ASP PWAy Day for the month of August

I think it's more important to be fit so that you can be healthy and enjoy activities than it is to have a good body. Rachel Blanchard

The Autism Society Philippines Wednesday "PWAy Day" aims to provide enrichment for teens and adults with autism who are not currently enrolled in schools. ASP PWAy Days will offer opportunities to learn new skills, to socialize with non-family members and to have fun. This will be every Wednesday, from 2pm to 4pm at ASP Headquarters. This is open to all PWAs, 16 years old and above.

On August 2 - Join our MixxedFit Dance with Certified Mixxedfit Instructor Miss Donna Lim as she will lead this innovative dance-fitness. We dance to today’s hits and yesterday’s favorites with repetitive and easy to follow dance steps. Attendees will wear comfortable workout clothes, such as leggings, workout pants, or shorts, wear appropriate footwear, do NOT wear sandals, flip flops, ballet shoes, hiking boots, or running shoes and bring water and towel.

On August 9 - we will have Acrylic Painting in a Canvas with Teacher Ann Vitug - Acrylic paints are known to be more flexible than other types of paints. This means that as the canvas or siding expands and contracts due to temperature changes, the paint will stretch and compress rather than crack. In this activity,this will help people with autism to develop their social skills, to enhance their verbal communication and can address Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). This session will enhance the creativity of the PWAs and develop their natural artistic abilities. PWAs will just bring their own paint brushes, acrylic paints and extra shirt.

"Adults with autism who are no longer in school end up in the fringes of society." Mona Magno-Veluz, ASP National President shares, "ASP is deeply invested in building a society where a individuals with autism be the best of their potentials -- self-reliant, independent, productive and socially-accepted members of the community -- no matter where they are on the spectrum. By keeping PWAs active and engaged outside the home, we are also training the society to be more aware of what autism is, to be more appreciative of their gifts and to be more accommodating of their deficits."

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Posted in: 4pwas

“Beautiful Pain” shines light on autism acceptance

The film “Beautiful Pain” traces the emotional journey of a family towards acceptance of their son’s autism. The autism advocacy community came out to support the Philippine gala premiere of “Beautiful Pain” at the SM Megamall Cinema 1.

The film, which represented Malaysia at the 89th Academy Awards and the 74th Golden Globe Awards, is a deliberate, tender study of autism and human nature. Director Tunku Mona Riza has been gratified by the response by the global autism community. “This film has become a voice for them,” Mona told journalists at the film’s Oscar screening earlier in the year. The filmmaker researched on autism for more than two years and worked with advocates at the National Autism Society of Malaysia, resulting in the instructional simplicity in the handling of autism as an allied medical subject matter.

Director Tunku Mona Riza flew in for the Philippine gala premiere.

“Redha” is a Malay word with no accurate English translation (much like Tagalog’s “utang na loob”) – “joyful surrender to God’s will” comes close. “Filipinos find connections in “kurot-puso” stories,” Mona Magno-Veluz, National President of the Autism Society Philippines. “The film will help the public understand what persons with autism go through. By sharing this film with the mainstream Filipino audience – this synthesis of the experiences of many families who live and love with autism regardless of color, religion or social strata -- ASP hopes to inspire acceptance, accommodation and appreciation of persons with autism, towards a genuinely autism-inclusive Philippines.” According to ASP, 1 in 100 Filipinos are on the autism spectrum.

The film revolves around Danial, who lives with his parents Alina and Razlan in an island resort in Malaysia, where the early signs of his autism play out. The lead characters’ strained emotional bond is balanced by the kindness of Alina who is accepting of her son’s diagnosis. But Alina is plagued by a misplaced sense of responsibility for Danial’s autism, even ignoring her health in self-reproach. Through her journey, she finds a supportive network of advocates in her college friends, her sister, her husband’s co-workers, her specialists and even a stranger in a gas station. The reluctant Razlan struggles with his son’s condition, resulting in bursts of anger and frustration. He eventually finds inspiration in the perspective of a stranger, a swimming coach, who sees what is amazing in his son, instead of what is missing. Over the span of eight years, the film paints a portrait of awakening, hope and redemption.

Danial and his dolphin.

