Our Families

At AEIOU, we enrol and support more than 300 children each year. We also have a strong focus on supporting each child's family.

Each parent and carer is a valued member of our diverse AEIOU community. We support families to scaffold their child's learning at home and in the community in a range of ways, including connecting families and therapists in engagement sessions, offering educational workshops with practical strategies to assist families in the home environment, and hosting community experiences.

Read these raw, personal stories written by families who have enrolled their child, or children, at AEIOU. If you would like to share your story, please contact our team today.

Share your family's story

Bruce is kicking goals

A three-month family road trip around Australia during COVID was when four-year-old Bruce Limov’s mother Melissa recognised her youngest son was “on the spectrum”.

Arjac’s first words truly heart-felt

Mum Kristen Welch had been waiting for years, hoping to hear her autistic son Arjac utter his very first word. Little did she know that when it finally happened, it would be a full sentence that would forever make every day feel like Valentine’s...

A one stop wonder: Ethan finally says "I love you"

Three-year-old Ethan Haskings can finally say the words every parent wants to hear: “I love you”, thanks to what his parents describe as a “one stop wonder”: AEIOU.

“This is something that was only a dream before starting at AEIOU”: Blair’s big family holiday

Blair is non-verbal and was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 3) at the start of 2020. This February, our little family set off for a much-needed holiday, reuniting with family in Newcastle after a long year of lockdowns and border...

"Little things mean a lot." - Ben Sparrow

Emileigh is a loving and affectionate little girl. She’ll be 6 next February. Read all that Emileigh's dad, Ben, has learned from his daughter.

"If you said to me six months ago that he'd be doing what he is now, I'd be in disbelief." - The Ellis family

Nick Ellis shares some of his journey with us as a parent of a child with autism. His son Levi has been attending AEIOU for 18 months now and it’s been life-changing.

"It was a journey to get where we are now. Don't give up. It's worth it." - The Webber Family

Ethan is five and will be going to Big School next year. Elizabeth, Ethan’s Mum, says “don’t give up”.

Mason is making great gains - Jade Raggio

Mason turned five in April and he’s going to Big School next year. The future is looking bright! Mason’s mum, Jade, offers a glimpse into their journey.

Strong and determined: that's Jackson - Joanne Emblem

Jackson loves being outside, riding a trike, and playing with trucks, trains and cars. He’s five years of age and his world is a lot different compared to when he first came to AEIOU in April 2019. There have been achievements and highlights, big...

A beacon of hope - Jazmine and mum Jo Vella

Jo and Jaz offer a story of hope for parents of young children with autism. Jaz first attended AEIOU at four, with considerable challenges. She’s now 12: a courageous, accomplished and beautiful girl with dreams of a bright future. Jo, Jaz’s...

"We love the community AEIOU has welcomed us into" - The Deuble Family

So much has changed since last Christmas for the Deuble family. They’ve moved to Brisbane from Sydney to give their first-born son the greatest gift possible – early intervention. Looking back, they have so much to be thankful for. New...

“Without early intervention, Ariana’s transition to school would have been far more challenging"

Each January, a new cohort of parents begin navigating the unknown of Prep for the first time, often struggling with the conflicting emotions that come with sending their child into the big wide world. For families who have a child with autism, this...

"We chose the road that would give Jake the best opportunities in life." - The Kahui Family

It’s a rough old journey to start, and while initially, there is utter disbelief when the diagnosis comes, with the right help and the best support, the future looks bright. You need to focus on the days when you get the little wins and really...

"Our daughter is now encouraging others to play" - The Paine Family

Sienna has a smile which lights up a room. Her vibrancy is contagious and the kindness she shows others is enough to make any parent proud. Looking through the camera lens at this confident (almost) five-year-old, it’s hard to imagine that at the...

"Logan is an exciting chapter in AEIOU’s story & for the autism community"

At AEIOU, we firmly believe every child with autism in the country should have access to early intervention, and the opening of our purpose-built Logan centre on 14 August unlocks that reality for a whole new community of families on Brisbane’s...

AEIOU alumnus Kobe 'debuts' as honorary Brisbane Bronco: The Blessington Family

AEIOU alumnus Kobe will tonight 'debut' as an honorary team member of the Brisbane Broncos when they play against the Sydney Roosters! Running on to the field at Suncorp Stadium is a dream come true for the five-year-old, who is kicking goals at big...

“Never underestimate the abilities of your child" - The Empringham Family

The Empringham family are not only proud AEIOU parents, but devoted advocates for early intervention through their incredible fundraising efforts. The family was responsible for dreaming up the 2017 Coronis Golf Day, which saw $20,000 raised for...

“Autism had built a fence around our Emma, and we just had to unlock it" - The Foster Family

Receiving Emma’s autism diagnosis provided much-needed validation for us. That it wasn’t just me doing a terrible job at parenting. Our family been struggling for some time and were doing everything on our own without outside support. While part...

“AEIOU helped our son show kindness and love to his brother” - The Parr Family

Jasper was our first child so we really had no gauge of what normal behaviour was. It wasn’t until our middle child was born that we knew that we had to seek help. Jasper was so upset whenever his baby brother cried, he would scream so loud and...

“You walk the journey alone. Until you get to AEIOU” - Katie Burke

As a friend once said to me, autism is a marathon, not a sprint. Our outcomes so far have been a continuous upward gain, rather than explosive shift. While I think every family hopes for that dramatic overnight transformation, there is so much...

