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Message by our Director

Hello everyone! We are delighted to present the first issue of our Newsletter. It covers the period from April to December 2015 – from our inception to the present. A bit of introduction to the ASDRC: the ASDRC was set up in April 2015 with the support of the Mahvash & Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation to raise awareness about autism and disabilities in general in Pakistan. The project is being implemented by Ramaq, which had initiated autism awareness in the country in 2001, through a series of seminars, culminating in the First Regional Conference on Autism in 2005. Now as ASDRC, our mission is to create a critical mass of professionals, teachers and parents to address issues of Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD and Learning Disabilities across the country. The best part is that all our services are more or less, free of charge! Please read on about our work and tell us about what you want us to do. All the best!

Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre, Lahore

First Edition, 2015

• Message by Rukhsana Shah (Director)

• Seminars

• Trainings and Workshops

• Conferences/Visits

• Meetings and Parent Support Group

• Upcoming Events

• Our Team

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Seminars UOfficial Launch of ASDRC and Seminar in Lahore:

A seminar on Autism Awareness was organized in Lahore by the ASDRC on 29 P

thP

August, 2015 at a local hotel. It was attended by more than one hundred parents and professionals including teachers, doctors, and therapists.

Rukhsana Shah, Director of Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre (ASDRC), in her welcome address, expressed her gratitude to the MJS Foundation for its financial and moral support, which enabled the Centre to offer the finest trainings to teachers and parents free of cost. She stated that it was the Mission of ASDRC to create a critical mass of trained teachers and care-givers and to create maximum awareness in the country about autism and learning disabilities.

In her inaugural address, Mrs. Mahvash Jahangir Siddiqui, Chairperson of MJS Foundation, stated the Foundation was striving to improve health, education and social outcomes in Pakistan through the establishment of additional facilities in existing public and private hospitals, introducing educational and vocational colleges for persons with disabilities, empowering youth through leadership and enterprise support programmes, improving the quality of education and providing relief and rehabilitation services during natural disasters. The recently established Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre in Lahore set up by the Foundation is designed to create greater awareness about autism and learning disabilities in the country, and to train parents and teachers of special and mainstream schools in the relevant fields.

Dr. Shazia Maqbool, Head of Developmental Paediatrics at Children’s Hospital, Lahore, was the key note speaker. She gave a detailed presentation on Autism

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Spectrum Disorders. She stated that her Autism Unit was designed to cater for 3000 children in a year, but now the Unit is catering for 30,000 children annually. There was a dire need to expand the facilities of the Developmental Paeds section on an urgent basis.

Mrs. Fauzia Saleemi, Speech and Language Pathologist at the CMH Lahore, gave a detailed presentation on language, speech and communication disorders, especially among children with ASD. Ms. Maliha Latif of Impact Psyche Consultants, gave a presentation on ADHD, while Ms. Asma Ahmed, Clinical Psychologist at ASDRC, discussed treatment and management techniques for children with ASD.

USeminar in Sahiwal:U Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre (ASDRC) held a seminar advancing awareness at a local hotel in Sahiwal on the 3P

rdP October, 2015. More than 70

people attended the seminar including parents, teachers, psychologists, doctors and therapists.

Mrs. Rukhsana Shah, the Director of ASDRC told the gathering that October is the Mental Health Month. The purpose of ASDRC is to prepare and educate teachers and people who look after children with autism and other learning disabilities. She also stressed that there was a dire need to build Developmental Paeds facilities all over Pakistan.

Mrs. Rukhsana Shah, Director, ASDRC, gave detailed presentation on ASD, ADHD & Learning Disabilities. Ms Asma Ahmad, Clinical Psychologist, ASDRC, discussed the treatment & management for persons with ASD. Later, teachers, parents and professionals discussed their queries with the ASDRC team.

USeminar in Sargodha: The Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Center, Lahore (ASDRC) held a seminar in one of the local hotels in Sargodha, City of Shaheens, on Autism Awareness on 4P

thP November, 2015. A lot of respected and renowned people

participated in the Seminar including doctors, teachers and parents of affected children. While giving the welcoming address, Ms. Asma Ahmad, introduced ASDRC as a project by Mahvash and Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation and is being spearheaded by Mrs Rukhsana Shah in Lahore and its aim is to spread awareness regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders amongst people. Dr. Khawaja Muhammad Arshad started the seminar by bringing to light different aspects of Autism. He told that Autism is a neurological disorder and that people who are afflicted with it deserve our special attention. Whereas, Ms. Asma Ahmad, Clinical Psychologist, ASDRC, gave a detailed presentation about how to deal with Autistic children and the different therapies used to help them.

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Dr. Umar Hayat Bucha was very appreciative of this endeavor by ASDRC and said that there should be further seminars like these to promote Autism awareness amongst people. The participants were also very appreciative of the effort made by Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre Lahore.

