Jo is standing inbetween her parents Anne and John. Anne, is standing to the left of Jo, with her hand on Jo's shoulder. John is standing on the right , leaning over Jo, playfully ruffling Anne's hair. Jo is smiling at the camera.

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Having an autistic child means that Leanne Tuckerman never has much time to herself. Even when she does have time away from her son Thomas, she is still busy advocating for him, to ensure he gets the care and opportunities he needs to flourish.
Thomas, 11, was diagnosed with autism when he was five years old, and then a few years later he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He also has dysgraphia, which is a learning disability that affects writing skills, handwriting and spelling, so school can be challenging for him.
“Thomas has anxiety and is scared of many things, so he prefers to stay at home. He’s not very independent and so he relies on me to do most things for him,” Leanne explains.
An avid gamer, Thomas loves staying at home and Leanne says she really struggles to get him out of the house and engage in outdoor activities. Her main goal was to see him become more independent and less reliant on her.
After finally getting an NDIS plan approved for Thomas, Leanne wanted to utilise his funds to employ a support worker so that she could not only get some respite, but so Thomas could get out and learn to engage with the world away from her.
In July 2020, Leanne came across Carer Solutions, and it was our unique Direct Employ service that initially attracted her. Our service enabled the family to employ Maddie, a young woman who the family already knew, and who Thomas really liked.
“Thomas has always struggled to engage with people such as his Occupational Therapists and the like, so we knew that it was only going to work if he knew and connected well with his support worker,” she says.
Leanne explains how Thomas and Maddie regularly go to the supermarket to buy all the ingredients for the evening meal, then come home and prepare and cook it together.
“I am just so amazed &#8211; I could never have imagined him doing something like that,” Leanne says. “Thomas can now even go to KFC or Subway and order his own meal, which is so great to see. He would never have done that if he was with me. I have always had real trouble getting him away from his computer, so I am so happy to see him going out with Maddie, having fun and gaining independence.”
<blockquote>“Due to his anxiety issues, finding someone that Thomas knew and trusted was essential for us. My husband and I can now go out for dinner and enjoy our time together knowing Thomas is well cared for with someone he feels comfortable with.”</blockquote>
Leanne says that thanks to being a Carer Solutions Partner, she is now excited for the future, especially with Thomas starting high school next year.
“It is wonderful to see him so excited about going to high school, and it’s certainly a comfort for us to know that he is,” Leanne says.

