On Saturday, my partner and I had a delightful date playing mini-golf at Point Walter Golf Course! For me, managing social situations can be tricky fas I experience additional barriers to communication, social anxiety and agoraphobia.

When I am faced with unfamiliar faces or new settings, my comfort zone shrinks and being able to vocally communicate becomes impossible. That's where my AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device steps in, helping me connect with others when I cannot rely on my vocal speech.

The biggest hurdle for me in accessing the community often lies in people's perceptions. Using an AAC device sometimes leads to misconceptions, such as the assumption that I can't hear when other’s talk or that I don’t have the capacity to understand what they’re saying.

It can sometimes be amusing to witness the charades people do trying to act out what they want to communicate before I type the familiar phrase, “Please speak as you usually would—I can hear and understand you”. Sometimes amusing, often frustrating.

So….. here's where the magic happened! The Cérge app put me in the driver's seat, allowing me to decide which of my access needs I shared and the level of detail I felt comfortable sharing. See ya later assumptions! Instead of explaining the intricacies behind the way my Autism presents, I could focus on what I needed on that particular day at that particular venue to enjoy it stress-free.

Checking the Sensory Guide before leaving the house was a game-changer. It reminded me to grab my noise-cancelling headphones, hat, sunscreen and therefore preparing me for both the environment at the golf course and the noise levels I might experience at the cafe.

Richard in reception was open and receptive to communicating with me and made me feel seen and welcome. He took the time to explain the details of the course in a way that gave me all the information I needed without any uncertainty.

The result? An absolutely fantastic time at Point Walter Golf Course!

Even though my partner beat my score by 10 (lucky them!), I had a wonderful time!

Thanks to the Cérge app, putting me in control and making the outing stress-free and enjoyable!