Support network turns Stigma to superpower
I THINK THAT’S OUR POINT OF DIFFERENCE, WE GO THAT EXTRA STEP. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO WATCH SUPPORT WORKERS BECOME PART OF THE FAMILIES.
BEC Provis says autism is her superpower, while ADHD gives her the energy she needs to be “like a tornado”.
Energy is something that Mrs Provis, 45, requires plenty of as mum to five kids, having spent many years as a single parent.
Each of the five, aged between seven and 22, faces their own challenges, with diagnoses spanning from mental health issues to autism and ADHD.
“Over the years I’ve spent a lot of time in therapists’ rooms. I’m very driven to go out and change the stigma of autism,” Mrs Provis said.
Mrs Provis, who lives in Ocean Grove, is the founder and general manager of AmAble Community Networks.
The organisation offers a range of services to help clients and families with autism and other disabilities.
Towards the end of 2018, Mrs Provis got “really sick” and wound up in hospital.
“I thought I was superwoman until I got sick,” she said.
“I had to stay in bed a lot when I came home. For the first time in my life I put the white flags up.”
Her three sons had funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Mrs Provis contacted a support service to get help from support workers in the home, but was underwhelmed with the quality.
“I was like … we have to do better than this,” she said.
Mrs Provis had been working in the building industry but was disillusioned.
“So I thought, you know what, it’s time for me to start a new journey,” she recalled.
“At the start of 2019 I came up with the concept of AmAble, and thought ‘I’ll start supports for people like me’.
“I spent most of that year planning the concept and researching legislation and NDIS registration requirements.
“There were moments I thought ‘this is too scary’ but then I finally just had that
drive to finalise it.”
The service launched in late 2019, initially offering individual in-home support, and started getting “trickles” of referrals.
At the beginning of 2020, Mrs Provis said she thought about how their was a gap in the market for after-school and holiday programs for children like hers.
“So I thought let’s have a crack at those programs,” she said. “We basically started doing after-school programs and then the first wave of Covid came which knocked us out for a bit.”
People began reaching out for support workers who could help families not coping during lockdown.
“My business actually boomed from that,” Mrs Provis said.
“We take a long time to get to know the clients, their likes and dislikes, what their triggers might be, their goals.
“I think that’s our point of difference, we go that extra step.
“It’s a beautiful thing to watch support workers become part of the families.”
AmAble now has 40 staff and offers a broad array of services, including respite, programs and activities, and support groups.
AmAble will have an open day on November 30 at its site at 8 Belmont St, Belmont, celebrating its second birthday and International Day of People
with Disability. The event will be held between noon and 2pm, and feature a barbecue lunch, jumping castle and kids’ activities.
People can RSVP by calling 5201 9093 or emailing
info@amablecn.com.au
AmAble’s head office is in Grovedale, and it has two centres in Belmont, one for accommodation and the other programs and activities.
“We have a teen girls group designed for teens who are not invited to social events because they don’t fit in, but together they’re the same,” Mrs Provis said.
“We had a girl who had to bring her support worker because her anxiety was so extreme, but now she goes independently and has even got a job at AmAble and can bring her therapy dog.
“That’s a success story.” There are also plans to expand the services AmAble offers to include to more recreational and social programs.
It is introducing independent living programs and is looking at starting a schoolleaver program for employment readiness.
It’s also expanding its training programs, offering education and advocacy to schools on autism and neurodiversity.
It will also begin weekend respite trips, starting in the new year.
Mrs Provis’ 22-year-old daughter, who has a disability, also works at AmAble.
“Three years ago she wouldn’t leave the home, now she runs the accounts department and is building her first home,” Mrs Provis said.
Mrs Provis, who married her “forever person” in May, said raising five children with their own issues had been “exhausting at times”.
“Having children with neurodiversity and their anxiety, and especially when I have it as well, there are challenges,” she said.
“I’m a really strong person, I had a really difficult childhood and lost my mum when I was two and I think it taught me a lot of resilience.”
Mrs Provis described autism, which she has, as a “different processing method”.
“The children have actually taught me a lot about myself,” she said.