THE CLUB: Meeting at the Ashgrove Library, we play popular tabletop games such as Pokemon Trading Card Game (PTCG), Card Wars, and Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). We mix it up every few weeks but primarily we have become a PTCG group by popular demand! WHO CAN JOIN: 9-17 year olds who are able to participate in turn taking activity and follow verbal directions (ASD Level 1-2). Participants who are self-
managing at this time and funding through community access/social participation - Please message me for further details of costs. STRUCTURE: Each session begins and ends with a transition period, so kids can settle in and exit at their own pace. There is structured conversation including opportunity to talk about their preferred game, reflecting what went well, and what strategies are going to be used. Competitive games, like PTCG, will be casual play for now. Participants earn points depending on their participation, sportsmanship, resilience, and self-regulation skills. After the activity, participants take turns picking card packs as a reward. Outside of the structured play time, participants are invited to take advantage of supervised trades, deck improvement tips, and art therapy activities. WHAT TO BRING: Something small and quiet to help you regulate during transition time and play, a water bottle, and some snacks. Everything else we need will be provided however participants are encouraged to bring their own card decks, though not required. ABOUT The ORGANISER: My name is Joshua, I'm a support worker, hobbyist game developer, person with ASD, and advocate. I started support work in 2016, mentoring for The Lab Brisbane part-time while I was finishing my Bachelor of Game Development. Since then, I've worked with a dozen young people with ASD, assisting with study planning, community access, independent living skills, and art therapy. I have fallen in love with this work because there's plenty of opportunities to pass on and practice my varied tech and art skills. I'm skilled at motivating people to finish tasks even when they think they don't want to. It's tough work sometimes, but always so rewarding to see people grow and to be proud of who they are. I'm hosting this social group because I believe certain tabletop games excel at assisting kids on the spectrum to overcome common challenges. I also needed a space where the my existing clients can meet some other black sheep and feel like they're in a flock. My Blue Card and Yellow Card are current, the same for any other support workers that will be joining us as we grow.
