Self-care for parents of kids with a disability
Emergency protocols stress the need to take care of ourselves before attempting to help others. But this critically important piece of advice is often overlooked by parents of children with special needs. For all parents,...
Read moreFiction With Friends building social links for kids during pandemic restrictions
Amid the unpredictability of COVID-19 a creative new program is helping kids with developmental disabilities build social skills and confidence from the comfort of their homes. With lockdown measures in place, Gateways Support Services Occupational...
Read moreIn-home senior visits keep loneliness at bay during pandemic times
As an older person, the social restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic hit Geelong resident Muriel particularly hard. She was not allowed to visit husband Ted, who lives with dementia at a nearby care facility, unable to make her regular...
Read moreGeelong Community Foundation grant enables sensory room for adults with autism
A dedicated sensory space will soon be created at our new North Geelong multi-purpose community site thanks to a generous donation by Geelong Community Foundation. The space will feature sensory equipment, a sound system and...
Read moreLocal knowledge and personal care make great support coordination in Warrnambool
With a son requiring round-the-clock care and a busy teenage daughter with autism, Warrnambool resident Grace relies on the local knowledge and advice of her Gateways Support Coordinator. Over the past eight years, Grace says...
Read moreNew bike track for North Geelong to boost wellbeing for children with disability
A new bike track is to be built at Gateways Support Services’ North Geelong site, thanks to the support of the Give Where You Live Foundation. The bike track will give children with disabilities the...
Read moreSupport worker an angel as family manages isolation and home learning
From cooking and exercise to remote learning support, Hoppers Crossing siblings Michael, Taylor and Louise regard their Gateways Support Services support worker as an angel. The trio’s mother, Bev, says her children, who all have autism and learning...
Read moreStefan’s new normal beats the lockdown blues
When the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown began midway through March, Stefan felt like someone had turned the lights out on his entire life. Now the lights are back up, thanks to Gateways Support Services moving participant activities...
Read moreBright Sparks building social skills through small group play in term 3
Play is an important part of a child’s development; but it doesn’t come easily to everyone. Tarneit mother of three, Liane, says her children, Kye, 9, and 6-year-old twins Lyla and Ayva, all struggle with high anxiety and social skills. So when...
Read moreAdult camps crew reap benefits with pre-isolation getaway
A trip to the Mornington Peninsula provided a timely social connection opportunity for the Western Melbourne adult recreation group last month. Nine participants together with support staff and volunteers spent their time exploring the local...
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