Positive & Inclusive Advice for Parents & Providers

Hi there! I’m Kirsty Russell – author, speaker, advocate, consultant and mother to three wonderful kids. I’m a parent, and a taxi driver, and a personal assistant, and a hostage negotiator, and a private chef and… well, all those jobs that go part-and-parcel with being a Mum!

Kirsty Russell - positivespecialneedsparenting.comI’ve been sharing my experiences about caring for my kids, advocating for their needs and looking after myself as a carer for a while now. I’ve been lucky enough to work with service providers to help them better understand the needs of not just children with disability, but their parents and families too. I’ve also been privileged to share the stories and experiences of fellow parents, having a laugh about the good times and supporting each other through the rough parts.

Being a parent to a child with a diagnosis is a unique and challenging experience, but not an unrewarding one. I make it my mission to find the joys in this whole ugly mess we call life, and to share the positives. It is my belief that building strong connections with others, learning to be a powerful advocate for our children, and choosing to find the positives in our experiences makes us better parents, happier families and stronger individuals.

Parents

Finding the joy every day isn’t always easy, but it is essential for a physically and mentally healthy family. Discover strategies, resources and tools to help you.

Teachers

Building positive relationships with parents can be a challenge. Discover tools, resources and training to help you engage parents and improve outcomes.

Service Providers

Your mission is to support parents in making the best choices for their children. An experienced parent advocate can help you engage authentically with clients.

Managing Difficult Conversations With Your Child’s School

Hands up if you dread initiating and managing difficult conversations. While we may dread them, they are a necessary part of parenting life, especially when parenting children with a disability and...

How to Rise Above Judgement as a Special Needs Parent

The minute I saw this post in my facebook feed, I knew I had to share it. One of the biggest issues I've experienced over the years (an issue shared by most fellow parents) is the judgement we face...

The Importance of Building Emotional Regulation

Over the last 15 years, we've attended way too many therapy sessions to even begin to count! While I don't know exactly how many sessions we've attended, I do know that building emotional regulation...

APAC 2019 – Lessons & Sessions

As I shared in my last post, I was privileged to be invited to APAC 2019 in Singapore to give a plenary presentation on our positive education journey. I also delivered a workshop to professionals,...

Asia Pacific Autism Conference 2019

I'm in the midst of frantically preparing to fly to Singapore to attend the 2019 Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC). Two years ago, I delivered two sessions during APAC 2017 in Sydney. I...

Making the Most of Your NDIS Plan

I recently attended a session presented by my LAC (Local Area Coordinator), focused on how to make the most of NDIS plans. Now, while I thought I had a good grasp on all things NDIS, I actually...

5 Myths About Using Online Platforms to Find Support Workers

For this weeks' "5 Things" post, I welcome Lauren from Careseekers, an online digital platform that links individuals and families to care and support workers. Careseekers is built on the idea that...

The Emotional Labour of Special Needs Parenting

I've been quiet around these parts as I'm developing training for teachers and professionals, to help them improve relationships with parents. As I've been working on course material and delivering...

5 Resources for Parents of Kids with Intellectual Disabilities

For this week’s ‘5 Things’ post, I welcome Sunnyfield, a member-based, not-for-profit charity committed to enriching the lives of people with intellectual disability. Sunnyfield provides...

How Schools Can Work With Parents to Improve the IEP Process

Last week, I addressed teachers and parents at two joint professional development sessions. It was an unique opportunity for parents and teachers to come together, improve their understanding and...

Autism Family Travel book cover

Dreaming of Travel?

Discover how you can travel as an autism family (and actually enjoy the experience too!) in the new guide, Autism Family Travel.

Based on real-life experience, this e-book is full of practical tips, tools & resources, as well as strategies that really work!