Woman wearing purple gloves sanding back a prosthetic limb

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Advances in prosthetics are constantly evolving and over the past two decades, there have been many advances in Assistive Technology that have improved the function, design and appearance of prostheses.
To find out more about the amazing work being done in this space, we caught up with prosthetics superstar, Monique Van den Boom, Director and Senior Prosthetist from <a href="https://www.pmprosthetics.com.au/">ProMotion Prosthetics</a>. We wanted to find out more about her work, and what drives and inspires her to work in this highly technical but rewarding field.
Monique is passionate about achieving excellent clinical and functional outcomes for people living with upper and lower limb amputation and limb loss. She has worked in the prosthetics profession for almost 20 years, and her extensive work in Australia and overseas has exposed her to all aspects required to successfully treat clients who have acquired an upper or lower limb amputation or who were born without limbs.
In 2010, an earthquake in Haiti killed more than 200,000 people and left thousands more in need of prosthetics. Monique was one of the many skilled prosthetists who volunteered their time to provide much needed aid and support to injured Haitians.
<figure id="attachment_856" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-856" style="width: 608px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-856" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/Monique-in-Haiti_resize.jpg" alt="Prosthetics article" width="608" height="405" srcset="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/Monique-in-Haiti_resize.jpg 1080w, https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/Monique-in-Haiti_resize-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-856" class="wp-caption-text">Monique working in Haiti</figcaption></figure>
Prosthetists like Monique, often work with people who are going through an extreme change or trauma in their lives. They play an important role in returning the individual to their previous (or in some cases, an improved) level of function.
“We work with each individual to assess their needs, determine the most appropriate device, then complete the fitting process which includes casting, moulding, fitting and aligning the device, while working with other allied health professionals to provide the therapy to help them achieve their goals.” Monique explains.
These goals may include being able to provide a device to help an individual to go to the beach with their kids or designing a prosthetic arm to help a child to ride their bike.
<blockquote>Did you know that the world’s earliest functional prosthetic body parts are thought to be two examples of artificial toes from Ancient Egypt? Early prostheses were mostly decorative, but these Egyptian toes are an early example of a true prosthetic device.</blockquote>
The recent advances in Assistive Technology have significantly raised the profile of prosthetics within the general public, as well as improve the level of acceptance and quality of life of prosthetic device users.
While this sounds complex – (and it most certainly is!),  there is a simplicity of living well and with dignity, that having a prosthesis can bring to its users and it’s up to all of us as a community to learn more about these positives.
“There have been trailblazers in the disability advocacy space that have helped raise issues people with disability face in the community,” says Monique.
“People on social media with prominent profiles act as examples of what can be achieved for new prosthetic users and people with disability are being cast in films, TV and advertising which helps to integrate all people within our society as a ’norm’; however, I believe that individuals still experience discrimination from society.”
Monique says an area with potential for improvement, is accessibility within the community.
“I think if every individual had to spend a day in their life in a wheelchair, things would be very different, and more inclusive and accessible for people with a physical disability”.
Well said Monique, we couldn’t agree more!
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Main image credit: Emily Day
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This year, Australian Fashion week looked and felt very different from previous years. For the very first time in Australian history, it showcased a dedicated adaptive fashion runway.
Throughout the festival, the fashion industry demonstrated its ongoing commitment to diversity in fashion covering all kinds of shapes, sizes and ethnicities, but what loved most, is that it included people of all abilities, with a show dedicated entirely to adaptive fashion.
Put simply, adaptive fashion celebrates and accommodates people who need clothing to work with their individual needs while also allowing self-expression and style. Australian Fashion Week put a spotlight on brands that are leading the way in producing mainstream, quality fashion for everyone of all abilities.
Long overlooked in mainstream fashion circles, 2022 has seen runways in the US and Australia put adaptive fashion front-and-centre with publications like Vogue and Forbes jumping on board to share the stories and brands making us see that fashion and style is for everyone.
In early 2016, US fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger launched <a href="https://au.tommy.com/tommy-hilfiger-adaptive">Tommy Adaptive</a>, that set off the exposure and interest in adaptive fashion that continues to grow.
<figure id="attachment_841" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-841" style="width: 619px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-841" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/AFW_man-in-wheelchair.webp" alt="" width="619" height="349" srcset="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/AFW_man-in-wheelchair.webp 1280w, https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/AFW_man-in-wheelchair-600x338.webp 600w, https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/AFW_man-in-wheelchair-1200x675.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-841" class="wp-caption-text">Source: AAP / JAMES GOURLEY</figcaption></figure>
Here are some Australian adaptive fashion clothing brands we love:
<a href="https://jamthelabel.com/">JAM the Label</a> 
Founded in 2019, JAM is an inclusive fashion label designed with people with disability in mind. JAM embraces universal design principles to create products that makes the task of dressing easier or makes the items more comfortable for people to wear.
Founded by Emma Clegg and Molly Rogers, the amazing duo met while studying occupational therapy at university, where they bonded over their shared passion of the inclusion of people with disability and increasing independence and self-expression for all.
We are so impressed with just how much these amazing ladies have achieved in such a short amount of time, and can’t wait to see what they do next!
<a href="https://everyhuman.com.au/">Every Human</a>
If you haven’t come across them yet, EveryHuman is an inclusive and adaptable online fashion site that was established in 2019 by Sydney-based, <a href="https://carersolutions.com.au/community-stories/meet-matt-skerritt-founder-of-everyhuman">Matt Skerritt</a>, whose family owned and operated nursing homes. Matt saw first-hand the challenges the ageing and differently abled population face when getting dressed. He had a corporate job; a job where he could put on a suit to face his working day and choose his own style on weekends. He wanted everyone to have the same experience and choose their own style.
So, he started EveryHuman to initially provide uncompromising and stylish fashion and footwear solutions for people with disabilities and in just two years, it has grown to also include lifestyle products like beauty, books, wheelchair accessories, and more.
<a href="https://www.christinastephens.com.au/">Christina Stephens</a>
The inclusive, Brisbane-based fashion label gives people the choice to feel confident and empowered in clothing that looks good and stylish.
Launched in March 2020, Christina Stephens goal is to bring adaptive clothing to mainstream fashion retailers by creating pieces that are discreetly functional and fit for purpose but are beautiful and desirable by customers with and without disabilities.
<a href="https://www.recovawear.com/">Recovawear</a>
Recovawear fills a current void in the rehabilitation process, offering clothing to the injured and post-surgery patients while providing a solution that is also comfortable, stylish, sustainable adaptive clothing for people with movement limitations, who otherwise find it difficult to dress.
Watch this space! We are sure that these great designers will not be the only ones achieving great things in the adaptive fashion industry, and we are excited to see what other major events will embrace disability inclusion.

