“I have found it difficult to write just a few lines about Dawn as I could easily fill a book with all the things she has done not only for our son but for us as a family. We first met Dawn in 2011 when she started helping our son who has multiple learning problems. At the time we had no idea what was best for our son - Dawn took us all by the hand and gently guided us to the place we are today - a son who is less confused and is more understood and as a family, more informed and less frustrated. She has become not only a friend but an amazing advocate for our son which we will always be grateful for.
We have already have and always will recommend her to anyone who has a child that is having problems.”

— Dee Upham

“My son turns 5 next month and has been diagnosed with Autism. He is verbal and was only using one or two words and echolalia to communicate. My son joined ABC in March 2020. Dawn has designed the session programs for my son, and he is having sessions each week. Since he started the programme it has been a blessing to us. I have noticed an incredible change in his speech, his echolalia has reduced and now he is putting his own sentence together and they are often in context for the given situation he is in. He is very happy to stay alone with the therapist during his session. 
We are so grateful to Dawn and Georgia for all the continued support they have provided to us.”

— Buddy Zone Parent

“The Buddy Zone Crew has been great for our 11 year old son who has ADHD/ODD & ASD. In terms of emotional regulation, work around social skills, self esteem and behaviour, they’ve been great and our son has come away with invaluable skills. We are hoping to get our second son involved soon too.”

— Buddy Zone Parent

“Dawn has been a great support to our family through her 1:1 support and advocacy at the younger children’s school also through the group sessions for younger buddy zone and teen zone classes which are focused building strategies and coping skills in a supportive environment. Having three children with autism will always be a challenge for a family and having someone that really understands all the children as individuals, and there context is critical to maintain a good life. Not only does Dawn give us practical help, she gives us a sense of security if things go off the rails we have someone that will help us to get them back on. For us this is invaluable.”

— Buddy Zone Parent

“Dawn has been part of our families life now for nearly eight years, and we are so very pleased she has been there for all of us. My son has benefited enormously from Dawns teaching, wisdom and insight. I am positive that our son would not be the social, bright, happy boy he is today without her timely intervention and support at both home and school through the years. Equally, she has given support and workable strategies to family members when needed, to help us and our son through the challenges of being aspergers. Keep doing what you are doing Dawn!”

—The O'Connor Family

“Dawn has worked with three of my four children and has made a positive impact to them all. From improvement in social skills, emotional regulation and helped reduce episodes of challenging behaviour.

It takes a team to create positive change and we consider Dawn and the great work she does as an essential part of that team”

— Buddy Zone Parent

"We enrolled our son with Buddy Zone when he was 7, due to being an only child with difficulties interacting in social environments. It didn't take long before we started noticing significant improvements in his behaviors, his ability to share, take turns and regulate his emotions when things didn't go his way. Buddy Zone is a great program to allow children of all ages, to learn how to interact and behave in social settings through fun activities in a supportive environment, with each week focusing on a different theme. Less than a year later and the difference in his ability to interact with others, understand and relate to his peers and the excitement of participating every week, has been a great reflection on the program offered by Dawn and her team."

— Buddy Zone Parent

My son George was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism when he had just turned three. We started researching Early Intervention and came across Dawn Wilson.
The Buddy Zone has been so amazing for both George and our family, allowing us to all grow and understand all the different, challenging and beautiful personalities of Autism. George was non-verbal (only Babble) when he was diagnosed at three. We could not take him out of the house without major meltdowns, the supermarket, the doctors. I had even stopped trying catch up with friends as it was just too stressful and exhausting for both George and me.
Dawn has provided my family with an amazing journey of shared strength, determination and goal setting, all the way with full support and advocacy.
Today I can proudly say that my son, now 16, and learning to drive! Is fully verbal (and don’t we know it!) is at mainstream school and has been since The Buddy Zone guided him through his transition into Primary School. He has a great group of friends, which he maintains by arranging football games (yes, Football!! and he rides a bike too!) he is social, and thoughtful, and has the ability to reflect upon his behaviours and how these may impact on his immediate environment.
Dawn and The Buddy Zone has been a lifesaving relationship for me and my family. We will be forever grateful for the wealth of knowledge, care and advocacy she has for children on the Autistic Spectrum and their families.
We are so fortunate to have been introduced to Dawn. She has literally opened up George’s world so that he can live life fully engaged with others, independent and successful in the world as he chooses. ”

— Penny Warren