Browsing all articles from November, 2011

Activate Yourself

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Nov
30

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are one of the most complex neurological conditions which affect individuals in the field of social communication, interaction and flexibility of mind. Due to the nature of condition, people with ASD have difficulties in terms of self-advocating their fundamental rights. Therefore the project “Activate yourself!” has been developed to encourage active participation of young people with ASD; empower them as active citizens, make them aware of their role in creating their own future and promote their equal rights and opportunities. The project is supported by the Youth in Action Programme of the European Union.

The Jamaica Autism Support  Association –JASA joining a consortium of eight organizations worldwide (Center for Autism Slovenia, Autism South Africa, Všį Socialinių inovacijų centras Lithuania, Beijing Stars and Rain Education Institute for Autism, Action for Autism India, Autism Europe, The National Autistic Society UK and The European Disability forum) would like to invite young people with ASD, aged 13 to 30, to join the Activate Yourself! project.

Within the project young people with ASD will meet on regular basis to:

  • discuss the challenges they face in everyday life
  • learn about their rights, campaigning and active citizenship
  • make an awareness video to inform broader public about their situation
  • prepare the World Autism Strategy for Youth with ASD – the proposal of the directives for decision-making organizations focusing on the rights of young people with ASD.

 

Besides regularly meeting in their own countries, young people with ASD will also have a chance:

  • to attend the international youth conference in China and
  • to attend the youth camp in Slovenia, where they will have an opportunity to meet, exchange their views on active citizenship and self-advocacy, present their talents and most of all spend quality time with each other.

One of the long-term goals of the project is also to build the firm ground for the future Autism Youth Forum, which will represent the self-advocacy organization, representing the rights of young people with ASD worldwide.

It’s time for young people with ASD to speak out and build their own future! Activate yourself!

For more information email us at jasa.jm2k9@gmail.com

Announcement of the project

 

Take the Project Activate Online Survey click here.  Link to the survey is also available on projects web page - http://activate-yourself.info/.

Getting ready for the Holidays

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Nov
23

The holidays are fast approaching with the US kicking off their Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow.

As much as it is a jolly happy time for us, for our children the holidays can be very stressful as their schedule is up-ended and the decorations distracting. not to mention the number of persons they are subjected to through family dinners and get togethers.

The website Autism Spectrum Therapies put together a small list/guide of tips to help our children on the spectrum transition through the holiday without too much stress.

Tips such as this one:

Ease into decorating

  • Start decorating early and in stages rather than changing the entire home all at once
  • Allow children to interact with the decorations and help put them in place
  • If you are unsure how your child will react to holiday decorations, let them experience those decorations in a store or someone else’s home first

click here to see more

 

Happy Thanksgiving to our friend in the U.S.A.

Links we like–

Posted Posted by in News     Comments No comments
Nov
8
Top 10 strategies for success: emotional parenting of the child with autism/Asperger’s or PDD
Raising a developmentally different child is a challenge for most parents. The challenge begins when parents first learn that their child is not “normal.” For some parents, this occurs at or before the child’s birth. For others, their child, who appeared “typical” at birth and even for several months or years thereafter, suddenly develops problems that are not so “typical.” 

Read more: http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/top-10-strategies-success-emotional-parenting-child-autism-or-pdd-83838322

  • 12 important needs of siblings and tips to address these needs
SIBLINGS NEED COMMUNICATION THAT IS OPEN, HONEST, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, AND ONGOING. Parents may need to deal with their own thoughts and feelings before they can effectively share information with siblings. Children may show their stress through their withdrawal or through inappropriate behaviors. Siblings may be reluctant to ask questions due to not knowing what to ask or out of fear of hurting the parent. While doing research on siblings, Sandra Harris found that developmentally appropriate information can buffer the negative effects of a potentially stressful event (Harris, 1994).

Read more: http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/12-important-needs-siblings-and-tips-address-these-needs-autism-22032431

For Some, Autism Considered Strength, Not Disorder

Of all the famed names in autism, Temple Grandin is perhaps one of the quickest to come to mind.

Grandin, who was diagnosed with autism in 1950, didn’t speak until she was about 4 years old. At the time, the definition of autism seemed clearer cut than it is today. Looking back, many experts would say she exhibited classic signs of the disorder. But the spectrum of the disorder has grown wider since then. Grandin has arguably landed so far on one end of the spectrum that it could be hard to see what the other side of autism looks like.
Read more:  http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/11/02/for-some-autism-considered-strength-not-disorder/

Special Olympics Jamaica

Posted Posted by in Events, News     Comments No comments
Nov
8
Last Saturday at our monthly support group meeting, one of our presenters was Mrs. Lorna Bell from Special Olympics Jamaica. She spoke about the activities and sports available to our children.
Most of us were interested in the swimming programme.  Here are the details.
  • Swimming starts from age 3

 

  • Training is at the UTech pool on Saturdays @ 10 am except on a holiday week-end (prior notice will be given beforehand)

 

  • Female athletes are required to wear full swim suits; male athletes are required to wear swim shorts or tight

 

  • Parents are required to advise the Coach on the details of their child’s condition (in this case it will be Autism)
SOJ Aquatics is looking forward in having the children of JASA’s parents to take part in this programme.  You are all encouraged to make use of this which provides our children with the opportunity to participate in a physical activity which will also teach them an important skill.