Contacting ANDI between April 15 and May 15

Dear Friend of ANDI Initiative:

During mid-April until mid-May, you can contact us by email at ANDI.Initiative@gmail.com. We will not, however, be contactable by phone, as we are away from Malaysia at the moment.

Looking forward to your email.

Have a great month!

Kind regards,

Intan & Anthony Miranti
ANDI Initiative

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Hotel Soap Project - Again!

Do you have a drawerful of hotel soaps brought home from holidays or business trips? Would you like to give them away to a good cause? Free up some drawer space?

If so, contact us at ANDI.Initiative@gmail.com to drop off your items in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.  In the past, we have passed these items on to orphanages, children's homes and centres for children with special needs. We will continue to give away the donated soaps to any establishment that wants them.

This time around, the Pertiwi Soup Kitchen (who serve the homeless in Kuala Lumpur) has indicated that they would like to receive some.

Here are some guidelines:

1. Only bars of soap will be accepted ( no liquid soaps or shampoos).
2. Each item MUST be unopened (completely sealed in its original packaging).

Deadline for donation drop-off is March 15, 2013.

Feel free to spread the word. Thank you!



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Fathers

There needs to be more images on the internet of FATHERS engaging with their child with special needs. So here is one.

Photo used with permission of both parties :-) They are working on a) reading non-verbal communication, b) using non-verbal communication, c) referencing another person's face for information, d) coordinating one's actions with someone else's, e) being an effective apprentice, among other goals.

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ASD Parent Training & Support Series, Feb 2013 Intake

Eleventh Intake since 2007! 

"There are many things I likes about the parent training programme. Firstly, the training was very 'hands-on'. Parents were actively involved in discussions and question-answer sessions. Teaching and learning took place in a very informal way. There was not a dull moment and I felt enriched each time a class ended. 

It has been a wonderful experience for me. I understand my child better. I can connect to my child easily. I teach my child more effectively. I play with my child more enjoyably. The reasons behind his tantrums and behaviour are now much more predictable.

The gains were not only for my child. I definitely had my share of self-improvement."

- Parent of 8-year-old, Johor Bahru, Johor
2010 Participant

"When I discovered my son had autism at the age of two, I scrambled around for another year to look for someone to help him. I heard about ANDI Initiative's Parent Training programme and was excited at the prospect of learning skills to help my son. I could see positive changes in my son. His therapists and I tracked his improvement from a boy trapped in his own head to a child who loves people. He's still a work in progress, but now I'm able to explore other forms of techniques of helping and connecting with him, because the initial training by ANDI Initiative made me brave, skilled, proactive and empowered."

- Parent, 2007 Participant, Petaling Jaya

"The training helped me to communicate with my son effectively. In return, he is able to relate to me in a sensible way. Introducing a new routine is no longer a struggle."

- Parent of 7-year-old, 2008 Participant, Putrajaya


The ASD Parent Training is a five-month training programme for parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder who want to learn how to teach their child skills, improve their child's cooperation and other behaviours, and have fun with their child during this process. The trainer uses both relationship-based methodologies and Applied Behaviour Analysis. The trainer is equally influenced by the HANDLE (R) approach, the sensory integration paradigm and Social Thinking (R).

Totalling more than 40 hours, this training series provides guidance, information and support about:

- setting up a learning programme at home
- troubleshooting difficulties
- improving behaviours
- keeping learning fun!

Through small-group training sessions, verbal and video feedback, home visits, written data and phone consultations, parents give the trainer information on the child's progress in order to get the next steps in each child's learning programme, and to get guidance from the trainer in determining what those next steps would be.

The training includes:

- FIVE small group training sessions
- SIX support visits to your home
- Phone-email consultations
- "Parent-to-Parent Support": During the training series, parents will be be able to access moral support and information from several parents who participated in previous intakes of this training series.

Small-group Training Dates:

Initial Training (Session 1)
Monday, 18 February
9:00am until 3:30pm

Initial Training (Session 2)
Monday, 25 February
9:00am until 3:30pm

Training Session 3
Monday, 1 April
9:00am until 3:30pm


Training Session 4
Monday, 6 May
9:00am until 3:30pm


Training Session 5
Monday, 10 June
9:00am until 3:30pm



Training Venue: SS2, Petaling Jaya. Address will be given to confirmed participants.

Support Visits to the Home:

A total of 6 support visits will be made by a member of our Support Visit Team to your home between February and June 2013, at a time suitable for the family.

What families have said about this training series:

"I have benefited a lot from this training...I can now communicate with my child who was previously non-verbal using the communication tools introduces in the training, we have fun during the therapy sessions, we have bonded so much more and most important of all - both of us are no longer frustrated with each other."

- Parent of 4-year-old, 2009 Participant, Ampang


"After 13 weeks of this programme, my son has shown improvement. Thanks to this effective programme, I feel more calm..."

