From playing the guitar to broadcasting her own radio show and volunteering with Camden Agricultural Show each year, from being a keen photographer to her lifelong passion in the equestrian ring. Lexi is a woman of many talents and full of ability!
Interchange Australia runs a large range of programs focused around participants achieving both NDIS and personal goals. Many of these programs cross over with one another which helps our participants understand how each activity they take part in has a flow on effect in various other areas of life. Amongst these programs there is Be My Best which covers a range of different topics throughout the year addressing key issues one might experience throughout life. We help our participants with learning communication and social skills in various settings, how they can contribute to the community and we also cover topics like hygiene, personal care and safety.
Sexuality amongst people with a disability is often a topic left unspoken – but the more we talk – the easier it gets.
What actually is sexuality?
It is the way that people experience and express themselves sexually. We express our sexuality in many ways, through thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. Sexuality is integral to a person’s identity and develops throughout life, from birth to death. It is natural for people across all ages to express their sexuality through their behaviour.
I was a few moments late logging on, I knew the session had already started, but the internet had been playing up for months. I was greeted by a cacophony of noise and chaos as I tried to work out what was going on. It didn’t take me long. One of the clients was showing everyone her pet guinea pig, and it was causing huge excitement and laughter. It was a timely reminder how important our work is, even when delivering an online format…..
For the past eighteen months life as we knew it has changed dramatically, and right now in NSW we are currently in the hardest lockdown we have experienced to date!
To most of us feeling isolated is new, we have been living our lives able to go wherever we want, whenever we want, hanging out with friends and family, going out for dinner, travelling if we want to, even simple things like going shopping and much more.
I got my second shot last Friday. It hit home for me when I started to see the clients around me having been vaccinated, but I still wasn’t. What’s the point of client’s being vaccinated if I am not? I am supposed to be providing a safe environment for them.
Ryan is a 30 year old man who has a moderate intellectual disability, epilepsy and an endocrine condition which affects his bone /muscle development. Ryan has been with Interchange Australia for over 10 years, he currently attends day Options 5 days a week, Respite 5 times a month and also has morning and afternoon support 5 days a week. Ryan really enjoys gardening, pruning, and absolutely loves getting outside to water the new vegetable garden beds every day that everyone has created at Travis house. In fact I caught him outside yesterday doing just that!
The Interaction between animals and humans has been proven to increase brain chemicals that decrease blood pressure and initiate relaxation. People with sensory disabilities have been seen communicating more easily with an animal, their experiences with animals encourages them to communicate further in their future interactions with humans. Animal’s assist people with autism and have been used as tools to learn vital communicational and social skills such as empathy and expressing love
Julie-Anne Maloney, a well-loved member of Interchange Australia Drama group ‘Stage Fright Players’, is a 39 year old woman with Autism.
Julie-Anne is a real achiever and gives everything a go, she really enjoys living in rural NSW and takes advantage if everything around her. She loves working with machines such as mowers and tractors, really enjoys learning new recipes….
What a great school holidays it has been! Our Day Options Holiday Program was a huge success. We had a big variety of Holiday Adventures this June/July and everyone really enjoyed each day. We opted for COVID safe options due to the current situations and everyone had a really great time with all the different activities each day. Everyone cannot wait for the next school holidays full of friends, laughs, adventures and fun.