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Mum of five and Carer Solutions Partner (client), Katrina Bartninkaitis, knows better than anyone just how difficult it can be to source and manage Support Workers.
Equally as complex and challenging, is finding people who genuinely connect and engage with her three young children &#8211; each living with multiple disabilities, as well as her husband John, who has early onset dementia. They all require ongoing, round the clock support.
Katrina needed a solution that enabled her to be in charge of who her Support Workers are, and when they are rostered on – all without the headache of becoming a mini Support Worker agency herself. She had been relying on agencies to find Support Workers for her, but it wasn’t working out for many reasons.
Often, she would need last minute care, but the agencies would take days &#8211; even weeks to approve shifts, and when a Support Worker finally did arrive, they would not understand the needs of her children, and often sat around on their phones, not engaging with them. This arrangement was unsustainable, and she knew she needed a better solution.
Katrina has been a Carer Solutions Partner for three years now, and she says it was a “game changer” for her and her family. Our Direct Employ model means parents like Katrina can formalise arrangements with people they already know and trust.
She has two sons with autism and ADHD, Xavier, 10 and Elliot, 12 who both have the same support workers accompany them to their after-school activities. They have a fantastic support worker who participates in the activities with them. “We even bought him a uniform so that he can do Taekwondo with them,” she said.
Katrina says that if it wasn’t for their support worker, her boys wouldn’t participate in the class – they’d just sit on the sidelines. “If the boys have any issues, he (their support worker) is right there with them,” she explains.
Katrina’s six-year-old daughter Lauren, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and ADHD, also attends Taekwondo and song and dance classes. Like her brothers, Lauren is getting so much more out of her activities, thanks to the high level of engagement and involvement of her support workers who also join in on her classes.
<blockquote>“That’s the joys of working with Carer Solutions, I have the flexibility to pick and choose the best team for my family. One of my elder son’s friends was looking for work, so we asked him to come on board as the boys’ support worker – and so he did. He is just amazing!” she explains.</blockquote>
Katrina and her family now have a team of 11 support workers who all know the family, and she can call on them as needed.
“All I have to do is send a group text message to my team, asking for a shift to be filled, and within five to ten minutes, it’s done! That’s the great benefit of working with Carer Solutions &#8211; I do the rosters, so I am in control of who comes into my home, and when.”
Katrina says her family are now even talking about the possibility of going on a family holiday together.
“That would never have been an option before coming onboard with Carer Solutions, I wouldn’t look back now – I have learnt so much from using their service.”
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When we read about all the amazing things that disability advocate, Jerusha Mather has been up to &#8211; we just had to connect with her to find out more.
Jerusha has cerebral palsy and says medical colleges in Australia make it very hard for people like her to get accepted – and she wants that to change.
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“When I was a teenager, I fell in love with neuroscience and I saw myself in a career where I could lead in the medical field and create positive change for people with disabilities.”
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Despite the obstacles that Jerusha faces both personally and professionally due to having a disability, she doesn’t give up. The words ‘give up’ are simply not in her vocabulary. 

