Susanne Nelson and Jaye van Klaveren founded Susanne Nelson and Associates Consultancy Services (SNAACS) in 2014. With a combined clinical experience of 40 years, Susanne and Jaye aim to share relevant, practical and innovative ideas, strategies and resources they have learnt from working within paediatrics, the child’s educational environment, and within the Autism / ADHD field. They offer workshops, presentations and education to teachers, professionals, parents and caregivers around areas related to Autism and ADHD, and general topics about paediatric developmental areas.

SNAACs is able to provide a range of presentations relevant to your community, including specifically tailored packages or more general discussions around areas related to Autism / ADHD and or paediatric development. We are a flexible service and can adapt and devise individualised packages to meet the needs of specific students in your setting. SNAACs presentations can range from single information sessions with a small group to a series of workshops for larger staff bodies centered on key areas associated with Autism / ADHD or paediatrics. Many groups choose for SNAACs to present during staff meetings or outside school hours to maximise staff involvement and participation.

SNAACS continues to present in a variety of independent, government and catholic schools around the state throughout each year. SNAACS has presented at the Victorian Autism Conference, Spectrum Journeys conference, On the spectrum – live on stage in Bendigo and for many years facilitated the Camberwell Mental health network.

SNAACs has previously presented to groups on areas including:

• Autism / ADHD: What does this diagnosis really mean?

• Autism: Autistic girls (what to look for, adapting strategies to best support girls within a primary school setting).

• Autism / ADHD : In early learning, primary school and secondary school settings.

• Autism / ADHD: Disclosing a diagnosis, using a strength based approach.

• Engaging in the curriculum: Engaging autistic children or children with an ADHD in the academic curriculum.

• Teamwork: What are the key ingredients for a successful team?

• Transition: 5 stages to a successful transition for your student.

• Group work: What role does executive functioning play?

• Play times: Impact of social and emotional skills.

• Specialist classes: Coping with transitions and developing flexible thinking.

• Motor skills, mainly handwriting: Areas to consider and strategies to develop skills.

• Occupational profile: How to devise independent learning goals for your students

• Anxiety management and sensory processing.

• Positive behavioural supports: Creating an optional learning environment for successful student outcomes.

• Case studies and tailored presentations: Problem solving strategies / addressing needs specific to students at your school.

Please contact Susanne or Jaye to discuss how SNAA can fit your professional development and educational needs.

Online Autism/ ADHD and OT support:

Online support services are available via Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Please contact Susanne or Jaye to discuss how SNAA's online support services can support your child's needs.

Please click here for further information on SNAA's online services.

Training and education:

This service is offered for new graduates and OTs interested in paediatric OT / Autism / ADHD.

The impact of an Autism and or an ADHD can be significantly great within the home environment, not just for the autistic child or a child with ADHD themselves, but for the other members of the family as well. SNAA appreciates this and understands the need for in-home support as much as possible, and where it is suitable / child is eligible, families can utilise their NDIS funding to seek in home support.

SNAA seeks to employ either a third or fourth year occupational therapy student or equivalent, to fulfil this role within the family‘s home environment. There are many reasons for in-home support, including and not limited to:

• Enabling the autistic child / child with an ADHD to practice and implement necessary strategies to perform required activities of daily living.

• Promoting the generalisation of skills across from their social learning environment / therapy sessions.

• Provide support to other family members e.g. sibling support and or respite for parents.

An SNAA occupational therapist who would be currently providing therapy for that family, conducts a home visit and family meeting to:

• Assesses the current situation and supports needed.

• Devises a tailored and individualised home program for the family for the AHA to implement.

This home program is continually monitored and evaluated by the SNAA Therapist. The therapist also provides ongoing supervision for the allied health assistant, enabling tweaking of the program as required and ensuring the allied health assistant is implementing the necessary therapeutic strategies appropriately.

Where SNAA cannot provide its usual ongoing outreach service model for families / children located outside its catchment area, in home support provided by an allied health assistant may prove to be a more appropriate and beneficial source of support and use of NDIS funding (if a child is deemed eligible from the NDIS and especially if actual Occupational Therapy is not able to be provided to the child directly).

For further information, please contact Susanne or Jaye.