The Philippine gala premiere held at the SM Megamall Cinema 1 was attended by 600 viewers, despite it being a rainy, traffic-ridden Tuesday night. Honored guests included Tunku Mona Riza (Director, Beautiful Pain), Haris Sulong (Producer, Current Pictures), Wilson Tieng (President, Solar Entertainment), Engr. Bien Mateo (Program Head, SM Cares), Paul Daza (Former Governor, Northern Samar), Mirana Medina (Filmmaker and Disability Advocate), Waya Araos-Wijangco (Executive Chef, Gourmet Gypsy), Michelle Aventajado (Country Director, Best Buddies), Chelo Banal-Formoso (Editor, Philippine Daily Inquirer), Harvey Chua (General Manager, Adphoto), Cherry Concepcion (AVP for HR, SM Savemore), Kimberly Cruz (President, Dohtonbori), Archie David (Executive Director, Project TEACH), Gigi Daza (Founder, Nail Tropics), Francis Dimalanta (Developmental Pediatrician), Rachel Harrison (Founder, Zambawood), Anthony Lozada (President, Bert Lozada Swim School), Wennah Marquez (Chief, Mandaluyong PDAD), Mirana Medina (Film maker), Candy Pangilinan (Film/Television Actress), Kaye Samson (Executice Director, Special Olympics), Rene Sarmiento (Former Commissioner, COMELEC), among other dear friends and supporters. The event was made possible through the generosity of our sponsors: Mossimo, DN Steel Group of Companies, JAC Motors, Ramos Co Logistic, Perlita So, Ardex Motors, Reggie Jolingan and Republic Biscuit Corporation.

A partnership between the Autism Society Philippines, Current Pictures Sdn. Bhd., Solar Pictures, SM Cinema, the ASEAN Autism Network and the National Autism Society of Malaysia, “Beautiful Pain” will be shown in SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia and SM North EDSA on 19 – 25 July 2017 – in commemoration of the Philippine National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.

Close to 600 viewers came to the "Beautiful Pain" on a rainy Tuesday night.

Partners

The Autism Society Philippines envisions an environment that empowers persons with autism spectrum disorder to become the best of their potentials -- self-reliant, independent, productive and socially-accepted members of the community. Towards this end, the ASP commits to the establishment of institutional mechanisms to support persons with autism and their families towards a genuinely autism-inclusive Philippines. Learn more about the autism advocacy at http://www.autismsocietyphilippines.org.

Current Pictures Sdn. Bhd. is a leading Malaysian production company involved in the creation of television commercials, television programme and tele-movies and feature films. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/CurrentPicturesSdnBhd/

SM Cinema is the largest film exhibitor in the Philippines with 326 screens in 58 branches nationwide, not to mention IMAX Theatres in SM Mall of Asia, Megamall, North Edsa, Southmall, Lanang, Clark, Cebu and Aura Premier! Learn more at http://www.smcinema.com.

Solar Pictures is the film distribution arm of Solar Entertainment Corporation, a leading broadcast company operating five free-to-air channels and four cable channels. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/solarpicturesPH.

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Posted in: art,film

ASPs PWAy Day comes to Metro South

Come and "pway" with us on Friday, 14 July 2017 at 4pm! The ASP Paranaque Chapter, led by Imelda Alviso, put together a Zumba event, quarterbacked by Ms. Zin Joy Cancio. Head over to the Stepping Stone Foundation at 8001 Del Carmen Street, Sta. Rita Village, Sucat, Paranaque for an afternoon of fun -- PWAs and family members are welcome! The village entrance is at the Shell station between Loyola Memorial Park and SM Sucat, across the Max's Restaurant.

Aside from hosting the venue, Stepping Stone Foundation is making the event a performance task for learners with autism, currently enrolled in their barista program, under the tutelage of Ms. Rita Tingal. The fee of P100 comes with cold drinks, crafted by our PWA baristas-to-be.

The Autism Society Philippines Wednesday "PWAy Day" -- pronounced [pwey'-dey] -- aims to provide enrichment for teens and adults with autism who are not currently enrolled in schools. ASP PWAy Days will offer opportunities to learn new skills, to socialize with non-family members and to have fun.

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Posted in: 4parents,4pwas,4siblings

Seminar on Autism-Friendly Learning Environment

Structured teaching is a system for: organizing space; change of activities with schedules; work study systems to facilitate learning process; and material organization to promote independece. Its primary purpose is to improve adaptation of persons with autism by modifying or structuring the environment to accommodate learning deficits of those in the spectrum.

What distinguishes this seminar from others given on the same topic is the rich inclusion of application of structured teaching at home, from the resource person’s personal experience with her autistic son and those of other families she met.  Actual examples emphasize the need for consistent practice and collaboration between school teachers and carers at home.


About the Speaker

Dang Uy Koe is ASP’s Chairperson Emeritus. She graduated with degrees in Communication Arts from the University of Santo Tomas and the University of the Philippines. A sought-after speaker who travels to many parts of the country sharing hopes and building dreams with families living with autism, Dang is the recipient of 2013 Apolinario Mabini Award for Rehabilitation Volunteer and UST’s 2009 The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award for Humanitarian Service for her autism advocacy work. 

