Upcoming Events at AFA

To register, please print out information on these exciting upcoming events from the pages below where available. Contact AFA with any questions.

Behaviour Modification:
At Home, At School and In the Community
6 May, 2008
10:00 am to 4:00 pm - National Centre for Autism

Understanding why we do some things and not do others can enable us to increase those behaviours that we want more of, and help bring down behaviours that we would not want repeated.

Behaviour modification is used with all children, but plays a particularly significant role in the management of children with various developmental disabilities. The difficulties faced by individuals on the autistic spectrum in particular often manifest as complex and challenging behaviours to the non-autistic world. Behaviour modification with the reinforcing of wanted behaviours is the cornerstone of management of autism: in changing behaviours as well as in teaching skills. Behaviour modification is used in teaching children to ‘attend’, control ‘temper tantrums’, and for helping the child learn appropriate and socially accepted behaviours.

The workshop will cover an understanding of the reasons behind behaviours, assessment, and management procedures. Though the workshop will focus on autism spectrum disorders, the methods to be covered are also effective with children with developmental delays.

The workshop will incorporate question answer sessions where participants will be encouraged to problem solve. The workshop is open, but not limited, to anyone who works with children with developmental disabilities on a day-to-day basis; and may include parents and teachers of both children with and without specific needs.

Registration (including refreshments & handouts)
Rs 400 per Person
Rs 300 for Full Members and Life Members
Rs 325 for each attendee from an organization that has taken Institutional Membership if more than one person attends
Rs 500 for on-spot registrations
Childcare at Rs 200 per child and including meals will be available during workshop hours.

Download Registration Form Here

Enabling Communication
7 May, 2008
10:00 am to 4:00 pm - National Centre for Autism

Unlike other developmental disabilities, language and communication take completely different developmental paths in autism. Speech does not equate communication. While some individuals with autism develop no speech, others may be vocal at different levels. Language may develop with the child having little idea how to use it for communication or even to understand how others use language for communication. Much of the inappropriate behaviours in autism have their root in these difficulties. Children with autism are often therefore mistakenly perceived to be ‘stubborn’ or ‘willful’.

The workshop will cover an understanding of differences in the development of communication in autism and ways to teach communicative function and the use of both speech as well as assistive and augmentative modes of communication. The workshop also will incorporate question answer sessions and interactive demonstrations. The workshop is open to parents, professionals and anyone who works with children with developmental disabilities on a day-to-day basis.

Registration (including refreshments & handouts)
Rs 400 per Person
Rs 300 for Full Members and Life Members
Rs 325 for each attendee from an organization that has taken Institutional Membership if more than one person attends
Rs 500 for spot registrations
Childcare at Rs 200 per child and including meals will be available during workshop hours

Download Registration Form Here

AFA Summer Camp
12 May - 7 June 2008
National Centre for Autism

The camp will run 9:00-12:00 pm each day from Monday to Friday,
with the Closing Party on Saturday 7 June 2008.
Activities offered include pool play, music, arts and craft, sensory therapy, and more.
In addition, individual therapy sessions with special educators and occupational therapist will be available to interested families during the period.
Places are limited and available on a first come first served basis.
Last date for registration: 20 April 2008.
For details contact Saumya at Action for Autism.

AFA Mother Child Program
July– September session

Action For Autism's Mother Child Programme is run three times a year, sessions starting each January, July and October. A group of approximately 10 to 15 mothers train together (with their children) throughout the duration of the programme incorporating elements of different interaction-based interventions.

The programme seeks to maximize the benefits of the time that a mother spends with her child, teaching focused one on one intervention tailored individually to each child and taking into account the child's strengths, emerging skills and weakest skill areas. One-on-one intervention, in a nurturing positive environment, helps a child with autism to overcome much of the severity of the disorder.

The programme also prepares children to join school set ups, teaching them to learn in a group.

Mothers work with their children under the guidance of an experienced, trained therapist. They receive extensive feedback and join a discussion group where they can compare perspectives and forge links with parents experiencing similar difficulties. The programme is also available to interested fathers, or any other family members who may be interacting with the child on a regular basis.

A primary focus of the programme is to help the mother to understand her child, understand autism and the whys of autism, thus empowering her interact appropriately with the child, understand how to teach new skills and address behaviours.

The programme runs from 9 am to 12 pm everyday from Monday to Friday.

For further information on registration, please contact Mrs Indrani Basu at

011 – 40540991 / 40540092 / 65347422 OR

You can send us an email, with Mother Child Program in the subject line at indrani71@gmail.com and copy to actionforautism@gmail.com

One year Postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy

Following the success of its first year training programme in Delhi, The Music Therapy Trust is inviting potential students to apply to the second year of its
one year Postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy in Delhi and a new course starting in Mumbai. Both courses start in September 2008.
Applicants must have a high level of practical musicianship, good English skills, relevant work experience and have the desire to work with children and adults with a wide range of learning difficulties and mental health problems.

More details are available from:
The Music Therapy Trust
www.themusictherapytrust.com
Email : themusictherapytrust@gmail.com
Telephone : (91) 22 2869 6552 or (91) 11 40540991
Fax : (91) 22 2869 1834

AFA Annual Training Workshop:
Understanding Children with ASD
An RCI CRE Program
1-5 October, 2008
National Centre for Autism

AFA’s annual workshops are an eagerly awaited event each year. The workshops build on an understanding of ASD and work through teaching various cognitive, communication, and daily living skills. The workshops are free of jargon, and illustrated with practical examples based on AFA's hands-on experience and exposure to children with autism of varying ages and across the spectrum, and follow a format of lectures, a demonstration class, video clips, question and answer sessions and discussions. Built on over a decade of past successful training workshops for parents and professionals, this program is appropriate both for parents of newly diagnosed children and beginning educators, as well as seasoned parents and professionals looking for further enrichment.

Individual consultations on the last day of the workshop will be available at no extra charge to those families who book in advance. Reading material and books on Autism
There will be books for sale on understanding autism, interventions, and personal accounts by persons with Autism

Childcare will be available during workshop hours for families who find it difficult to leave their children at home. Childcare is open to children with special needs as well as their siblings. Please register in advance. Information about your child’s special needs will have to be given at the time of booking so that adequate arrangements can be made.

20% of total payments will be deducted as handling charges on cancellation received by noon 15 September 2008. No cancellations after 15 September 2008.

All registrations received after 14 September 2008: Parent Rs 3000 and Non-Parent Rs 3500

Accommodation: Limited number of shared accommodation on first come first served basis, from noon of 30 September to noon of 5 October at Rs 1000 per person for a five-night stay without food. Last date for booking accommodation: 21 September 2008

Registration Costs:
PARENTS
Rs 2000 per parent attendee (Rs 1650 for life members & full annual members)
Rs 3500 per parent couple (Rs 3000 for life members & full annual members)

NON-PARENTS
Rs 3000 per non-parent attendee (Rs 2500 for life members & full annual members)
Rs 2700 for each attendee from an organization that has taken membership if more than one person attends

DAYCARE CHARGES
Rs 200 per child, per day

Download Parent Registration Form Here
Download Professional Registration Form Here
Download Childcare Registration Form Here