Why I Created a Course for Parents (And What Autism Awareness Month Has to Do With It)
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
April is Autism Awareness Month. And if you've been following my work, you know I usually write to organisations.
For years, I've worked with children as a primary school teacher and community program leader. I've sat with parents after difficult sessions. I've watched families quietly slip away from programs that weren't working. And I've seen the exhaustion in their eyes when they tell me they don't know where to turn.
Recently, I ran a parent survey to better understand what families were experiencing. I was already moving in this direction – I knew parents needed more support. But the survey confirmed it. Loudly.
Parents are withdrawing their children from programs not because they want to, but because their needs aren't being met. They are advocating on their own, with limited support. One parent told me that when asked what had helped their child feel included, the answer was: "Nothing, really."
I couldn't sit with that and do nothing.
So I built something for parents.
This isn't about replacing organisation-level change. I still believe programs need to do better. That's why EPIC offers inclusion audits and consults for community organisations.
But parents need practical tools they can use right now. So I created a course called Choosing the Right Community Program for Your Neurodivergent Child.
It guides parents through the process of finding programs that genuinely work for their child. We look at why most programs are designed for a "typical" child, how to spot hidden expectations that create barriers, and what to look for during research and trial sessions.
By the end, parents have a clear framework for making confident decisions – without the pressure of finding perfection.
What comes with the course?
The course includes five bonus downloadable tools valued at $24.95 to help parents put everything into action:
Program Fit Snapshot Tool – A one-page tool that cuts through confusion after a trial session. No more vague feelings. Just clarity.
Trial Session Observation Guide – Shifts your attention from whether your child is "coping" to what really matters: the environment, the instructors, and whether the program actually knows how to include your child.
Decision-Making Mini Tool – A simple framework that takes less than five minutes. Helps you decide whether to enrol, continue, adjust, or leave.
Hidden Expectations Guide – Spot the unspoken rules before they become problems. Organised by program type and expectation category.
Pre-Program Phone/Email Script – The key questions to ask before you enrol, plus what to listen for in their answers. A small tool that saves a lot of time and heartache.
This is just the beginning!
I have more courses planned for the coming months, including:
Helping Community Coaches Understand Your Neurodivergent Child
Advocating for Your Neurodivergent Child in Community Programs
When Community Participation Isn't Working for Your Neurodivergent Child
I’m also launching my online EPIC Support Tool store.
If you're not quite ready for a full course, I've got you covered. My online store will soon stock individual printable support tools – the same practical resources I wish I'd had when navigating programs with my own kids.
Each tool is affordable, downloadable, and ready when you need it. Includes tools such as:
About My Child Template – Share what coaches actually need to know. No clinical language. No long reports.
Program Conversation Planner – Walk into any meeting feeling prepared. Reduces anxiety. Keeps you focused.
Reasonable Adjustments Chart – Know what you can ask for and how to ask for it. Clear examples. Simple scripts.
Clinical Report Translation Tool – Turn diagnoses into practical "what helps" statements. No jargon. Just real-world support.
I’m launching during Autism Awareness Month.
I wanted to launch this during April because awareness is important. But parents need more than awareness. They need tools, clarity, and support that actually works.
The course will be available on my website very soon – hopefully within the next week. I'm finalising a few behind-the-scenes pieces, and then it's ready.
To celebrate the launch and Autism Awareness Month, I'm offering 10% off the course. Plus a bonus executive dysfunction week, so the sale runs through to 7th May 2026.
If you're a parent reading this:
I see you. I know how hard you're trying. And I know how lonely it can feel when programs don't work and no one seems to understand.
This course won't fix every problem. But it will give you a clearer path forward. You don't have to figure this out alone.
If you're an organisation reading this:
This course doesn't mean I'm stepping away from working with you. When parents are equipped to communicate clearly, and when programs are ready to listen, children get to stay. And that is what everyone wants.
I'll post again as soon as the course is live. For now, keep an eye on my Facebook page and website announcements.
Visit these pages for more information:
Blog Post: The Truth About Community Programs: What Parents of Neurodivergent Kids Want You to Know
Blog post image from Pixabay.
