Toby was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 6 with a mild intellectual disability

This is my son Toby who has just turned 18. He was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 6 with a mild intellectual disability. He has always had challenges throughout his school life with peers and teachers and his home life with his siblings.

His disability has meant he has always been funded for an aide to assist with his learning, and over the years has accessed psychological help with his social skills around friendships and dealing with people in general.
Recently, to add to his challenges, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and this has been one of his greatest challenges to adjust to.  However, his love of physical activity/sporting activities at school means he has maintained a healthy weight range and now with his diabetes, his diet is also healthier and more balanced. His desire to exercise and go to a gym has been something that we haven’t  been able to achieve due to lack of financial support and his need for one on one support (personal training) to prevent injury and to break down instructions instead of him struggling to follow a written program with his poor literacy skills.

We would all love the opportunity to participate in a funded program that Toby may benefit from not only on a  physical level but also emotionally through improving self-esteem.  http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/dancing-man-at-belgrave-bus-stop-brings-smiles-to-passersby/news-story/a61a4dbd9e9c77d9baa80021490b513d   for a video link of Toby dancing click above

The dancing man at Belgrave bus stop brings a smile to passersby

Sam Bidey, Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

A FEARLESS performer who dances like there’s no one around while waiting for the bus has brought joy to passing drivers.


Toby Lunnon busts a move at the bus stop. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Toby Lunnon just loves to dance. The 21-year-old Belgrave man lives with autism but he doesn’t let that stop him from busting a move.

While waiting for the bus to and from his work at Knoxbrooke in Mt Evelyn, Toby likes to pass the time with a good beat and some sweet steps, something people in the community have grown to cherish.

“I would like to shout out to the really cool dude who dances like no one is watching at the bus stop opposite Joy Ave on Monbulk road in the afternoons,” Charmaine Carrol posted on social media.

“My kids look forward to seeing you every night. You bring them and me so much joy.”

Toby said he had been dancing since a young age and it didn’t really matter where he was if he got the urge he’d be dancing.

“I’ve done it on the train a few times, I’ve never been to a disco but I’ve done it around the city at parks,” Toby said.

“That’s only on workdays that I dance at the bus stops.”

Toby said his freestyle dance style was made up of moves he’d seen on TV and some he’d come up with himself.

He said he liked to listen to anything with a good beat, such as Eminem or Flo Rida.

April 2013 (6 months later)  Toby enjoyed coming to Vibes and training with Margie. He does enjoy physical activities. He is still doing his stretches 2-3 times per week and does either walking, throwing basketball or boxing each day as his cardio workout.
 
When he exercises, we notice an immediate (by next meal) improvement in his blood sugar levels and his mood improves, which is fantastic. Unfortunately, due to the distance and travel challenges, we cannot maintain regular commitment to travel down into the city, however, If someone was closer to us or the program was adequately funded so that Margie could travel to us for a morning or afternoon a week, that would be ideal. Thank you for the opportunity, Allison Toby’s mum

Jane also has few facial expressions and has difficulty reading the body language of others; she engages in obsessive routines and display an unusual sensitivity to sensory stimuli, eg: bothered by light, she covers her ears to block out sounds in the environment; and often will only wear clothing made only of a certain material. Considered so behavioral-nature, often relating better to adults than peers, and may be seen by others as odd or eccentric. Jane can experience motor delays, clumsiness, limited interest in things, and peculiar preoccupations.

When Jane and her mom first came to me, they were both distressed and Jane, you could tell was a handful. Our first session she sat in the womb position in the hammock, with no interaction and would stay like that as long as she could. Often rocking and crying.  I then got in the hammock, next to her and copied her behaviour except I was over the top, really loud and crazy. After 5 minutes of me screaming and imitating her behaviour, Jane poked her head out of the hammock and said, “I was silly and why am I acting like a child”? Over the months we played a lot of games, exercises that I have created and designed to empower Jane to feel good about herself. I created exercises that are fun and even tug of war.

We focused on rehabilitation, speech therapy and counselling for mother and daughter, which all helped Jane to function academically and socially. We also did lots of breathing techniques, mindfulness techniques, affirmations, mirror work and lots of other exercises and of course antigravity yoga. Jane loves the yoga postures as these postures helped refocus reset and centre Jane. As Jane’s attention span is limited we limited the time in each pose. I utilised all the training’s and education, each exercise would only go for one-minute maximum then move on to the next one. At the start of each session, we had to use all her energy up so that she could then quieten and we could focus on mindfulness and breathing techniques in the womb position and cocoon.

One year later Jane now, at every session teaches me some of the anti-gravity yoga moves exactly how I have taught her. She has changed so much, is so much happier and healthier in her mind, body, and spirit. Occasionally when I am teaching Jane I leave out some of the vital information regards to safety tips, ( on purpose) and Jane corrects me. It’s so fantastic. Often we chant repeats “Hold on Tight” or name of pose and if I do not say this, she will scream it out.

It’s very rewarding watching the transformation and changes .she has so much more confidence and connects with you when speaking. She has transformed so much I feel blessed to have made a difference