Learning corner in the classroom with various circular shape graphic.
Every class in the “Learning Buddies” programme is designed by our therapists. Content includes artwork, gaming, role play, story-telling, music and etc. The therapists make use of different content and teaching materials to train the buddies, allowing them to learn under a fun environment. For example, the buddies create palm flowers during the Mother’s Day, make dumplings with paper when Tuen Ng Festival is approaching. During the lesson, our therapists apply ABA to train their skills in social, expressive, listening and directing, to help them to adapt to school life.
A period after the “Learning Buddies” programme has launched, we have interviewed some parents on their thoughts about the program.
Our therapist played Twister with PM group buddies to enhance their skills in following instructions.
The parents have all previously joined the 1 to 1 ABA training in APF, hence they felt confident in APF’s services and in this “Learning Buddies” programme. Some of their kids could not get along well with their classmates; while some were unable to keep up with the activities in kindergarten, and some could not communicate with their peers. Therefore, the parents hope this program could enhance their child’s social skills, with a view to help them in adapting kindergarten and group life.
Our therapist updated Kit’s mother (left) on his progress frequently.
“Kit will sing songs that he has learnt in APF. He is obviously happier than before at home and I am excited to see that’, Kit’s mother stated.With the efforts of the therapist team, the program managed to live up to the parents’ expectations. During the one month training, parents expressed that the buddies showed huge improvements in various aspects.
Ming’s mother said, “Ming speaks more now, before he only knew to repeat words from others, now he can understand and respond to some basic social questions and make conversation with people.” Another parent, Yu mother, told us Yu is speaking clearer than before. She used to say one sentence only, now she can use multiple sentences to express herself.
Selin’s mother also told us Selin’s teacher noticed that Selin has become more cheerful at school and can get along with classmates better than before. Selin used to take away things without permission, but in APF she learnt to ask and understood the possibility of being rejected.
Ranon’s mother also shared that Ranon learnt to ask first, which is an important social skill as well. All mothers felt happy to see their child’s improvements.
Pak’s mother finished parent observation session, she admired our therapists’ hard work a lot.
Pak’s mother said, ‘His ability to follow instructions has improved. He has sped up his actions without my command. His teachers also said he has spoken louder and clearer lately”.The buddies showed impressive improvements after attending treatments for a few months only; their positive changes are huge encouragement for both the APF team and the child’s parents. Apart from the improvements of the buddies, changes are seen within the parents. The buddies’ parents become familiar with one another with frequent interactions. They share opinions on parenting, have breakfast together after dropping their kids to class and even buy extra of the same item for the other buddy when shopping.
Therapists and AM group buddies celebrated Kit’s birthday together and sang him a birthday song.
APF team is delighted to be able to create a chance for parents to understand and support each other. Not only do the kids need support, but also their families and caretakers. APF team will keep striving for more comprehensive service to support children with autism and their families.
For the details, please visit: http://www.apf.org.hk/ct/what-we-do/children-service/learning-buddies
APF Introduction & Background
APF is a registered charitable organisation in Hong Kong. APF has been committed to making a difference in the lives of children with autism and their families through a variety of initiatives, including ABA treatments, education programmes and publications. In 2007, we set up the Aoi Pui School (APS). It is a primary school which adopts ABA for teaching children with ASD and, offers both academic and autism-specific curriculums. Starting from 2016, we have established the Parents Resources Centre to provide one-month intensive ABA therapy to children with ASD from low-income families. We also regularly organise training courses and workshops for parents, helping them to handle and improve the behavioural problems of their children.