She mentions that people&#8217;s attitudes towards disabilities need to change and when it comes to study and achieving her medical dreams, her biggest achievement has been passing the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT). 
One reform that Jerusha is currently supporting, is for medical schools to accept people with disabilities without a GAMSAT or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). 
“Some medical schools accept indigenous students without a GAMSAT or MCAT score. so, I&#8217;m asking for the same to be done for people with disabilities,” she says. 
Challenging the parameters of medical science isn’t the only reform Jerusha is fighting for. She’s been doing a huge amount in the accessibility space, including accessible food packaging, jewellery, fashion, make up and self-care products. 
Oh, and did we mention inclusive dating!? 
That’s right. She’s even put her own hand up to become Australia&#8217;s first Bachelorette with a disability &#8211; to create awareness and make people with disabilities included in the mainstream media. And we are here for it!
Jerusha’s passion for change doesn’t stop there. She’s also been calling for inclusive immigration policies to include people with disabilities who&#8217;d like to live in Australia.
While we can all agree that Jerusha’s list of achievements is beyond impressive, there is definitely no sign of her slowing down anytime soon. 
“I think knowing that my PhD research could make a tangible difference in someone&#8217;s life, drives and motivates me to finding fulfilment in what I do,” she says.
Jerusha’s message to anyone out there with a disability is don’t give up and don’t back down.  “Go for it. Keep knocking on doors and the right one will open.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.change.org/p/medical-colleges-should-be-more-inclusive-of-applicants-with-disability-exempt-pwd-to-give-gamsat-or-mcat-scores?recruiter=945230247&amp;recruited_by_id=d8723f60-4ef9-11e9-a6f7-2ff3878d30c7&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=copylin">Click here</a> to support Jerusha and her petition urging medical colleges to be more inclusive.

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<h4>Empowering dads of kids with disabilities to ask for help</h4>
There’s no doubt that being a parent of a child with a disability can be stressful and challenging, and while you are busy focusing on your child’s needs, you can often neglect your own.
As dad to a five-year-old autistic boy, Rob Hale realised that he, like many other men, were often too proud or afraid to show vulnerability and ask for support. After experiencing his own mental health challenges, Rob decided to create a podcast &#8211; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dad-ability/id1619709876">Dad-ability,</a> dedicated to empowering dads of kids with disabilities, by encouraging them to open up and be vulnerable.
We love everything about this awesome podcast here at Carer Solutions and think it needs to be shared far and wide. At its heart, the podcast aims to bring dads of kids with disability together, to share their stories and learn from others. Put simply, dads supporting dads – and what’s not to love about that!?
Rob says his lived experience has shown that there needs to more support for dads of kids with disability. Trying to go it alone increases the risk of depression and anxiety going unrecognised and untreated.
“I have felt very alone and isolated as a dad of a disabled son over the past few years. Even with my son joining a disability school this year, it was the mums who flocked together naturally to form connections and support each other – while the dads were largely silent and not as involved.” Rob says.
With 35 per cent of households living with someone with a disability in Australia, Rob recognised that there must be a way to connect dads better, so they can learn from each other, and not feel that they had to go it alone.
“The podcast felt like a very low touch way for people to listen and feel connected to a like-minded community of dads that get it”.
Rob talks very candidly about his own personal mental health battle in his podcast, urging other dads to seek professional health if they are not coping. He urges men not to “just solider on and hope it will improve.” He says if you start to notice feelings of guilt or resentment, then you would benefit from seeking professional support.
<blockquote>“When you have something wrong with your physical health you see a doctor, so if your mental health is suffering, you should seek help too. It’s okay to admit that you’re not okay.”</blockquote>
Rob shares his own personal self-care tips on how he maintains a healthy body and mind.
“I do a five-minute guided meditation via an app first thing in the morning and last thing before I go to sleep each night. This daily practice gives me some personal space to disconnect from my busy life. I have always felt my best when I go to the gym and do strength training, so I make sure I do this four to five times per week.”
Rob says that if you experience change in mood, irritability, anxiety or perhaps notice a lower resilience to cope with the stress or meltdowns that come with parenting a child with a disability, then put your hand up and ask for help &#8211; don’t suffer in silence.
“You are human, you will make mistakes and lose it at times &#8211; and that’s okay. Be brave and ask for what you need so that people can help you. Be kind to yourself and don’t keep score or beat yourself up &#8211; lean into the discomfort as that is where you will find your biggest lessons and growth as a dad.”
If you are a dad of a child with disabilities, or know someone who is, then be sure to listen and subscribe to the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-ability/id1619709876?ign-itscg=30200&amp;ign-itsct=podcast_box_link">Dad-ability podcast.</a>  And of course, if you love it – make sure you spread the word and share, because you know &#8211; sharing is caring!
Do you have any other great disability podcast recommendations? Let us know!

