The little black duck

14/05/2025

Today is am putting training packs together for a neurodiversity in the workplace workshop.
I think the packs look brilliant once finished, and they are full of great (and fun) resources

13/12/2024

Today is lego sorting day! We are going through all our lego therapy kits ensuring all the peices are in their packs in readiness for our lego therapy group next year.

11/12/2024

We are delighted to introduce the newest member of The Little Black Duck team: Sarah, who joins us as a Therapy Assistant and Group Facilitator!

Sarah brings with her seven years of experience as a therapy assistant and support worker, based previously in Melbourne. It was through this work that Sarah discovered her passion for the field—and her own neurodivergence. Over the years, she has worked with a diverse range of children, families, and practitioners, supporting individuals with a variety of diagnoses and in multiple settings. Among her experiences, hydrotherapy stands out as a favourite thanks to its integration of music, movement, speech, and other skills. And would have been the path she would have taken, had it not been for the fact that her skin does not agree with chlorine.
Sarah has also contributed significantly to group programs, particularly those centred on school readiness and holiday activities. What Sarah loves most about this work is watching people grow, learn new skills, sharing in special interest and connecting with people.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys playing and listening to music and participating in a local theatre group and circus skills classes. Alongside hobbies such as jigsaw puzzles, photography, cooking, saving spiders from the house, rollerblading, rewatching her favourite movies or shows such as How to Train Your Dragon, anything Studio Ghibli or Disney, Doctor Who and Avatar the Last Airbender to name a few.
Her special interest also include insects, bugs and spiders, clouds, birds and lego, building things and learning how something works.

We’re thrilled to have Sarah on board and look forward to the energy, creativity, and expertise she brings to our team!

11/12/2024

Adulting level - Hard 😂 (jk)
Love a good clearance buy!

07/12/2024

Supporting Autistic Individuals Through Pregnancy Introduction Pregnancy is a significant period of physical, emotional, and social transformation. For autistic individuals, these changes often interact uniquely with sensory processing differences, communication styles, and co-occurring conditions, creating distinct challenges that are underrepresented in research. While pregnancy has long been explored through the lens of neurotypical experiences, recent literature highlights that autistic people frequently encounter sensory sensitivities, heightened anxiety, and barriers to healthcare access during this period (Hampton et al., 2021​; Ferrara et al., 2023​)....

Supporting Autistic Individuals Through Pregnancy Introduction Pregnancy is a significant period of physical, emotional, and social transformation. For autistic individuals, these changes often int…

02/12/2024

Virtual reality (VR) is beginning to be more widely adopted in a therapeutic setting, but has been used and researched for its therapeutic support in autism intervention and therapy since as early as 2011, with promising results. It has been used successfully both clinically and in research settings to help with a range of challenges experienced by autistic people. Off the shelf headsets and games, in consultation with a therapist, has been shown to make an accessible and affordable solution to supporting autistic people....

Virtual reality (VR) is beginning to be more widely adopted in a therapeutic setting, but has been used and researched for its therapeutic support in autism intervention and therapy since as early …

02/12/2024

The Double Life of Autistic Masking: What Others See In the realm of autism, masking refers to the conscious or unconscious act of hiding one’s authentic traits and behaviours to blend in with societal expectations. The visual titled "In Front of the Mask: What Do Others See?" provides a striking overview of how masking manifests in social settings and the disconnect it creates between perception and reality....

The Double Life of Autistic Masking: What Others See In the realm of autism, masking refers to the conscious or unconscious act of hiding one’s authentic traits and behaviours to blend in with soci…

30/11/2024

Autism +: Understanding Co-Occurring Conditions in Autism The term “Autism +” reflects the reality that many autistic individuals experience co-occurring conditions that significantly shape their daily lives. These additional challenges often get grouped under the umbrella of "autism". However, this framework encourages us to reframe this understanding—not as a single entity but as an autistic brain experiencing multiple challenges. This shift is vital for providing targeted, effective, and respectful support....

Autism +: Understanding Co-Occurring Conditions in Autism The term “Autism +” reflects the reality that many autistic individuals experience co-occurring conditions that significantly shape their d…

30/11/2024

Autism + Environment = Outcome: Shaping Lives Through Understanding and Adaptation Luke Beardon’s concept, “Autism + Environment = Outcome,” provides a powerful framework for understanding how the interplay between an autistic individual’s neurology and their environment determines their quality of life. It emphasises that while autism is an intrinsic neurological difference, the environment significantly influences how autistic people experience and navigate the world....

Autism + Environment = Outcome: Shaping Lives Through Understanding and Adaptation Luke Beardon’s concept, “Autism + Environment = Outcome,” provides a powerful framework for understanding how the …

30/11/2024

The Allostatic Load Cycle and the Monotropic Mind: Understanding Stress, Regulation, and Resilience in Autism Autistic individuals often navigate life with heightened sensitivity to sensory, cognitive, and social demands. These challenges can lead to cycles of stress and dysregulation known as the allostatic load cycle. This model, explained by Melanie Martinelli, highlights the cumulative impact of stress on autistic individuals with…...

The Allostatic Load Cycle and the Monotropic Mind: Understanding Stress, Regulation, and Resilience in Autism Autistic individuals often navigate life with heightened sensitivity to sensory, cognit…

29/11/2024

AutPlay® Therapy is an integrative play-based approach designed to support autistic individuals and children with developmental or neurodivergent conditions. It combines the therapeutic benefits of play with evidence-based practices to address emotional regulation, social skill development, and sensory processing challenges....

AutPlay® Therapy is an integrative play-based approach designed to support autistic individuals and children with developmental or neurodivergent conditions. It combines the therapeutic benefits of…

29/11/2024

The Therapeutic Listening® Program is a research-informed sensory integration intervention designed to support individuals with sensory, attentional, and communication challenges. The program uses specially modulated music and environmental sounds to target the nervous system, promoting improved sensory processing and integration....

The Therapeutic Listening® Program is a research-informed sensory integration intervention designed to support individuals with sensory, attentional, and communication challenges. The program uses …