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In 2018 the CDC determined that approximately 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with an Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Most children were still being diagnosed after age 4, though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 2.
Autism is a complex neurobehavioral condition that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid, repetitive behaviors.
There has been an increasing number of children coming to the center with one or more features of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Because of the complex and progressive nature of the condition, it requires the therapist to continually update their skills to help the children and Families.
Shruti More, our Occupational Therapist undertook a traning at Ummeed Child Development Center to upgrade her skills in Autism Intervention.
Autism Intervention Training Program (AITP) is divided into 3 full time teaching modules along with supervision. Each Module focuses on working with children with ASD in different age groups:
Module 1: Starting to Work with the Child
Module 2: Planning Interventions
Module 3: Working with the Family
Course Modules are been designed to enable professionals to learn about the following areas of Autism Intervention: - Assessment and Goal Planning - Intervention techniques and approaches such as Developmental approaches, ABA techniques including Discrete Trial Training (DTT) and Pivotal Response Training (PRT), and TEACCH, among others. - Sensory issues and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) - Involving and Engaging Families in care Course modules will be delivered through a combination of interactive lectures, video demonstrations, mocks and clinical observations of real sessions.
Professionals are expected to apply learned strategies to children that they work within their practice and discuss learnings and challenges during supervision sessions. Each professional present 1-2 selected cases during the final case discussion to demonstrate understanding and application of learned concepts. After AITP Level 1, the professional can enroll for AITP Level 2 in the following year, on completion of which they will qualify as an AUTISM INTERVENTION THERAPIST, certified by Ummeed Child Development Center, Mumbai.
The traning was sponsored by Malana Power Company Limited under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
At Aash, we are now even more skilled, confident and committed to offering the best to our children with diverse abilities and their families.