Our blogs
February 2022
My 17-year-old autistic son caught COVID
My 17-year-old autistic son with high support needs caught COVID at his causal job on New Year’s Eve. Three days later he had symptoms, a cough, fever and sore throat. I put him to bed and amazingly he slept OK. My...Read more about My 17-year-old autistic son caught COVID
![A mother and son stand under a tree. They each have an arm around eachother and are smiling at one another.](https://www.acd.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/SueandSon-300x200.jpg)
November 2021
The secret to stronger families? Getting the right support
An opinion piece by Melanie Dimmitt My son Arlo is a bright, book-loving five-year-old with a belly chuckle you’ve gotta hear to believe. He was born in very abrupt fashion, by way of an emergency caesarean during which he sustained...Read more about The secret to stronger families? Getting the right support
![](https://www.acd.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MelanieDimmitt_45--284x300.jpg)
October 2021
Our journey to a family-centred early intervention experience
I still remember the day we got the diagnosis of Williams syndrome like it was yesterday. My son Alex was three months’ old and recovering from open heart surgery. At an appointment with the paediatrician I flagged that I thought...Read more about Our journey to a family-centred early intervention experience
![Back view of a family holding hands and walking in nature.](https://www.acd.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/acd-ei-story-shutterstock_165826016-300x215.jpg)
Safeguarding children with disability – with Dan Stubbs
The Victorian Disability Worker Commission (VDWC) is now up and running. To learn more, ACD sat down with Commissioner Dan Stubbs. Dan has had a varied career. He’s a recovering lawyer (in his own words) and has worked in public...Read more about Safeguarding children with disability – with Dan Stubbs
![](https://www.acd.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DanStubbs-300x200.jpg)
September 2021
Raising a high-support needs teen with confidence
As parents of a teenager with disability, we’ve gone through the highs and lows of our daughter’s development. When our 15-year-old daughter Celina was younger, things were difficult and there were lots of tears, strong emotions and high levels of...Read more about Raising a high-support needs teen with confidence
![](https://www.acd.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/iStock-1044761878-1-1024x704-1-300x206.jpg)