Introduction: What We Do

ANDI Initiative (Autism Network for Direct Instruction) hopes to increase options for Malaysian children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Efforts that ANDI Initiative are primarily interested in supporting are those that provide education or therapy to individuals with an ASD. A secondary area of interest are projects that benefit children whose families are in the lower-income bracket, regardless of medical diagnosis.

Current Projects / Activities

1. For parents looking for therapeutic or educational options for their children, ANDI Initiative assists in locating available service providers. ANDI Initiative does not charge parents for this referral service, nor do we accept payment from the associated service providers.

2. ANDI Initiative provides a therapy/training facility in Section 17, Petaling Jaya for therapists to teach children with autism. Although the therapists and parents contribute a nominal hourly fee to use the facility, ANDI Initiative mananges the facility and funds the bulk of the associated ongoing costs.

Some of the autism therapy teams have used the facility to hold team meetings.

Trainings for parents and therapists are also periodically held here.

The facility has been the venue of several group skills classes.

The facility has been used by consultants to provide assessments and progress reviews to children under their care. It has also been used for support group meetings for parents of children with autism.

3. ANDI Initiative is also working to increase the number of autism consultants and therapists available locally. The hope is that in doing so, the next generation of Malaysian children with autism will be able to access quality autism programmes.

4. ANDI Initiative organises trainings/workshops for parents and individuals interested in autism-related trainings. It is our firm belief that knowledge is power.

5. ANDI Initiative also supports pro bono educational talks on selected autism-related topics to organisations in the Klang Valley.

6. ANDI Initiative makes available to parents a lending library of books on autism and a Learning Materials Library.

7. ANDI Initiative continues to collaborate with other parties to offer options for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

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