Through the overwhelming support of children, families, and educators across Ireland, National Pyjama Day 2015 raised over €300,000. Funds were used to create Access Autism website, designed to increase awareness of Autism in the early childhood sector, as well as awareness of the importance of access to early education and intervention by the community as a whole.
In Ireland some 50,000 people have a diagnosis of Autism (Autism Counts Prevalence Study funded by IAA 2014). Furthermore, it has been proven that for each person diagnosed, five other people’s lives are affected by the diagnosis. In effect, the number of people with autism would fill the Aviva stadium 5 times over with the lives affected by Autism.
Internationally, it has been proven that the best approach to maximizing the potential for those on the spectrum is earliest possible detection/diagnosis, earliest possible intervention/therapy, and appropriate education. This is where, together, we can make a difference.
This website will be of huge value, providing basic awareness information as well as practical tips and strategies to help you create meaningful inclusive experiences for your entire class or group, but this is only the beginning. Irish Autism Action has delivered a training programme consisting of 3-4 sessions that will equip early childhood educators to understand and support the unique behaviour, language and communication, and sensory needs of children with Autism. We are currently working on Phase 2 of this training programme, to be delivered in autumn 2016.
Thank you to everyone, all the wonderful children and adults who supported national pyjama day. Irish Autism action and the families we serve are both humbled and honoured by the level of support the awareness day received. Without your support, this project wouldn’t be possible.
Training:
IAA runs a number of training programmes, which vary over time. In partnership with Early Childhood Ireland, in the past two years, IAA has developed and delivered a wide array of training programmes.
These include:
Autism Specific Teacher Training Across Ireland.
Early Childhood Ireland and Irish Autism Action completed phase 1 of the training programme aimed at supporting early childhood providers in providing an inclusive environment for children with autism in their settings. The programme consisted of 3 sessions addressing the unique language, communication, sensory and behavioural needs of young children with autism. Phase 2 will commence in autumn 2016 with details available by clicking here http://accessautism.ie/training-schedule-february-2016/
The Step Ahead Programme.
Irish Autism Action have also run the very successful Step Ahead programme on four occasions in the past year. This is a 14 week inter disciplinary programme for children under the age of 5 with ASD. Children received individualized instruction, with goals and intervention strategies devised by a team comprised of our Behaviour Analyst, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist and Psychologist. Parent coaching and information sessions were also part of the programme and addressed sensory needs, accessing benefits and entitlements, preparing for school and self-care for parents.
The Early Start Denver Model:
This is a highly respected evidence based early intervention programme, developed in USA at MIND Institute and brought to Ireland by IAA to train 20 professionals in leading early intervention techniques. For more information see: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment/early-start-denver-model-esdm