Picture of two men in all-terrain wheelchairs on a beautiful beach.

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<h4>The best accessible trails Australia has to offer</h4>
The summer heat is now behind us, and stunning autumn days are ahead. So, what better way to make the most of this gorgeous season than get outdoors, breathe in clean, fresh air and admire some breathtaking scenery.
Our version of Australia’s top eight wheelchair-accessible trails is inspired by a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/wheelchair-hiking-best-trails-perth/100793746?fbclid=IwAR2GicR3i9QOLM4s5SabrPFwfYtnTH9EwkOC7twb5G1pHJ273Du7AYHvwZQ">recent article</a> featuring West Australian hiking enthusiast, Robbi Flynn.
Here are our top picks for some of the best wheelchair-accessible trails our beautiful country has to offer.
Wilson’s Prom (VIC)
This picture-perfect Victorian jewel offers the trifecta – beautiful bushland, mountain ranges and gorgeous sea views. What’s not to love!?
There are many suitable trails for all-terrain wheelchairs, which are also available to hire if required. To make it easier for people with limited mobility to see the accessible experiences on offer, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x3fJ6k_R4k">Parks Victoria released this video</a> &#8211; produced and narrated by park visitor and wheelchair user, Ryan Smith.
For more info, <a href="https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park">click here</a> 
Three Sisters Walk (NSW)
We know it’s an overused term, but this trail really is breathtaking. This trail is a sensory treat with the ever-changing views of the grand Three Sisters rising nearly a kilometre above sea level.
The trail is wheelchair friendly to the Oreades Lookout &#8211; although some sections have a 10 per cent slope and may require some assistance. Access beyond Oreades lookout is not recommended for wheelchairs as it involves several steps.
For more info, <a href="https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/blue-mountains/katoomba-area/katoomba/attractions/three-sisters-walk">click here</a>
Burleigh Heads National Park (QLD)
In the heart of the Gold Coast, this National Park offers the most idyllic trail flanked by the foreshore and rainforest.
The gorgeous Oceanview trail offers wheelchair assisted access and, if you’re lucky, you may get the chance to spot some whales and sea eagles, or even the most mesmerising birdwing butterflies.
It’s a 2.4km round trip and picnicking in the stunning scene post-hike is strongly suggested! Unfortunately, the other tracks within the park are not wheelchair accessible.
For more info, <a href="https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/burleigh-head">click here</a>
Lorikeet Loop Walk (SA)
This 3km, flat loop trail is located within the Belair National Park in the gorgeous Adelaide Hills and offers an ideal opportunity to fully immerse yourself in nature. You can also meet the park’s resident lorikeets and rosellas, who are equal parts noisy and attractive. The trail takes around 90 minutes and provides easy wheelchair access, and also allows dog walking.
For more info, <a href="https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/find-a-place-to-walk/lorikeet-loop-walk-belair-national-park/">click here</a>
Kuljak Island (WA)
As voted by Robbi Flynn, Kuljak Island is Western Australia’s best nature-viewing trail. Centrally located and easy to access, this beauty has an abundance of pelicans and swans.
The area is also surrounded by various paved paths with easy access from the carpark for wheelchairs and/or prams.
It’s worth noting that there are no toilet or BBQ facilities on the island and being a wildlife sanctuary, fishing is not permitted. While it is dog-friendly, your furry friend must be on a leash.
For more info, <a href="https://trailswa.com.au/trails/kuljak-island-walk-ascot">click here</a>
Russell Falls Track (TAS)
This picturesque short trail is through a lush rainforest in Mount Field, Tasmania, and is best suited to wheelchair users who have someone to assist them.
The 1.4km tranquil hike to the beautiful Russell Falls may even present a special opportunity to spot a platypus in the creek. It’s a relaxed walk with no bushwalking experience required. It has a flat, even surface with no steps or steep angles.
For more info, <a href="https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/mount-field-national-park/russell-falls">click here</a>
Territory Trails (ACT)
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in the Australian Capital Territory is a must see, with a stunning tapestry of trails and wetlands which are populated by cute and friendly wildlife. Tidbinbilla offers mobility access to many popular locations including The Sanctuary, the Eucalypt Forest, Sheedy’s Picnic Area and the Visitor Centre. These locations have accessible toilets, designated parking areas and paved footpaths allowing independent wheelchair access.
There is an awesome playground that has a bird’s nest swing suitable for very young children and people with limited mobility. TrailRider all-terrain wheelchairs are available for free day hire from the Visitor Centre. A TrailRiders are a cool way for mobility-impaired visitors to explore and enjoy all that the bush capital has to offer.
For more info, <a href="https://www.tidbinbilla.act.gov.au/do/walking-trails">click here</a>
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (NT)
As for the Northern Territory, nothing compares to exploring the base of Uluru, with its natural beauty and rich culture. Most of the tracks are wheelchair accessible and range from easy to moderate. Uluru and Kata Tjuta hold great spiritual significance as they are places where many creation stories converge.
At Uluru, there are two trails that are accessible for wheelchairs. The Mala Trail is 2 km return and the Kuniya Trail is a leisurely 1 km return.
For more info, <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/do/walks/">click here</a>
If you know of any great Wheelchair Accessible Trails, please let us know at <a href="mailto:care@carersolutions.com.au">care@carersolutions.com.au</a> we&#8217;ll add them to the list!

