Marita Munzer has worked as a Registered Nurse in SA for the past 18 years. When her son, Nick was 2 years old she found out about homeschooling and became involved in local networks. Before long she became active in organising outings, study groups and workshops for homeschoolers. As she enjoys writing, Marita went on to edit two homeschool newsletters. Keeping In Touch was Australia’s largest homeschool newsletter for 2 years, and Extra was Australia’s only homeschooling and special needs newsletter. Marita’s articles have been published nationally and internationally. She remains committed to homeschooling and continues to organises homeschooling events. As Marita recognises the importance of support and loves the Internet she moderates a few homeschooling lists and several websites.

For the past 4 years Marita has been actively involved in supporting families with special needs, her interest arising from her own family situation – Nick was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, Tourette’s Syndrome, OCD, Sensory Integration Disorder, Central Auditory Processing Disorder and Semantic Pragmatic Language Disorder.
Marita’s special interests are dietary intervention, home education, social skills and issues of grief, loss and coping. She coordinates a few support groups, runs workshops for professionals and parents and writes on special needs issues for various newsletters. Along with Marie, in 2002 she presented the paper, “Empowering Parents As Leaders and Primary Therapists” at the DARPA (Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals Association) conference.

Having seen the benefit of social skills training for Nick, she became keenly interested in teaching social skills to children on the autism spectrum. Along with Marie, she established and ran the first parent run social skills group for 12 children – a highly successful group. This group led to employment at the Autism Association and she currently teaches social skills to pre-adolescent and adolescent boys.

Marita equally enjoys helping parents and children. One of her mottos is: “When you help the parent you always help the child.” She does not view disability as a hardship, but as a difference in ability, and while it creates some challenges, it also adds many positive benefits to individuals and families and promotes personal growth. The key to coping is knowledge and a positive attitude. She is keen to raise community awareness and acceptance of those who are different and published a flyer on this theme.

Professionally, Marita continues to work as an RN. She is a member of several professional organisations and groups including: Nurses Board of SA, Autism Association of SA, Parents Consultative Committee (AASA), Tourettes Syndrome of Australia, Disability Information and Resource Centre (Awareness Service), A4 – Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, Carer’s Association, Coeliac Foundation, Northern Carer’s Network, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Support Service, SPELD, National Association for Loss and Grief, Association for Children with Disability Inc, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth and ADASA.