1. Meeting the Needs of Children with
Special Needs Assignment
Course Title: Inclusion of Children with Special Needs
Corse Code: ECEP-233
Case Study
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Submitted to: Professor Lisa MacCal
Submitted by: Tahmina Sultana
Student ID: 30067438
Due Date: 4/4/2013

2. INTRODUCTION TO THE CHILD
AND FAMILY
• Jamie is almost three years old boy, is autistic
• Jamie was diagnosed as an autistic child at 21 months of age.
• Jamie is the youngest son of his
parents and he has an older
brother
• They spent a long time at the
hospital for Jamie.

3. INTRODUCTION TO THE CHILD
AND FAMILY
• Jamie and his family are new to Canada
• The few months after the diagnosis were a complete
roller coaster for his family.
• His mom will never forget quite how many people she
met and how many times they had to repeat their family
history.
• Mom spent most of the time crying or chasing up
appointments on the phone. Her husband did not want
to talk about it.

4. INTRODUCTION TO THE CHILD
AND FAMILY
• When Jamie’s family comes to me, considering this emotional
trauma, Jamie and his family would be advised multiple services
such as:
– Settlement services
– Health care service
– Medical treatment
– Consult with specialist
– Join in counselling sessions organized by different organizations
to cope with their struggles.

5. INTRODUCTION TO THE CHILD
AND FAMILY
• As an ECE, I will consider that most of the requirements for
strong foundation of Jamie and his family who are new in
Canada. I will also recommend this family:
– Going to doctor and therapist
– Learn skills and get information from website and other resources
– Act as an advocate for Jamie in the community
• By doing so, Jamie will feel comfortable and included in the
society.

6. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
• From Jamie’s Scenario, he is profoundly autistic and was diagnosed that at
21 months old.
What is autism?
• Autism is the result of a neurological disorder that
― Affects the functioning of the
brain
― May delay in language , play, or
social interaction
― Is a combination of several
developmental challenges
― Often appear relatively typical
in their development until the
age of 24-30 months

7. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
• Autism is a life long condition. Children can benefit from
intervention and therapies. Early intervention and therapies can
reduce symptoms and increase skills and abilities.
• Symptoms are:
– Social Challenges: Children with autism have difficulty of social play and
understanding and interpreting others feelings.
– Communication difficulties: Children may have delayed speaking and use
gestures, doesn’t begin to speak until much later, etc.
– Repetitive behaviours such as hand flapping, rocking, jumping, or
twirling, repeating sound etc.
– Physical and medical issues such as gastrointestinal disorder, tendency for chromic
constipation or diarrhoea, etc.
(Autism Speaks: Symptoms)

8. Facts and Stats
• “Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys (March
2012 statistic)
• The 2012 numbers reflect a 78% increase in reported
prevalence in the last 6 years
• Autism prevalence figures are growing
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism”
(Autism Speaks Canada: Facts and Stats)

9. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
• Causes of autism:
– “Although a single specific cause of autism is not found
– Current research links autism to biological or neurological
differences in the brain.
– There is a genetic basis to the disorder
– No gene as been directly linked
– Probably involves several genes in combination”
– (Reading Package)

10. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
Cause Continued…
• “Also there are some non genetic or environmental causes appear to
further increase of a child’s risk. These risk factors involves before and
during birth, such as:
– Advanced Parental age at time of conception
– Material illness during pregnancy
– Certain difficulties during birth, particularly involving periods of oxygen
deprivation to the baby’s brain.”
(Autism Speaks: What Is Autism?)

11. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
Different types of Autism Spectrum Disorder:
• “The umbrella Autism Spectrum Disorder includes the
following diagnosis:
– Autism
– Asperger’s Syndrome
– Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
– Childhood Disintegrative Disorder” (Reading Package)

12. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
• Autism:
– “Associated in social repetitive behaviours, difficulties in
social interactions, communication, making
changes, sensitive to sensory stimulation and to develop
and sustain interests
– Increased diagnosis, more common in boys
– Lack of eye contact, loss of words, usually by age 3.” (Class
handout week 3)

13. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
• Asperger’s Syndrome:
– “Common characteristics to Autism
– Children with Asperger’s Syndrome
– Little impairment in
language, cognitive or adaptive
behaviour but still significant in social
development
– Common in boys” (Class Handout
week 3)

14. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
• PDD:
“PDD is used when other criterion of Autism do not fit
with the child
– Commonly referred to as a typical autism
– Severe impairment in specified behaviours
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder:
– “Normal development for at least the first 2 years.
– Followed by a significant loss of previously acquired
skills (Reading Package)

15. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
• Diagnosis system:
– “There is no medical tests for diagnosis autism.
– Diagnosis is based on observation and communication
– Also behaviour developmental levels
– Should be evaluated by multi disciplinary team.” (Reading
Package)

16. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL
NEED
Treatment:
There are different treatment services for children with suffering
from ASD. The process of care for each children will depend
upon his/her needs and requirements:
• Information of effects of ASD on a child
• Behaviour therapy: proactive and reactive strategies
• Speech-language intervention
• Service co-ordination
• Social work support: parent support groups
(McMaster Children’s Hospital: Autism Spectrum Disorder Service)

17. Video Clip
Claudia’s Story – Video Clip

18. MEETING THE NEEDS IN THE CHILD CARE
CENTER
• Involve parents in the program:
– I will invite Jamie’s parents in the program to spend some time to
interact with the children
– It will help other typical children’s parents to inform about Jamie and
his special needs
– So that Jamie and his parents will feel like more included in the
program
– I will also suggest Jamie’s parents to record his behaviour and activities
and share with me and other professionals

19. MEETING THE NEEDS IN THE CHILD CARE
CENTER
• Using Resources:
– I will provide Jamie’s parents more books, articles, website
which can help them to get information.
– Encourage them to join in different training programs and
counselling sessions, organized by different organization

20. MEETING THE NEEDS IN THE CHILD CARE
CENTER
• Modification of physical environment of classroom by:
– Organize classroom area with different activities that Jamie can
participate in experience with the other children
– Use symbols of toys for Jamie can recognize easily
– Use a set of sign or symbols to demonstrate Jamie set steps of task.

21. MEETING THE NEEDS IN THE CHILD CARE
CENTER
• Teaching strategies:
– I will assist in creating an individual program plan (IPP) for Jamie, collaborating
with other professional according to Jamie’s abilities and needs
– By using cues, visual symbols, communication posters, with Jamie through out
the day
– I also will use Jamie’ name and get down to his eye level to get his attention
– It will be comfortable for Jamie if I allow enough time for him to understand
instruction

22. MEETING THE NEEDS IN THE CHILD CARE
CENTER
• I will continue my teaching strategies by:
– Helping Jamie doing his tasks in small steps
– Support him to learn new skills by prompting and fading strategy
– Always reinforce him for motivation and encouragement
– For Jamie’s participation in play I will provide adaptive toys, which will
help his independence and interactions with peers.

23. MEETING THE NEEDS IN THE CHILD CARE
CENTER
• Provide opportunities to develop communication
and social skills:
– Encourage Jamie to share toys and taking turn
– Create social stories for Jamie’s understanding with visual support
– Engage him in parallel play with others
– I will prefer peer mediated approaches for Jamie, because he can be
motivated more by his peers

24. MEETING THE NEEDS IN THE CHILD CARE
CENTER
• Arrange program for fund raising and others:
• The equipment and aids for child special needs to communicate is very
expressive and many child care center does not have these facilities, so
– We need to work together to arrange program for fund raising to manage
equipment for Jamie
– We also can advocate for extra trained staff for Jamie so he gets one to one
attention
– I can join in available professional training for special need
– I will participate in world autism awareness day in April 2, every year by giving
newsletter for growing awareness of parents

25. Video Clip
News video from CTV on Autism

26. Overview of Referred Agency/Agencies
• Information about the agency
Adventure Place, a child and family center, has been working to assist young
children and their families since 1972. The organization started operation with
an aim to serve pre-school aged children who have special needs and to their
families. They have also stretched their services to include ‘Early Intervention
services’ within schools, childcare centers, and other community settings and
‘Prevention programs’ for children at risk and their families.
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services funded ‘continuum of service
program model’ - a variety of new services, which recognized the importance
of prevention, early intervention, and treatment.
Mission of Adventure Place
“To provide comprehensive mental health, social, and developmental services
dedicated to the well-being and success of children in their early years and to their
families”

27. What do they do and what people they serve?
Adventure Place offers a range of integrated services like prevention, early
intervention, and day treatment etc. The organization offers services to all families
living in Toronto, North Quadrant, with children up to 12 years of age who are facing
difficulties in one or more of the following areas:
• Development, learning, Communication (Speech and Language), Behavior, Social
and/or Emotional Functioning,
They offer:
Day Program: The program provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment and education
and operates in a school setting from September through June for children aged four
to seven who are experiencing a range of difficulties and challenges.
Early Intervention: The program aims on providing services in children's natural daily
environments including home, school, childcare, and/or other early child
development program settings.