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<h4>Making Aussie Rules Inclusive and Accessible For All</h4>
Whether you call it AFL, Australian Rules football, Aussie Rules, or simply footy, it is our native sport that has been played for over 150 years.
While there are over 1.38 million Australians who play the game, only 20,000 people with disability do &#8211; and we’d love to see many more get involved!
That’s why at Carer Solutions, we think the AFL’s Disability Inclusion programs are so great. This fantastic initiative has four programs that have been set up to ensure Australians with disability have the opportunity to participate in our beloved sport. The programs include AllPlay Footy, National Inclusion Carnival, Wheelchair Aussies Rules, and AFL Blind.
With the 2022 AFL Season now well-and-truly underway, we spoke to Tim Nield, AFL’s Disability Inclusion Manager about what he and his team have planned for the months and seasons ahead.
Tim works on creating opportunities and pathways to get people of all abilities involved in the game, “You can play to be the best, but we want people to play for fun!” he says.
It’s all about adapting the game to include more children with various skill levels and abilities and AllPlay Footy is a key to this.
AllPlay Footy was established to create and inclusive space for all kids to play sport, and to bring the community together through innovations in thinking about how to support them to reach their full potential.
The AFL utilise this initiative to develop and evolve AFL All Abilities including offering courses for coaches who may have someone with special needs in their team.
“A coach may have someone with autism in their team, and they may not know how to support and train that player; we offer courses to help staff learn how to accommodate these different needs.” Tim explains.
The National Inclusion Carnival is also something Tim is really excited about. The annual Carnival was established for athletes with an intellectual disability and is an awesome opportunity to showcase the abilities of footballers with an intellectual disability, while also giving players an opportunity to develop their independence and a sense of belonging in their community.
<blockquote>“Football is almost secondary in the Inclusion Carnival,” says Tim, “it’s all about supporting the team, building relationships and shared opportunities. For a lot of the boys, it is their first time away from home, staying in a hotel and managing by themselves and we’re there for them. It’s great to see their independence grow.”</blockquote>
Wheelchair Aussies Rules and AFL Blind both offer cool adaptations of the traditional game ensuring it’s fun and accessible for everyone. Wheelchair Aussies Rules is played on a basketball court with goal posts at each end and involves teams of five facing off against each other. AFL Blind empowers people with blindness or low vision, to play footy through clever modifications to the equipment and rules.
At its heart, the AFL’s Disability Inclusion programs are simply about making footy accessible and inclusive for everyone who wants to play – and we can’t wait to watch this awesome program develop with each footy season.
So, if you or a family member would like to get involved, or perhaps you would like to volunteer at your local club, go to the <a href="http://community.afl/all-abilities">Community AFL website</a> to find out more.

