South Barwon’s The Lab grows skills for teens living with autism

A groundbreaking club that gives teenagers with autism the opportunity to enhance social and technology skills is in need of a new home.

A groundbreaking club that gives teenagers with autism the opportunity to enhance social and technology skills is in need of a new home.

The Lab has been based in Geelong for six years but stopped hosting on-site sessions during the coronavirus pandemic.

National Disability Insurance Scheme participants are able to use their funding to attend the program.

But now its directors have been unable to secure a site leaving 60 students without a place to learn skills like computer coding, 3D gaming, digital design and fantasy tabletop role-playing games.

The Lab’s South Barwon director Justin Blackwell said the club allowed participants to form friendships with like-minded peers and learn new skills.

He said venues at Torquay and Leopold were looking to open in a few weeks, but Geelong based participants had been left in the lurch.

“We have run some online sessions but for some of the kids, online isn’t quite for them,” he said.

Before the pandemic hit the Geelong branch was running seven groups over three separate days.

Mum Leanne whose son Oliver, 14, is a participant said the club enabled him to be in a place where he felt comfortable and could have fun without feeling judged.

“It’s tricky for boys that age to find activities that work for them, especially when they are

like Oliver, high functioning and gifted, but it’s the social element of his Autism Spectrum

Disorder (ASD) he needs support in, and The Lab is a perfect fit for him,” she said.

Techonology club for young people with autism.

The Lab gives Oliver, and other children with ASD, an avenue for two hours to be creative and to work with trained mentors in a safe environment.

While COVID-19 did put a stop to The Lab holding face-to-face activities, Leanne said it

was quick to support participants to transition to online activities.

“The good thing about Oliver participating in The Lab, online, at home, is I could hear the

mentors talking to the kids and they really directed their conversation, keeping them on

track, and they listen, which is great because these kids are so black and white,” she said.

But Oliver and other participants are hoping to go back soon.

Mr Blackwell said the organisation was currently looking for a suitable location.

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Originally published as South Barwon’s The Lab grows skills for teens living with autism