Blossom Bulletin: March 2025
Another month has flown by! We firstly wanted to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we navigated the uncertainty of the severe weather at the start of the month. Thank you for adapting to the situation with us, and we hope that everyone wasn’t too impacted by the power outages and flooding.
URGENT - Changes to NDIS
We want to ensure you are aware of the significant changes to NDIS funding legislation in 2024 and how they may impact your child’s NDIS Funding. Due to these changes, we are finding many families therapies are being heavily reduced or cut completely.
If you have been contacted by NDIS for a check-in call or an unexpected plan review, we strongly encourage you to stay in close contact with your therapist. Our team has undergone extensive training on the new guidelines and can provide valuable support to help navigate these changes and advocate to ensure your family continues to get their funding needs.
World Down Syndrome Day
This Friday 21st March is World Down Syndrome Day. Join our team in wearing mismatched socks or your boldest and most colourful socks, whatever takes your fancy!
The idea is to start a conversation, so when people ask you about your socks, you can tell them that you’re wearing them to raise awareness of Down Syndrome.
Epilepsy Awareness Day
Next week, on Wednesday 26th March, join our team in wearing purple for Purple Day to promote epilepsy awareness.
We welcomed back Liz and Dan to the clinic this week after their trip to the US, including Disneyland! We loved seeing them take a well-earned break for some family time as they put so much of their heart and soul into Lifespan and our families!
One of our superstars, Freya, has been working hard with our Speechie Ros using music and bells during her speech sessions. Freya learnt to repeat a melody using bells, and then repeated the same pattern in her app during the next session without prompting! Well done!
Speechie Ros has been working with Freya to incorporate using bells to:
- Request more
- Request to stop
- Show understanding and use of concepts fast & slow, loud & soft, up & down
- Copy melodies and patterns
- Making two notes at once using both hands
- Explore making her own melodies and creative expression
Last week, one of the hosts of The Imperfects Podcast shared his experience being a parent to an Autistic child. It is a very honest, vulnerable, and emotional listen and we hope it makes other parents of neurodivergent children feel seen and understood.
Click here to access the episode.
