Practical Holiday Tips...

Now that the Christmas holidays are here, one great way that parents can encourage speech and language development during this period is to keep daily, meaningful, understandable language flowing. For example, your child's conversation topics should be filled with the Christmas and holiday vocabulary. You can work this plan together with your child's speech language pathologist. Also, ensure that you answer your child every time he/she speaks to you, and let him/her know that you value everything he/she has to say. Look at your child when you speak to him/her, even if the child is non-verbal.

If your child asks a continuous stream of questions, saying it back the to him/her may break the cycle, especially if the child already knows the answer. For example, Child: "Are we going to the mall from here?" Adult: "Yinka, are we going to the mall from here?" Child: "Yes!"

Please note that singing is also speech. Therefore, if your child learns songs easily, use that strength to enhance his/her language skills. Talk about new words in the song he/she may not understand; and make sure you distinguish nonsense words from real words.

Finally, take time to enjoy your times together and have lots of fun this holiday. Merry Christmas! 

C.A.D.E.T. Academy® 5-Hour Training Workshop/Seminar in Abuja - 7 Dec 13 (Topic: How to Teach Students with Autism Effectively - First Edition)

The Comprehensive Autism and related Disabilities Education and Training (C.A.D.E.T.) Academy organized a training workshop/seminar in Abuja, Nigeria, on 7th December 2013. The title of the workshop was: HOW TO TEACH STUDENTS WITH AUTISM EFFECTIVELY. The aim of the workshop was to educate and train the participants on research-based special education strategies for teaching students with autism and related disabilities in inclusive settings. A game and six case studies were used to clearly illustrate certain points to the participants thus keeping the 5-hour duration of the workshop interactive and lively until the end. There was also a lunch break during which the participants were served with sumptuous meals to keep them refreshed.

The workshop had a successful outcome. Here are the feed backs from some of the participants:

"The training met my expectation. This is the first time I am sitting for a training on Autism. You spoke with great expertise and passion. I think this training should be on going in all schools. Educators need to be constantly reminded to be creative with learning while not short changing any child for effective implementation of inclusion. Also, I have changed my perspective about autistic children. Thank you and keep it up!!!!" ~ Amara

"The C.A.D.E.T. Academy® workshop on how to teach kids with autism exceeded my expectations. It was so enlightening, so practical. The most exciting and interesting part for me are the case studies. Educators should invest in this." ~Blessing

"Wow! It was an impact full workshop/seminar. The lectures was delivered with passion, I enjoyed all the case studies, it gave me an opportunity to tap from people's wealth of experiences relating with Autistic child. The game time was amazing it shed more light to what goes on in the mind of an Autistic child. Wow! I will not forget to thank C.A.D.E.T Academy® for the super lunch and total package. Looking forward to your next training". ~Ibilola

"The training/seminar today was very educating as well as interesting. The "Mr and Mrs Right game was challenging, further making me feel what kids with Autism feel and appreciate them. It was very much interactive with regards to the case studies after each presentation. Mrs Lola Aneke was very practical with her explanations which made them clearer, for me it wasn't boring at all...I think this is one training that teachers should not shy away from...The seminar is one I look forward to again and again. I wonder why teachers and parents won't rush to attend this, because we deal with Autistic Children almost every day of our lives interacting with children, and we need to be aware of ways how we can teach and train this kids effectively and get POSITIVE results. I am most grateful to C.A.D.E.T. Academy® for the wonderful experience." ~Pamela

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If you missed this workshop/seminar, don't worry, more of our seminars and workshops are scheduled for the months ahead - some will be free and some will be at a fee. You may visit the C.A.D.E.T. Academy website (www.cacademy.sch.ng) to get more details of our scheduled workshops and seminars. Photo highlights are below, after the cut.

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My interview on NTA AM Express...

My interview session on Nigeria's national television, NTA AM EXPRESS on Saturday, 7 December 2013. Discussion topic was Lessons from Late Nelson Mandela's Views on Education for all, and Autism Awareness in Nigeria.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities...

Facts about disability:

• At least 10% of the world's population, or 650 million people, live with a disability.

• 20% of the world's poor are disabled.

• The percentage of children with disabilities NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL is extremely variable and is between 65 - 85% in some AFRICAN countries.

• Mortality for children with disabilities may be as high as 80% in countries where under-five mortality as a whole has decreased to below 20%.

• In many low-income and middle -income countries, only 5-15% of disabled people who require assistive devices and technology have access to them. (Source: http://www.who.int)

....Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This includes persons with AUTISM and related disabilities. The observance of the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities (www.un.org). This includes their education through the provision of SPECIAL EDUCATION. YOU and I can provide INCLUSIVE support for persons with disabilities in our communities by first UNDERSTANDING their challenges. EMPOWER yourself with the KNOWLEDGE you NEED to be a part of this move today.

