Live Out Loud aims to enhance the happiness, wellbeing, participation and engagement of neuro-divergent children, young people and their families in all life settings. As part of our work with families, we enjoy creating Live Out Loud Plans with our clients.
Live Out Loud believes that all human beings, especially those with additional needs, wish to live a happy and full life, as well as have the desire to contribute to life similar to all others. As in the mainstream, the focus often is on deficits, stress, difficulties, challenges and more specific ‘mental health difficulties’, Live Out Loud wishes to focus on actively and proactively growing happiness, wellness, joy and flow. As an outcome of a process or journey with families, we aim to collaboratively design a Live Out Loud Plan with our clients. As this approach focuses on the abilities, strengths, interests, talents and gifts of the child, young person and/or family, we believe it is easier for the child and all significant others around the child, to buy in to the plan. When collaboratively designed with the child, they are motivated to engage with the actions, review and further plan as and if required. Their voice is heard, their motivation is tapped into, and they basically own the plan, actions and outcomes. How amazing is that? When working collaboratively and incorporating the young person’s views, expectations are kept deeply tuned in to the individual’s abilities, strengths, interests, talents and gifts – and are also kept realistic. The Live Out Loud Plan is motivational – it invites, encourages and facilitates progress and success.
Work with us on your child or family’s Live Out Loud Plan! Fun, joy, happiness, wellness and wellbeing!
Dr. Peter Vermeulen, a well-known international speaker, psychologist, bestselling author, senior lecturer, trainer and consultant on autism, designed the Autism-Good-Feeling Questionnaire. It is an informal assessment tool and aims to provide educators and others, ideas to increase the well-being of autistic individuals of all ages and stems from the ‘Quality of Life’ framework as developed by Robert Shalock (1971). Find a copy of the questionnaire, here
Vermeulen, P. (2014). The practice of promoting happiness in autism – in: Jones, G. & Hurley, E. (Eds), Good Autism Practice: Autism, happiness and wellbeing. (pp. 8-17). Birmingham: BILD Publications.