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<h4>Braille House Bringing Tactual Literacy to a Whole New Level</h4>
Braille House is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year and this amazing not-for-profit organisation, continues to provide essential services to the blind and low vision community across Australia.
It was way back in 1897, when a motivated group of seven women met in Brisbane to form the Queensland Braille Writing Association (now known as Braille House).
The group included Mrs. Sharp who was the Head Teacher at the School for the Blind and Lady Lamington, the wife of the then Governor of Queensland. Yes &#8211; the very same lady the lamington cake was named after!
Each of these determined women translated seven books into Braille and started what has now grown into a national free lending library, Braille tutoring and a transcription service.
Completely free to all Australians, the Braille House library offers books and magazines in both Braille and Moon script (a writing system for the blind, using embossed symbols mostly derived from the Latin script). They are in fact, Australia’s only producer and library of titles in Moon script.
To make it easy for borrowers, each book selected is sent free in the post with a reversible return address label. 
What we love about Braille House, is that in its long 125 year history &#8211; its mission has not changed. The organisation, run mostly by volunteers, still exists to empower people who are blind or who have low vision to live with dignity and independence.
It is this belief and commitment to the written word that attracted Ambassador Rupert McCall OAM to Braille House.
According to the celebrated poet and author, “I believe every Australian should have the opportunity to pick up a book and experience the magic of reading,” McCall said.
A Braille House student who lost both her sight and hearing due to a sudden severe illness, says learning Braille has opened up her world.
<blockquote>
“As an adult having to learn to live a completely new life can be challenging. With Braille I can send and receive email, read the news and events happening in the world, read books and I am learning to take my own affairs back. Braille gives me the ability to live an independent life again” 

</blockquote>
With an estimated near 600,000 Australians being blind or vision impaired, the efforts of organisations such as Braille House are not only inspiring, they are essential – and we wish them all the best for another amazing 125 years of service.
For more information on Braille House and their national library, head to <a title="Link to the Braille House website" href="http://www.braillehouse.org.au">braillehouse.org.au</a>

Photo of Madeleine Buchner sitting on the floor laughing

maddy

Madeleine Buchner

<h4>Little Dreamers is a dream come true.</h4>
The national organisation – established in 2009 by Madeleine Buchner when she was just 16 – supports young people who are carers of family members affected by disability, chronic or mental illness, addiction or frail age.
When Madeleine Buchner was a child, her younger brother had many health issues and was in-and-out of hospital for years. “I realised mum and dad were getting a lot of support in terms of support from organisations, and my brother was getting a lot of support from doctors, but I wasn&#8217;t; nobody was really noticing there was another sibling, feeling left out, or the extra stress and anxiety [the situation brought for them],&#8221; Madeleine said.
Madeleine founded Little Dreamers to change that.
One in 10 young people are carers across Australia. These roles vary significantly and Little Dreamers generally supports 5000 young carers a year. These young carers need to balance their own needs and education with those needs of their family member and don’t always have the means or the time to reach out and ask for help. This is where Little Dreamers comes in; they offer the carer this help, which can take many forms.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-579" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/01/Little1.png" alt="Little Dreamers Activity" width="760" height="507" />
Programs are offered online and in-person and vary from online school tutoring, playing online games and Dream Experiences which are similar to ‘Make a Wish’, for young carers. They can include hotel stays, time with animals, some pampering or tickets to a show.
Over the last couple of years, awareness of Little Dreamers has skyrocketed through The Young Carer Advocacy Project that visits schools and talks to students about young carers and during the pandemic, Little Dreamers reach has increased due to more online availability and accessibility.
<figure id="attachment_580" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-580" style="width: 312px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-580 size-full" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/01/Little2.png" alt="Little Dreamers Activity" width="312" height="468" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-580" class="wp-caption-text">Little Dreamers in action.</figcaption></figure>
They also have a school holiday program that is held across regional and metro areas of the country. The program involves a series of workshops for carers who are aged 18 – 25 to help them get a hold of moving into the world of adulthood and, there’s a Dreamers’ Hub which features additional support, workshops and webinars.
Little Dreamers continues to broaden their reach. They now have access to State and Federal Government funding – which covers 50% of costs – and have a ‘Giving Program’ and hold fundraisers. In the last 12 years, they have grown to have 52 staff across the eastern states and their need is only rising.
At Carer Solutions, we love the that Little Dreamers recognise the wider community and acknowledge the awesome siblings and children who work in their own families to help those living with disability.
Learn more about the amazing work <a title="Little Dreamers website" href="https://www.littledreamers.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Dreamers does here</a>.

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