THE AUTISM NEWSLETTER

Director’s Message

As one of the students interning at CADRRE mentioned, ‘Learning and unlearning is crucial for any professional to be abreast with what is in vogue and choose what works best.’

This is a principle we at CADRRE adhere to.All at CADRRE are challenged to push and widen their horizon to ensure they are in step with what’s the latest for the benefit of our children. Based on our learning from the previous academic year, we have charted out a new routine for our children and staff, keeping their best interests at heart.

– G. Vijaya Raghavan, Hon. Director CADRRE

LEARNING FROM THE BEST…

Started in 1953 as an open school for children with health difficulties, Phoenix school later decided to focus on providing services to children on the autism spectrum. Our team visited Phoenix school as part of their training, with the aim of partnering with a reputed institution to equip themselves with skills relevant in their respective areas of expertise.

Earlier this year Veronica Armson, Associate Head Teacher, and Kate Daintith, Specialist Literacy Teacher, from Phoenix School London, had introduced the team to the multiple benefits of using Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). Phoenix school, a strong advocate of PECS, proves the efficacy of the system through the layout and everyday activities of the school. From the visual time tables to the communication books, calendars, flash cards, cafeteria menus, labels – there were several innovative ways PECS had been used at the school to make things easier for the students there.

Apart from the well thought out classrooms to the library, sensory room, gardening area and dining area, the school also had a drama room, outdoor gym, biking track, water therapy area, soft area room…. resource room, food tech room and so on.

An interesting thing about the school was the way in which it endorsed inventive programs to encourage and nudge the children inch by inch to take part in group activities, take the initiative, work together and pick up life skills. They have made this possible though a series of initiatives like the environment fortnight program, the Phoenix cafeteria, gardening at school and food tech room.

Some of the useful takeaways our team found really advantageous were the detailed behavioural charts of each student in the classrooms for teachers and therapists to refer to during their sessions, teaching various concepts though a theme that changed regularly every fortnight, progress report with an assessment tracker to gauge the progress of the students, skill development sessions and sensitization programs for the staff and parents.

The team from CADRRE also had the opportunity to visit a residential facility that caters to people with epilepsy and autism in St Elizabeth’s near Much Hadham, Essex. Situated on 68 acres of land, the facility has a college and adult residential capacity of 150 members, where individuals from the age of 19 could live. Our team was able to observe the functioning of this facility at close quarters.

Phoenix school was delighted to pick up a few activities that could be used to supplement their sensory program. Stewart Harris, Director at the Phoenix School, was extremely keen to learn more about our Ayurveda, sensory and occupational therapy sessions. He emphasized on a symbiotic relationship in the coming years.

Tips for parents

Oral Sensitivity

Feeding children is a hassle for most mothers, even more so for some children on the spectrum. Unlike typical children these children tend to be oral hyper sensitive or oral hyposensitive, however it can be easily managed if we are a bit careful and follow tips as mentioned in this video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge4uubILM40

Swathy A, Speech Language Pathologist at CADRRE

WOW! Moments

No matter how small the gesture, a smile, a touch or sometimes even just a nod can make a teacher’s day! This section will highlight the best moment from a compilation of a few that are recalled by teachers every day before they begin classes.

Our WOW moment of the month was an unexpected one when one of our six-year-old students demanded the banana his mother had packed for him and a glass of water. One might wonder what is so unique about this? Until two months ago, he preferred to be fed and refused to touch his food because he found it too sticky and messy. Gradually over a period of time he began eating on his own. It was a huge milestone for his teachers and everyone involved. His lunch used to be an elaborate process. He would wind up lunch with a banana and a glass of water. This was the routine that his therapists had charted out for him. However, one afternoon he took a little longer and he gave his teachers company as they lunched. When he finished eating, his teacher closed the lunch box and asked him to hurry as it was time for home. That is when he casually mentioned “pazham venam” followed by “vellam venam.”

Ayurveda meeting with parents

Dr. Vaidya Prasad, Ayurveda consultant at CADRRE met with parents of the students to discuss the scope of Ayurveda in autism. He emphasized on how Ayurveda identifies autism as a condition associated with the gut and how a controlled diet can do wonders for an individual on the spectrum. He also touched upon the ‘Sunethri’ protocol developed by him to help manage children onthe autism spectrum with conditions such as anxiety, stress, obesity, detoxification etc.

First day of the school year 2018 – 2019

Twenty-eight eminent professionals from around the world working in the field of autism come together in Trivandrum to discuss autism and the many ways to manage it.To register for the conference visit www.cadrre.org

June, 2018