"Don't Mess With the Quiet Kid."

"Don't Mess With the Quiet Kid."

A truly amazing moment..... Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.

Let me set the scene....... at shopping centre purchasing clothes for my growing young son.  I needed to also get a few groceries.  Going through the check-out, the youngest spied a small indoor play area. Before I knew it and when the dust settled, I realised he was at the play area working his way through the maze.  I smiled as I was only a few metres away and my eldest son was with him, keeping a close eye on the other children.  This is standard for my older son and I. Sometimes when other children try to talk to the youngest, someone usually needs to intervene, guiding the social interactions.  I could hear constant yelling and squealing.... the kind that draws your attention.  I immediately looked over to the play centre, wondering if something was upsetting my child.  It is usually him squealing.   But when I eventually located him he was playing happily jumping on foam lilly pads by himself.  He did have his fingers in his ears, but again this not uncommon especially when we are in a shopping centre. Two other children caught my eye as they played like "Tassie Devils" in the small area.  But hey.... who am I to judge ?.... we don't do that.  I did consider though that I needed to get through the check out and abandon the centre quickly, as I could see my child looked a little distressed. As I made my way through the aisle,  not really engaging in the conversation from the check-out guy, I raced over to the play area to find my older son in fits of laughter. When I asked what was going on ?   He told me our beautiful Autistic and Non-verbal boy had approached the very active, loud, dominant "Alpha Male" of the play arena, looked him straight in the face, and said "Shhhhhh!".  My eldest said the child, stopped his noisy play immediately and just backed away.   None of the other children in the play area had approached him..... he seemed to have them all intimidated.  

That is all except for, my son.

How amazing, firstly to instigate communication. To use a phrase in an appropriate manner, to look at another child, obviously causing him distress, in the eye... this is an absolutely amazing break through for my boy!  When I went up to him, I reassured him with a quick cuddle and whispered in his ear... "Great  Shhhhhh! L......"

Immediately, I received a smile and a response .....

"Yes.... great Shhhhhhh!"

It is days like this that I wish time would just stand still so I can just soak up the "essence" of the moment!

Mental Health Plans and Autism....

Mental Health Plans for Psychology and Autism.

(Please read with sarcastic tone!) 

Medicare Australia provide everyone with a great system where you can access a Psychologist for someone on the Autistic Spectrum, claiming up to 20 visits per year. Basically you pay $200.00 per session and Medicare give you around $70.00 back. 

But what you may not know is that.... when your child is on the Autistic Spectrum and you have various supporting documents stating that this condition is a chronic illness, you still under this great system of ours, need to visit your General Practitioner (after every 6 visits to a Psychologist) wasting time. You a constantly required to ask your G.P to review and revise a mental health plan. Without this Mental Health Plan, you cannot claim anything through Medicare. So in fact you are adding to the mountain of paper-work our General Practitioners need to continually fill out.... just in case, a miracle occurs and your child is suddenly cured of their Autism after 6 visits of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

What I do not understand with our current system, is that the "Political powers that be"... you know the ones in charge of funding and deciding how severe your child's disability is, all without a medical degree, are quite vocal in being aware of families and carers of Autistic children. Unfortunately in reality, if you want to claim anything back from your continual drain of finances when providing much needed therapy, you are faced with more rules and paperwork, draining resources.  The reason why this topic is discussed today....I am about to venture off, for a 1 hour appointment, children in tow, (as they have to come- more rules) just to get my G.P. to fill out more ridiculous paperwork.

Wouldn't it be better if these reviews were done annually?   It would relieve a lot of pressure, especially for those in weekly or even fortnightly therapy.

Parents and carers, barley get enough time for themselves to drink a hot cup of coffee, caring for children on a 24-7 hourly basis. The appointments the rushing from therapy to therapy. Dealing with the constant lack of sleep, physically and mentally draining, day to day.....just trying to cope. Adding to the growing "to do" list, chasing paperwork for a situation that just isn't going to change quickly just places more unrealistic expectations on those living with disabilities.  

The Australian Government is currently trying to prioritise the need for more funding for Mental Health Issues in our country.  Numbers of people suffering and needing support is exploding in a massive way.  Do you think maybe a good start would be to review current ridiculous, expensive practices, like "OBTAINING CONSTANT REVIEWS OF WORTHLESS MENTAL HEALTH PLANS", just so those paying the bills can effectively get back their 35% of total out of pocket expenses ?  

Maybe our Government needs a National body of people, parents or carers of disabilities within Parliament on a full-time basis. A group of people with "real-life experience."

Think of the changes and support our Health system would see then!