Path to Grow Occupational Therapy

11/02/2026

06/02/2026

31/01/2026

🌟 New year, new opportunities, and a space where your young person can thrive.🌟

At Spectrum Space, we do things a little differently. Our Awesome Program (ages 10–15) and YES Program (ages 13–18) are strengths-based social programs designed to support autistic young people to connect, explore their interests, and build friendships in a safe, structured environment.

These programs celebrate who your child is, helping them set goals, and supporting them to grow in confidence and self-esteem.

💬 What makes our social programs special:
• Activities shaped by the interests of the participants
• Opportunities to build friendships and social skills
• A focus on strengths, not deficits
• Support to explore hobbies that could grow into study or career pathways
• Empowerment through choice and decision-making

✨ We offer a free trial, so your child can come along and see if it’s the right fit for them.

📍 Locations: Cockburn | Fremantle | Joondalup (EOI) | Marangaroo | Midland | Rockingham | Secret Harbour | South Fremantle I Mandurah

👉 Learn more or register your interest: www.spectrumspace.org.au

Let’s make 2026 the year your child feels supported, connected, and ready to shine.

12/01/2026

18/12/2025

The different causes of trauma for autistic people are shown in this graphic from a study of 59 Autistic adults – 36 female and 23 male (Rumball, Happe & Grey, 2020). The information is important because one of our two international diagnostic systems (Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM), which is widely used in Australia, does not recognise these events as being traumatic for people. Clinicians using the DSM would not diagnose these adults as having possible Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which means that they would likely not receive help for their PTSD.
Dr Freya Rumball not only found that autistic adults experienced a wide range of life events as traumatic, but also that over 40% showed probable PTSD within the last month and over 60% reporting probable PTSD at some point in their lifetime. The association between autism and trauma is a source of current research investigation and concern because these rates are far higher than those in the typical population.

Source: Rumball F, Happé F, Grey N. Experience of Trauma and PTSD Symptoms in Autistic Adults: Risk of PTSD Development Following DSM-5 and Non-DSM-5 Traumatic Life Events. Autism Res. 2020 Dec;13(12):2122-2132.

Want to learn more?
We have developed a full-day course on Trauma and Autism, to be webcast live on Friday 17 January 2026.

This session explores how trauma presents in autistic children, teenagers, and adults, and how their unique neurology can shape both vulnerability and resilience. Drawing on recent, evidence-based research, lived experience, and over 80 years of combined clinical experience, it focuses on understanding trauma through an autistic lens and providing pathways for sensitive, compassionate support.

🎥 https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/products/webcast-trauma-and-autism-17-january-2026

10/12/2025

09/12/2025

27/11/2025

24/11/2025

24/11/2025

People don’t realise how bad things are until they need help for their own child. Then they are horrified. Horrified that we make it **so** hard for families trying to find help for their kids.

Families are exhausted from fighting on all fronts: health, education, disability. Advocating for their child in a siloed system that doesn’t consider the whole child - just political portfolios.

If families are concerned for their child’s development then we should be welcoming and supporting them. Not putting hoop after hoop to jump through.

Thank you Rhianna Mitchell and The West Australian for continuing to shine a light on this.

The West Australian
fans

12/11/2025

Check out our Facts about multilingual language development animations: https://readingwritingcentre.education.qld.gov.au/resources