Parent Testimonial about the ASD Parent Training & Support Series

I am writing this after 5 months into the ANDI Initiative Parent Training Programme.

Thanks a million to you, Intan, from the bottom of our hearts. Even those are not enough to show you our appreciation in regards to the improvement in our son. From the day our son was diagnosed with autism, I was searching for someone who could help me in handling my son, someone who could teach me, and tell me how to teach and communicate with my son effectively. I’ve read a few books but didn’t actually know how to do it.

Then I got to know about Intan’s programme through my sister and also through Intan’s blog. I found the programme to be very interesting, full of ideas, hands-on opportunities, video teaching and the like. Every session was interesting as it gave me new ideas and ways on how I could relate to my son. The more we learnt, the more we got connected to our son, the more we saw the talents in him. Things that I thought were impossible for my son suddenly seem possible. All these were the results of the implementation of the methods and ideas that I learnt from Intan.

The Parent Training Programme was tremendous. I learnt a lot from this programme and am still learning on how to bring out the hidden talents in him.

Then there are the home visits by Intan. It’s magnanimous of her to visit us, seeing that we are from Ipoh. We can’t repay her for the time she spent to travel to my place just for the sake of our son. The visits themselves were great. She drew up specific programmes for my son according to my son’s abilities. She not only drew up the programmes but painstakingly spent time to teach me on how to run the programmes.

Our son has progressed well during these 5 months, in receptive and expressive language, play skills, imitation skills and eye-contact. It’s true that we had to put a lot of energy and time in order to see the programme work, before we can see the results. It is really HARD WORK! The most important aspect of the programme is the consistency of teaching / having a session with our son.

But all this wouldn’t have been possible if not for Intan. Again we would like to record our thanks and appreciation for the care she had taken during her sessions with my son and also during the classes that we attended. We couldn’t have done all these without your help and assistance. THANK YOU, Intan, from the bottom of our hearts!!!

Parent of a 3-year-old

Ipoh, Feb 2012

(2011 Intake 2 participant)

How to Borrow Books from ANDI Initiative

Choose one of two books that you want to borrow.

Email or SMS me the titles, I will let you know if they are immediately available or if they are loaned out.

If available, contact me directly to arrange day and time to borrow. More than likely, I will leave the books with a neighbour for you tho pick up from, at Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Address will only be given out once date and time is confirmed. Alternatively, you and I may decide to meet somewhere as time permits.

There is a fully-refundable deposit of RM30-50 per book. You can bank in ahead of time, or bring with you when you pick up the book(s). This will be refunded when you return the book in good condition.

Books can be borrowed for two weeks. That deadline can be extended if no one else is waiting for the books.

Currently there is no browsing allowed, you will have to decide ahead of time which book(s) you want. For a somewhat complete list of books, click HERE, or check out our photos on the ANDI Initiative Facebook page.

A gentle reminder: This book loan service is for PARENTS of children with special needs, as it is meant to reduce slightly the financial burden in raising a children with special needs. Other parties (therapists, teachers, my past and present grown-up students, etc) may borrow on a case-by-case basis.

Please be patient with this less-than-ideal arrangement. Having NO paid staff helps keep this a free service.

*KNOWLEDGE IS POWER*

With warm wishes and kind regards,

Intan Miranti

ANDI Initiative

ANDI.initiative@gmail.com

012.538.6134

More Great Books added to our Book Collection for Loan

This 'library' of books continue to be free of charge, we don't even take an admin fee or membership fee. Only a fully-refundable deposit.

This is a service for parents of children with special needs.

Take a Break

Parenting is hard work, so try to take a break ever so often. Try the puzzle below :-)

NEW Intake! ASD Parent Training & Support Series 2012 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor

The next intake of the ASD Parent Training & Support Series starts in February, 2012 here in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. We will only be able to take 6 families for this intake. For more information, please click HERE.

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Parent Testimonial about the ASD Parent Training & Support Series

Dear Intan:

I am not much of a writer, but I will just tell you in my own words how I feel for the past 2 months. I would prefer my name not be revealed here, a bit shy. However, I definitely can take phone calls from other parents.

When I first joined this parent training programme 2 months ago, I had already passed the stage of denial and depression, and was very hopeful about going all out to help my son.

As I learned more, I was amazed that so much can be done! I feel like I am slowly reaching out to him and we have more interaction. More interaction goes hand-in-hand with more learning. In the past, it had been difficult for him to learn effectively. Even the more basic skills like natural eye contact (referencing), or responding to me calling his name was difficult, which is very common for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

I will not deny that all the progress so far needed (and still needs) lots of hard work, I have to say the ANDI Initiative parent training programme is providing a means for me to go into his world and engage him in various activities and subsequently promote learning .

There is a tangible improvement in terms of my son's imitation skills and speech. I understand that to catch up in those delays in developmental milestones is a long process, and sometimes could take years rather than these few months. A more important achievement that I notice in him is his willingness to learn, and his involvement with more variety of play, and occasionally his pleasure when engaging in proper activities.

Last but not least, I have to say this wouldn't be possible without you, Intan. Thank you so much.


Regards,

(Parent of 3-year-old, Kuala Lumpur, currently in ASD Parent Training 2011 Intake 2)

For more info on this parent training programme, click HERE. For more Parent Testimonials, click HERE.

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Sponsorship Opportunity

Hello everyone:

ANDI Initiative is offering to provide a 50% sponsorship for 3 parents (of children on the autism spectrum) to attend the following event.

Autism Workshop

Date: Tuesday, 6th September, 2011

Venue: Medical Academies of Malaysia, 210 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 KL.

Registration Fee: RM200

Organised by Child Development Centre, UKMMC, and Chapter of Child Neurology and Developmental Paediatrics, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences.

Speakers include: Prof Catherine Lord, PhD (USA), who has been integral in the development of ASD assessment tools such as the ADOS and ADI-R.

In return, ANDI Initiative would appreciate it if each sponsored parent would write 4 book reviews of their favourite autism-related books, as a service to other parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The reviews will be shared on the ANDI Initiative blog and Facebook page.

To request sponsorship, or for a pdf copy of the event brochure, please respond by EMAIL ONLY to ANDI.Initiative@gmail.com.

(photo above is from a previous event)

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