Friday 15 July 2011

Check Out Our Twitter Account For The Latest Autism Headline Stories



Have you ever used Twitter before?

Twitter is a sensational tool for Communities of Practice.

Most people have heard of Twitter being used as a tool to communicate with friends publicly or privately, through the use of 140 word text messages.

Imagine though, that Twitter was like the headlines of a magazine or newspaper on the topics that you are interested in, because that is what the Wangaratta Autism Community of Practice Twitter account, is all about.

Everyday the online team will update the Twitter wall with the latest information on a huge range of autism related topics, from around the world.

You do not even have to be a Twitter account user, to access the information!
Just look for the Twitter box in the right margin of the blog and click on the white heading to access the full  Wangaratta Autism CoP account, or simply click on one of the green  ‘htpp: “ links, that take your fancy.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Ten tips for telling your child they have autism

Helping Children with Autism Package

Click here to download the no nonsense brochure that explains the package.

ECIS - Early Childhood Intervention Services


Click to download the brochure.

This is how the ECIS team, describe their service:

'Early Childhood Intervention Services provide a range of specialist services for families with children who have a disability or developmental delay, prior to school entry.
The range of specialist services includes:


  • Information and advice that addresses the individual needs of the child and family.
  • Supporting families to help their child’s development
  • Linking families to services and providing access and coordination of services such as respite.

  • Education and developmental programs
  • Additional support to improve access and participation in kindergarten and child care services
  • Assisting with the move to schooll Parent support
  • Flexible Support Packages to ease some of the additional pressures on parents of children with disabilities and/or developmental delays who have high support needs.'

Click here to visit the ECIS pages of the DEECD website.

Monday 11 July 2011

Mansfield Autism Statewide Services


Mansfield Campus School
(12 students aged 6-18 years)
The school is located at 88 Highett Street, right next to the Steiner School. We cater for up to 12 children per term, who have been diagnosed as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder.Students attend Mansfield for a term and reside at our residential facility, located 2 minuted from the school.To request or make an inquiry regarding a placement at the school, please contact the school directly.

Dookie Secondary School
(12 students aged 11-18 years)
Our Dookie Campus offers a secondary school option for students who are high functioning on the Autism Spectrum.We provide a comprehensive curriculum that allows students to explore their  potential in a rural learning environment. Physical activity and improving social skills and concepts are integral to the daily routine at Dookie.
Further inquiries should be directed to our administration at Mansfield Campus.


Family Camps
(5 per year - 0-18 years)
Each year we run a variety of camps for families who are on our waiting lists, or new families. Camps are designed for the whole family to participate, including siblings. They allow families on our waiting list, or who are perhaps thinking of placing their child at Mansfield to experience our service and meet our wonderful staff.


Making A Difference
(Hume region Flexi Care Packages, Case Management)

A number of Making A Difference packages are available in the Hume Region.
Our Hume Regional Coordinator is responsible for the ongoing management of these packages.

Consultancy
(Professional Development, Parenting Courses, School support and Family support)

We are able to assist a variety of organisations and individuals to have a better understanding of Autism, the early signs, behaviors, functions, what we do, visual strategies and working with Autism.
If you have any Professional Development or Training requirements, call and see if we can assist.

Early Intervention
(small group sessions 0 - 6 years)
Early intervention classes are run at Mansfield, Seymour and Whorouly,and provide younger students the opportunity to develop social interaction  skills. The development of a "Personal Profile" an "Individual Education Plan" and "Specific Programmes’ for the cornerstone of the planning for each child.This information aims to promote consistency between the services and enable parents and others who are involved with the child to understand the aims and goals we are looking to achieve.

Travelling Teachers

(in-home family and educational support  0-18 years)

The role of the Travelling Teacher is to assist families to develop the skill and confidence to work and live with their child/children who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This is achieved by:
* Helping to prioritise goals
* Help to develop strategies which suit the needs of the individual child & family
* Model strategies to be used and work alongside parents
* Parent advocate at meetings
* Assist with networking families to appropriate services and resources
* Inservicing and working with educational, recreational, respite and other speciality services which are involved with the child
* Offering inservices of various topics revolving around Autism for service providers

Facility Based Respite

(0-18 years)
Respite for families is available  for one week per term holidays at our Residential Centre in Mansfield. 
Further inquiries should be directed to our Administration at the Mansfield Campus. 


Panel Provider-Early Intervention Services

M.A.S.S is a registered panel provider for Early Intervention Services.



Contact Us

81 Highett Street     Mansfield     VIC    3722

Tel +61 3 5775 2876



http://www.autismmansfield.org.au

Program for Students with Disabilities - Funding for Children with Disabilities in Government Schools



Click here to download the document.


Here is what the DEECD says about their Program:
'The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is committed to improving the learning outcomes of all students, by acknowledging their diverse needs and catering for different learning styles. A key element of this commitment is an emphasis on improving the learning outcomes for students with disabilities and additional learning needs, including strategies that ensure inclusive practices are in place in schools.The Effective Schools model provides the framework for creating and sustaining effective schools. Effective schools recognise and respond to diverse student needs, expect that every student has the ability to learn, and endeavour to ensure that every learner is successful.
With over 540,000 students in nearly 1,600 government schools, the diversity of the student population is recognised and celebrated. The Department is committed to delivering an inclusive education system that ensures all students have access to a quality education to meet their diverse needs.

A vital component of this commitment is the Program for Students with Disabilities. This program provides a range of supports and initiatives to assist government school students with disabilities.
Objectives of the Program for Students with Disabilities
The Program for Students with Disabilities aims to maximise student potential growth in education and learning, and ensure that students with disabilities are valued and participate in all aspects of school life, consistent with optimal and relevant goals and aspirations. There are three specific objectives which together will achieve this goal for the Program for Students with Disabilities:
1. Student learning–Studentpotentialforgrowthanddevelopmentin(academic) discipline-based, personal and interpersonal learning, and independence in learning is maximised and is consistent with their goals and aspirations.
2. Student engagement and wellbeing–Studentsaremotivatedandareableto participate fully in their education and wider school life, consistent with optimal and relevant goals and aspirations.
3. Student pathways and transitions–Studentssuccessfullytransitionto, throughout and from school, and the pathways selected maximise their potential for growth and development while they attend school and after they leave school.'

Program for Students with Disabilities Handbook 
Page 1

Positive Education Planning



This booklet, published by the Association for Children with a Disability, is about positive education planning  for children attending Victorian government primary schools. The booklet refers to and explains the the programs and guidelines used by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Education ( DEECD), for students with disabilities in government schools. This includes the Student Support Group Guidelines (SSG) and the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD). A list of resources and other useful information is included on page 30.

Click here to download the booklet.