Discussing Neurodiversity in a abelist society. Unpacking the joys, frustration, challenges, insights and knowledge for those who want to better understand themselves, their children and their families.
E06 - The Hon Mark Butler MP's NDIS War on Autistic Kids
The NDIS causes autism. Apparently. Dive into the last knee-jerk political debacle where we once again blame our most vulnerable but fail to acknowledge that 93% of NDIS practitioners are not registered.
First it was Bill Shorten taking aim at Art Therapists and Assistive Therapies in 2024 because apparently they aren't backed by clinical research (factually incorrect), then Occupational Therapists in 2025 being told that it's unreasonable to be reimbursed at an agreed and regulated rate that hasn't gone up in seven years to visit regional and remote clients in need.
Now it's the autistic kids.
Let's get into it.
7 Jun 2025
Karen "Kaz" Willis on Neurodiverse Sporting Inclusion
Karen "Kaz" Willis discusses her work creating an inclusive All Abilities Cricket program at Valley District Cricket Club, providing opportunities for neurodiverse children to participate in sports, in this interview.
6 Feb 2025
e04 - Neurodivergent Diagnosis. The light-bulb moment, the ordeal and the grief.
*Trigger Warning*: Self harm and suicidal ideation
You matter.
Here's a list of resources for suicide and self-harm support in Australia
General Support:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services)
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 (24/7 support for anxiety, depression and suicide prevention)
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 (24/7 telephone and online counselling for suicide prevention)
eheadspace: 1800 650 890 (online and phone support for young people 12-25 and their families)
QLife: 1800 184 527 (Australia-wide telephone and online counselling service for LGBTQIA+ people)
Specific Support:
MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 (telephone and online support for men with emotional health and relationship concerns)
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (24/7 phone and online counselling for young people aged 5 to 25)
Butterfly Foundation: 1800 33 4673 (support for eating disorders and body image issues)
SANE Australia: 1800 18 7263 (support for people living with complex mental health issues)
Online Resources:
Lifeline website: lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue website: beyondblue.org.au
Headspace website: headspace.org.au
ReachOut Australia: au.reachout.com (online mental health support for young people and their parents)
Black Dog Institute: blackdoginstitute.org.au (information, resources and support for depression and bipolar disorder)
16 Jan 2025
E03 - Neurospicy: Noticing your oddities, masking and mirroring, frustration of diagnosis, barriers to getting help and eventual progress.
There's a story of discovery as to how we got here. Why we've started this conversation and why we think it's important.
One of my core concerns is that I watch a system telling my son he’s not smart enough. He comes home and tells me that he’s not very bright because he can’t remember his times tables.
It’s what I was told in the 1980s in primary school. Here we are four decades later, despite all our societal advances, my son is being taught he’s stupid because he doesn’t fit the mould.
A perspective I share relates to computing. Your hardware and your software. Your software is written by those who influence your childhood development. Parents, carers, friends, school and society.
Your hardware speaks to your genetics.
There are behaviors that are punished and those that are rewarded. We learn to minimise those behaviors that bring negative feedback. At least that's the plan. Schooling has always struck me as a conditioning process for the workforce as it was originally designed in its current form.
Sit down, be quiet and do what you're told. Don't question authority and if you step out of line you'll be punished.
I'm old enough that children were still beaten with a cane when I was in primary school. My mother spent her life as an educator in primary school.
She was hit with a ruler on the hand when she wrote with her left hand as a girl in school. You should only write with your right hand.
This is the system we’re trusting. Physical violence was what we taught children and young people was the right way to course correct.
I've met countless wonderful teachers and educators who are burdened by bureaucracy and it punishes our children.
Those who don't fit in the box? You're in for the worst of it.
If you've got the neuro spice, good chance you'll have memories of being told you don't try hard enough, easily distracted, a dreamer and if only you could focus - because you're a bright kid with so much potential.
These episodes are difficult and personal. Lot's of this stuff isn't fun to share and say out loud.
That's why we're doing it.
6 Jan 2025
E02 - Dr Carla van Laar - Creative & Experential Therapies Under Attack from the NDIS in Australia
In Australia, people with disabilities use their NDIS funding to access Creative and Experiential Therapies that they choose themselves, because it helps them to live well, stay strong, active and healthy.
Creative and Experiential Therapies include therapies that use more than verbal approaches to engage people:
Creative Arts Therapy
Music Therapy
Dance/Movement Therapy
Drama Therapy
Art Therapy
Play Therapy
Creative and Experiential Therapies are evidence-based approaches that:
improve quality of life and independent living,
keep people active in their body,
help people regulate emotions,
engage people in their communities,
strengthen relational and communication skills,
and provide a safe place where people can be free to be themselves.
Creative and Experiential Therapists have tertiary degrees and are members of professional associations. They are recognised members of Australia's Allied Health Work Force along with physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists.
Allied Health Services provided by registered Creative and Experiential Therapists for NDIS participants should be distinct from the services provided by support workers. Creative and Experiential Therapists should classified under capacity building along with other Allied Health therapies, and paid at the same rate as other Allied Health Professionals.
Creative and Experiential Therapies belong in the NDIS.
Dr Carla van Laar
Artist | Creative Arts Therapist
Master of Creative Arts Therapy
Doctor of Therapeutic Arts Practice
PACFA Reg. Clinical and Accredited Supervisor – PACFA
Carla van Laar is a painter and therapeutic arts practitioner from Australia. Born in Brisbane, Carla is first generation Australian on her Dutch grandparents side, and 7th generation through her maternal bloodline who were mostly English and came to Australia in the early colonisation of the 1800s. Her mother grew up in remote North Queensland and most of her extended family still live up North.
Carla currently lives and works in Boon Wurrung Country in the South Eastern coastal town of Inverloch, paying deep respects to the First Peoples of the Kulin Nations whose land was never ceded and will always be Aboriginal land.
https://carlavanlaar.com/ (https://carlavanlaar.com/)
NDIS Announcement to cut to Creative and Arts Therapies:
https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10522-statement-ndis-funded-music-and-art-therapy (https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10522-statement-ndis-funded-music-and-art-therapy)
Change.org Petition: https://www.change.org/p/creative-and-experiential-therapies-belong-in-the-ndis (https://www.change.org/p/creative-and-experiential-therapies-belong-in-the-ndis)
19 Dec 2024
E01 - Welcome to Kiin Space: Neurodiverse Existence in an Abelist World
Angela Nelson has spent 20 years advocating and supporting children and young people in Australia. She is a qualified Social Worker who has dedicated he life to the service of others. Her husband Scott has travelled the complex path to a mid life diagnosis of ADHD. Together they are unpacking the spectrum of human experience.
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