28. Autism Day Program: The program provides high quality individualized education and
treatment programs for children of the Autism Spectrum aged four to seven who are
experiencing a range of complexity.
Prevention: The organization offers to the parents of children from pre-birth to six
years of age. They aim on health promotion by offering services for parenting
competency and skill building.
Training: They offer training workshops for parents and teachers.
Cost
Adventure Place is a registered charitable organization. So, there is no charge for
services from the organization. The organization is supported by Children’s Mental
Health Ontario. Charitable Business Number 106686652 RR0001
Referral process and availability
“7,702 children and families received services from the agency in 2011 – 2012. 375
were received through TPAS and/or Toronto Autism ABA Services”
(Adventure Place annual report)

29. Information about the agency
Two agencies ‘Discoveries Child and Family Centre’ and ‘Aisling Centre for Children and
Families’ merged together and started operation under the name of Aisling Discoveries
Child and Family Centre from 1998. Their new journey began with a hope of flourishing
future since both the agencies had very successful history of committed services to children
and families.
The agency is partnering with the families and communities, promoting healthy
development along with social and emotional welfare of the children.
Mission Statement
“we promote the social, emotional and developmental well-being of children by providing
responsive services in partnership with families and communities”.

30. What do they do?
‘Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre’ offers services for the children from 0 to 12
years who are facing or at risk of problems related to social, emotional or behavioral
aspects.
By offering ‘range of prevention, intervention and treatment’ services, the Centre is
dedicated in promoting and contributing to grow welfare of emotional and social
aspects of children and their families. The agency focuses on the families and makes
services available to all, even to the people who are culturally sensitive.
What population they serve?
The agency offers services for children and their families. They focus the children from 0
to 12 years who are facing or at risk of problems related to social, emotional or
behavioral aspects.
‘Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre’ mainly offers services to the communities
around East York and Scarborough.

31. Cost
‘Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre’ is accredited by Children’s Mental Health
Ontario. There is no cost for the services from the centre.
Referral process and availability
“Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre to ensure that clients and other
stakeholders would be able to readily identify the continuity of service from both
former agencies.”
Contact Address:
325 Milner Avenue, Suite 110 Scarborough, ON, Canada, M1B 5N1
Telephone: 416-321-5464 Fax: 416-321-1510 Email: mailus@aislingdiscoveries.on.ca
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs. 9:00 am-7:30 pm, Fri. 9:00am-4:00pm
(Aisling Discoveries: History)

32. Information about the agency
After 1984, Geneva Centre for Autism formally began to transform from a small-scale
residential camp into a full service agency and resource centre. But first time the
residential camp for just 20 children with autism was initiated back in 1974 in
Switzerland. Continued initiative of the camp, as an international conference, later
received government funding as grant. Later research data showed good
performances of participation and the initiative made decision to forward funding for
non-residential services with huge government support.
Mission of the agency:
“To empower individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and their families, to
fully participate in their communities”.
The agency, Geneva Centre for Autism, is dedicated for supporting individuals with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Currently Geneva Centre for
Autism giving services, training programs, and resources to more than 18,000 people
in each year. The organization also reached in a global leading position in the field of
development and delivery of clinical intervention services and training.

33. They offer:
Services for Children: Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) get services.
Services for Youth and Adults: From adolescents to adults with Autism Spectrum
Disorder (ASD) get services to fight against social isolation, frustration and depression.
Services for Parents/Caregivers: Families get services to have better understanding of
their child who has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Services for Professionals: Professionals get services those who provide consultations
and trainings. Apart from those childcare providers, speech language
pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists also need services for the same.

