News Update
School Holiday Social Skills Program
for Primary School children during the September 2010 holidays.
Week 1 - 20th – 23rd September, Moonee Ponds program (Monday to Thursday)
Week 2 - 27th – 30th September, Ashwood program (Monday to Thursday)
Applications for September Program closes 8th September 2010
NEW venue for Ashwood program is: St Faith’s Anglican Chruch Burwood, 4-8 Charles Street, Glen Iris 3146. Melway ref: 60 G6
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Busy Year for Gloria & Chris & Spectrum Speech Pathology
Speech Pathology Australia Advisory Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders
2009 turned out to be a very hectic year for Gloria and Chris and Spectrum Speech Pathology. Chris and Gloria continued their involvement on the Speech Pathology Australia Advisory Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders and were also invited to take on the roles of Project Officers for Speech Pathology Australia which involved developing and producing 2 booklets about ASD. This was a joint project with The Australian Psychological Society and OT Australia. This project was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). The two booklets, one for parents and one for General Practitioners, are now available in GP’s surgeries and online here.
Online learning package for Speech Pathologists
As well as this project, Speech Pathology Australia also received funding from DoHA to deliver an online learning package for Speech Pathologists about ASD. There are six modules included in the package, and Chris and Gloria delivered the 5th Module ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’. Each Module consists of a two hour presentation, reference materials and self assessment tasks.
Training Program in Hanoi
Gloria and Chris were delighted to be invited by Professor Garry Warne and Professor Margot Prior and the Royal Children’s Hospital International to deliver a 2 week training program at the National Hospital for Paediatrics in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The training program involved lecturing in the mornings to paediatricians, psychologists, parents and teachers from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the surrounding provinces, and then working in the Psychology Department in the afternoons running demonstration clinics with the children who were involved in the autism program at the hospital. Chris and Gloria are planning a return trip to Hanoi in 2010.
Gloria and Chris were interviewed by Sen Lam of Radio Australia Connect Asia Program as well as Voice of America upon their return. To listen to this interview or read the transcript click here
Gloria assisting child to request more bubbles giving a picture of bubbles to Chris
Child requesting more bubbles by handing over bubble wand
Child requesting a ball using gestures to communicate
Autism Teaching Institute
2009 was also a busy year at the Autism Teaching Institute, and as it expands its post graduate Diploma and Certificate courses and Education Support Workers training, Chris and Gloria continue to lecture in Communication to the students and continue their participation on the ATI Expert Panel . For further information on the Autism Teaching Institute, click here.
Keen as ever to continue their own professional development and learning in ASD Chris and Gloria attended the Asia Pacific Autism Conference in Sydney as well as, among other things, attending the Carol Gray Social Stories workshop and Sally Rogers workshop on the Denver Early Start Program.
Other Activities
Gloria joined the Autism Victoria Professional Panel
Chris participated in a live television broadcast for the Rural and Remote Health Education Foundation as a panel member discussing ASD, this program was chaired by Dr Norman Swan.
No doubt, 2010 will be as busy and as rewarding as 2009.
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