2nd Brunei National Seminar Special Ed

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2ND NATIONAL SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON SPECIAL EDUCATION. THEME: “EMBRACING DIVERSITY: EFFECTIVE INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS” CHANCELLOR HALL UNIVERSITY BRUNEI DARUSSALAM 22ND-23RD JULY 2008 Early Intervention and Transition for ASD Childrenat Learning Ladders Presented by: dr sharina yunus Paper co-written by: dr sharina yunus , norhaslinda ibrahim, Dr Terry fairclough Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

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Early Intervention ABA / Verbal Behaviour One-to-One Program Play Camps Inclusion Transition Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

About Us : 

About Us NGO for Autistic Children and Children with Learning Disability Established in 2007 Emotional Support Information Facilitate the provision of therapy Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Early Intervention : 

Early Intervention Research has shown that outcome for children with ASD receiving behavioral intervention below the age of five is superior to those receiving intervention at a later age Some make significant progress and can go on to enter mainstream school. Inclusion practices coupled with better transition services will allow individuals with autism to reach their full potential Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Aim of this Talk : 

Aim of this Talk Outline some of the strategies used by Learning Ladders to help some of these children make transition from home-based intervention to full inclusion into mainstream school. To share information and ideas and not as a technical reference. Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Effective Intervention Strategies : 

Effective Intervention Strategies No specific treatment has emerged as the standard for all children with autism Most well-researched programs are treatments based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and are now considered best practice. Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Learning Ladders Intervention Programmes : 

Learning Ladders Intervention Programmes The ABA intervention programmes - designed to enhance intellectual and behavioural skills Special Play Camps - designed to help improve social skills and adaptive functioning. Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

ABA Intervention Programme : 

ABA Intervention Programme Home-based and one-to-one, 2 hours per session Programme highly individualised, tailored to the strength and needs of each child Goals are identified and listed at the outset Detailed record of the child’s progress is meticulously documented The programme itself is updated regularly to maintain the interest of the child and ensure it’s continued effectiveness Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

ABA Intervention Programme : 

ABA Intervention Programme To ensure success - heavy family involvement is necessary. Parents are taught strategies to implement programme themselves and be part of the child’s education. Parents thus have a better understanding of some of the problems that Autistic children face. Parents have the confidence to handle difficult and challenging behaviours. This leads to a reduction in the stress levels faced by these families. Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme : 

Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme ATTENTION SKILLS Good attention is shaped and reinforced IMITATION SKILLS Gross motor, fine motor, oral motor and pre-verbal actions. Helps develop observational learning, play imitation, self help skills, verbalisation and early drawing skills Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

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MATCHING Essential pre-requisite skill for learning other skills. Used for introducing many other concepts, such as letters, numbers, emotions and categories COMMUNICATION Child is taught the power of gestures, pictures and/or verbalisation using sign language MAKATON and tools such as PECS, the child is encouraged to make their needs known. Help reduce disruptive behaviour due to inability to communicate Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme : 

RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE PROGRAMMES Initial tasks involve listening to instructions and pointing to labels. Used to develop colour recognition, recognition of familiar people, prepositions, emotions and categorisation. Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme : 

Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE SKILLS The child is required to verbalise what he or she has learned instead of just using gestures. It provides the children with a means to socially interact, communicate desires and to enhance conversational skills Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme : 

SELF-HELP SKILLS The aim is to increase the child’s independence in daily living skills, develop age appropriate functioning and facilitate social integration. Some of the areas worked on are eating, dressing skills, home living, toilet training and community skills Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme : 

GENERALISATION From the start skills are made functional and fluent so that the child can use skills with different people, in a variety of ways, in different environments and with an understanding of natural language. This will help the child access to the community and to mainstream education Goals and Skills Included in the ABA programme Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Special Play Camps : 

Special Play Camps Play Camps are organized in the home-environment with groups of six or seven children. Camps are held twice a week - 3 hours each time. In each Play Camp no more than two autistic children are placed together with their typical developing peers. Siblings of the children with ASD are also encouraged to join. The Play Camp sessions are supervised by teachers and parents. Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Some Activities at Special Play Camps : 

Some Activities at Special Play Camps Creative Art Imaginative Play Group Singing Gross Motor Activity Fine Motor Activity Co-operative Games Baking Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

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All activities in Play Camp are intended to develop: Age-appropriate Interests Independence Social Skills; and Language Skills They also provide a platform for the generalization of the skills that have been taught in the ABA sessions. Special Play Camps Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Transition Programme : 

Transition Programme Children who have completed at least a year of the ABA home programme or have shown to meet 75% of the ABLLS assessment criteria will be entered in the transition programme. The transition programme aims to prepare the child academically as well as behaviourally before entering mainstream school Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Transition Programme : 

Transition Programme 6 months before child begins school the curriculum that will be taught will be incorporated into the ABA programme. Classroom skills such as hand raising, standing in line etc are also taught. To help prepare the child academically and socially and reduce the stress level of the child by giving a head start. To allow child to integrate more successfully in the school environment and concentrate more on developing peer relationship. Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Transition Programme : 

Transition Programme During the six-months transition period the child is taken to the school every week to familiarise with the school environment. The child also meets the class teacher and is taken to his future classroom. Towards the end of the six-months transition period the child is given the opportunity to participate in some classroom activities with the other children. The transition period allow the child to slowly adjust from a home environment to the busy life of a classroom. Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

Conclusions : 

Conclusions No one strategy fits all for children with ASD. Evidence based behavioural intervention is accepted as best practice. Research recommends intervention before age 5 yrs for the best outcome. Giving Parents MORE Options - Learning Ladders is one of several societies in Brunei Darussalam. The ABA programme and Special Play Camps have been effective. All children in the above programme have improved and developed language and communication skills. Copyright Learning Ladders Society 2008

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