Eden Foundation accredited for UK programme for children with autism

The Eden Foundation was yesterday accredited by the UK National Autistic Society for its Structured Training and Education Programme (STEP) for children with autism.

The programme seeks to develop ways of interacting and communicating with children with autism so that they too can be understood and express their needs and interests to others.

The programme was attempting to address three major concerns, Education Minister Louis Galea said at the accreditation ceremony yesterday.

"First of all the concern of finding and training staff who are committed to the education of children with individual needs. Recruiting the right staff is an important consideration that sometimes presents difficulties. Even the training of staff not only requires funding but also time. The STEP programme is in its eighth year now and it must have accumulated important expertise and experience. Clearly, the support of the National Autistic Society of the UK has enabled Eden to reach higher levels of service in a much shorter time.

"Secondly, the Eden Foundation has been able to provide specialist support while at the same time working for the full inclusion of children with autism in regular schools. I greatly appreciate the link that has been maintained with the schools, with Eden tutors visiting the schools and facilitators attending Eden sessions and teachers also sometimes joining in reviews of the children's progress.

"This is a challenge for our schools to collaborate with outside school specialist support for the benefit of our children, but it can be achieved where respectful relationships are developed between schools and service providers.

"Thirdly, the Eden STEP programme does its best to address the link with parents. We believe that parents have a most important part to play in the education of all children and particularly those with special educational needs.

"We must strive to understand their point of view and support their aspirations for their children. Given the time they spend with their children everyday and over the years, they come to know their children as whole persons and also have their interest at heart.

"Moreover, they can make the learning children are given at school more relevant to everyday life, and also help us to make school learning more relevant to real life. The Eden STEP programme allows them to observe and join in sessions with their children. This interaction is to be encouraged."