L.E.A.R.N. INTENSIVE PARENT TRAINING COURSE

The LEARN parent training course is a 5 week course run on Thursday evenings from 7.30-9.30p.m. designed to teach parents the basic principles and knowledge they will need to be the parent of a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.   The overarching theme of the course is empowerment of parents to make informed decisions and be effective parents in their day to day life.  This is achieved by introducing parents to the of basic principles of development and behaviour that can be applied for a wide array of areas of parenting and managing one’s own life.

The topics covered in this course are;

The course is an intensive course so every effort is made to assist your learning through practical examples, opportunities to practice and group discussion.  Summary notes from each week will also be provided to assist in reflection and revisiting of the material between sessions.

Next course commences:  To be announced

Numbers are strictly limited to 4 sets of families (each registration entitles parents to bring as many family members as desired)

Please register with Mandy Mason at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 9438 3800.

SPECIALIST COURSES

These courses are one-off, 2-3 hour courses on specialist topics often requested by families and professionals. The courses will run over the next 3 months, however numbers are strictly limited.

Please register your interest with Mandy Mason as soon as possible to secure a position.

The LEARN Curriculum, how it works and how it is implemented

This course explains the curricula and methods  we use at LEARN.  It outlines the evidence base for the approach we use and the ways in which you as parents can best take advantage of our program. Experiences from parents and therapists will be drawn on to outline common mistakes, great ideas and success stories that we can all learn from.  

Training in Picture Exchange Communication System

LEARN’s specialist Speech Pathologist will take parents and professionals through the PECS method.  Useful ways to generalise and successfully implement the system will be taught and discussed.

Play and how to promote it

This course will explain and outline the importance of play in development and ways to promote it for your child.  This will be a practical workshop full of great ideas and suggestions!  Mandy Mason and Pip Meredith will be on hand to incorporate specific play goals into your child’s program.

Attachment:  What is it and how do I promote it?

An overlooked aspect of developmental interventions in Autism and related disorders is the importance of Attachment.  A pivotal part of social and interpersonal development it is one of the main areas where parental input is essential.  An understanding of the principles of Attachment and ways to promote it will be implemented.

How to run playdates

If you are targeting social skills there is nothing as powerful as the playdate!  If done well it is a highly effective way for promoting your child’s social and interpersonal skills in the comfort of your own home!  There are many ways to run effective playdates depending on what skills you are working on.  This workshop is highly practical and leaves you with some great tools.  Hand outs and booklets for planning a playdate will be given to all participants.

Getting back on track

Early Intervention plus Autism is a recipe for a very busy life.  This workshop goes through suggestions, ideas and strategies for organising your life and coping in a way that helps you feel back in control of your life.  Common mistakes and traps are outlined and discussed in a frank and open manner.  This is a highly practical and empowering workshop run by Mandy Mason, a mother of a child with autism. The course concludes with dinner and a movie held upstairs at LEARN.

Separating Wheat from Chaff in Autism

Welcome to the world of Autism.  Now what?  The net tells you a thousand stories.  The professionals seem to disagree.  Different parents say different things and have different experiences.  Who do you listen to?  How can you tell?  This workshop attempts to give you the tools to make informed decisions.  We will outline what is currently considered best practice but we will also outline the challenges in even defining ‘best practice’.  Run by Darin Cairns, the goal of this presentation is not to tell you what you should do but it will teach you how to make decisions that fit your values and needs. 

The following courses will be run in 2009, expressions of interest are being taken now.  Please email Mandy Mason at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   for further information.