Official Website: http://www.apf.org.hk/ct/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/APFHongKong/
[:zh]愛培自閉症基金（APF）於2018年5月份推出了「學習小夥伴」計劃。符合資格的小朋友會接受為期六個月（最長可達一年）的小組訓練。在課程中，我們以小組形式來進行ABA訓練，並模擬幼稚園教室的環境，讓小朋友在自然的環境下學習和適應學校的日常流程。治療師會根據小夥伴的需要，替他們訂立個人化的學習計劃，有系統地訓練小夥伴的社交等技巧，幫助他們強化自身的優點及改善其行為問題，為入讀學校做好準備。隨著時間推移，我們的團隊會根據小夥伴的進步來修訂他們的個人化學習計劃，同時與家長緊密聯繫，安排觀課，讓家長多了解小夥伴的進度。課室裡的學習角貼了由小朋友剪下的不同圖案的圓形。
「學習小夥伴」的課程是由治療師精心設計，內容有勞作、遊戲、角色扮演、說故事、音樂等等。治療師使用不同的主題及教材與小朋友做訓練，讓他們有趣地學習。例如小朋友在母親節時一起製作手掌花送給媽媽、端午節時用卡紙包糉和利用成語故事來做角色扮演。在過程中，治療師會一直實踐「應用行為分析」（ABA）的理論去訓練小朋友的各種能力，如社交、表達、聆聽及跟隨指令，務求幫助小朋友適應校園生活。
課程已開展了一段時間，我們訪問了幾位小夥伴的家長，了解一下他們的想法及他們眼中小朋友的改變。
治療師與下午班的小朋友一起玩扭扭樂，訓練他們聆聽指令的能力。
家長紛紛表示當初報讀「學習小夥伴」是因為子女都參加過APF的一對一密集式訓練，對APF的服務有一定的信心，而且他們的子女當中，有的與同學相處不太融洽，經常被同學投訴；有的則是跟不上幼稚園的活動，或不太掌握與其他小朋友溝通的技巧。她們希望可以透過此計劃，幫助小朋友適應幼稚園和群體生活，訓練他們的社交技巧。
治療師經常與傑仔媽媽（左）討論傑仔上課時的情況。
傑仔媽媽說：「傑仔會不時唱起在中心學到的歌曲，在家時也明顯比以前開朗，令我十分高興。」「學習小夥伴」當然不負所望，家長均表示小朋友在各方面有明顯進步。明明媽媽說：「在說話方面，明明比以往說話多了，他以前總是重覆別人的說話，但現在則可以理解及回應一些社交對答。」倖如媽媽也指出囡囡的說話漸見清晰及有條理，以前說話大多只有一句，現在能夠說出複句來表達自己。Selin媽媽告訴我們，學校老師觀察到Selin開朗了，與同學相處變得融洽，對她的投訴減少了；以往的Selin經常不問別人便拿走對方的物品，在訓練裡她學會了要先詢問，並且理解別人也有可能會拒絕她的要求。Ranon媽媽也樂見兒子學會「先行詢問他人」，對建立社交禮儀和與他人相處有重要的幫助。多位媽媽都欣喜小朋友在社交技巧上的進步，感到十分高興。
栢栢媽媽剛完成家長觀課，十分欣賞治療師對栢栢的用心。
「栢栢接收指令的能力提高了，同時少了拖慢動作；老師也指出他說話較之前大聲及清晰，不再經常扯開話題。」小栢媽媽說。我們觀察到小夥伴在完成了少於一半預計課程的時候，已經在行為和社交上展現出明顯的進步，對APF團隊及家長們是一大鼓舞。除了小朋友的轉變外，家長之間也產生了微妙的化學作用，他們漸漸變得相熟、多了互動和互相照應，還不時交流照顧小朋友的心得，又或是在購物時會順便多買一份給其他小夥伴。APF的圑隊感到非常欣慰，此計劃除了幫助到小朋友，更造就了一個機會讓家長之間互相認識和扶持。
治療師與上午班的小朋友為傑仔慶祝生日，大家一起為他唱生日歌，十分歡樂。
有關詳情，請瀏覽：http://www.apf.org.hk/ct/what-we-do/children-service/learning-buddies
APF簡介及背景
愛培自閉症基金是於香港註冊的慈善機構。自2007年起，APF一直竭力透過各項服務幫助患有自閉症譜系障礙的兒童及其家庭，其中包括應用行為分析（ABA）治療、公眾教育活動及出版刊物。APF於2007年成立愛培學校 ─ 一所專門為自閉症學童而設的小學，以ABA作為教學核心，提供學術和以自閉症學童為本的雙語課程。在2016年，APF設立了家長資源中心，為來自基層家庭的自閉症兒童提供一個月密集式ABA治療，並且定期舉辦家長講座及培訓，協助家長及早改善小朋友的行為問題，好讓他們能順利融入主流社會。
官方網站:http://www.apf.org.hk/ct/
Facebook 網站: https://www.facebook.com/APFHongKong/
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