After Payton was diagnosed with ADHD, ODD and autism, things made sense. But she still needed a place to process her big emotions – so Satan’s Little Helper sent her a modular couch that she can use to build a safe space or even a fort, to take charge of her environment and rule her little kingdom!
Seven-year-old Payton hasn’t found growing up very easy so far.
“The past two years have been really difficult for her,” explains her mum, Aimee. “She’s always been full of life, but she’s slowly had it pulled out of her.”
Payton has been indefinitely stood down from school because of her behaviour, but Aimee says that is only because of a lack of support.
“Anyone who knows Payton knows she’s not the person she was made out to be. Since she left school, she’s been diagnosed with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and is on the autism spectrum.
“The school environment was way too overstimulating for her. The analogy I give is that it’s as if she was a Coke bottle being shaken up all day until it exploded. The school tried its best, but they didn’t have the resources to help, and without a proper diagnosis, it just looked like she was a naughty kid.”
Help is at hand
Aimee is now homeschooling Payton and, while she says it does have its benefits, it’s not an ideal situation for her daughter to be in.
Thankfully, Aimee is now working with professionals to get the help and support both she and Payton need.
“Payton has been out of mainstream school for more than three months, which has been extremely isolating for her,” explains Aimee. “It has been a tough road for our little girl, but we’re fighting to get her life back to normal as soon as possible.”
Each day as it comes
Right now, the family is focused on taking each day as it comes, while doing all they can to give Payton the tools and strength to navigate this challenging period in her life. One challenge for her to overcome is when she starts to feel overwhelmed and requires a safe space.
When Satan’s Little Helper heard how much something as simple as a modular play couch would help her, it was an easy decision to send one over.
Aimee says that Payton loves her new, pink, couch and uses it every day.
“Having somewhere for Payton to hide out when she’s feeling heightened is huge for us and it has helped her so much.
“She can turn it into heaps of different shapes and use it to make herself a fort to hide in when she’s feeling overwhelmed. It has really stimulated her imagination.
“It gets dragged from room to room and she even slept on it the first night it was here! It’s so versatile, I don’t think she’ll ever get bored of it!”
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