APRIL 2017 | Wai Lin Coultas

56 YEAR-OLD Dunorlan woman Deidre Triffitt was inducted to 2017’s Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women, alongside 21 women and one organisation.

Deidre catalysed the establishment in 1995 of Giant Steps Tasmania, a nongovernment school with a holistic, multidisciplinary and intensive programme for children with autism spectrum disorders.

Motivated by her son Corom’s daily multiple epileptic seizures beginning at 18 months old, followed by his diagnosis of autism, she was instrumental in the formation of the Giant Steps Steering Committee which lobbied the State Government to commit $225,000 in 1994 to redress the absence of any such service in Tasmania.

This was after Deidre had spent $300,000 from 1991 to establish a parent support group, and to discover the Canadian Institute of Neuro-Integrative Development’s Giant Step programme.

Corom began treatment at its satellite school, with Triffitt and husband, Kim working a year as cleaners to help foot his tuition.

Their dedication further drew Giant Steps founder, Darlene Berringer to the island state to gain political and community support for forming Giant Steps Tasmania.

Now the happy young adult Corom has carers and family supporting and watching over him at his independent unit on the family property near Deloraine.

Photo | Picture supplied