34. What population they serve?
The agency, Geneva Centre for Autism, is dedicated for supporting individuals with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and parent, sibling and peer support groups of their
families.
Multi-disciplinary people support clinical services of Geneva Centre for Autism.
Reasonably the agency also offers trainings and knowledge based services to
empathic professionals including speech-language pathologists, behavior
analysts, therapists, early childhood educators, occupational
therapists, developmental pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists and social
workers.
Cost
Social Skills-Building Programs of Geneva Centre for Autism do not receive
government funding. So the program fully depend on dollars raised by
corporations, foundations and individual donors.
Referral process and availability
“A multi-disciplinary team approach to the design and delivery of training, coaching
and modelling.”
Geneva Centre: Training Institute Transformation

35. Bibliography
• About Us - Geneva Centre for Autism. (n.d.). Geneva Centre for Autism. Retrieved April
4, 2013, from http://www.autism.net/about-us.html
• Autism Awareness Month Wrap-Up. (n.d.). Multiples and More — because birds of a feather stick
together. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from http://www.multiplesandmore.com/expert-
interviews/autism-awareness-month-wrap-up/
• Autism Awareness Poster | Denise Meissner. (n.d.). Denise Meissner. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from
http://denisemeissner.com/home/autism-awareness-poster/
• Autism Supplies to help families and their children with Autism. (n.d.). Service Dog
Supplies, Accessories & Resources, Working Dog Equipment. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from
http://www.servicedoghouse.com/AutismDogSupplies.html
• CTV News | News Video - Top National News Headlines - News Videos . (n.d.). CTV News | Top
Stories - Breaking News - Top News Headlines. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from
http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=890570&binId=1.810401&playlistPageNum=1
• Changes coming in diagnosis of autism, dozens of other mental health conditions. (n.d.). Inside
Children's Blog — online community that provides inspirational patient and staff stories as well as
information about health and parenting, hospital news, fundraising events and more.. Retrieved
April 4, 2013, from http://inside.akronchildrens.org/2013/01/03/changes-coming-in-diagnosis-of-
autism-dozens-of-other-conditions/
• Claudia's Story - Autism Awareness - YouTube. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZzTcVqs_k0

36. Bibliography Contd
• Home - Autism Speaks Canada. (n.d.). Home - Autism Speaks Canada. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from http://www.autismspeaks.ca/
• Latest Figures: One in 50 U.S. Children Has Autism | Psych Central News. (n.d.). Psych Central - Trusted mental health, depression, bipolar, ADHD and
psychology information .. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/03/30/latest-figures-one-in-50-u-s-children-has-
autism/53220.html
• Media dis&dat: Mother of autistic boy abandoned at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., hospital says she was "overwhelmed". (n.d.). Media dis&dat. Retrieved
April 4, 2013, from http://media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.ca/2011/07/autistic-boy-abandoned-at-fort.html
• My Aspergers Child: Autism: Comprehensive Overview. (n.d.). My Aspergers Child. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from
http://www.myaspergerschild.com/2008/10/autism-comprehensive-overview.html
• Sarler, C. (2009, January 15). Why can't we face the truth? Having an autistic child wrecks your life ... Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1116602/Why-face-truth-Having-autistic-child-wrecks-life-.html#ixzz2PTlpqqIR Follow us: @MailOnline on
Twitter | DailyMail on. Mail Online. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1116602/Why-face-truth-Having-autistic-child-
wrecks-life-.html
• The Incredible Prevalence of Autism. (n.d.). The Disability Message. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from disabilitymessage.com/disability/childrendisabilities
• Visual Supports for Behavior | Live Speak Love, LLC. (n.d.). Live Speak Love, LLC | Lisa M. Geary, MS CCC-SLP * 1-888-863-9460 *
lisa@livespeaklove.com. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from http://livespeaklove.com/2012/02/17/visual-supports-for-behavior/
• What Is Autism? | | Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Home | Autism Speaks. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
• World Autism Awareness Day: 2nd April, 2012. (n.d.). ACTION FOR AUTISM. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from www.autism-
india.org/afa_recentnews.html
• autism-family. (n.d.). Scott Counseling - Parenting, Teen Help, Teen Defiance, Troubled Teens, Teen Parenting. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from
http://www.scottcounseling.com/wordpress/new-autism-cure/2009/05/17/autism-family/
• Cone, M. (n.d.). New Study: Autism Linked to Environment: Scientific American. Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American.
Retrieved April 4, 2013, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=autism-rise-driven-by-environment
• Financial and Medical Assistance for Families with Autistic Children | Best Health News Online. (n.d.). Best Health News Online. Retrieved April
4, 2013, from http://besthealthnewsonline.com/financial-and-medical-assistance-for-families-with-autistic-children.html