Good practices in the learning environment - a discussion

1. Good practices in the learning environment- a discussion 28 Sep 2014 Sapling School, Sion

2. Why? • Growing incidence of the use of corporal punishment to address challenging behaviours. • Inability of families and professionals to comprehend certain behaviours that could be injurious to the child and others. • Inability of families and professionals to understand communicative intent behind certain behaviors. • Decrease in experiential sharing between professionals as a result of many more available services. • Decrease in parental involvement in the educational process.

3. What? Setting up a self-monitoring process that is • Voluntary – allowing peer assessment • Transparent – aimed at empowering parents • Protective – of the collective interests of families and professionals Providing Resources for parents and professionals • Through training modules and workshops • Case studies • Inter-disciplinary discussions and practices

4. How? Monitoring Committee • Through a process of election of professionals • Inter-disciplinary • Representative of organizations across the city Resource Committee • Sp. Ed., O.T., P.T., S.T., Mental Health, Sports, Art, ….. Initiator and Catalyst • Forum for Autism has given unto itself, the duty of ensuring that Good Practices are established in the learning environment through a process of peer-monitoring and inter-disciplinary sharing among professionals and parents. • FFA will therefore be represented in both the Committees and will assist and initiate this process.

5. Who? Monitoring Committee: The elected segment of the Monitoring Committee are • Dr. Harish Shetty - Psychiatrist • Dr. Rubina Lal - Professor, Sp.Ed., parent • Dr. Dinaz Wadia - Speech therapist • Dr. Roopa Srinivasan - Developmental Pediatrician • Ms. Jaya Rangarajan - Special Educator • FFA will be represented by (min) 2 parents, who will be nominated by FFA core group. in addition, advisories without decision making powers will include • A Child Rights person from HAQ/ Childline / CRC and • A lawyer / human rights activist

6. Who?Resource Committee (in addition to FFA Advisories): The professionals who have volunteered their services are • Dr. KoyeliSengupta - Dev. Pediatrician, Sp. Interest Autism • Ms. KaminiLakhani - RDI Consultant, parent • Ms. SunitaLele - Special Educator, parent • Dr. AshwiniVaishampayan - Occupational Therapist • Dr. ChaulaBadiani - Occupational Therapist • Ms. SulabhaSubramanium - Relationship Counselor • Ms. NirupaBhangar - Educationist, Vocational Centre prof. • Ms. SushmaNagarkar - School Psychologist, parent Support Resources will be provided by Mr. DattaFonde (Sports), Ms. Malika Mehta (Sp.Ed.), Ms. MerziaMaskati (S.T.), Mr. Nabhiraj Mehta (Art). Others wanting to be resource persons can write to FFA.

7. Decisions All decisions will be taken by the following : • Elected body of the Monitoring Committee (This will be a rotating body with a fixed term. The persons elected to this body today are just the first set of people)  • The(min) 2 nominated parents from the FFA core group • And the advisory committee of FFA comprising of Dr. VrajeshUdani - Paediatric Neurologist Dr. Vibha Krishnamurthy -Paediatrician, Specialist in Developmental Disorders Dr. Anjali Joshi-Senior Occupational Therapist Ms. Merry Barua -Director, Action For Autism

8. Open to being monitored • Kshitij Sheltered Workshop • Little Joys Pediatric Rehabilitation Centre • Orgs of professionals suggested for Monitoring Committee: • Samarpan for Autistic Children • Sapling School • Disha Comprehensive Rehab Centre • Ishanya Centre • The Anchorage Sheltered Workshop • Khushi Paediatric Therapy Centre • ASK (Adult Support Kendra) • Sunshine School • SAI (Support for Autistic Individuals) • Ummeed Child Development Center • Reach Therapy Center • Santosh Institute

9. Process for 28 Sep ‘14 Monitoring Committee to deliberate on processes for assessing • Declared Policies for good practices • Continued teacher and staff training systems • Parent-professional interaction • Transparency in teaching methods and environment. collating • Existing legal rules, regulations and procedures • The how-to for parents who want to seek legal recourse any other issue as deemed fit

10. Process for 28 Sep ‘14 The Resource Committee will break into smaller focus groups to deliberate on • What each member can offer by way of training • What type of module will be offered: workshop/ experiential training/ other • Duration and frequency of module • Tentative dates any other issues as deemed fit

11. FFA’s role As Initiator and Catalyst to monitor and provide resources for good practices in the learning environment, FFA will • Coordinate the monitoring visits • Arrange for the training workshops Based on the outcomes and discussions of today’s meeting • Collate all data / information that will ensue • Keep FFA members informed and abreast of developments • Reach out to more Institutions to join the process of peer evaluation, assessment and discussions on Good Practices in the learning environment.

12. Be empowered ! Join Forum for Autism Visit www.forumforautism.org Forum for Autism’s facebook page, our libraries at Colaba and Vashi. Contact us at 3294 9595 forumforautism@gmail.com For membership details, contact PriyankaChiplunkar at the enquiry desk.