Tuesday, April 22, 2014

"Travelling by Airplane with a Young Child on the Autism Spectrum": Presentation

Audience Feedback: 

I really liked that you broke down every step from that time that you leave your house to the actual in flight travel.  I think a lot of times, one doesn't really realize how many steps it takes to travel by air (especially over seas travelling) with children, but especially with  children who do take every step very literally.  I've had the topic of travelling by plane come up a few times from a couple of different families;  as a person who works closely with the autism community and doesn't travel by plane often,  it can be difficult to remember all the steps you have to go through to even get on board.

Your presentation was very insightful --
I think you were exactly right when you said that being prepared before you even leave the house is the best advice to give anyone who is travelling with a child with Autism.


- H.F., Senior Therapist, De Pere, Wisconsin





Originally, this talk was presented in the USA at the ASW Conference in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin in April 2013. 

Due to interest locally, ANDI Initiative will be giving this presentation again, this time here in Malaysia. Kindly register your interest in the comments or email us at ANDI.Initiative@gmail.com.






Friday, April 11, 2014

Promoting Success for Children with Special Needs in Inclusive Environments through Mindful Shadowing - Workshop



This workshop for shadow aides and teachers was a full house this past January. ANDI Initiative intends to conduct a similar workshop in the next few months. If you are interested to attend, please email us.


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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Have HOPE

Shared with express permission of the parent


Client confidentiality is VERY important to ANDI Initiative, that's why you won't typically see videos or photos of children we work with. Nor do we ever share out personal communication and information. However, occasionally, a parent gives express permission to share. For that, we thank them, because this is very valuable. These glimpses give other struggling parents MOTIVATION and HOPE, for their own children.

A few days ago, this parent sent me this and gave express permission to share the SMS as well as permission to leave her son's name is the SMS. Dharman's mother always downplays her effort and dedication. However, in the last 2 years, she has been a good student herself, learning everything she could, asking a lot of questions, and then taking the advice and implementing tirelessly with her son after work and on the weekends, and coming back to me with problems to troubleshoot. She also learned to take my advice about relaxing :-)

Parents, does this sound familiar? If so, can you see that you are not alone? Keep up your good work.



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JH Rocks!



Client confidentiality is of utmost importance to ANDI Initiative, that's why you don't typically see videos or photos of children we work with. However, occasionally, a parent gives express permission to share. This is very valuable, as these glimpses give other struggling parents MOTIVATION and HOPE, for their own children.

Here, JH's mother has allowed me to share a video she sent me. Both she and I know that with good guidance on appropriate programmes, good implementation from therapist and mother, and the tenacious everyday effort of JH's mother, JH has come out from the depths of autism and can learn, and participate in the world. He is seen here learning to play the guitar.

May JH continue to reach for the stars!

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