Dear Friend
We are deeply grateful for the support that you have extended to enable us to continue our work with persons with autism their families and extended community.
We would like to update you on all our programs at AFA.
With our children, adolescents and adults
We are delighted to share that Y is happily working with a large catering company. Y was placed in the job after completing her soft skills training at AFA. Today she is an independent lady, commutes to work by public transport and is a contributory member of her family. Young people love an evening out at a pub. And our young adults are no different. After the day’s job, adults freshened up, donned some party gear and visited a popular pub. A much-deserved night out after a hard-working day!
An art workshop with young artist volunteers from the NGO Kairassi gave students an opportunity to express to their creative side.
The hot summer months become fun and engaging at the AFA Summer Camp. Packed with games, art, craft activities, fireless cooking, splash pool, computer classes, visits to the dolls museum, a movie, and Mc Donald’s, these all helped them learn vital life skills, have a jolly good time despite the blistering summer days.
Trainings, Workshops, Lectures, Talks
We continue to share and learn through our workshops and training programs conducted at both at the national centre and beyond.
Trained 490 parents and professionals in this quarter!
We ran several trainings. These included:
The AFA team also part of several important consultations and roundtables. These included:
Merry Barua served on the NCPEDP roundtable on Assessment and Certification Procedures to study actionable recommendations, identify gaps, find solutions and the means for their implementation. She also served on the panel on Sexuality and Disability rights Let’s Open the Doors, organized by TARSHI (Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues) at the India International Centre, exploring the nuances and social perceptions relating to sexuality for people with disabilities.
Research
We are in the second year of the three-year ‘Computer Assisted Early Intervention for Autistic Children in India’ research project. The team has begun creating culturally relevant activities to teach eating, dressing, grooming, and toileting to children with autism between the ages of two to six. These autism-friendly activities address the gaps in existing computer-assisted interventions and cater to the needs of children across the autism spectrum.
The progress on the project was presented to and was approved by, the Programme Advisory & Monitoring Committee of SEED Division of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Volunteers and Interns
Our youngsters and young adults were delighted to have a beauty queen in their midst when Shreya Rao Kamavarapu, Miss India Andhra Pradesh, decided to visit and spend some warm but queenly time with us!
Students from the Vision Institute of Applied Studies, Christ University, and Amity University interned with us. We welcomed volunteers from E&Y, Amazon, and Kairassi. And of course, our parent volunteers continue to help us in our classrooms.
Ananda
We have taken extensive external development work around the residential cottage. These include clearing the road space, extending the water and sewer lines. We have made the entryway road in front of the cottage. Some plantation work also has been done during this monsoon.
Computer Learning Programme: The computer classes are going well. Children from Gairatpurbas village and other adjoining villages are enthusiastically attending classes.
The eleventh annual World Autism Awareness Day was April 2, 2018. Action for Autism joined the international community and organised events throughout the month to increase understanding, acceptance and foster worldwide support.
The activities organised to mark the WAAD 2018 include Autism Awareness Jamboree (AAJ) on 2 April. On AAJ an Inclusive Art Carnival was organised for the students of regular and special schools at the Amphitheatre of India Habitat Centre.190 students participated and made the event a successful one. A free multidisciplinary consultation camp was also organised at the same venue where parents consulted doctors and therapists.
Celebrate Diversity: Celebrate Autism- The Annual Day was celebrated on 8 April. Every children from all our different programs went on stage and participated in a signature play, in skits, and other performances.
An exhibition of art by artists on the autism spectrum, ‘Views from Planet Autism 2018’ was organised at the Open Palm Court Gallery of India Habitat Centre from 15 to 17 April. The art show created much-needed awareness of the condition of autism.
We partnered with Select City Walk- a shopping mall and did Flash Mob on 22 April.
Coming back to Ananda, our residence and computer class programs are going on smoothly. Adults in residence are settled and happy and children in computer class are eager to learn more.
Action for Autism's (AFA) first residential cottage at Ananda progressed steadily. The electrical and plumbing work inside the cottage has been completed. Plastering of internal walls is nearly complete. The painting work has started and is in progress.
The tile work in all bathroom is complete. The Kota stonework in the staircase and common areas is in progress.The railing work on balconies is complete.
We also had ordered the modular kitchen and the equipment has arrived and is awaiting installation.
On the external development work around the residential cottage clearing the road space, extending the water and sewer lines has been done. The Sewage Treatment Plant installation has been completed and is under trial. Besides this, the electrical cables are continuing to be laid to the residential cottage area.
A kitchen garden has been started and the residents work there and reasonable quantities of vegetables are being produced.
Three adults are staying in the modified accommodation and are imparted living skills and vocational training.
Computer Learning Programme: The computer classes are continuing.Children from Gairatpurbas village and other adjoining villages are enthusiastically attending classes.
Dear Friend
We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generous contributions for making possible our project on assisted living. 2017 has seen many accomplishments at Action for Autism(AFA). We are especially proud to have started services for those adults with autism who have high support needs: furnishing premises, preparing the surroundings, creating an assistive environment, training staff; and successfully launched services by welcoming the first residents to the group home.
Your unstinting support has been invaluable in helping us to take these steps. I take this opportunity to convey our deepest regards, and look forward to your continued encouragement and support.
With the deepest gratitude for your part in our journey, on behalf of all of us at AFA, I wish you 2018 of joy, peace and fulfilment!
Gokul enjoys living in Ananda: The Group Home.He loves his spacious bedroom, living room, and lawn where he can run around.His eyes always sparkle with joy whenever there is car ride in his schedule because Gokul understands that whenever he goes for the car ride he will also get to buy his favourite snacks from the local shop.He enjoys going to the nearest shopping centre.He feels proud of himself when he is able to go on an escalator ride all by himself.
Being a foodie Gokul's favourite is breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner time.It has been noticed that whenever he checks his schedule for breakfast, lunch or dinner he gets very excited and comes to the dining area ASAP compared to other activities.
Another activity Gokul loves is gardening.He loves watering plants, but more than that he loves planting especially when he can dig holes in the soil.He also loves walking barefoot in the garden.
Gokul enjoys playing with colours.Seeing his love for colours some time educators give him flower pots for painting which he loves very much.
With great happiness and pleasure, we would like to share with our donors that AFA has started the residence program at Ananda: The Group Home.A well-designed campus with beautiful landscape and Aravali hills on the back is now open for persons with autism.Ananda started with three adults who are staying in this home away from home.
Donors, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for your valuable contribution to this ambitious project.Without your generosity, this would not have been possible.
Other activities
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon- On 19 November 2017 Sunday, nine champions with autism and sixteen buddies started walking/running from Jawaharlal Nehru stadium and completed 4 km.After the event, they all were felicitated with participation medals.From starting until end participants enjoyed it thoroughly and it was an amazing experience.
Computer learning program for local children at Ananda is going on and there is demand from the community to expand this.
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