Marie Hedley is employed at the Lyell McEwin Health Service. As the mother of two sons with special needs, Marie was drawn into helping others through her own life experience. Her son Robert has Asperger Syndrome and Lachlan has Asperger Syndrome, ADHD and Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

After Lachlan attended social skills training at the Autism Association of SA, Marie was keen for the training to continue, having seen just how much her son needed it, and how beneficial it was for him to have regular training. Along with Marita, she established and ran the first parent-run social skills group. This group was a combination of art and drama and tactile therapy and was extremely successful and enjoyable. A passion for teaching social skills and working with children with special needs developed.
Marie was offered employment at the Autism Association of SA teaching social skills, and she continued to run her own groups together with Marita. Marie also organises school holiday programs for children on the autism spectrum.

Marie has a wealth of practical information and knowledge about strategies. One of her particular interests is educational support within school, and over the past few years she has established a very successful partnership with her son’s school.

Marie established, and continues to organise, a support group that has now been running for 2 years. She visits other support groups to speak to parents on issues such as coping, and she also visits other social skills groups to offer advice on managing specific behavioural and social problems. In 2002, along with Marita, she presented the paper, “Empowering Parents As Leaders and Primary Therapists” at the DARPA (Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals Association) conference.

Marie is a member of the Autism Association and the Northern Carer’s Network (SA).

Marie loves teaching social skills and having fun with the children. She wants to learn face painting and clowning. Helping parents to help their own child is personally satisfying, she is happy to share her own life experiences to benefit others.