Helpful Blogs
Jo on the Touched Out Podcast
Jo chats with Carter on the Touched Out Podcast! It was such an honour to chat with this amazing human on the Touched Out Podcast. So much ‘messy’ AuADHD banter! To be honest, I forgot we were recording, such a pleasure to share space and time with Carter. If interested in hearing our chat here is the link! Would be awesome if you could share/forward it to anyone who you feel might find it relatable. LISTEN NOW 🎧 Carter wearing our silkworm fidget – his staple go-to… Would love you to give him a shoutout and follow too - such an authentic voice and an amazing human! - Jo from Kaiko Fidgets
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Neurodiversity is a Superpower
How Entrepreneurship Empowers Minds and Creates Opportunities An amazing program helping school aged kids foster Entrepreneurship! What’s not to love! Introducing First Pivot: Nurturing Tomorrow's Empathetic Entrepreneurs by Jim from First Pivot. There is a saying that says, "You can't be what you can't see." When we heard about Kai's remarkable entrepreneurial journey, we knew instantly that students needed to see and hear this inspiring story. At First Pivot, our mission is to inspire and educate the next generation of entrepreneurs. We firmly believe that entrepreneurship underpinned with empathy can provide a positive change on a global scale. Our programs extend to both primary and secondary schools throughout Australia. We’ve partnered with Kai and Kaiko Fidgets to allow students to learn and earn about entrepreneurship by opening up their own fidget spinner businesses. Unveiling the Neurodiverse Thread What do luminaries like Microsoft's founder Bill Gates, real estate magnate Barbara Corcoran, financial services company founder Charles Schwab, renowned fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, David Neeleman, the founder of JetBlue airlines, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Airlines, Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, and Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, all have in common? The answer: neurodiversity. Entrepreneurship offers a range of benefits that align particularly well with the unique strengths and perspectives of neurodiverse individuals. Neurodivergent individuals often possess a high degree of creativity, innovative thinking and hyperfocus. Entrepreneurship allows them to channel this creativity and focus into developing unique solutions to problems. It goes beyond merely teaching business operations. It involves fostering creative thinking and cultivating a robust sense of self-value and responsibility. It is a mindset and a skillset. To quote Alexander Den Heijer, "When a flower fails to blossom, you adjust the environment it grows in, not the flower itself." Entrepreneurship provides neurodivergent individuals the opportunity to contribute their perspectives to the world of business and innovation. It is a platform where their strengths can shine and allow them to make a significant impact on their own terms. We are committed to supporting and guiding neurodivergent students on this incredible journey of entrepreneurship. To learn more about their programs and how they might benefit your child, please contact Jim via: Email: jim@firstpivot.com.au Phone: 0423 840 540 Web: www.firstpivot.com.au
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Let's Celebrate Dads!
Massive shout out to all the dads out there… and big hugs to those that have dad’s who have their angel wings. As much as I celebrate this day for my world, I very much ‘feel’ the trickiness & grief of this day for many too (hope it's not triggering to say that). Whatever your day holds, I hope it is nurturing & blessed. Mike - Kai & Kobi's Dad Love you to bits Mike! Literally couldn't do Kaiko without You. You tirelessly gives to all of us, put up with nagging & OCD tendencies (eek) & love on us in so many ways. You are unbelievably hard worker & supporter of our boys and I want to say THANK YOU MIKE for being such an incredible human, we are blessed to have you in our corner! My Dad Dad it's hard to find words to express how much my dad means to me! He tirelessly sacrifices EVERYTHING for his family, love on us, spoils us and is wise council ALWAYS. I get my impatience, expectations for perfectionism, voluptuous figure, heart, thinking outside the box, commitment to family, love of business and having a go and my generosity all from you... Honestly, I couldn't have a better dad, mentor and life coach. You literally pick me up, without judgement, every single time I fall. Love you dad... bless you are mine! Davo - Mike's Dad This is a rare photo of Davo without his 'Dr Harry' cap... her loves all over us and the boys, it's always YES when we need help, when here at Kaiko HQ; furiously can be found folds boxes for sending orders & is such a good dad, Davo (pop) and friend to many. We love you Davo.
