Occupational therapy, play therapy, psychology - etc.

KATHIE O’Connor - Gateway Family Services, Katoomba. Play therapist including familial play. Groups and individual sessions, free through intake with Gateway Family Services. Gentle, kind, patient and supportive - very focused on strengths.

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MEGAN Jones - Quirky Dietetics, Blue Mountains.

Megan is Neurodivergent, and acknowledges the strengths and diversity of ND children in her work as a dietician. She is very welcoming and supportive of ND parents of ND children. She is experienced in supporting children presenting with signs of ARFID also.

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RUTH Myers - Parent Education and support, Gateway Family Services, Blaxland.

Ruth is a wise, experienced and warm parent educator and counsellor, and provides supportive help - often via Zoom, for people with access needs. She works to build parenting capacity and resilience and takes a strengths based approach. She is experienced in working with ND parents and their children.

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MICHELLE Swan - Peer Support and Disability Advocacy, Katoomba.

Michelle is calm, no-fuss, and a kind, direct communicator, who works well with savvy Autistic kids who know who they trust - and don’t! Michelle has many years of experience working in community, and is a well respected Advocate and peer worker within the Autistic community. Michelle is passionate about ending segregation in schools, and runs programs and individual sessions out of the Neurodiversity Hub in Katoomba.

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Medical services and practitioners known to be Neuro-affirming.

NEPEAN Diagnostics and Imagining -

NDI are very responsive to access need requests from clients using their services for ultrasound, biopsy, and so on. It is best to email a short summary of your support needs ahead of time to reception. Liz in particular is very supportive of access adjustments. You can email this to: enquiries@nepeandiagnostics.com.au

BLACKHEATH FAMILY MEDICAL CENTRE - Dr Ali Ghazalah and Dr Ahmed Abdellatif

Dr Ali and Dr Ahmed have both been found to be responsive and supportive of Autistic adults with support needs. Dr Ahmed in particular uses visuals to explain procedures and medical information if needed.

BLUE MOUNTAINS PHARMACY, KATOOMBA - Delivery service

Blue Mountains Pharmacy on Parke St Katoomba are friendly, patient, supportive and aware of families with complex needs. They offer a free home delivery service for medication. Orders need to be placed by 11am for afternoon delivery in the upper mountains, which is between 2pm and 6pm. You can email scripts or e-scripts, QR codes etc to: bmpharmacy@bigpond.com but you usually need to call to place an order.

Legal practitioners, advocacy services, and other community connections to support access to justice for you and your family.

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LYDIA Shelly of Shelly Legal, Lawyer, Family law practitioner, NSW -

Lydia is ND and she is experienced in working with ND mothers and their children. She has a working understanding of some of the access barriers ND women face when in contact with the legal system. Lydia has a background in human rights law, and her family law firm operates out of Parramatta, NSW. If Lydia cannot help you, she will refer you on to another recommended practitioner.

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DISABILITY Advocacy NSW, Valley Heights -

“DA stands beside people with disability to help them know their rights, sort out issues, and be fully included in the community.” They are a wonderful bunch of very skilled people, and can attend meetings with you, help you prepare documents, help with strategy and support you to find your way through systems. Advocacy helps!

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DISABILITY Law NSW -

“We provide independent legal advice and assistance to clients with disability and their carers accessing Disability Advocacy NSW for advocacy support throughout most of NSW. We work within the Mid North Coast Legal Centre (MNCLC) legal practice and solicitors are supervised by the Principal Solicitor. We work with people with all types of disability including mental illness.”

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SUSAN TEMPLEMAN, Federal Member for Macquarie

“Elected to the Federal Parliament in 2016, I was formerly a journalist and small business owner. I'm a mum of two, and my husband and I have been lucky to call the Blue Mountains home for over 25 years. Like many others, we lost our home in the 2013 Blue Mountains bushfires, but we've rebuilt on the same site.

I'm dedicated to fighting for our community, and am passionate about education, mental health and economic and social justice. My office and I are here to help if you have any issues with Federal Government departments. Just get in touch.”

