Description
The aim of the project is to increase the complexity of field services for children with ASD in the area of development of communication and social behavior through the involvement of experts - a speech therapist and a special needs educator. These experts should be involved in providing field social services and early intervention services. Furthermore, it aims to promote parenting skills to raise a child with ASD through the active participation of parents in the project activities. We want to achieve the aims through the enlargement of the early intervention team. This team should be enhanced by a speech therapist and a special needs educator, we also want to support therapeutic activities and rehearsal of social skills (creative and art workshops, music and movement games, common trips) for children and their families. We will also held a course of the methodology SCERTS, VOKS communication system and a course of using modern communication aids for children with ASD.The target group is children aged 0-7 years with a diagnosis of ASD and their families in the South Moravian Region. About 480 preschool children with this diagnosis live in this region at present time.
Summary of project results
The main change after the realization of the project is that parents of the Autism Spectrum Disorders children actively participate in the games with their children, including the confidence to initiate the game. These games allow children with ASD to communicate during the game, which is a transferable skill into other social situations. Children and parents are able to understand each other more effectively than before, which positively affects their relationship. The goals were fulfilled by a special educator who developed the game with ASD children, eventually including parents into the game that were taught how to start the game and react to their child´s needs. A speech therapist was managing communication during these activities through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). After that, the special educator and speech therapist interacted together and created an Experience Diary. Results showed that parents gained practical communication abilities and were advised how to grow closer and educate their child with ASD. Children were educated about the Experience Diary – what is it for, and how they can use it. The children with ASD learned about the SCERTS Model (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support), were instructed how to use an iPad, and learned how to use the Communication Diary. We were able to extend the team and engage 5 children who were interested in our service. We had 35 participants from the target group engage in our project. 30 of them were our clients, 5 of them were those who were interested in our service. There were 50 therapeutic programs with the participation of 233 people from the target group, 2x parents education with the visit of 45 families.
Summary of bilateral results