Port Macquarie is the home of the first local satellite class established by Australia’s largest not-for-profit autism service provider, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect.)
April is Autism Month and a number of supportive local Port Macquarie businesses are donating their time and resources to raise awareness of the misunderstood disorder over the next few weeks.
A driving force has been Bruce Thompson from Port by Night Tours.
Bruce and his wife Nurit jumped at the opportunity to enrol their son Ori into the satellite class when it was first opened last year.
At just four years of age, little Ori had finally started to become verbal though he only spoke 20 words. After the second day in his new class, however, he could speak 22 words.
Less than a year on, Ori reads, writes and excels in mathematics.
He has a vocabulary so large his parents take pleasure in telling him to be a bit quieter.
As Nurit says, “Aspect has supported us so well in our journey to help our precious boy find his way in the world.”
On April 9, at the Foreshore Markets, Bruce, along with other generous supporters, will be setting up a stall displaying a spectacular painting to be auctioned, with all proceeds being passed on to Aspect as a charitable donation.
The painting, produced by local artist Leanne Prussing, is in fact a portrait of the incredible Stephen Wiltshire, the British artist and autistic savant who visited Sydney last Autism Month to draw an incredibly detailed image of the city from memory.
“Three local business people are pulling together to help the school raise funds and awareness,” Ori’s dad Bruce said.
“The markets have kindly donated a stall to the school.
“Rockpool teachers will be on hand with material about Autism month.”
Bruce will be giving a talk about Autism month to the public at the markets followed by a free public Tai Chi session led by Bron Purdy from Spiritual Fitness.
“There will also be free face painting; and gold coin donations are welcome,” Bruce said.
Bruce also did a fundraising Port by Night Tours earlier in the week.
One of the most positive messages that comes from initiatives organised for Autism Month, such as last year’s visit with Wiltshire, is that such events and such moments not only help to raise awareness of the complex spectrum of conditions that affects those with autism; they also show that individuals do not have to have extraordinary abilities in order to achieve their potential.
With the help of committed staff at Aspect, and the ongoing support of those in the community, everyone looks forward to seeing more individuals like Ori continue to make incredible progress.
For more information on this month, or on any activities mentioned above and more, please visit www.autismspectrum.org.au
