July 08, 2010

business

More like 'busy-ness'.

I started my training as a home-based Intervention Therapist with Wee Care last week. To begin with, I have to complete 40 hours of in-vivo training, mainly observing other therapists use the ABA approach to work with young autistic children aged 3-6 and conducting some discrete trials myself.

This is the second week and I must say that every observation has been very interesting and there is so much more room for each child to experience success in the tasks than what I do in my academic tutoring sessions. It is very different, indeed, and I'm learning every little bit that I can as I endeavour (hard) to get out of bed by 7.30am each morning to attend training.

I count myself lucky to be able to learn ABA, while having background knowledge of TEACCH. It's a little like having the best of both worlds. I believe ABA has its strengths in drawing a young autistic child out of their isolated world and to make them more aware of the world we are in. Consequently, to modify their behaviour to adapt to the workings of this world, including the social aspects. It's a strong and effective programme in achieving these goals. On the other hand, I think TEACCH is a great approach to teach autistic children independence and to train them to better make sense of the work expected of them.

There are still a lot, a lot more to be learnt. I'm happy to be in a kind of a team, after having been self-employed for the past 2+ years. I'm happy that dardee is very supportive of this move I've taken, even if he doesn't exactly understand the nature of my work. That doesn't matter, as I will slowly 'expose' him to what I actually do in a day's work (thank goodness for YouTube). I'm also glad that my family is supportive, especially since they probably have absolutely no idea what I'm up to, getting up so early and getting home quite late these days. But, at least, I'm working more 'regular' hours. haha...

This is a career path that doesn't come with easy understanding from people outside the field. I chose this, because I see the value in my work and I know the every little difference I am capable of making in a special child's world. Understanding, therefore, is a compromise I have to make. Together with income. But, as long as I can end off a day knowing that a child has felt success in a task, in his understanding of the environment around him, no matter how little, I feel it's worth it.

Like one of the slogans on the pamphlets - "A special teacher for a special child". That, is my idealistic self... struggling to make reality.

Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 23:01