m e n u
I’m wildly passionate about inclusion, and helping children and young people with autism to grow and thrive in the areas of their social-emotional development and wellbeing.
I'm Alana Poletta; an Autism educator & coach.
I’m an Adelaide hills based provider, committed to providing children and their families with a high quality professional service that supports inclusion and their ongoing social and emotional development.
I’m passionate about using heart-centred methods that differ from traditional therapy to create positive change for children and young people on the autism spectrum.
Parent retreats and workshops coming soon!
Consulting for parents / teachers / educational setting
Bendy Buddies’ social skills groups for children aged 5-12. Teen groups coming soon!
Individualised life and social skills coaching for teens and young adults
Individualised therapeutic supports for children aged 4-12 years, focused on play and social-emotional development.
Thoughtful communication for parents and teachers, ensuring consistency across settings
Brain Breaks (including yoga, movement and breathwork)
Mindfulness, compassion and kindness learning experiences
Development of personal tools for self-regulation
Increased awareness of perspective taking and social nuances
neuro-affirming, Creative, authentic, and innovative teaching approaches
What can you expect from my sessions?
Connection is an integral part of what supports my life and underpins all the work that I do. I thrive on seeing the clients I work with connect to themselves and the world around them, and inspiring and empowering independence.
Wellbeing is essential for learning, and I believe in teaching mindfulness techniques from an early age and using an holistic approach to improve a child’s ability to learn and self-regulate. I work from a strengths based perspective where I acknowledge and encourage a child's unique abilities and interests. I recognise and celebrate children’s differences, and understand the huge importance of programs needing to be flexible to meet the individual needs of the child.
AUTISM developmental educator, inclusion and Education consultant, Life coach, and Kids yoga teacher…to name just a few credentials! But more on that later!
Groups and individual sessions are conducted by me:
-BEN ELLIS
"It’s definitely not a ‘fix it’ approach! She has such a nurturing, engaging and fun approach in teaching our son the tools to help navigate this world. His well-being and confidence has truly thrived with each and every session and he excitedly looks forward to their time together each week!”
“We feel Alana fills a significant gap that is missing from traditional therapies for ASD."
-Alana Weir
I often see my son putting into practice what he has learnt during his sessions and I love the feedback I get from Alana after every session.”
My son does a happy dance each time he knows he has an individual session with Alana or gets to see his friends at ‘Bendy Buddies’!
“After seeing a number of therapists over the years who had a ‘one program fits all’ type approach, it’s so refreshing to have a therapist finally tailor their program to fit specifically with my child’s needs.
-Naomi Pointon
If we had to keep only one support service, it would definitely be Alana’s because her support will continue to help as he grows older and his learning needs change."
His ability to understand his and others feelings and emotions has improved so much, and his meltdowns are almost non-existent now.
"This is the third year that our son Elijah has been supported by Alana. Alana was Elijah's Inclusive Preschool Program teacher, so when we found out she was starting her own business to support children on the autism spectrum we knew she had the experience, tools and compassion and this was exactly what he needed to flourish in his schooling years. It also helped with a smooth transition, as he trusted her and they already had a special bond. Since working with Alana and also taking part in the Bendy Buddies group program we have seen Elijah's emotional and social skills grow immensely.
