monday 2 December) please contact steve@autismcommunity.org.au
PHOTOGRAPHER WANTED
As our profile and activities continue to grow, ACN is looking for a volunteer who would like to support using your skills with a camera It would only be a few times a year to help us capture some of our important events and moments so as we can show the community more professionally what we are about. . If you would like to know more, please call Steve on 0431 724 229 or steve@autismcommunity.org.au
As our profile and activities continue to grow, ACN is looking for a volunteer who would like to support using your skills with a camera It would only be a few times a year to help us capture some of our important events and moments so as we can show the community more professionally what we are about. . If you would like to know more, please call Steve on 0431 724 229 or steve@autismcommunity.org.au
USING THE NETWORK FOR FEEDBACK
ACN has Members Only secret status Facebook pages to help you seek feedback on issues, services, products etc from each other. We are receiving a rising number of emails asking us to provide advice and that is not something we can manage. Please use the network pages, they will give you current feedback by people with direct experience. If you are not currently on an ACN Members page, and would like to be, please send a request to be invited to ula@autismcommunity.org.au |
SEEKING CO-FACILITATORS
When one of our volunteers who runs a group is ill, we often have to cancel. To avoid having to cancel support groups or kids clubs, we are seeking volunteers to join their local groups to co-facilitate them. This way, our kids or carers don't miss out when there is illness, and volunteers don’t have to feel pressure if they are unable to be there. If interested, please contact steve@autismcommunity.org.au or 9543 9036 for more info. |
WHY JOIN ACN’S FACEBOOK PAGES?
We know the concerns some people have about using Facebook, but as the ACN continues to grow, we are using our special FB pages to bring you so much more.
SECURITY:
The ACN FB pages are all SECRET STATUS. This means that if you are not in them you can’t search for them, you can’t see who is on them, nor what anyone is writing. That means your family, friends or colleagues can never see anything you do on these pages.
Our pages are strictly for Members only: This means that we will never accept anyone invited by a member unless they are a member themselves. Once someone registers with us, we then invite them to access the pages.
And if you are still not comfortable using your name, we have no issue with you using a maiden name or pseudonym, as long as we know who you are and know you are a member.
BENEFITS:
You can speak with others on a local area level, a whole network level or via Common Ground pages.
With the amount of information that we receive each day, a lot of it will find itself shared through our FB pages rather than the website. This includes access to special events.
If you have an issue that’s troubling you, you can access real time support from the combined wealth of knowledge and experience from a network of families just like yours.
If you are not currently using ACN FB pages and would like to join, simply email ula@autismcommunity.org.au and provide your local area and any common ground groups you want to connect with as well as the email you use for FB so we can invite you.
We know the concerns some people have about using Facebook, but as the ACN continues to grow, we are using our special FB pages to bring you so much more.
SECURITY:
The ACN FB pages are all SECRET STATUS. This means that if you are not in them you can’t search for them, you can’t see who is on them, nor what anyone is writing. That means your family, friends or colleagues can never see anything you do on these pages.
Our pages are strictly for Members only: This means that we will never accept anyone invited by a member unless they are a member themselves. Once someone registers with us, we then invite them to access the pages.
And if you are still not comfortable using your name, we have no issue with you using a maiden name or pseudonym, as long as we know who you are and know you are a member.
BENEFITS:
You can speak with others on a local area level, a whole network level or via Common Ground pages.
With the amount of information that we receive each day, a lot of it will find itself shared through our FB pages rather than the website. This includes access to special events.
If you have an issue that’s troubling you, you can access real time support from the combined wealth of knowledge and experience from a network of families just like yours.
If you are not currently using ACN FB pages and would like to join, simply email ula@autismcommunity.org.au and provide your local area and any common ground groups you want to connect with as well as the email you use for FB so we can invite you.
PLEASE DON’T BOOK IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND
Unfortunately we are seeing a growing number of people who regularly book in to attend ACN events but fail to turn up. This costs others the opportunity to attend and for some groups it also costs us money. Please note that consistent failure to attend a booking will result in exclusion from our events. 
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
We are regularly approached to promote credible research programs seeking participants. As we believe the more research out there the better for the future for our children, we post these requests on the Research section of our website. You can view these or respond to them by simply clicking on the black Autism Research button on our website. |
“FIRST OPTIONS” PAGE
When my son was diagnosed 13 years ago, everything changed. I needed to learn a lot in a short time. If only there was a document, ideally put together by other parents who knew more than me, to help me get started with navigating the autism world. There wasn’t, so we created one. We have now moved that to our website, in the form of pages providing advice on First Things to Do, Therapy Options, and available programs to consider. It also allows our members to send us your own recommendations so we can keep it current and helpful to those new families in the position every one of us have been in have something to look at. You can find the info in our Services tab on our website. – From Steve Drakoulis 
REMINDER: PLEASE DO NOT INVITE FRIENDS TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGES
We created our Facebook pages for ACN members who are part of this local community. It is a means for parents and carers of children on the autism spectrum to communicate for mutual support. Each person who registers is invited to join their preferred pages. Non members will not be given access so please do not invite them. Our pages has been set up with secret status so that non members cannot search for it or see who is in it or what's being said. Ask your friends to register and they will be invited, non members will always be rejected. Your privacy is a priority for us. |