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NDIS can be Overwhelming
NDIS can be overwhelming. I know it is for me personally navigating it for my family. The fact you even have navigated into the system is amazing and you should know you’ve done a great job, as that alone is HARD. I get asked so frequently – are we allowed to get these items and/or have items refused as part of funding for some that are plan managed - here are my take homes I got from doing recent training around the topic i thought I would share. Highly recommend though, you do the training yourself. Sam from the Growing Space is incredible & so knowledgeable (both from personal experience and professionally) and she runs online courses on it as we each take home different things and her examples and checklist and suggestions SO worth it. Please note my ponderings below aren’t advice and there is more to it of course but in case its helpful here they are. Did you know you can also just self-manage this part of your plan and leave the rest plan managed? It certainly gives greater flexibility if you’re running into stress around consumables. My personal take homes …. Section 34 of the NDIS Act only applies what goes in the plan not what its spent on once funded from what i understand & the overarching United Nations Convention that underpins the Act is around choice and control. My understanding of the legislation /ACT that underpins it all is as long as the participant can confirm YES to each of the below they are allowed to use their core funding/consumables for items such as regulation tools and sensory supports. I recommend for any participant they keep a copy of their responses attached to each of their invoices should an audit take place all that information is in place. Please excuse the language below - i am framing it in NDIS language (which can be icky IMO) • Do I need this because of my disability? (ie i wouldn’t need to buy it otherwise) • In line with your NDIS Plan Does it make sense with what's written in the NDIS Plan? • Meeting your needs - Will it help you do things you want to do to live a good life? • Affordable Can I afford the support within my support budget and plan? • Most appropriate funding body -Is it something that should be funded by the NDIS and not other government services like dental, health or hospital services, education, housing or public transport? • Is it safe? Is it safe and legal? It should not hurt you or put yourself or others at risk.
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Meet Helen a Neurodiversity-Affirming Counsellor
We wanted you to ‘meet’ Helen Poulos one of our gorgeous new stockists, who is a Neurodiversity-Affirming Counsellor in case you’re in need. She is a proud mum of two and has been a primary school teacher for over a decade, and also a professionally qualified Counsellor. She empowers families, people of all ages and senior citizens to understand, identify and meet their children’s and their own emotional, sensory, academic, and physiological needs. Being neurodivergent herself means a personal understanding of different life experiences. When it comes to hobbies, her true passion has always been helping people but what energises her the most is learning about neurodivergence, mental health and neurodiversity-affirming practice. Helen’s particular areas of interest: raising children respectful to their neurology, CPTSD and identifying and supporting late identified adults throughout their journey of identifying their neurology. Her clients say they feel a sense of relief, they're validated (usually after being dismissed when initially trying to seek a referral for diagnosis). They're able to gain priceless insight into their struggles and finally have access to the strategies that may help them proudly meet their neurodivergent needs and thrive. Her adolescent clients feel they're finally speaking to someone who "gets" them. She supports people Australia-wide on telehealth and have consulting rooms in Sydney's Inner West. She will soon be accepting NDIS funded self and plan managed clients. She has some availability for new clients so if you're in need of support feel free to reach out for a chat! Contact Helen: Facebook: facebook.com/ASKCounselling.com.au Insta: askcounselling Linkdin: www.linkedin.com/in/helen-poulos-17484a281 Or to book a discovery call via www.askcounselling.com.au 0483 191 198 info@askcounselling.com.au
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Siblings Support is Available
