Services Overview

Our Services: An Overview

Running Educational and Training Program

Educating children with autism is a challenge for both parents and teachers. Academic goals need to be tailored to that individual’s intellectual ability and functioning level. Understanding this reality, AWF started an education and training centre named “Kanon” – a safe and secure learning environment for students with ASD. AWF has its own course and curriculum to provide education to these autistic children.

An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is prepared on the basis of functional assessments. In the early ages, the emphasis is on developing communication, as well as building basic interaction skills, pre-reading and writing skills and concept building. Concepts are taught in one-on-one sessions, while group activities are used to develop social skills.

Alongside, the child’s abilities to work independently and interpret instructions in a general environment are developed and strengthened. Gradually, the children learn independent work behaviours that enable them to acquire vocational skills. Children who are ready move on to mainstream classrooms. The school combines group activities and one-on-one teaching, as well as music therapy, computer and sensory integration.

A total of 64 teachers, 1 psychologist, 1 occupational therapist and 1 speech therapist are engaged in conducting the education courses through the education centre, where 160 autistic children are being enrolled every year. As the education program is highly structured, the teacher to student ratio is 1:1.

AWF is also running two pre-normal classes named “Nayantara” & “Malati”, where the students are taught national course curriculum of Bangladesh, with the objective to enrol them in regular mainstream schools. A total of 79 students have already been admitted to regular schools since 2004.

Assessment

Free Saturday Clinic

Autism Welfare Foundation (AWF) commenced its Free Saturday Clinic program in 2011, in cooperation with AB Bank, with a view to foster free of cost education and training facilities for the less privileged autistic children and adolescents of the society in its premises every Saturday. From 2018, Runner Group of Companies has sponsored this program.

Early Stimulation Program

AWF started the Early Stimulation Program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aged below 5 years every Saturday. Runner Group of Companies have sponsored this program. Children and their parents from Dhaka and from districts around Dhaka city are currently attaining this service. AWF has been running the program since October 2012.

Vocational Training Program

While some students with autism attend regular classes, many need training in vocational skills and community living skills. These can enhance person’s independence, give more opportunity for personal choice and allow more freedom in the community.

AWF provides a specialized and supportive environment for adolescents and adults with autism with special educational needs to learn skills that enable them to work in a vocational a training centre named “Krishnochura”.

Through this training, students can-

enhance functional communication & personal skills
achieve independent living skills like shopping and cooking
get familiar with current affairs
get trained in vocational areas (making envelopes, bags & greeting cards, performing boutique, tie-dye, block printing & pottery decoration, developing leisure skills, etc).

Occupational and Sensory Intervention

The program is available for all children with autism in the school where sensory issues interfere with learning and daily functioning. Areas of intervention include providing an individualized sensory diet, speech therapy, activities to develop motor skills, life skills, and providing training and home based programs for parents. Sessions are conducted by a trained Occupational Therapist.

Workshops and Training

Teachers Training

People with autism benefit most from teachers who have a deep, comprehensive understanding of autism and relevant techniques. AWF conducts practical and interactive training workshops for its teachers and staffs on various aspects of autism.

They get extensive exposure in hands-on training and lectures.
They learn to adapt to the principles and practices of working with persons with autism.
They also gain knowledge on autism and special education, behaviour modification, social and linguistic development, family counselling, etc.

Practical training and workshop sessions are held on the last Friday of each month and held for 4 to 5 hours. All sessions are conducted by Dr. Rownak Hafiz.

Parents Training

Every year, AWF organizes two 4 days-long training sessions in the months of June and December at its own premises. The main intention of these training sessions is to discuss about the development of admitted students of the previous year, common problems faced by the parents of autistic children and their overall management.

The training sessions are conducted by Dr. Rownak Hafiz. Open discussion sessions for the parents and teachers are also included after each session so that they can share their knowledge and views with each other.

For updates on the latest conferences and workshops arranged by AWF, please click here.

Family Support Services

Family Counselling

Family Counselling is provided to family members to deal with issues related to the pressures and stress of parenting a child with autism, adult with autism, parenting the sibling of a child with autism, living in a nuclear or joint family, second child issues, or any other concerns families may have. Appropriate coping strategies are discussed and developed with inputs from class teachers, psychologist and consultant. Parents also receive referrals to schools and services elsewhere.

Home Visit

Most professionals acknowledge that the treatment that has proven effective over time for the largest percentage of individuals with autism is a structured educational program geared to the individual’s development level. That is why children should follow a structured, safe and friendly Home Management program. Tailored to individual needs, structure for daily routines and activities that the family carries out with the child at home is provided. The program also gives families an opportunity to discuss and arrive at solutions to vexing issues of behaviours and learning of daily living skills. During home visits, teachers visit home of the children as a part of door step service, ensuring that the children receive same management both in school and home. Programs for home management are jointly designed by parents and AWF teachers.

Awareness Raising Activities

Increasing awareness of a less-known disorder such as autism is necessary for doctors to make accurate diagnosis and for society to begin integrating autistic individuals into the mainstream. AWF has undertaken various initiatives to increase awareness and understanding about autism among parents and professionals as well as the general public. AWF continues to raise awareness among the general public through following activities –