USeminar in Jhelum: Autism Spectrum Disorder Resource Centre, Lahore (ASDRC) conducted a seminar on autism awareness at a local hotel in Jhelum, City of Soldiers and Martyrs, on 26th November, 2015. Dr. Hafeez ur Rahman (President of PMA of Jehlum), Dr. Shabbir Shah, Dr. Abdul Shakoor and other doctors, teachers & parents of children with Autism participated in the Seminar. While giving the welcoming address, Ms. Asma Ahmad, introduced ASDRC. Dr. Adnan Sethi (Child Specialist) started the seminar by shedding some light on the different aspects of Autism. He told that Autism is a neurological disorder and children affected with this problem need our special attention. Early intervention is the key while working with the ASD children. Whereas, Ms. Asma Ahmed (Clinical Psychologist, ASDRC), gave a detailed presentation about how to deal with persons with ASD and what are the interventions available for their treatment.

All the participants appreciated the efforts made by ASDRC to develop awareness regarding ASD, ADHD and Learning Disabilities. Many parents, mainstream school teachers and special school teachers discussed the different cases they were dealing, with our Clinical Psychologist.

USeminar in Karachi: A seminar on Autism & Learning Disabilities Awareness was organized in Karachi by the Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre (ASDRC) Lahore on 12P

thP December, 2015 at a local hotel. It was attended by more than two hundred

parents and professionals including teachers, doctors, psychologists and therapists.Mrs. Rukhsana Shah, Director of Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre (ASDRC), in her welcoming address, expressed her gratitude to the MJS Foundation for its financial and moral support, which has enabled the Centre to offer the finest trainings to teachers and parents. She stated that it was the Mission of ASDRC to create a critical mass of trained teachers and care-givers and to create maximum awareness in the country about autism and learning disabilities.

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In her inaugural address, Mrs. Mahvash Jahangir Siddiqui, Chairperson of MJS Foundation, stated the Foundation was striving to improve health, education and social outcomes in Pakistan through the establishment of additional facilities in existing public and private hospitals, introducing educational and vocational colleges for persons with disabilities, empowering youth through leadership and enterprise support programmes, improving the quality of education and providing relief and rehabilitation services during natural disasters. Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre in Lahore set up by the Foundation is designed to create greater awareness about autism and learning disabilities in the country, and to train parents and teachers of special and mainstream schools in the relevant fields.

Dr. Shahnaz Ibrahim started the seminar by bringing to light different aspects of Autism. She gave a detailed presentation on the Autism Spectrum Disorders. Ms. Mona Qaiser from Readyslexics gave detailed presentation about Dyslexia and its management. Dr. Aisha Sanober from the Agha Khan University gave a presentation on ADHD. Whereas Ms. Asma Ahmed, Clinical Psychologist at ASDRC discussed treatment and management techniques for children with ASD and the different therapies used to help them.

Seminar at GC University, Lahore:

A Seminar on Autism: Awareness and Management was organized by the Department of Psychology, Government College University, Lahore in collaboration with ASDRC on 15th December, 2015.

In her inaugural address, Dr. Syeda Salma, Incharge and Associate Professor of Department of Psychology, GCU, Lahore, thanked Mrs. Rukhsana Shah for organizing an awareness seminar for the students and professionals of her department.

Mrs. Rukhsana Shah, Director, ASDRC, gave a detailed presentation on Introduction of ASD and Ms. Asma Ahmed, Clinical Psychologist, ASDRC, gave a presentation on the Overview of Treatment and Management of the Persons with ASD.

Approximately, more than 100 students and professionals attended the seminar. They were interactive with the speakers and had a healthy discussion with them.

At the end of the seminar, certificate distribution ceremony was done and Dr. Syeda Salma presented shields to Mrs. Rukhsana Shah and Ms. Asma Ahmed.

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Training and Workshops Workshop 1: • Workshop on Behaviour Modification was conducted by Ms. Asma Ahmed

on 14P

thP May, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore. Special education teachers,

psychologists and other professionals attended the workshop. Workshop 2: • Workshop on Sensory Integration Therapy and Occupational therapy was

conducted by Ms. Asma Ahmed and Ms. Noreena Ishtiaq on 28P

thP May, 2015

at ASDRC Lahore. Workshop 3: • Police Training Workshop regarding Autism Awareness was conducted by

Ms. Rukhsana Shah on 1P

stP June, 2015 at Police Training College, Lahore.

Workshop4 : • Workshop on Individualized Educational Plan was conducted by Ms. Asma

Ahmed on 4 P

thP June, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop 5: • Workshop on Behaviour Modification was conducted by Ms. Asma Ahmed at

Rising Sun Institute, Lahore, on 8P

thP June, 2015.

