My Visit to a Center for Children with Autism and Let's Go to the Disco!
A Visit to a Center for Children with Autism
Hello Elementary Friends,
This past week I was happy to be asked to visit an amazing new school with a Center for Children with Autism. As most of you know, my school in Colorado is proud to host an award winning ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) program. For the past six years our school has been a Colorado Department of Education Model Site for ASD programming. I also had an Autism Program at my school in Texas, so I have committed around 15 years or more of my professional career to learning all I can about this disorder and how to help children on the "spectrum" to become successful and productive students.
First - let me tell you about this new school and the collaborative efforts that went into the creation of this beneficial service to the local community:
Here is some information on the school:
Opening in 2015, Victoria Avenue Public School's learning community is growing everyday. With brand new future focused classrooms, all students have the opportunity to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens.
Victoria Avenue Public School is part of an innovative integrated community precinct partnership between the NSW Department of Education and Communities, City of Canada Bay Council and Sydney Local Health District. The precinct includes a 47-place child care centre catering for children from birth to school age, early childhood health services, Outside School Hours Care, shared use of the playing fields and a communal hall.
At Victoria Avenue Public School and precinct, we will develop a learning community which strives for equitable excellence, supporting the whole child from birth to high school. Students, parents, staff and the community will do this by working in partnership to create authentic links with local and global communities.
The support and involvement of local families is crucial to our continued success. If you want to be part of this exciting new school, don't hesitate to get in touch.
I conducted a bit of research on the prevalence of Autism in Australia prior to my visit so that I had some frame of reference prior to viewing the program. Here is some information that I obtained from the "Autism in Australia" website:
Autism Spectrum Australia describes autism as: lifelong developmental disabilities characterized by marked difficulties in social interaction, impaired communication, restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors and sensory sensitivities.
It is, for many, a very disabling condition that presents substantial challenges for those affected, their families and friends. As noted above, the condition is lifelong, although the social, communication and sensory deficits that some experience may be assisted with the use of intervention therapies and structured support. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed on the basis of behavioral criteria. There is no medical testing available to diagnose these disorders.
This publication aims to present an overview of the prevalence of autism in Australia and the impact the condition has on the everyday lives of those affected by the condition.
Here is the prevalence of the disorder in Australia:
It is estimated that 115,400 Australians (0.5%) have autism. This is a 79% increase over the 64,400 people estimated to have had the condition in 2009.
Autism spectrum disorders were more commonly found in males than females. Males were 4 times more likely than females to have the condition, with prevalence rates of 0.8% and 0.2% respectively. This is consistent with overseas estimates. For example, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the US shows boys are 4.5 times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
I did find a few discrepancies in this data, however. According to latest research, the prevalence of Autism in the United States is as follows:
On March 27, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on the prevalence of autism in the United States. This surveillance study identified 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Here are some photos of this beautiful new school:
The Annual Disco at Beaumont Road a Success!
Last Friday night the annual disco was held at Beaumont Road. This year the theme was Summer in September and it was a rousing success! The disco was held in two sessions with the first being the kindergarten through year two from 5:30-7:00 and then the years 3-6 was 7:30-9:00. Here are some photos and a video of this fun evening!
Click here for a video of my children at the disco!
Beaumont Road Disco Years K-2
And - here are my children at their sport class this week - they loved the parachute games!
And - here are my children at their sport class this week - they loved the parachute games!
And now I will leave you with a couple thoughts - first of all, it is now the end of Term Three in New South Wales. Where has the time gone? I can't believe that I am three/fourths of the way to completion of this school year in Australia! We are now ready for our "Spring Break."
Here are a couple photos of our end of Term Dinner at a Thai restaurant near the school. You will notice that Malcolm is giving awards to each of the attendees for their accomplishments during the term:
Next - several of you were wondering what I did about the student from last week who did not properly secure his lunch box between Morning Tea and Lunch and the cockatoo ate the whole of his lunch! I, of course, wanted to help him get some lunch, but I also wanted him to learn about being responsible for his lunch so that it would be safe and ready to eat at lunch-time. The student and I had many conversations where he convinced me that he was ready to take on responsibilities. So, in exchange for loaning him $2.00 for the canteen, the student is now patrolling the area around my classroom for any stray lunches - if found, he puts them securely near my door so that all lunches are protected during the day. We will see if this community service assists him in taking responsibility for his belongings!
Missing My Colorado Aspen Leaves this Autumn!
One more term to go, and my kids will be ready for Year Three, and I will be ready to come home!
Here is a photo of the glorious leaves in Colorado during this time of year. I AM MISSING THEM!
Next year, I know that I will really appreciate them since I have been gone this year!
Next week I will be happy to share our adventures to Ayers Rock in the Northern Territory, so stay tuned! Until then - try to enjoy those beautiful autumn colors!
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