Coffee

 

So it's that time again! More coffee memes!

Mindful Photography

I'm going to try something new this year, mindful photography. 

We use mindfulness breathing strategies when we are feeling overwhelmed. And it actually works. Mindfulness is not meditation, it's more about being aware of how you are feeling in the here and now. 

Mindful photography can be described as not being concerned about producing the perfect photo, but expressing yourself through a photo, being immersed in the moment and having fun. Through mindful photography you can reveal to others, how you see the world. 

Both little superheroes love spotting the minute details in nature that we miss. It is a great feeling to sit and watch what they have seen. When they point something out, I'm going to take a moment with them to be in the moment. 

Could be a photo a day, a photo a week, or a photo in the moment. This will be a post in progress, so keep on returning to see what we add.

1. Water lillies that we spotted on a day out 02/01/2022

2. Waves crashing from the high tide 03/01/2022

3. A little skink that L spotted hiding in a drain 03/01/2022

4. The only orange daisy among a garden bed of yellow daisies 04/01/2022

5. Flowers we spotted while chilling at the beach 05/01/2022

6. Things that are satisfying to look at and watch, according to L 06/01/2022

The little balls of sand and tracks in the sand that the crabs make when they're cleaning out their beach burrows.

The pine leaves waving in the wind.

And the cicada casings that he found when climbing a tree.

7. Things that are fascinating to look at when you're a child .... 15/02/2022

The different colours on the bark of the paperbark tree.

The tiny flower buds.

Flowers that look like feathers.

The crisp change in colour on feathers.

Taking the time to take deep breaths to soothe the soul.

8. One perfectly round sea jelly that Henry and I found 

on his down time at the beach 

9. One little daisy that looks just like the sun, the young lad I work with today spotted this lone colourful daisy among all the yellow ones 15/03/2022

10. We all need to stop and look at the world through the eyes of a child. Stop to see the beauty that is around us. 01/06/2022

The sun peeping through the clouds and tree branches.

The petals of a flower that don't quite meet, so you can see the leaves underneath the flower.

The one pink daisy in amongst the orange and yellow.

#mindfulphotography

Echo, echo, echo, echo ......

L was non verbal up until he was three. Prior to using verbal speech to communicate, L used a combination of sounds and key word signing to communicate.

L was able to say a few words that he knew and used on a daily basis. There were also others that he used but it was communication through Echolalia. Echolalia is best described as repeating phrases and words after an individual has heard them.

L also used, and still does, Scripted Speech, which is repeating parts of speech that he hears in movies, TV shows and even in general conversation. Often scripted speech is used to express an individual's emotions. They may a particular phrase when they are experiencing an emotion and then on future occasions, will say the phrase as it reminds them of that emotion.

For Autistic individuals, that may also use scripted speech in play - they may act out particular scenes from movies or television shows that we watch, verbatim.

This is one of the phrases that he'll say. But I've recently realised that I too will repeat phrases that I've heard. I will these phrases when it is appropriate and in particular situations. I don't consciously say these phrases, I just find myself saying them.

Like "You're welcome!" from Moana, when someone says thank you to me!

"We're going to need a bigger boat." (Jaws)

"To be faiiir!" (Letter Kenny!)

"Tell him he's dreaming." (The Castle)

"That'll do pig, that'll do." (Babe)

"Round up the usual suspects!" (Casablanca) - when we're organising the little superheroes to go somewhere!

"Houston, we have a problem." (Apollo 13)

"Just keep swimming." (Finding Nemo)

"Ogres are like onions!" (Shrek)

"Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads." (Back to the Future.)

No matter how an individual communicates, please listen to them and respect them ❤❤

I'd love to hear the phrases that you find yourself saying.

Michelle Vines: Soft Touch Exhibition

It is school holiday time here, and I'm always on the look out for outings and adventures that we can do with the little superheroes. About a month ago, an article was shared through my work about a sensory based exhibition at one of our local art galleries.

I hadn't yet had the opportunity to visit with my clients, so one afternoon we had a few hours to spare before the little superheroes PT session so we headed to the art gallery.

The exhibition is titled Michelle Vines: Soft Touch. 

Michelle is a contemporary Brisbane based artist and this exhibition reflects Michelle's sensory seeking nature and celebrates her own neurodiversity (Michelle is Autistic and ADHD.) Michelle loves creating accessible and inclusive artwork and in this exhibition she utilises our sense of touch to explore and become immersed in the exhibition.

Just the name of the exhibition, Soft Touch, gives the impression that everything in the exhibition is not only touchable, but also soft. Upon entering the space, what awaits you does not disappoint.

Now usually we can not get the little superheroes to stay in an art gallery. When we visited, I struggled to get them to leave the art gallery. Usually in an art gallery, you will find signs telling visitors to stand behind velvet ropes and not touch anything. 

Soft Touch is the polar opposite. As we entered the art gallery, an attendant informed us - they were truly wonderful and were addressing both little superheroes - you can touch, play with, sit on and in, cuddle, manipulate and explore absolutely everything. The look on both little superheroes faces were priceless.

Soft Touch is just stunning - there are soft sculptures, soothing landscapes, furry forests, a cosy bathtub, embraceable artworks. It is a playground of contemporary art where visitors are encouraged to sit, relax and play while their senses are ignited and their imagination runs wild.

While Michelle can take credit for all of the magical and whimsical sculptures, the soundscapes are the works of artist and composer Nicole Carroll and Seth Ellis. Visitors are invited to listen to these relaxing soundscapes through wireless headphones that are part of the exhibition. Both little superheroes zoned out and became lost in play while listening to the soundscapes. It was wonderful to see them both relaxed, happy and stimming away!

Upon entering the space, you are greeted with soft ropes with tufty fluffies (as O was calling them,) falling precariously off of a wall. As we meandered through this, I'm fairly certain that both little superheroes felt every single one of the ropes!

You then enter the Affirmation Room which is a set of works that you can climb into, sit on or wrap around you. There is a cast iron bath tub lined with memory foam and faux fur, a lounge seat also lined with memory foam and faux fur, cuddle creatures that you can wrap around you. Purely magical.

Henry came with us and relaxed on the floor! At one point, O decided that Henry would enjoy listening to the soothing sounds. I'm not sure that Henry agreed!

The Sensation Play Wall can only be described as a HUGE mermaid sequin pillow attached to the wall. Both little superheroes love the feel of the mermaid pillows, so an entire wall was bliss.

When we entered the whimsical forest section of Soft Touch, L exclaimed "truffalo trees!" We love the movie adaptation of Dr Seuss' The Lorax and he was absolutely correct. It looked as though we were standing in a Truffalo forest with magical creatures around us.

The Surrogates for Social Touch wall was amazing. It was an eclectic mix of ordinary household items that were all adapted into sensory items with faux fur, soft trim and other such materials on them. Both little superheroes took great delight in exploring every item on the wall and then trying to work out what the original item would have been used for.

This was a whimsical forest of soft lace falling from the ceiling in a circular pattern. At times, all I could see where pairs of feet walking through the lace.

If you have the opportunity and are in the Caboolture area, I would highly recommend an outing to interact with this exhibition. Not only is it a wonderful, unique exhibition, it is also free! The exhibition is open until the 22nd of January 2022.