New training course in PE

PARENTS, teachers and professionals who live or work with special needs individuals are invited to attend a one-day Studio III course on Saturday,  August 2, in Port Elizabeth  on dealing with  aggressive and violent behaviour.

The seminar, to be held at 121 Ninth Avenue, Walmer, will be presented by Quest School for Autistic Learners occupational therapist Chantel Snyman, the only fully accredited trainer in South Africa for this specialised Studio III training .

Chantel spent six months in the UK at Studio III, a specialist research and training organisation which aims to provide high quality training in the specialist field of managing aggressive and violent behaviour.

“We aim to give carers the skills they need to manage challenging behaviour so that the environment for the clients improves and the carers begin to develop more positive relationships with their clients. We also find that after the course, carers feel more confident in the work place and enjoy their jobs more, hopefully with less stress,” said Chantel.

The seminar will cover legal issues as well as understanding the challenging behaviour expressed by people with learning difficulties and how a carer – whether it is a teacher or parent – reacts to their actions. The idea is that if the carer understands the, they will better be able to manage their response which in turn has an effect on the undesirable behaviours.

Autism Eastern Cape strongly recommends the course for both professional and non-professional, and staff at the AEC Early Intervention Centre have been through the workshop. Parents and teachers on the previous Studio III course in May said the course had been invaluable for them as a parent at home, as well as a teacher in the classroom, with children from junior primary school age through to young adulthood.

“The ideals of Studio III are to promote the management of challenging behaviour in a gentle and dignified way, by providing a better understanding and insight into challenging behaviour and by use of low arousal approaches,” she explained. “All courses promote the management of challenging behaviour in a non-confrontational way using the low arousal approaches and, when appropriate, gentle physical skills.”

Chantel Snyman, right, will present the Studio III course on August 2 in Port Elizabeth, with co-presenter Nashareen Morris

Chantel also presents a longer, three-day course for professionals including teachers, nursing staff, carers, doctors, security staff, psychologists and therapists, but noted that parents of special-needs children were increasingly seeing the value of the course. In the UK, Studio III has been running courses in the management of challenging behaviour for 15 years, based on applied academic research in residential homes, day centres, respite care and institutional settings.

The Port Elizabeth course will demonstrate how to defuse potentially high risk situations, prevent situations from escalating, and give practical advice on how to deal with tricky situations. The seminar fee is R250 and this includes course notes and CPD points.

•  Contact Chantel for any further information on cell 072-4242-108 or e-mail: chantel@studio3southafrica.co.za

Roy and Algoa FM really do care!

Thank you Algoa FM! Autism Eastern Cape vice-chair Natalie Wilmot and secretary Gillian McAinsh went live on air on the last day of World Autism Awareness Month – April 30 – to let Algoa Cares’ million listeners know about autism, and raise awareness and funds for the AEC Early Intervention Centre.

Algoa FM listeners donatedR5,000 in cash pledges and also offered a Sunday lunch at the upmarket Chapman Hotel.

THANKS ROY! Natalie Wilmot, left, and Gillian McAinsh, share a light moment after the show with Roy Williams of Algoa FM

 

Presenter Roy Williams interviewed the AEC representatives on Mio and Queenie, the lunch time show of husband and wife duo Mio Khondleka and Queenie Grootboom and the big-hearted listeners responded by calling in with more than R5,000 of pledges. AEC would like to thank the following for on-air promises of cash donations:

• Piet Botha at the Noordhoek Skiboat club, R500
• Gary of SA Home Loans, R500
• Le Roi of Our SuperSpar Walmer and Fig Tree Spar R1,000 (R500 per Spar)
• Barry of the Conradie Group, who also volunteered transport for children to and fro school in addition to a cash donation of R1,500
• Adamelia of the IOD Centre, R300
• Odette (calling in her personal capacity), R500
• Tanith of the Crystal Club, who challenged other supper, book and cotton clubs to match the Crystal Club’s pledge of R700
• Harold Franklin of the Chapman Hotel who offered to host the children at AEC’s Early Intervention Centre, and the staff, to Sunday lunch at its buffet.
  

  Algoa FM lunchtime presenters Queenie Grootboom and Mio Khondleka

AEC is thrilled with the donations but – perhaps even more importantly – so grateful to get the message out there that there is assistance for families who have a child who is autistic and in need of early intervention and support.

Over the past 15 years hundreds of organisations have benefitted from this charity feature, with millions of rands raised in support of charities in the broadcast area across the Eastern and Southern Cape. Algoa Cares supports nearly 100 charities a year and no charity may be on air more than once in a 12-month cycle.

Beanie warmth

Autism Eastern Cape Early Intervention Centre pupils, seen above, from left, Trent, 4, Trinity, 8, and Limnandi, 5, had fun today trying on the warm beanies knitted for the centre children as a donation. Thank you, Natalie’s mom!

 

Bluestock invitation

Redhouse will be singing the blues tomorrow night at the Bluestock Music Festival at 28 Towpath, starting at 5pm.

AEC committee member, music therapist Tine Joubert, organises an annual outdoor concert with musicians from a diverse range of genres, and this year the concert will feature the talents of:  Jon Allen and some Brothers, Dave Oldham, The Nerdy Boys, Graham Beyer, Rosemary Gardener, Christopher Williams, Paulus Jansen, Kevin Abrahams, New Brighton Girls, Ken Collier and Alhyrian Laue.

Everyone is welcome to this fun, family friendly evening to celebrate and mark World Autism Awareness Month. The concert starts at 5pm tomorrow evening at 28 Towpath, Redhouse. Bring picnic baskets and blankets to sit on. Benev will have soup and bread for sale.

There is no official entry fee, but please bring a cash donation and/or old or new musical instruments in support of The Music Therapy Project

Dress Code:  Something blue

Further information from Tine, christinejoubert@gmail.com, cell: 076-792 6776 or click on the picture above to go to the Bluestock Facebook page, where you also will find directions.

 

 

Light up the puzzle

This gallery contains 2 photos.

Autism Eastern Cape is lighting it up in blue for World Autism Day (#LIUB) by adding a splash of blue to our existing more permanent signage outside 254 Main Road. Look out for the blue flag with a bright yellow … Continue reading →