- Parent of 2-year-old, 2007 Participant, Cheras


"This is truly a one-of-a-kind programme where parents are trained and given full support be it techniques, trouble-shooting advice and counselling to start learning or behaviour management programmes with the child. I learnt so many new things and methods, and the 'whys' and 'hows'.

What gave me confidence was Intan's approach to fine-tune/correct our skills during home visits. He still has a long way to but this parent training has given me the skill, confidence and hope to carry on."

- Parent of 3-year-old, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, 2011 Participant


There are only 8 total spots available for the ASD Parent Training & Support Series, and these spots may be determined by age, diagnosis or suitability of the child for this programme.

To enquire, or to request an application form, or to speak with parents who have previously gone through this training, please contact ANDI Initiative at ANDI.Initiative@gmail.com or leave a message at 012-538-6134.

To read more Parent Testimonials about this Parent Training Programme, please click HERE. 


***Quotes reprinted with express permission.

Free Talk on HANDLE coming up on Dec 3, 2012!

I have seen some children make progress after HANDLE was included into their lives! To find out more about this approach, click HERE for details on a free talk coming up in Kuala Lumpur on December 3, 2012, called How HANDLE Helps Learning.

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Words from a parent currently in the ASD Parent Training & Support Series

The words below are from a mother who is currently half-way into the Sept-Dec 2012 intake of the parent training series offered by ANDI Initiative.She has allowed me to share her thoughts. Can you sense how empowered she feels? An empowered parent is a healthy parent. A healthy parent can better hold the family together. Happy Reading!

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I personally feel he has improved in social skills. He's not exactly talking yet, but he mingles more and is not as shy as before. He even initiates to play with other people when he's bored. Previously he's contented with playing alone, him and his trains, daydreaming, self babbling.  He still babbles now, but half of the time he is looking at one's face as if he wants to communicate, only words not coming out.

He surprised me sometimes with his abilities to do certain activities, and he is more compliant now. He enjoys the feeling of accomplishments when he does things right (eg. counting is really tough for him at the moment, but if he gets it right, he did the king kong chest thumping proudly. I haven't the faintest idea where he learnt that from).

He enjoys his sessions with me. Every night after dinner, he willingly walks upstairs to start his 

sessions. He is looking forward to do activities other than watching TV. That, to me, is improvement!

In my husband's own words "At least now he knows he should sit down when we expect him to do so, and he knows he should be learning/studying stuff during table time. Better concentration."

I am now more aware of my son's potential.  I  am feeling closer to him, and him to me. I don't think my husband and me have thoroughly passed the denial stage yet, but seeing him improving daily, gives us hope, instead of worrying like mad and feeling hopeless.

We know now we can and we must help him to speed up his learning, and not rely solely on supplements and professionals. We are doing things at his pace, not forcing him to do activities that are not up to his level. We have better directions, all thanks to you Intan!!

Having joined this parent training made me realized there are a lot more parents out there who were struggling as much and even more than me, and we understand each other difficulties in dealing with our special kid. I’m bad, but knowing that I'm not alone in this situation, provides some comfort specially during down times.

No regrets in joining this training, In fact I should have joined in earlier!! (self kick!!!)

Parent

Participant, ASD Parent Training & Support Series Sept-Dec 2012 Intake

Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia

Georgetown Street Art Suggested Walking Route for those with Whine-itis, Small Bladders & Assorted Ouch-ies

So this is the guide I wish I had. I didn't relish constantly looking at the map on my phone. I'd rather have concentrated on the awesome street art, beautiful architecture, and not falling into potholes nor getting hit by traffic.

This is not an "ultimate" guide, nor a comprehensive one. This is a guide suitable for a motley crew of 10 like ours: consisting someone with gout, someone who always seemed to be honked by traffic, someone with knee trouble, someone with a severe case of "Mom-we've-been-walking-forever-itis", and someone with the smallest bladder EVER.

Eight-tenths of our motley crew

Right, here we go.

Start at City Bayview Hotel Lobby on Lebuh Farquahar. (Well, you don't have to, but we did because that's where we stayed.)

Walk to the right around the corner. Cross the street (carefully, watch for cars from your left) onto Lebuh Leith. Right away you should in front of Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion on Lebuh Leith

 Walk down Lebuh Leith, and you'll get to your first treat, the "Jimmy Choo" Sculpture.

On Lebuh Leith

Click on images for larger view of text

Take a left on Lebuh Chulia.

It's always a toss- up whether to make the family walk on the road, or along the 5-foot-way. Adam, my son, who is now 5 ft 9 inches tall, hit his head on a low overhang along the 5-foot-way (and here I thought 5-foot way refered to the WIDTH, not the height!). It was concrete, so quite painful for Adam, poor guy. Lebuh Chulia had not as much to offer, art-wise, although I did appreciate Yeng Keng Hotel's architecture.

Part of Yeng Keng Hotel

(Suggested detour: Take a quick left into Lebuh Muntri to see the "Win-Win" Steel Sculpture. Then come back to Lebuh Chulia.)