Seminar Fees:


Pre-Registration (until July 25 or until slots last)
ASP Member- P 500.00
Non-Member- P 700.00

On-site Registration
ASP Member- P 600.00
Non-Member- P 800.00

Seminar Details:
Date: 29 July 2017, Saturday
Time: 8:30AM - 12:00NN
Venue: ASP National Headquarters, #9 11th Jamboree Street cor. Sct. Fuentabella, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Kamuning, Quezon City
Map: http://bit.ly/1LwgklB

Pre-registered participants may pay to Autism Society Philippines, Metrobank, Kamias Branch Account Number 047-3-04751874-2. Please email the scan copy of your deposit slip with the name/s of participant/s and contact numbers to autismphils@gmail.com and bring it on the day of the seminar. On-site registrants or walk- in will be accepted depending on the availability of slots. There will only be 70 slots available. No refund will be given to participants who do not show up on the date of the seminar. For more details, please call ASP at 02-413-1942 or 02-410-4416.

The ASP Education and Empowerment Program serves as a platform to educate Filipino parents and professionals on the various interventions, modalities and theories surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder. Their application and implementation are left at your discretion. The views and personal experiences of the speakers are their own and may not necessarily reflect the views of the organization.

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Posted in: 4parents,4pros,4public

Q&A with Grace Gomez, PhD - July 2017

"It takes a village to raise a child." This African proverb rings louder for children with autism. The Autism Society Philippines believes that parents should build relationships with a professional compassionate support team who can advise and counsel them, in addressing the myriad of questions they have about raising a child on the spectrum.

"If you have met someone with autism, you have met ONE person with autism." There is no substitute for personal consultations with professionals, which consider traits and behaviors unique to the individual with autism.

As ASP continues to receive questions from parents and family members year-round, we have reached out to the following experts to help answer some concerns on health, education and intervention.

I have a son 4yo and 8mos, diagnosed with ASD. Mula po kc ng baby anak ko palagi siya nanonood ng TV as in, Tapos po nung 1 1/2yo nagtatablet na siya. Napansin namin na hindi siya normal. Nung mag 2yo na siya kasi pinacheck up namin sa PCMC at na diagnose ng ASD level 3. --- Tin I.

It would be best to supervise and regulate technology use among all children. Parents can choose a variety of educational television programs that their children can watch. There are apps that can help children with their school work. As a parent, choose the shows and the games that your children are exposed to because they most probably engage in the media that they see.

Sabi ng speech teacher kaya nyang sumabay sa regular school. Napansin ko sa 1st week ng schooling eh hindi tlga siya maistay sa upuan at hindi pa rin nakikinig sa teacher like other children. OK po ba na ipasok ko sa regular school ang anak ko or SPED school po ba talaga ang kailangan? --- Tin I.

A lot of factors affect placement. Based on the information that you have given, you can gradually place the child in the regular class. You can initially place the child in a physical education class where games and movement are involved.

May pagasa pa po bang matutong makipagcommunicate ang anak ko? May mga story po ba naging ok ang may autism? --- Tin I.

Early intervention brings a lot of benefit as the window of opportunity for learning at is optimum during the early years of life. Continue to give intervention. Be patient in reinforcing what is learned in school and the therapy center.

My 4 year old daughter has just been diagnosed ASD today. The doctor said that she has to undergo therapy. Just want to ask if what can we do more as parents to help improve my child's development and is the therapy for lifetime? --- Mark M.

Ask the therapists on activities that you can implement at home. Implement the recommended activities constantly. Be patient in teaching and affirm the child in whatever success he has. Words of affirmation such as "good job", "great", "excellent", "wow", "go and do it" motivate children.

Is sign language okay for a non-verbal autistic? My 18-year-old brother is currently studying at a SPED school, but his verbal communication skills have not improved to the extent that he can express himself, usually just syllables. I heard about total communication in Miriam College, too. Which do you think is the best for him, stay in his current SPED school, sign language in Philippine School for the Deaf, or in a total communication school in Miriam College? ---Ymmalu E.

The two schools that you mentioned are exclusively for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Unless your brother has been diagnosed to have deafness, he cannot enroll there. If you are interested in sign language, I suggest that you and your parents learn it first and be the ones to teach.There are different alternative and augmentative communication means that you can explore. One is the picture exchange communication system (PECS).

Marie Grace Gomez is a Associate Professor 2 and a faculty member of the Special Education Area, UP College of Education at University of the Philippines Diliman. She is also the Director of the Diliman Learning Resource Center. Doctor Grace is currectly connected with the Counselor Education Area of the College of Education.

She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science (1998), a Master of Arts in Education Degree with major in Guidance (2003), a Doctor of Philosophy in Education degree majoring in Guidance (2007) and another Doctor of Philosophy in Education Degree majoring in Special Education (2012).

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Posted in: ask-experts