New Zealand's time zone is GMT+12, or two to four hours ahead of Australia. If you are calling in the late evening, your contact may be asleep. To reach an organization in New Zealand before closing hours, you may need to call in the morning or early afternoon.  New Zealand is two hours ahead of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane (which are on AEST). It is two and a half hours ahead of Adelaide (ACST), and four hours ahead of Perth (AWST).  New Zealand observes daylight savings time, but parts of Australia do not. If you are in Queensland, the Northern Territory, or the Australian Capital Territory, and you are calling between October and April, add one additional hour to find New Zealand time. Because callers are typically still charged when calling toll-free numbers from a different country, some businesses block international calls to avoid causing their customers unexpected fees. In New Zealand, toll-free numbers typically begin with 0508 or 0800. Try to find a regular, non-toll-free number for that organization by searching online, or contact it by email. Some phone plans block international calls. Try calling a different international number. If it does not go through, contact your phone service provider and ask to change your plan. Note that international calls are often significantly more expensive than local or in-country calls. If you call abroad frequently, ask about a plan with a reduced international rate.
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One-sentence summary -- Consider the time zone difference. Check that the number is not toll-free. Make sure your phone plan allows international calls.


This can limit sensory stimuli for your child. Some autistic people prefer to have their backs to busy areas, while others prefer to have their backs to a wall (to avoid surprises). Let your child choose which side they'd like to be in. Especially in an unfamiliar place, an autistic child may attempt to run away (especially if stressed) or simply wander away, distracted by the novel surroundings. Keeping a close eye on your child will help lessen the likelihood of this occurring.  Seating can prevent eloping. In a booth, have your child sit next to the wall, with other people in between them and the restaurant. People in between them and the exit will prevent eloping, and make them easier to catch if they start running. Notice signs of stress. If your child is getting overwhelmed or ready to run, a five-minute walk in the parking lot may help. This way, your child can have a much needed break, while supervised by an adult for safety. If you know your child is hungry, order an appetizer immediately—this will lessen the chance of a meltdown occurring. Make sure that the appetizer works with your child's sensory issues. A lot of autistic children have no interest in lingering after a meal. Leaving quickly is the best plan, and will make things a lot easier on both you and your server if you have to leave abruptly.  If other children eat more slowly than your autistic child, have something for the child to do. Maybe they'd like to play with a tablet, or take a walk outside with an adult who has finished eating. Get takeout boxes if you need to leave early. That way, you can finish the meal at home. If you are afraid that your child may spill their drink, ask the waiter for a kiddie cup for their drink. Or, bring a sippy cup or other such drink container from home.This will help avoid a huge spill if your child drops their drink or knocks it over. You may hear other customers call you a "bad parent", or roll their eyes at you, but as hard as it may be, it is important to simply ignore them. They may not know enough about autism to realize what your child is going through. Plenty of children, autistic and otherwise, have screaming episodes in public places. It's not fun, but it's normal. This doesn't reflect negatively upon you as a parent. This does happen, so if you or your child notice that the order is missing something, or something is wrong with it, flag down your server. When they take it away, if your child gets upset, explain to them that something was wrong with it, so they are going to fix their food and it will come back. Many autistic children have sensory issues, and a sprinkle of cheese may be as disgusting as if the meal were charred to a crisp. If your child does not like the dish, tell your server. They will most likely be aware that your child is autistic (inform them politely if they are unaware), and they will allow your child to pick a new dish, or have their dish prepared a different way if needed. Whether it be with some simple words of encouragement, or through a tangible reinforcement if your child enjoys receiving them, be sure that you give your child some sort of praise if they made it through the entire restaurant visit.
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One-sentence summary -- Ask to be seated in a quiet corner, or next to a wall, preferably in a booth. Keep a close eye on your child at all times. Pay attention to when your child is hungry. Ask for the check immediately when you receive your entrees. Know your child's tendency to spill things. Ignore any comments or looks you may get if your child has a meltdown. Be prepared if your child's order goes wrong. Be prepared if your child does not like their food. Praise your child for a job well done if they made it through the entire meal.


Pour the water into an empty, clean aquarium or fish tank. Measure out the right amount based on the number of Triops you currently have or expect to have after hatching. Use natural spring water, which has calcium to help the animals grow.  You can also use tap water, as long as it’s been treated to remove all chlorine, which is toxic to Triops. Do not use mineral or distilled water. The mineral level in mineral water is too high, whereas distilled water doesn’t have enough calcium for the Triops. Because Triops need warm water to hatch and thrive, set a lamp over the top of the tank to maintain a mild water temperature. Position either a fluorescent or incandescent light about 12 inches (30 cm) above the water.  Put an aquarium thermometer in the tank to monitor the water temperature. If the tank is sitting somewhere in the sun or in a warm room, you may not need the light to heat the water. Line the tank with soil, gravel, or sand so the Triops can dig around. Fill the bottom with about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of your chosen substrate to protect any larvae and prevent the Triops from mistaking the eggs for a snack.  You can buy the substrate at a pet store or from an online retailer. Wash the substrate with plain tap water before putting it in the tank to remove any potential chemicals or dirt. While Triops don’t require any plants or extra items, like large stones or fake castles, in their tank, you can put some in if you’d like it to look more appealing. Only use plants or decorations that are safe for aquarium use, however, so you don’t accidentally poison the Triops. Never put things you find in nature, like a rock or a log, in the tank as they can contain harmful bacteria. To keep the water fresh, replace about 1/4 of it on a weekly basis. Scoop it out with a cup or bucket, then pour clean, natural spring water in. Be careful not to scoop up the Triops with it! Do not use soap when cleaning your tank. It’s poisonous to Triops.
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One-sentence summary --
Fill a tank with .5 to 1 gallon (1.9 to 3.8 L) of natural spring water per Triops. Place a heat lamp above the tank to keep the water between 72 and 84 °F (22 and 29 °C). Add substrate to the tank if you'd like to recreate their natural habitat. Choose plants carefully if you want to add decoration. Change out about 25% of the water in the tank once a week.