Susan is a known ally to the Neurodivergent Community, and dedicates significant time personally and via her policy advisors, to listening to and grasping the lived experiences and needs of the ND community. Susan is sensitive to the importance of trust and partnership, equity and respect when engaging with Disabled people, and has been responsive in her work and attitudes to the needs of the Disability community in the Macquarie Electorate. Her policy advisor Lisa Jeffery is caring and thoughtful - and demonstrates genuine engagement with Neurodivergent people. Lip service in politics is common when it comes to allyship with Disabled people- walking the walk is not. Susan and her people walk the walk.

Preschools, schools and education practitioners known to be neuro-affirming or working on this.

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KATOOMBA Leura Preschool, Leura -

The staff at the Katoomba Leura Preschool have some experience working with Neurodivergent children and families and are continuing to expand their knowledge over time. Some members of staff have ND children themselves, and offer warm encouragement as you learn alongside your little ND people. The Director, Allison, is open to hearing new perspectives and experiences and is supportive of parents with trauma experiences.

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HEATHERBRAE Early learning playgroup and drop-in service -

Heatherbrae playgroup and drop-in service has a strong reputation as a warm, caring and nurturing place for both ND children and their parents. It is a well-loved place in the mountains, and you can drop in for a play, some social connection and a cup of tea - the educators on hand are encouraging and ready to talk.

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HAZELBROOK Public School -

Hazelbrook Public School’s Principal has been known to be supportive, flexible and accommodating of Neurodivergent students in mainstream classroom settings, including integrating their interests and support needs into daily routines, involving parents and carers in flexible drop-off arrangements and supportive communication with families.

WILD GROUND Bush School and Playgroup - Danielle Carey, North Katoomba

“Wild Ground Creative Adventures is a creative response to a world in drastic change.

Since 2013, we’ve been connecting families with nature through outdoor play and creativity. Locals know our much-loved Wild Ground outdoor programs located in the Blue Mountains, NSW Australia. Our range of outdoor programs include nature play sessions, bushwalking, early childhood programs, and curriculum-aligned bush school adventure workshops for primary-aged students. We also run professional development learning for educators.”

Wild Ground is ND Friendly, for both kids and their adults. Email Danielle to discuss support needs and to plan for inclusion ahead of attending. Parents are welcome to stay with children. You can email Wild Ground on:

info@wildground.com.au

MY POWER Foundations, Blue Mountains

“Kylie Korber and her team at Mypower Foundations are on a mission to run a disability and aged care support service that strips away the layers of management that many larger organisations have. Their vision is a personalised service where you can know the owner and the team and feel a sense of connection with them.”

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FISH Inclusion Peer Support and Advocacy Service, Hunter and National Peer Support line

“Peer workers aim to support, educate and empower parents whose children were removed and placed in care or may be at risk of being removed.

They are part of a team of peers who have successfully navigated child protection systems and use their experiences to help others. They are trained and supervised and do a combination of paid and voluntary work.

PHONE SUPPORT: For confidential peer support over the phone call our free line on

1300 942 598

Call our peer workers. If they are not available, leave a message, and they will call.”

AMAROO Equine Therapy, Megalong Valley

“Amaroo offers group, individual and online equine personal development, learning and therapy opportunities. Onsite sessions and programs cater for individuals or groups and can be tailored to your specific needs. We are always open to chat about your needs.”

CONNECT Family Services, Hazelbrook and Blue Mountains -

Connect Family Services have trans-disciplinary key workers, occupational therapists and speech therapists who work in a Neuro-affirming way - including with Neurodivergent parents of Neurodivergent children. While it depends on the worker you get, all staff are expanding their understanding of these issues and how to interact positively with intergenerational Neurodivergent families.

Service NSW - Quiet Hour

Service NSW has several locations throughout the mountains where they have a “quiet hour” once a week.

“To make it easier for customers who prefer a quieter environment, we offer a Quiet Hour time in selected service centres.

During the Quiet Hour, participating service centres will aim to have:

• reduced lighting where possible

• music turned down

• mobile phones on silent mode.

If you visit us during a Quiet Hour time, please put your phone on silent and keep your voice down where possible. “

Locations and times are as follows:

Lithgow - Mondays 3 pm - 4 pm

Penrith - Wednesdays 10am-11am

Richmond - Wednesdays 10am - 11am

Springwood - Thursdays 10.30am - 11.30am