Northern Metropolitan Region Autism Spectrum Disorder Network

1. Northern Metropolitan RegionAutism Spectrum Disorder Network TRAINING/ EDUCATION IN AUTISM

2. NMR ASD NETWORK • Who: • ASD specific ECIS in NMR • ECIS Managers Representative • Parent Support Worker Purpose: • Coordination of training/education across the region • Develop a training calendar across a year which will met the needs of parents and professionals

3. The Beginnings: 2002 2002 • Early Childhood Autism Service-Northern (ECAS-N) identified the need for better coordination of services • Paper titled “Coordination of Services” presented to DHS • Response – funding for: • Professional Training • Parent Education • PEC’s training

4. Skills & Training Analysis • All ECIS in NMR surveyed • Need for basic knowledge of Autism across ECIS and Early Years programs • Further training in PEC’s for ECIS • Secondary Consultation • Need for coordination and collaboration across region

5. NMR ASD Network 2003 • 2 days Professional Development for ECIS, CSRDO’s, PSFO’s M&CHN, Paeds • One Professional Training series for Early Years staff - 4 sessions - 90 attendees • Two Parent Education series- 4 sessions

6. Training Expands: 2004 • Network successful in obtaining grant from DHS – Quality Initiative Funding • Further training for Early Years staff • Planning for a Calendar of training • Collaboration with City of Whittlesea- training in conjunction

7. Current: 2005 Broader training program: • 2 series for professionals • 2 series for parents • Workshops on “Social Stories” • Presentation during Autism Awareness Week • Family day during Autism Awareness Week

8. 2005 Calendar of Training Term 1 • Professional Training in Autism series 1 & 2 Term 2 • Parent Education in Autism • “Life and Learning with Autism/Aspergers Syndrome” – Wendy Lawson • Workshop on Writing “Social Stories” Term 3 • “Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder-fussy eaters?” • “A Parent’s Journey Through the Maze” Term 4 • Parent Education in Autism • Workshop on Writing “Social Stories”

9. What works? • Venues spread across the region to enable access for the majority of people • Parent sessions at no cost • One daytime and one evening series for parents –childcare provided for daytime through Carerlinks North • Maximum of 20 parents to enable interaction • Professional series fund parent series

10. What Works (cont’d) • Feed back through NMR Managers group about ECIS needs • Formation of Parent Support Groups- Northern Autism Parent Support (NAPS) and Autism Family Social Group

11. Future: • Ongoing evaluation to look at needs of both groups- Parents/Professionals • Joint sessions for parents and early years staff • Evaluation of the purpose of the Network with a view to broadening the activities

12. Calendar for 2006 Term 1 • “ASD- Inclusion into Early Childhood Services” • “Introduction to ASD for Parents” Term 2 • ASD -What Parents Want to Know” 4 sessions - daytime • “Finding A Different Kind of Normal”- Presentation from 2 adults with HFA/AS (Autism Awareness Week) • Family Day to Bulla Railway (Autism Awareness Week) • “Training in ASD for Early Childhood Professionals” 4 sessions Term 3 • “Training in ASD for Early Childhood Professionals” 4 sessions • “Writing Social Stories Workshop” Term4 • Writing Social Stories Workshop” • “ASD –What Parents Want to Know” 4 sessions -evening