feature
Kristen Callow from the I CAN Network.
sense of self and social connections
that validate who they are.”
Ms Callow said one of the biggest
benefits of the online mentoring
An online
mentoring
students the potential to reach students who
transition from
primary school
to high school.
I with CAN
online mentoring
he I CAN Network started the us that this period of flux can be
online mentoring program in particularly stressful for students on
late 2017, with mentors on the the spectrum,” Ms Callow said.
“Eight in 10 students with autism
“As we grow the program we have
may be home-schooled or living in
remote regions,” she said.
“This medium allows us to bring
students together from different
states and territories and there’s
something really cool about having
that representation in one group.
“It drives home to our participants
that they are a part of a broader
community – that many young people
with autism are going through the
same milestones and experiences at
the same time.”
She said the program aims to
create a safe place where each
participant feels understood, accepted
and mentoring lessons to younger already face some form of difficulty in students also on the spectrum. their educational journeys. Data from I CAN Network program ABS tells us that when they transition greater self-confidence and self-
coordinator Kristen Callow said from high school, only 19 per cent are advocacy skills can really start to
the online mentoring program was gaining a post-school qualification, develop,” she said.
designed to reach more students so it’s imperative students on the around Australia, with the initial spectrum have a successful high school to develop connections with mentors
program pilot achieving some transition to reverse these trends. who also have lived experience of
impressive results.
“Our online mentoring program
42
home, which can add a level of
comfort for participants.
with autism
autism spectrum providing advice
conducted online from a student’s
program
is helping
T
program is that all interactions are
“Being well supported when
and celebrated for who they are.
“From that safe place, things like
“It is valuable for our participants
autism, and who have been through
starting high school can help lay some tough times themselves yet
focusses on transitions from primary the foundation for a student on the emerged with a strong sense of self.”
school to high school, as parent and spectrum to navigate those often- student testimonials have shown tricky high school years with a greater
autism
Deb Fulloon, mother of mentee
Sam Pitcher, said the mentoring
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