GOOD PRACTICES IN THE
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
- a discussion
28 Sep 2014
Sapling School, Sion
Why?
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Growing incidence of the use of corporal punishment to
address challenging behaviours.
Inability of families and professionals to comprehend
certain behaviours that could be injurious to the child
and others.
Inability of families and professionals to understand
communicative intent behind certain behaviors.
Decrease in experiential sharing between professionals
as a result of many more available services.
Decrease in parental involvement in the educational
process.
28Sep'14
What?
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Setting up a self-monitoring process that is
 Voluntary – allowing peer assessment
 Transparent – aimed at empowering parents
 Protective – of the collective interests of families
and professionals
Providing Resources for parents and professionals
 Through training modules and workshops
 Case studies
 Inter-disciplinary discussions and practices
28Sep'14
How?
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Monitoring Committee
 Through a process of election of professionals
 Inter-disciplinary
 Representative of organizations across the city
Resource Committee
 Sp. Ed., O.T., P.T., S.T., Mental Health, Sports, Art, …..
Initiator and Catalyst
 Forum for Autism has given unto itself, the duty of ensuring
that Good Practices are established in the learning
environment through a process of peer-monitoring and interdisciplinary sharing among professionals and parents.
 FFA will therefore be represented in both the Committees
and will assist and initiate this process.
28Sep'14
Who?
Monitoring Committee:
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The elected segment of the Monitoring Committee are
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Dr. Harish Shetty
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Psychiatrist
Dr. Rubina Lal
Dr. Dinaz Wadia
Dr. Roopa Srinivasan
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Professor, Sp.Ed., parent
Speech therapist
Developmental Pediatrician
Ms. Jaya Rangarajan
Special Educator
 FFA will be represented by (min) 2 parents, who will be
nominated by FFA core group.
in addition, advisories without decision making powers will include
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A Child Rights person from HAQ/ Childline / CRC and
A lawyer / human rights activist
28Sep'14
Who?
Resource Committee (in addition to FFA Advisories):
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The professionals who have volunteered their services are
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Dr. Koyeli Sengupta
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Dev. Pediatrician, Sp. Interest Autism
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Ms. Kamini Lakhani
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RDI Consultant, parent
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Ms. Sunita Lele
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Special Educator, parent
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Dr. Ashwini Vaishampayan
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Occupational Therapist
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Dr. Chaula Badiani
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Occupational Therapist
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Ms. Sulabha Subramanium
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Relationship Counselor
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Ms. Nirupa Bhangar
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Educationist, Vocational Centre prof.
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Ms. Sushma Nagarkar
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School Psychologist, parent
Support Resources will be provided by Mr. Datta Fonde (Sports), Ms. Malika
Mehta (Sp.Ed.), Ms. Merzia Maskati (S.T.), Mr. Nabhiraj Mehta (Art).
Others wanting to be resource persons can write to FFA.
28Sep'14
Decisions
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All decisions will be taken by the following :
 Elected body of the Monitoring Committee
(This will be a rotating body with a fixed term. The persons
elected to this body today are just the first set of people)
 The(min) 2 nominated parents from the FFA core group
 And the advisory committee of FFA comprising of
Dr. Vrajesh Udani
Paediatric Neurologist
Dr. Vibha Krishnamurthy Paediatrician, Specialist in
Developmental Disorders
Dr. Anjali Joshi
Senior Occupational
Therapist
Ms. Merry Barua
Director, Action For Autism
28Sep'14
Open to being monitored
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The Anchorage Sheltered
Workshop
Khushi Paediatric Therapy
Centre
ASK (Adult Support Kendra)
Sunshine School
SAI (Support for Autistic
Individuals)
Ummeed Child Development
Center
Reach Therapy Center
Santosh Institute
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Kshitij Sheltered Workshop
Little Joys Pediatric
Rehabilitation Centre
Orgs of professionals suggested
for Monitoring Committee:
 Samarpan for Autistic
Children
 Sapling School
 Disha Comprehensive Rehab
Centre
 Ishanya Centre
28Sep'14
Process for 28 Sep ‘14
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Monitoring Committee to deliberate on processes for
assessing
 Declared Policies for good practices
 Continued teacher and staff training systems
 Parent-professional interaction
 Transparency in teaching methods and environment.
collating
 Existing legal rules, regulations and procedures
 The how-to for parents who want to seek legal recourse
any other issue as deemed fit
28Sep'14
Process for 28 Sep ‘14
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The Resource Committee will break into smaller focus
groups to deliberate on
 What each member can offer by way of training
 What type of module will be offered: workshop/
experiential training/ other
 Duration and frequency of module
 Tentative dates
any other issues as deemed fit
28Sep'14
FFA’s role
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As Initiator and Catalyst to monitor and provide resources
for good practices in the learning environment, FFA will
 Coordinate the monitoring visits
 Arrange for the training workshops
Based on the outcomes and discussions of today’s meeting
 Collate all data / information that will ensue
 Keep FFA members informed and abreast of
developments
 Reach out to more Institutions to join the process of peer
evaluation, assessment and discussions on Good
Practices in the learning environment.
28Sep'14
Be empowered !
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Join Forum for Autism
Visit
www.forumforautism.org
Forum for Autism’s facebook page,
our libraries at Colaba and Vashi.
Contact us at
3294 9595
forumforautism@gmail.com
For membership details,
contact Priyanka Chiplunkar at the enquiry desk.
28Sep'14