Visit: www.cacademy.sch.ng to see the schedule of our training workshops/seminars.

How to Teach Students with Autism Effectively: A 4-Hour Hands-on Training Workshop/Seminar

Its a 4-Hour training workshop/seminar that will involve case-studies, hands-on sessions, etc., on the most up-to-date research-based strategies from the United States you don't want to miss if you are a parent of a child with autism, a teacher/school administrator or a therapist. 

Venue: SRC Meeting Room, 10b Owena Close, off Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja 

Registration required! Visit: www.cacademy.sch.ng for details

Facts are Easier to Handle with Proper Understanding...

This is a story I received on one of the newsletters I subscribed to on autismtoday.com. It was written by Karen Simmons, Founder & CEO of AutismToday.com. I found it interesting that a lot parents I interact with in Nigeria face a similar situation, so I decided to share it here with the kind permission of autismtoday.com.

"It's funny how people in the midst of denial behave.

When faced with a fact we just don't want to see, or bluntly refuse to admit, many of us immediately try to dismiss that fact point blank.

You know what they say, "Pride comes before the fall..."

You should have seen me, a loving Mother stubbornly refusing to budge from my obviously errant opinion about my child. Excuses flowed like a river and I was not a happy camper.

My sister in-law was clearly correct, yet I couldn't see the forest for the trees.

After all, it seemed as if she was verbally "attacking" my son by suggesting he be checked for autism.

Of all the nerve!

What right does she have to spout such a thing?!? She wasn't a doctor!

I didn't know about Jonathan's autism until my sister in law, Anna, told me she'd heard a radio talk show discussing autism. In the same breath, she also said, ""based on some of the warning signs, I think Jonathan might be autistic. You should have him checked out, Karen.""

My immediate response was ""no way"", there is nothing wrong with my son.

I then sarcastically said, ""why don't you have Julia checked out, she acts different too"". Julia is her daughter who happens to be the same age as Jonny, which made it easy for us to compare.

Of course no one wants to hear anything negative about their child but I will swallow my pride and say out loud to the world...I'm certainly glad that I listened.

That entire embarrassing episode really threw me for a loop. I got schooled in the five steps of grief:

- Denial

- Anger

- Bargaining

- Sadness

- Acceptance.

Although these steps are an entire conversation in themselves, I must say that my denial was very tough to get through. It took my husband another ten years or so to finally come around.

Difficult as the pain was to navigate through, it had to get done. Jonathan needed all the love and attention we could muster...especially in the early days of the diagnosis.

Looking back, the initial problem was not with Jonathan, it was with me. I took a long hard look in the mirror and made changes.

Autism is so easy to see past, especially when a child is young.

At 15 or 16, it's too old to be exhibiting behaviors like flapping their hands in the air or rocking back and forth. By letting go of my pride early on, we provided for and received much assistance for Jonathan.

I'm thankful for my Sister's sharp attention and love. I've accepted Jonathan for who he is and what must be.

Have you caught yourself denying facts?

What was the turning point of truth for you?

In what way did those around you help or hinder the situation?"

C.A.D.E.T. Academy Dyslexia Awareness Seminar in Abuja

The Comprehensive Autism and related Disabilities Education and Training (C.A.D.E.T.) Academy organized a dyslexia awareness seminar in Abuja, Nigeria, on 26th October 2013. The title of the seminar was: Understanding Dyslexia. The seminar was one of the activities which the organization conducted to mark the month of October as the International Month of Dyslexia Awareness. The aim of this particular seminar was to educate, inspire and encourage families, teachers and caregivers who are dealing with young students living with dyslexia, towards embracing a proper understanding of the condition, and defeating stigma.

The seminar gave me the opportunity, as the special education Program Director of the C.A.D.E.T. Academy, to educate and enlighten the audience on some facts and misconceptions about dyslexia. We further discussed some of the signs and how to conduct comprehensive tests on individuals who are suspected to be dyslexic. I also gave some tips and strategies to the audience on how to accommodate dyslexic students in an inclusive classroom.

<Click here to view the presentation in .pdf format>.

The seminar which was offered free of charge to the public was well attended by people from within and outside Abuja. The audience were full of appreciation and some even used the opportunity to share inspirational stories about their personal experiences with persons living with special needs.

If you missed this seminar, don't worry, more of our seminars and workshops are scheduled for the months ahead - some will be free and some will be at a fee. You may visit the C.A.D.E.T. Academy YouTube channel via the website (www.cacademy.sch.ng) to watch. Photo highlights are below, after the cut.