Rosella Speech Pathology

🌟 All forms of communication are equal and valid 🌟

The theme of this years is “communicate your way”.

Everyone communicates differently. There are a wide range of communication methods that someone may choose to use…
💛 speech/mouth words
💛 sign
💛 AAC
💛 written
💛 gesture
💛 digital incl texting

Many think “spoken language” is the ideal form of communication. But for millions across the world, for whatever reason, this isn’t possible. Being unable to use mouth words does not make what someone has to say any less important, accurate or meaningful. Every form of communication should be respected, accommodated and accepted.

I recently came across a webinar that advertised “treatment options for autism and adhd” and I felt compelled to post something around the language that we use when speaking about the neurodivergent community.

Treatment implies that the person needs to be cured or that they have an illness of some kind. It also places the person inside a medical model; the change needs to come from the individual rather than the environment around them.

Using a certain word or phrase can be extremely triggering; unearthing and creating trauma for individuals who have felt rejected by society in the past. We therefore need to educate ourselves and others on what language is respectful and preferred by the autistic/ neurodivergent community.

I’ve been a speechie for 12 years and I am privileged to learn so much about the neuroaffirming movement from my clients, families and other professionals with lived experience. I’m far from perfect in the language I use and love when my clients pull me up and teach me about different ways of thinking. It’s my responsibility to learn and use these teachings in my therapy and also be an advocate for the ND community whenever I can. (So also please feel free to point out any places I can do better ☺️)

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Being different is not a bad thing.

Having a different way of processing information, communicating, learning and creating are all things that make the world a richer place.

Here's to advocating for inclusive environments that respect difference and allow each individual to shine and thrive. 🌟

Happy Mother’s Day 💐

Some weekend wisdom...

We shouldn't be trying to change difference. We should accept it. By advocating for what people need and taking the time to understand and respect them as individuals, we can ensure every single flower blooms 🌺🌸🌷🌼

Got Minecraft skills & the 'tism (or any other form of neurodivergence)?

We're looking for a Junior IT Support Technician, best suited to a teen/adolescent looking to seriously upskill in a part time role.

Click the link to read more:

https://www.seek.com.au/job/75389085

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🌟 As some of you are aware, I have family visiting from the UK and so I'm taking a short break to spend some quality time with them before they head home.

💐 It's been another wonderful term of supporting my beautiful clients and their families; enjoy the well earned break and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Jess 🐰

Beautifully put ❤️

"Not everyone that comes to the table sits. Some lie on the floor underneath, some stim and flap nearby, some run around the table, some twirl and dance at the side. Everyone is valuable. Even if you don't sit, you still deserve space at the table."

Credit: Stalen’s Way

🎉Officially Sounds-Write trained! 🎉

✏️ Looking forward to using this fantastic program to help support literacy development!

Such an important webinar! Thanks Making Waves Occupational Therapy. Looking forward to it!!

Supporting Children with School Attendance Difficulties Join our webinar on supporting children with School Anxiety and Attendance Difficulties featuring Louise Rogers and Tiffany Westphal!

FREE DOWNLOAD | Personal Profile Template Get your free personal profile Template to help your child's educators or teachers understand WHO they are and HOW they can support your child.

JOIN US ONLINE!
APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM (AGES 8-22)

Connect with Autistic peers & mentors in a very fun, safe and affirming space to dive into your shared interests!

NEW THEMES: Five Nights At Freddy's; Palworld; Bluey; Cats; Skincare & Make-Up

OLD FAVOURITES: Roblox; Anime: Dungeons & Dragons

APPLY HERE: https://icannetwork.tfaforms.net/5072100

See our website for further details: https://icannetwork.online/school-holiday-programs/

Participants are placed with similar-aged peers.

All of our groups are facilitated by two trained Autistic/Neurodivergent I CAN mentors who hold current Working With Children Checks.

Additional questions? Please reach out directly to our dedicated team ([email protected])

A wonderful local Mum is running the London Marathon in April and she’s holding a raffle at the end of the month to raise money for a fantastic charity! The closest I get to a marathon is a Netflix one on my sofa, so I’m donating a box of language goodies!

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/emma-jeffries10

Go Emma!! 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

This weekend in Melbourne has been a warm one!! 🥵

It's also provided us with lots of wonderful vocabulary development opportunities!

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🌟 I'd like to wish everyone the best of luck for the start of the new school year!

🌈 Whether you are starting in kinder, prep or high school, or returning to a new grade at your current school....you've got this!

🤍 I'm looking forward to supporting you on your journey and hearing all about it!

I see you. I hear you. I got you.
❤️

We are back!! I had such a lovely break with my family, even if the rain has kept us inside a little more than planned 😝

I'm so excited to hear all about your summer adventures so far. Lots of amazing things happening in 2024; let's go smash some goals and most importantly....have fun!!

I’m taking a short break to enjoy the holidays with my family. I hope you all have a wonderful break too and I’m looking forward to hearing all about the adventures and memories when I get back 🎄🎅🏼❤️

We couldn't have said it better ourselves 💜

Here are some tips from the PDA Society for making Christmas/the holiday season less overwhelming for Autistic people.

Image description & a link to a downloadable version in comments below.

🌟 FESTIVE GIVEAWAY 🌟

To celebrate the upcoming festive period and the end of Rosella's first term of therapy, I have some of my favourite resources to gift.

📚 The Brain Forest by Sandhya Menon.
This book celebrates neurodiversity and all the different neurotypes we come across everyday! It's a beautiful addition to any child's bookshelf.
📚 Stick Man by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler.
A wonderful book full of imagination, repetitive phrasing and rhyme and a surprise ending.
🎉 A Christmas tree pop-it.

To enter: like this post, follow Rosella Speech if you haven't already and comment below why would like to win or nominate a deserving friend.

The winner will be selected at random on Thursday 14th December at 8pm. Competition open in Australia only.

This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook.

Not sure why people make the mistake of thinking that all Autistic folk must be the same. We are not. Just as all neurotypical people are not the same. Like, have you ever met two people anywhere that are the same?

Our similarities are there, but they present diffferently in each of us.
We have different sensory profiles, different emotional processing systems, different personalities, different skills, different preferences, different interests, different support needs, different upbringings, different social capacity.

If you’ve met one Autistic person, you’ve met one Autistic person.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all Autistics are just like your Autistic neighbour, Dennis, who collects trains and is oblivious to all social cues.

If you meet someone who is Autistic and you think, ‘huh. They don’t look Autistic to me’ - instead of telling us that we don’t look Autistic (because, side note, it’s not a compliment), start to update your perception of what autistic people can be like.

Because chances are you have (or did have) quite a narrow perception of what Autism is. Not your fault, but very possibly true.

Time for an update.

As Hannah Gadsby says, ‘knowledge is power, ignorance is a cage, and feelings can be dealt with. I bid you good day.’

Yes?

Em 🌈

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