A message from Amaze CEO, Fiona Sharkie

Dear Amaze community, 

I am proud that our Autism Advisors and Peer Support Team continue to work at full steam to support the autism community during this difficult time. They are here for you – via phone, webchat, email – with information and resources including: 

• Up to date, accessible and relevant information about coronavirus 
• Autism specific resources from Australia and around the world in relation to coronavirus 
• Ideas to help support autistic people staying at home when they can’t participate in their usual community activities  
• Online meet-ups for peer groups so they can continue to have their regular coffee meetings and catch ups and stay socially connected 
• Our popular events – Early Days, Forums and NDIS support – are now available online. To book visit our events page or Eventbrite page. 

We know ‘routine’ can be an autistic person’s best friend and the changes to all our lives are especially difficult when regular routines are disrupted and fears of the coronavirus are causing us higher levels of anxiety. That’s why we have bunkered down in the last two weeks to focus on how we can best support you in the ways we do best in our coronavirus Action Response.  

Our response centres around three things – 1) providing advice, support and resources for autistic people and their families to help deal with the challenges coronavirus is causing , 2) taking your concerns to decision-makers and insisting that they are addressed, and 3) managing our organisation well by caring for our staff and ensuring we stay financially resourced to be able to keep doing our work. 

Just last week our Autism Advisors supported many of people, including a mother of a 21-year-old man who has shut down because he can no longer go to his weekly 10 pin bowling and YMCA gym sessions; and a mother of 3 autistic children where one child wants to go out and the other is fearful about the virus; another mother reported she had just got off the waiting list for a swim program and it has shut down.   

In all cases, the Autism Advisors dig deep to suggest alternatives and also provide advice to family and carers to seek support for their own mental health and wellbeing.  Autism Advisors are also reaching out to those families caring for autistic people with complex needs who have made contact with us in the past.

Amaze is also working hard to advocate for the autism community. Each week we are in discussions with a group of national peak disability organisations who have a direct line to Canberra.  We are speaking with the NDIA, plus state-based Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.  Twice a week the NDIA calls me to hear our community’s needs, including how autistic people with a non-visible disability can access supermarket priority hours and online shopping services. Whether NDIS funding can be used to purchase play equipment in lieu of being able to use community facilities.  We are advocating for NDIS phone planning for autistic people to be improved.  We are meeting with the Victorian Department of Education about providing support for autistic students studying at home, particularly those with a behaviour support plan and how this can translate from school to a home environment to keep everyone safe. 

On World Autism Day last week, I spoke about the ways coronavirus is impacting autistic people and their families on ABC radio and in the Herald Sun.  Amaze’s commitment is to raise the voices of autistic people and their families so their needs are heard and there’s no time more important than now.  

We’d like to hear from autistic people and their families/carers on what struggles you are having, as well as your ideas and tips of how you’re managing to share with others in the autism community – your experiences will help us advocate.  You can do this via our social media, email or to our Autism Advisors.  Contact the Autism Advisors via phone (1300 308 699), email (info@amaze.org.au) or webchat (amaze.org.au). I’d be grateful if could send any specific concerns and needs you have about living through this time of coronavirus to me via [email protected]. 

My message to you is that Amaze is in your corner and here to support you. Every day, Amaze staff come to work with that purpose – and our commitment and resilience is stronger than ever. We became a remote working organisation a week before the official shut down, to provide seamless support to our community.  

It is not an easy time. If you are in crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or for parents, Parentline on 13 22 89. 

Fiona Sharkie,

CEO