Adam saw stars for a while, but we made it to Love Lane.

Take a left onto Love Lane.

Immediately you will see another lovely piece of art, "Cheating Husbands" steel-rod sculpture.

At the Love Lane - Lebuh Chulia intersection

I like some of the building facades along Love Lane, like the one below.

Further down Love Lane, watch out for the intersection with Lebuh Mentri (Muntri Street). On the left at that corner, you should see another lovely piece of steel-rod art, "One Leg Kicks All".

(Suggested detour: Go left onto Muntri for a bit to see the "Little Girl in Blue" mural. Come back to Love Lane after.)

(Suggested detour number 2 - and my BIGGEST regret for getting geographically confused, and therefore missing some REALLY good art, is... 
Halfway down Love Lane on the way back to Chulia, MAKE SURE you turn left onto Lorong Stewart. You will see "Narrowest Five Foot Way Sculpture", which is actually a series of  5 stand-alone sculptures. Waahh! My major regret missing that. After enjoying, do come back to Love Lane.)

At this point, turn around and retrace the length of Love Lane until you come back to Lebuh Chulia. Take a left and walk down Chulia. If you cross the street on Chulia, you will soon reach a lovely surprise at the intersection with Lorong Seek Chuan called "Ting Ting Thong". Another awesome piece!

Sometimes I just don't understand my spouse

Click on images for larger view of text

Continue on Lebuh Chulia until the intersection with Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. You'll know you're there as there's a Eu Yan Sang apothecary at the corner across the street on your left.

Take a right onto Jalan Masjid. There's a nice mosque there.

Mosque on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling

Take a left onto Lebuh Ah Quee (be careful crossing the street!). Half way down Ah Quee, there's a dark surprise.

Continue along Lebuh Ah Quee. Almost at the end of Ah Quee, look to your left at the wall. "Boy on a Bike" and "Little Boy with Pet Dinosaur" are here!

At the end of Ah Quee, turn right and then another right, and you are now on Lebuh Armenian. Immediate surprise:  "Kids on Bicycle"!

Continue along Armenian. Cheah Kongsi is on your right halfway down, and a nice detour.

Our group still going strong

Continue on Armenian and on your right will be another couple of steel-rod gems.

"Too Narrow" Sculpture: At the corner of Soo Hong Lane and Armenian

"Procession" Sculpture: Could never get a full shot of this one. Darn red car was parked there both days!

On Armenian

 An "extra" is the Cop on Motorbike with (what looks to be) Starbucks Coffee.

Continue walking on Armenian (it's a short road) till you reach the intersection with Lebuh Cannon (Yap Temple is there).

Yap Temple (and my mom)

Turn left onto Lebuh Cannon and a few steps down is another of my favourite works of art "Reaching Up".

All right, so what's all the fuss about? says Andi

Retrace your steps back to the Yap Temple.

Here our group of 10 stopped for a short rest, drink, ice-cream, bathroom break and to wait out the rain at China Joes Tea Salon and Shop.

Walk away from Lebuh Cannon, it is now Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.

Take a left on Pesara Claimant and walk past the Police Station.

(Suggested detour: I am told there's excellent cendol on Jalan Kimberley on the other side of the police station, but we didn't have the opportunity to detour. Do go if you can. I imagine the cendol stop will be refreshing, and I hear there are a couple of street art pieces on Kimberley.)


Turn right onto Jalan Pintal Tali, and then left on Campbell. A bit of a dry spell here - artwise - but bear with me, there's a final surprise coming up!

Go along Campbell until Penang Road (Jalan Penang). Take a right and walk along Penang Road on the right side of the street. You know you're on the right track if you see Kayu Nasi Kandar across the street, and later Odeon Theatre and Catholic Info Services (all across the street from you).

When you see Town House Hotel across the street, aaah, you're getting close.

Look on your side of the street, you should be at a clear area called Genius Parking. If you are at Genius Parking, turn around and look up.

My guys posing at Genius Parking, just for you!

Honey, I shrunk Adam and Uncle Richard!

Ok, from here, we just continued walking a bit, then turned right onto Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah. We crossed the street at the crosswalk, and walked along Jalan Sultan Ahamd Shah (not far at all) until we reached our starting point, which was City Bayview Hotel!!!

The walking route above is not comprehensive, and I wish we had seen more street art, like the ones in my "suggested detours" above, and  the street art on Victoria Street and Chew Jetty. But it's sufficient for a group with whine-itis, small bladders, and an assortment of ouch-ies :-)

For more detailed info on Georgetown Street Art and the artists involved, click HERE.

If you DO find this Suggested Walking Route to Penang Street Art useful, please share it with your friends who love travel and art. This article is parked in an autism/special needs blog (for lack of a home), so a bit of exposure for that wouldn't hurt either :-)

Happy Trails!

Intan Miranti
October 2012


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