Dylan is Chau’s Gift

Two years ago, when Dylan’s mother, Chi, took him to his matched volunteer Chau’s house for the first time, Dylan didn’t want to go inside. Chi was keen for Dylan to visit Chau in her home. She felt that Chau would be able to help Dylan to hold a pen and write.

Dylan is eight years old. He has Down Syndrome and is on the Autism spectrum. Dylan is non-verbal. He is afraid when he is among large groups of people. For the first two months of Dylan’s match with Chau, his mother would stay with him at Chau’s house and talk to Chau about Dylan. Chau has a daughter, Gina, who has Down Syndrome. When Dylan came to visit, Gina would avoid Dylan by staying in her room.

The Extended Families Vietnamese Program Coordinator reflects on how things have changed - ‘now, when Dylan knows his mum is driving to Chau’s house, Dylan claps his hands in anticipation. Dylan and Gina cannot communicate verbally but they sit comfortable in each other’s company. Chi has provided Chau with toys to help her to interact with Dylan. There is an emotive catch in Chau’s voice when she speaks of the day Dylan jumped onto her lap to hold and kiss her. Chau says Dylan is her gift because he makes her happy.’

Sharing culture and friendship

Filiz applied to volunteer with Extended Families to gain more life experience, bring joy to others and help families with a child with a disability in her community. She is a mother of 2 teenage children and is from a Turkish cultural background. Filiz felt that she would be well suited to a match with a Turkish family in her local area.

Not long after being accredited as a volunteer, Filiz was matched with Sahra, a 5 year old girl with Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Delay. Sahra’s mother, Safiye, is the single parent of 4 children and has limited English, so it was important to her for Sahra to be matched with a Turkish speaking volunteer.

In the couple of months that Filiz has been visiting the family she has developed a strong friendship with Sahra, they spend time together playing games, reading books, blocks and exercises for Sahra to develop strength in her limbs. Sahra loves to go out with Filiz, and they have enjoyed trips to the Shopping Centre and the Library. Sahra had never been to a Library before and enjoyed looking at the many books there with Filiz. Filiz enjoys the time she spends with Sahra, laughing and talking together. They have become great friends. Sahra refers to Filiz as ‘Aunty’ in Turkish, and looks forward to Filiz’s visits, sometimes not wanting her to go home.

For Safiye, Filiz’s visits have given her time to do other things and to spend individual time with her younger son. Filiz is someone Safiye feels comfortable talking to in her first language and she also the satisfaction of seeing Sahra form a special friendship and have fun times with Filiz.