SUPPORTING AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Nurturing Neurodiversity
With Dr Justin Coulson & Dr Joey Lawrence
Life for an autistic child is like a journey through mountains and valleys.

There are highs of progress and joy as they master a new skill or overcome a challenge. But right when they’re just starting to breathe more deeply and enjoy the view, the path can decline into the rocky valley of setbacks and new obstacles. Grappling with overwhelming sensory experiences and the complexities of social interactions, the fog of uncertainty can evoke feelings of frustration and exhaustion as they come to find their footing on this path toward adulthood.

And as their parent or caregiver, you are by their side every step of the way.

Helping your child navigate through these hurdles can be both emotionally and physically taxing. However, armed with the right knowledge, steadfast support, and a deeper understanding of neurodiversity, you can establish an environment where both you as a caregiver and your autistic child can not only survive but also flourish as you embark on this journey together.

course inclusions

9 x Video Modules

Each module features Dr Justin and Dr Joey, and is 10 to 20 minutes long.

Interactive eBook

A summary of your learnings, and further context into your course content.

Homework Challenges

Internalise what you learn and make changes to your everyday practices.

Live Q&A Session

With Dr Joey and Dr Justin. A recording of this session is included for your convenience.

Facebook Group

Exclusive group for parents and carers to support each other throughout the duration of the course.

12 Months Access

Access to all of the course content for a whole year, so you can go at your own pace.

course outline

  1. Module 1 ~ Life as an Autistic Person

    Understand Autism intricacies, recognise individual profiles, and promote self-compassion for a more inclusive environment.
  2. Module 2 ~ Unmasking

    Explore the impact of masking in Autistic individuals, shifting to compassionate approaches, addressing trauma, and combating ableism.
  3. Module 3 ~ Flipping the Script

    Embrace a new perspective on neurodiversity, focus on acceptance, understand sensory profiles, and encourage self-advocacy.
  4. Module 4 ~ The Right Foundation

    Discover the importance of relatedness, competence, and autonomy in your child's well-being and development.
  5. Module 5 ~ Relatedness

    Learn how to handle intense emotions through the RABIT model and promote emotional regulation, especially in relation to RSD.
  6. Module 6 ~ Competence

    Explore the fundamentals of competence and structure in supporting Autistic children's development, emphasising collaboration and recognising internal structures.
  7. Module 7 ~ Autonomy

    Nurture autonomy in neurodiverse children, empower uniqueness, collaborate, and use effective strategies to foster thriving and well-being.
  8. Module 8 ~ Home, School, Play

    Navigate the complexities of Autism with understanding, patience, and support from the Autism community and professionals.
  9. Module 9 ~ The Paradoxical Power of Acceptance

    Embrace neurodiversity, offer unconditional love, and build stronger, resilient relationships through the transformative power of acceptance.

About Dr Joey Lawrence

Dr Joey Lawrence is a passionate Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Neuropsychology Registrar, and the Co-Founder and Director of Neudle Psychology.

Driven by personal lived experience, as someone proudly neurodivergent with Autism, ADHD, and PDA, Dr Joey is a staunch advocate for neurodiversity and affirming care. She is very active in the neurodivergent community and has over 30 million views and 4 million likes on her TikTok account @nd_psych.

With a doctorate from the University of Queensland, and numerous years of experience as a therapist, Dr Joey embodies respect, curiosity, acceptance, and encouragement in their role. Dr Joey also maintains a passion for staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, neurodiversity, and humanistic psychology.

About Dr Justin Coulson

Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9's Parental Guidance, the founder of happyfamilies.com.au, and one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts.

As a bestselling author, Dr Justin has helped innumerable families over the past decade with his 7 books about raising children. He also has hundreds of media appearances (including all of Australia’s major news outlets, and even the Washington Post and the New York Times), and two viral videos that have been viewed a combined 80 million times!

Dr Justin earned his PhD in Psychology from the University of Wollongong. He and his wife Kylie have been married since the late 90s and are the parents of 6 daughters.

frequently asked questions

Have Autistic voices been included in this course? 

Yes! Dr Joey Lawrence co-created this course with Dr Justin Coulson. As someone proudly neurodivergent with Autism, ADHD, and PDA, Dr Joey is a staunch advocate for neurodiversity and affirming care.

Who is this course targeted towards? 

This course is for all parents and carers, regardless of their age, or the age of their children.

How does the course work? 

The course launched on Monday, October 23, 2023.

There will be 9 video modules over 5 weeks (one module released every Monday and Thursday). Alongside the videos, a digital workbook will be provided, giving you weekly challenges to make sure you're practising the principles we cover.

Access to an exclusive, inclusive Facebook group will be available to course participants for the duration of the course. The group will be archived at the completion of the course.

How long will I have access to the course? 

You will have 12 months access to the course, so you can catch up or re-watch at any time. We recommend staying on top of the modules each week when they are released and completing the course according to the given timeline to get the most out of it.

Is the course suitable for children to watch? 

This course is designed for parents. The content is relatively safe for children, but is not intended for them.

Will the course be run live? 

No, the videos for each module are pre-recorded and will be released each Monday and Thursday at 10am AEST. After the videos are released, you can watch and complete the modules, homework, and jump into the Facebook group whenever suits you throughout that week. But please note, the Facebook group will be deactivated in due time after the completion of the 6 week course.

What is the cost? 

Ticket sales closed on Day 1 of the course, 23 October 2023. Missed out? Join the waitlist to be the first to hear about a second release of this course.

The Supporting Autistic Children course is $249 AUD. Ticket sales closed on Day 1 of the course, 23 October 2023.

If you are unable to cover the cost of the course up front, or are not eligible for NDIS, we will provide you with a form to complete and you will be added to a special considerations list.

Can I claim under the NDIS?

Ticket sales closed on Day 1 of the course, 23 October 2023. Missed out? Join the waitlist to be the first to hear about a second release of this course.

Yes! Happy Families can facilitate using your NDIS funding to purchase the Supporting Autistic Children Course if you are Self Managed or Plan Managed. However, if you are NDIA managed, Happy Families is not currently an NDIS registered provider.

Seek advice from your support coordinator or plan manager if you are unsure.

Self Managed

Order the course directly from the Happy Families online shop and pay upfront. Your tax invoice will be automatically emailed to you to submit to NDIA.

Plan Managed

In this case, your Plan Manager pays Happy Families directly for your course tickets.

We'll provide you with a form to complete and Happy Families will send you an invoice to forward to your Plan Manager. Please consult with them about how this course best fits in with your NDIS plan. As soon as payment is received, we'll set up your access to the course.

Still have a question?
contact us