Workshop 6: • Workshop on Introduction to Dyslexia was conducted by Ms. Ayesha Ahmed

and Ms. Rukhsana Shah on 11P

thP June, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop7:

• A Presentation was presented by Ms. Rukhsana Shah on Autism, ADHD & LDs at the CME for Family Physicians organized by the Pakistan Society of Family Physicians on 31P

stP July, 2015 at 115 Shadman, Lahore

Workshop 8:

• A Workshop on ASD and Learning Disabilities was conducted by Ms. Rukhsana Shah in Sanjan Nagar School Lahore on 18P

thP August, 2015.

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Workshop 9:

• A Workshop on ASD and Learning Disabilities was conducted by Ms. Rukhsana Shah in LGS, D-2, Wapda Town, Lahore on 19P

thP August, 2015.

Workshop 10:

• Workshop on Sensory Integration Therapy was conducted by Ms. Asma Ahmed on 20P

thPAugust, 2015 at ASDRC.

Workshop 11:

• A Workshop on Assessment of Language in Special Children was conducted by Mrs. Fouzia Saleemi on 27P

thP August, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop 12:

• A Workshop on ABA in Practice was conducted by Ms. Ammara Khurram on 2P

ndPSeptember, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop 13:

• Four Workshops were conducted in Karachi by Ms. Asma Ahmed on 4 P

thP and

5P

thP September 2015 on Behaviour Modification and Sensory Integration

Therapy (SIT) at Pakistan Centre for Autism (PCA) and Special Children Educational Institute (SCEI).

Workshop 14:

• A Workshop on Biomedical Interventions was conducted by Mrs. Lailmah Khan on 9P

th PSeptember, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop 15:

• A Workshop on Developing Resource Material for Parents was conducted by Mrs. Zahra Kulsoom on 14 P

thP September, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop 16:

• Workshop on Introduction to DIRFloortime was conducted by Ms. Asma Ahmed on 29P

th POctober, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop 17:

• A Presentation was presented by Ms. Asma Ahmed on An Overview of the Treatment and Management Techniques for Persons with ASD at the CME for Family Physicians organized by the Pakistan Society of Family Physicians on 30P

thP October, 2015 at 115 Shadman, Lahore.

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Workshop 18:

• The second workshop of DIRFloortime Series on “The Developmental Aspect - FEDCs" was conducted by Ms. Asma Ahmed on 12th November, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop 19:

• The Third Workshop of DIRFloortime Series on “The Individual Difference - Sensory Aspect” was conducted by Ms. Asma Ahmed on 21st November, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Workshop 20:

• The Fourth Workshop of DIRFloortime Series on “Importance of Affect in DIRFloortime (Relationship Based) and DIR Floortime in Action" was conducted by Ms. Asma Ahmed on 7P

thP December, 2015 at ASDRC Lahore.

Certificates were distributed to the participants who attended the complete series of DIRFloortime Workshops.

Workshop 21:

• A Workshop was conducted in Karachi by Ms. Asma Ahmed on 10 P

thP

December, 2015 on Introduction to DIR Floortime at Ma Ayesha Memorial Centre, Karachi.

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Conferences and Visits

Conference in New Jersey: Our Clinical Psychologist, Ms. Asma Ahmed, went to US to attend a conference on DIRFloortime from 20P

thP–21P

stP September, 2015 in Bally's Hotel, Atlantic City,

New Jersey, USA. She also attended the DIRFloortime Workshops in the conference. After attending the DIRFloortime Conference and DIR 101 Track, many of the myths regarding the therapeutic intervention were eliminated. It was a great learning experience for her.

Meetings and Parent Support Group:

• A Meeting on Transitional Support Facility for Young Persons with ASD was held at the ASDRC office on 13th November 2015 to discuss possibilities of starting a facility for children with ASD aged between 13 to 18 years in Lahore.

• We had a Parent Support Group on 2nd December, 2015 at 10:30am at the ASDRC Hall. It was the First Parent Support Group at the ASDRC premises. It was an interactive group session of the parents.

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Press Releases

Upcoming Events:

• Seminar at Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

• Seminar in Peshawar • Seminar in Lahore College for Women University, Lahore. • Series of Workshops for Training of Shadow Teachers and

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) • Workshop on Social Skills Training • Workshop on Speech and Language Therapy • Workshops on DIR Floortime for Parents • Workshop on ASD for Family Physicians

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Our Team

Organization Address: Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre, 43/1, Main Gulberg-II, Lahore Contact information: 042-35777690, 35777679 Website: HTUwww.asdrc.com.pkUTH Email: HTUinfo@asdrc.com.pkUTH Facebook: HTUwww.facebook.com/autisminpakistan UTH Twitter: HTUwww.twitter.com/autismpakistanUTH