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~ Training to better understand autism ~

SXM Autism Association is continuing to work to fill a need in our community. They have organized training on autism designed for the general public, in partnership with National Education, General Social Security Fund (SSTC) in Guadeloupe and SESSAD (Service d'Education Spéciale et de Soins à Domicile) in France. The training was held in late November and early December.

Understanding autistic people is the focus of the training, and it is based on applied analysis of their behavioural cues. Conducted by Stephanie Lamour, psychologist, EDI Training is specialized in the treatment of autism and the autism spectrum disorder.

President of the Association Natacha Liénafa said, "This training is to bring as much information as possible to the general public, including those in contact with autism, and provide educational tools for teachers for greater care of children and youth with autism in school, because it is important for these people to have less apprehension to be in contact with the autistic."

Through this event, SXM Autism Association hopes to raise awareness and also share communication tools with all persons in contact with autism, so that they can progress in their schooling and their personal presence. "The goal of our association is to integrate these children and young adults into our world," stated Liénafa.

The training took place in three stages:

1) November 24 - 28: The first session for the teachers and staff SESSAD with a maximum of 30 people over 4 days, from 8:00am to 4:30pm at Sandy Ground Community Center, MJC.

2) Wednesday, November 26, from 1:30pm to 4:30pm at Sandy Ground Community Center, MJC.

3) From December 01 to December 5, the second session was held; it was open to the public with a maximum of 30 people, from 8:00am to 4:30pm at the conference room of Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.

THE ASSOCIATION

Since its creation in October 2013, SXM Autism Association has organized small fundraising activities. The purpose of these actions is to raise funds to allow a psychologist specializing in autism from Guadeloupe to be in our island. Thus, in the beginning of the year and at the end of October, eight children have been attended to by the specialist. "Ideally, [the specialist] should be here permanently," said Lienafa, "because the psychologist helps both children and their parents."

It is essential that parents of autistic children are trained and supported. They need information about what to do with their child, so that the child can move forward. It is not always easy for parents and many wish to delegate certain responsibilities to specialists, but this is not possible, because the child spends much more time with his/her family", she added.

The psychologist, therefore, provides parental guidance, spending three hours with the parents and the child. In this way they can really treat problems, such as: What to do in times of crisis, understanding the perception of autistic children, what solutions are available to the parents to soothe the child and to help the child to manage stress, etc.

Further intervention by the psychologist is a primary goal of SXM Autism – in time they HOPE to get autistic children to function independently. "Our association has three pillars: learning, socialization and independence," concluded the President of SXM Autism.

A secondary goal is to address the lack of information regarding the extent of the autistic population. The statistics and figures are difficult to obtain as to the number of cases of autism our island has. The diagnostics are not yet sufficiently developed and lack appropriate structure. SXM Autism Association intends to remedy this situation. A third goal is to create an educational centre. Stay tuned for updates on all these goals.