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February 2022

Diagnosis and community as a teenage mum

When it comes to my son Charlie, I’m always preparing. No coffee table because he could bang his head. No sitting on the beanbag too long because he could get sores. No sitting on the couch too long or he...Read more about Diagnosis and community as a teenage mum

A young mother sits at a park table with a colouring-in book. Her son sits in her lap.

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.

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

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.

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