Are you a sibling or parent of a child or adult with additional needs who has siblings? Maybe you are an allied health professional, educator or work in the disability sector and work with siblings? If you answered yes, then Siblings Australia is your go-to for programs and supports for siblings of people with disabilities. The sibling relationship can be one of life’s longest lasting and supporting that relationship is at the core of what they do. They help to maximise the well-being of siblings and build their capacity to navigate life’s journey as the sibling of a person with a disability. Their programs and Supports include: SibWise: Designed for parents, healthcare workers, educators or disability professionals who care for, support or come into contact with siblings of children with disability. This learning program will assist people to better understand and respond to sibling needs and challenges. SibWorks: A peer support program for siblings aged 8-12. Facilitated by professionals in the health, education, disability or community services space whose work brings them into contact with siblings of children with disability. The program is designed to support siblings by building their emotional well-being and resilience and connecting with others who share the same experience. SibConnect: National, state-based, peer support groups that provide an opportunity for siblings to connect in person, and exchange experiences and provide mutual support, whether that be over a coffee or game of bowling. Recognising that, sometimes, ‘no-one understands a sib like another sib’. This program provides opportunities for siblings to connect with others who understand the sibling experience better than anyone. SibChat: An online private chat group (hosted on Facebook) exclusively for adult siblings to find support and connect with others who understand the sibling experience. Provides an opportunity for siblings to connect online in a moderated forum, exchange experiences, and provide mutual support. Subscribe to Siblings Australia updates via their website . They’d also love to hear from anyone with a TeenSib (aged 13-17 years) that would be interested in helping them create some teen-specific activities, such as: A discord server for teens to connect and chat via an online community. Collecting written/videoed stories of teen experiences as a sibling. Online/in-person peer groups for teens to meet and hang out with each other directly.
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Two autistic adults talk about adult diagnosis, parenting neurodivergent families and why fidget tools.
Joanne Seymon is an Occupational Therapist, mother of a neurodivergent family, founder of Kaiko Fidgets and was diagnosed Autistic/ADHD at 51 years of age.
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Celebrate Mothers Day the Neuro Spicy Way
For us, understanding this fact is everything… consistency around food (of texture, taste, smell) is key. It's not that we necessarily just want junk food, but what we DO NEED is things to taste, smell and feel the same way in our mouth each time. It is why its super common to see both children and adults smell food before they pop it in their mouth, even food they’ve had before countless times. Also, predictability is often super helpful in regulating and managing our world. I know I like (almost need) to eat the same thing EVERY DAY for breakfast. Sometimes I’ll eat ‘the thing’ so much that then it's ‘dead’ to me and I can’t make it again and I then move on to my new hyperfocus breakfast. As an emerging (in self-understanding) Autistic & ADHD’er I also get that breakfast is often my only consistent meal, as I often forget to eat and drink throughout the day… Something many of us struggle with. As I unpack my self-understanding of being a late-identified neuro spicy human, the surprising gift has been more self-compassion and grace, I am kinder to myself now & I also understand why things are important to me & that’s it is perfectly OK rather than think I’m weird or broken. I wanted to share for a range of reasons… firstly because, well lets be honest…I am an OVER SHARER, but also in the hope that it explains, affirms & validates the some of the things you may experience in your world. Have an awesome day! Jo
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Kaiko Fidgets on Sunrise
This very clever Melbourne teenager has managed to turn his fidgeting into a rewarding family business. - Sunrise
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Back to School tools to help with the transition
Heading back to school can be challenging, for ALL ages! Often for us as parents/carers too!As both an Occupational Therapist & mumma of a neurodistinct household I frequently get asked what are my recommendations for sensory supports. They can make such a difference in how they manage both the transition back to school and also the day to day anxiety throughout the year. So… I’ve pulled together 3 kits with my top picks. An early primary kit, an upper primary kit and a secondary kit. It may be your child suits one from a different category - trust your gut on that, but these are my go-to items.There are loads of other awesome supports in our back to school collection also if you’re wanting additional support. Feel free to ask me any child-specific questions too :)Joanne SeymonOccupational Therapist
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Interview by The Platform
Hi! My name is Kai (he/him) and I’m 16 years old. I am Autistic and Dyslexic. I love manga, anime, anything to do with Japan. I enjoy exercise, playing chess, D & D and talking about my special interests. I am also the founder of my family-owned business: Kaiko Fidgets!
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Back to School Tips
Transitions into a New School year and not easy on any child, especially our neurodiverse kids. Planning ahead can be helpful with both sensory supports and practical things that can make it a little easier.
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