| “Two
separate two-day training sessions began in the Canal Court
Hotel, Newry, on Monday, April 26, continuing until Thursday,
April 29.
“A total of 180 places have been offered on the training
programmes to parents of young children of pre-school and
nursery school age, their teachers and classroom assistants.
“The aim is to ensure consistency between the home and
the pre-school provision in terms of the development of the
young child’s communication system.
“The training is in the Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS) which is based on the principles of Applied
Behaviour Analysis (ABA).
“The aim of the PECS system is to promote communication
initially through the use of pictures and, through time, to
develop expressive language skills.
“As a child develops his or her methods of communication,
competencies in other areas, such as social communication
should also begin to improve.
“As a child develops his or her methods of communication,
competencies in other areas, such as social communication
should also begin to improve.
“Taking part in the programme are parents and professionals
from across the six district council areas covered by the
SELB.
“It is intended that this would represent part of an
ongoing programme of early years training and support for
parents and professionals in the SELB area.”
Pictured at one of two training sessions organised by the
SELB are professionals working in the Cookstown and Dungannon
areas with children with autism in the early years. Included
in the photograph is Zena Barton, one of the trainers who
facilitated the programme. . |
