Second phase of autism training launched |02 November 2013

The second phase of the autism training workshop was launched on Monday by Dr Erna Athanasius in her capacity as paediatrician and the ambassador for women and children and also the advisor of the Autism Advocacy Project.
 
The ceremony took place at the Sheikh Khalifa diagnostic centre auditorium at the Seychelles Hospital in the presence of high officials from key organisations, including the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, executive committee members of the Seychelles Children’s Foundation, sponsors, professionals and parents.  

The workshop, which is being organised by the Seychelles Children’s Foundation in collaboration with key partners, through the sponsorship of JOUEL, will see the participation of two groups of professionals from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.
 
Dr Kelley Yost, an expert in autism based at the University of Rochester, New York, U.S.A, is conducting the workshop, which will run until November 8, 2013.
 
The workshop forms part of the professional development of the Autism Advocacy Project that started last year with the same group of professionals on how to administer the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS 2) for early detection of autism in children.  

Dr Yost’s second phase of training will strengthen the early diagnosis and intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The workshop will also see capacity building sessions with special needs coordinators in schools, maternal child health (MCH) and school health nurses and parents.

In her opening speech, Dr Athanasius said that autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are being spoken more about and that now the general public are more aware of the disorder than ever before.  

Dr Athanasius also referred to the international attention that development disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder are getting from the UN and World Health Organisation.

She also noted that the Autism Advocacy Project, under the patronage of the chairperson of the Seychelles Children’s Foundation, Natalie Michel, has also brought together different groups of agencies, professionals, parents and others to work hand in hand to help children with autism and their families.

During the launching, a new sponsor for the Autism Advocacy Project was also revealed. Maryvonne Pool, honorary consul for Seychelles in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and the managing director of Playroom Seychelles, will henceforth be the new sponsor of the Autism Project to continue to bring support to the professional development of people working with children with autism, as well as the parents and families of those children.

The autism training workshop will be the last activity sponsored by JOUEL through a two-year agreement with the Seychelles Children’s Foundation. Sincere appreciation was expressed to Rod Thorrington, managing director of JOUEL, as the agreement nears its end.  The sponsorship of Mrs Pool through the Playroom Seychelles will also be for a two-year period.

Lyn Lavigne, the chairperson of Pearl Seychelles, also took the opportunity to thank JOUEL, the Seychelles Children’s Foundation and other partners for their invaluable support towards the autism cause.