Unlocking potential and forging a future - Sarah Frahm

When Ollie was two years of age, he wasn't talking or even attempting to. He never answered to his name, he never made eye contact, he never wanted to play with me - he just always wanted to be by himself, he wasn't meeting his milestones and he was...

You are not alone: our experience in early intervention - Jasmin Link

I’m grateful to be able to share my part of my son, Luke’s, journey with you. Luke, 5, began at Camira in January 2016, and our journey up to then is quite similar to many families who have a child with autism. It took 10 months off endless...

AEIOU gave our daughter her voice - Casey Cornish

Autism is undoubtedly the biggest life change we, as a family, have ever experienced. It has changed our views on how we look at life and what is important. Living with autism is very much a day-by-day process and each day can differ from the last...

Opening the window to a world of possibilities - Kirsten Bowman

In those early years, it was as though Lachlan was sitting and looking out the window at real life, but with the support of AEIOU, that window is opening for him, helping him to reach out and engage with life. Above all, AEIOU is helping to connect...

Our learning journey with two beautiful sons who have autism - The Walters Family

We are blessed with three wonderful sons, two who have autism. Our middle child Henry has been attending AEIOU Bray Park since 2015 and is due to transition to ‘big school’ in 2018. There he will join his older brother William, who only received...

Your child can achieve beyond your expectations - Katy Meilak

2017 is certainly a big year for the Meilak family, with son Zac starting primary school in their hometown of Canberra. It’s incredible to think that for the 12 months prior, the family relocated to Brisbane to attend AEIOU’s early intervention...

The only way is up - Natalie Cupitt

When Finn was diagnosed with autism, Natalie knew they only had a limited time to shape his mind and they didn't want to waste a moment. Read more here...

Taking the next step - Amelia Cupitt

With Tyler's upcoming transition to 'big school' in 2017, it's comforting for mum Amelia to know they have AEIOU's full support. Read more here...

The door stays open - Karen Fleischer

Sitting at Ruby's graduation from AEIOU was one of the happiest and proudest moment's of Karen's life. Read more here...

The Dionysius Family

William is one of AEIOU's younger children and is blossoming in his new environment. Upon starting the program, his mum Elaine was relieved to discover the certainty of routine and how well-equipped the staff were to ensure a smooth transition.

The Redman Family

With every little development Jayden makes through AEIOU, life gets a little bit easier not only for Jayden but the whole family. They celebrate each one of his new skills and even his siblings share in the joy.

The Morris Family

When Olivia started at AEIOU she hardly answered to her name, was not talking or toilet trained and delayed in her fine motor skills. She has come along in leaps and bounds since then and mum Kellie says the change to their family has been amazing.

The Innes Family

Sam has now successfully transitioned to mainstream school and although the Innes family admit they will still have challenges ahead, AEIOU has given them the confidence to deal with the future.

The Kasangula Family

In the time we were with AEIOU, the Kasangula family saw so many changes in their son Jed. One of the most defining moments was when they were driving in the car and he said “where are we going Mummy?”

The Gale Family

The Gale's moved from Sydney to access AEIOU's program in Brisbane. They say they would make the same decision a million times over, and that AEIOU feels like family. Lachy is toilet trained, and can communicate with PECs.

The Bennett Family

Enzo's family never imagined that at just 2 1/2 years old, he would be diagnosed with autism. They say AEIOU has been their 'saving grace'. He has learned to communicate and developed independent living skills. Best of all, he can say 'mummy'!

The Rindfleish Family

When Rob's parents found AEIOU, they knew it was the place for them, but it wasn't that simple: they lived hours away, in Mungindi, on the border of QLD & NSW. Putting work on hold, Betty moved to Toowoomba with her children from Monday - Friday...

The McKinnon-Sharratt Family

Since he started at AEIOU, Felix has learned to communicate, use the toilet independently, complete 50-100 piece puzzles, and most importantly, give his parents lots of cuddles.

The Sarkar Family

Ishaan's parents say that after his enrolment at AEIOU, his confidence and skills emerged and their tears turned to smiles. They say that within one year, he was transformed. He has shown a great talent for music, and enjoys going to school so much...

The Wainstein Family

Dina received an autism diagnosis just before she turned four. Her family enrolled her at AEIOU in 2012, and say that since then, she is a completely different, confident little girl. She is fully toilet trained, she can communicate, and she plays...

The Shine Family

Aidan Shine attended AEIOU's Townsville centre, where he was supported to develop many new skills, including the ability to communicate, connect with his family, and transition to school. His mother Rebecca tells their story.

The Stephens Family

Chase Stephens attends AEIOU's Gold Coast Centre and has developed the ability to communicate with his family and achieve a number of milestones.

The Hogarth Family

William and Emily Hogarth both attended AEIOU and since that time, have both blossomed, developing the ability to communicate, make friends, and so much more. Today, both have transitioned to new school environments, and this family story was...

The Kahler Family

Adam and Damon are twins, who both attended AEIOU's Nathan centre before transitioning to school. They began at AEIOU with no words, but left being able to communicate with confidence. Their parents became 'mum' and 'dad', and they say early...

The Swiatek Family

Zane's family say that the placement he received at AEIOU gave them something to hold onto, and it was a turning point in their lives. Their enrolment was confirmed a week before Christmas and was the best present they could have hoped for. At AEIOU...

The Driessen Family

Isaac attended AEIOU's Toowoomba centre before transitioning to mainstream school. He loves maths, and reading and his parents are very proud of him, explaining AEIOU has given him a strong foundation to grow and develop.