Volunteering my Support - Knowledge - Time - and more

Over the past 4 years I have kept myself busy walking the 'volunteer' pathway through Autism,

by helping to share my knowledge, understanding, support, acceptance, education, and more.  

There hasn't been a day go by where I haven't focused in some way on how to assist others.   

banner for the recent expo I arranged
helping locals to connect with relevant service providers 

I enjoy this pay-it-forward approach, doing anything I can, finding ways to support and share the  understanding of diversity. Helping others to re-group and take the steps to solve each issue as we face them.

Even sharing my own story to give a better picture of a back-to-basics family managing the best we can with what we have, as well as hints and tips on problem-solving, and how to overcome any hurdles we face.

Like many other families, we too are only human, and can face moments of stress or confusion.

So it has become beneficial to me, as a therapy source, allowing time to address the many situations we personally go though.

By finding the right coping skills to resolve what is happening, and implement a program to best manage it long term, can then become a resource to assist others in the same situation.

Some think I'm crazy, with all I face personally on a day-to-day basis, to step up and do the things I do.

I just may be, but if there is a void in supports, and a need to be filled, then why not take on the challenge.

So there I was with my hand up saying…… "I know, I understand, I live this life, so who best to help than me!"

It is something I can do, in my own time, something I can do to feel good about 'me', and yet at the same time, know I am still available to drop everything at any given moment and take off when A.J. needs me.

My life exists around helping supporting and raising my grandson, I have to be there for him, every minute of every day, when needed.

If the phone rings unexpectedly, at any time, to collect him from school after he's been unable to manage the day, because his anxiety kicked in to hyper drive, when he is so overwhelmed with the sensory issues he faces while trying to manage the maze they call education, or the outside world.

With what most don't even realise is around them or acknowledge as a 'problem', the smallest of issues, yet to our children is excruciating pain.

Yes it is noise, lighting, textures, smells, and more…… it is sensory dysregulation.

This and so much more consumes his every minute of every day, the flickering lights, the click-click noises, the humming in the distance, strange unusual smells and odours, the hustle and bustle and rushing here and there causing him to lose his sense of balance and focus, forcing him to work with every being of his soul to try and overcome the temptation to crash and burn, or lose control.

Then as I hear others say, "but he is so well mannered, he is so bright and smart, I can't believe he has any of these issues." …… "What is that?" …you say!.... "how can this be?"

That is because we have banded together with support from so many areas for so many years, with family, therapy, - O.T. - speech - psychology - and so much more, all working together to help A.J. understand and to focus on how he can manage and cope throughout the day.

Yet like anything with anyone else, sometimes it can still become overwhelming.

Some days it has been so full-on he will come home and just hibernate in his room, his safe zone, till he can overcome the emotions and feelings he has contained as well as he could throughout the day, until he can feel a balance and harmony within and around him, all of this so no-one can see how he truly struggles.

some of the items I have
helped students to make

And that is what we deal with, we help A.J. know we are there for him, we help him know how he can do the things he can, to accept that sometimes he may fall, and that it's OK, but to also assure him he can also get back up and try again.

……..here it is, another part of our life.

As I share my story, feelings, experiences, you may connect and relate to some part of it in a way that helps you understand and give you strength to keep on going, and that is why I share it with you.