Diverse learning needs

A 2019 TEDx talk by Dr Jac den Houting of Macquarie University.

Reframing Autism is an Australian-based charity providing education, resources and research to parents, educators and autistic people. 

These books are written for autistic teens and tweens.

The I Can Network is Australia's largest autistic-led organisation providing autistic-led mentoring for young people aged 8-22. 

This site includes a wide range of articles about supporting ADHDers in all aspects of life. 

This site includes a wide range of articles about supporting autistic children in all aspects of life. 

Yellow Ladybugs is a non-government organisation dedicated to the happiness, success and celebration of autistic girls, women, and gender diverse individuals. There is a range of resources available as well as news articles and ways to connect to various groups and societies.

The PDA Society site is designed to help build awareness and understanding around PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance). They have an incredible range of resources available to support and guide educating parents.

Here is a particular guide around PDA and elective Home Education.

People with Disability Australia has a collection of resources available. From language guides, Auslan resources, information regarding disability rights and programs, you might find this site useful as part of your home education planning.

A collection of social stories to help your young learner understand expected behaviour in particular environments. They can also act as a template for you to make your own specific social stories at home!

Please note that this is an American site and does have information that may not be relevant to your child. 

The Victorian Department of Education has a level of curriculum that operates before the Australian Curriculum called 'Towards Foundation'. It is made up of skills and understanding that young people typically develop before they turn 5. However, it can be a fantastic guide to develop skills for young people that require additional focus on foundational knowledge.

This is part A (the first stage) of the Towards Foundation Curriculum.

The Victorian Department of Education has a level of curriculum that operates before the Australian Curriculum called 'Towards Foundation'. It is made up of skills and understanding that young people typically develop before they turn 5. However, it can be a fantastic guide to develop skills for young people that require additional focus on foundational knowledge. 

This is part B (the second stage) of the Towards Foundation Curriculum.

The Victorian Department of Education has a level of curriculum that operates before the Australian Curriculum called 'Towards Foundation'. It is made up of skills and understanding that young people typically develop before they turn 5. However, it can be a fantastic guide to develop skills for young people that require additional focus on foundational knowledge.

This is part C (the third stage) of the Towards Foundation Curriculum.

The Victorian Department of Education has a level of curriculum that operates before the Australian Curriculum called 'Towards Foundation'. It is made up of skills and understanding that young people typically develop before they turn 5. However, it can be a fantastic guide to develop skills for young people that require additional focus on foundational knowledge.

This is part D (the fourth stage) of the Towards Foundation Curriculum.

Auslan signbank is a language resources site for Auslan (Australian Sign Language). This site provides an Auslan dictionary, the ability to search for signs related to medical and health topics, educational and teaching topics, videos of Auslan signs, Auslan information and links to Auslan classes.

Deaf Children Australia is a not for profit organisation championing the growth and social inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing young people. Their 'Platypus Playhouse' series has a range of learning tools designed to help build Auslan skills. The 'Blueprint' program is also loaded with accessible resources, videos, and stories to help develop communication skills.

Story Dogs is a program run across the ACT to support reading in young people. This is particularly effective for learners with diverse needs. Story Dogs has partnered with ACT Libraries and runs sessions at libraries across the ACT. Check the site to see when they will be at your local library next. Make sure to register because there are limited spots available in each session.

Cerebral Palsy Alliance is an Australian organisation that provides support and guidance. This page is excellent for determining communication, social, recreational, and confidence building goals in young people based on their age group.

SoSafe! is a program that provides tools to enhance the social, social-sexual, and social-safety education of people with intellectual disability. Training is required to deliver the program and there are extensive resources that come with this training. 

Circles is a program designed to help educate young people with intellectual disability around social boundaries and relationships. The full program is extensive; however, the accompanying app can be a useful everyday tool to navigate boundaries around talk, touch, and trust with others.

The Roadmap of Communicative Competence (ROCC) has laid out 10 Key Communication Goals for students who may communicate in alternative ways such as AAC.

PICTO4me is a site used for designing your own visual communication boards. You can use your own images to design boards on this site.

An account is required to use this site.

Board Maker a site used for designing your own visual communication boards.

An account is required to use this site and there are optional membership fees.

Proloquo is an app designed to meet communication needs of nonspeaking people and their families. There is another app called 'Proloquo Coach' that supports families in using the app in the best way for their personal circumstances.

There are membership fees associated with this app.