ASDESI Kids Klub endeavours to create environments where these children learn valuable skills, be around children more like themselves, don’t feel out of place, and be taken care of by qualified and experienced staff who understand their needs and abilities….
By Interchange Australia Marketing Coordinator Tahlia Bunt
ASDESI, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Education, Support and Information, is a program created by Interchange Australia and The Kollege of Knowledge Kommittee for Kids (4K) to provide early intervention respite, in-home and social support for families with a child (under 18 yrs) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program endeavours to bring social support and educational support through a wide range of activities, events, programs and information.
ASDESI Kids Klub is our program we run throughout school holidays to assist parents who need to continue to work and need a place for their child that understands their need and abilities. Kids Klub provides an opportunity for children to interact and gain social skills in a safe, fun and friendly environment where they can be understood and free from uncomfortable stress. Many children with ASD find it difficult to fit in to main stream school holidays programs, as their peers and workers around them are not equipped to deal with certain behaviours and triggers experienced by these children.
ASDESI Kids Klub endeavours to create environments where these children learn valuable skills, be around children more like themselves, don’t feel out of place, and be taken care of by qualified and experienced staff who understand their needs and abilities. These programs strive to offer positive outcomes to assist these children progress in their life positively. Parents have reported significant improvements in social skills after their child has attended our school holidays programs for a prolonged time – being around different people and making new friends, building their confidence by experiencing new activities in safe environments.
Each day of ASDESI Kids Klub the groups spend a portion of their morning preparing for the day. Making food, discussing travel, what they will do, what they’re excited for, and what everyone actually wants from the day. These methods prepare children for decision making, life skills and knowledge they will use in their future. We strive to make each and every one of our activities educational – whether it be going to the zoo and learning about animals, or simply just learning how to pour cake batter into a pan and other life skills. Our support workers have knowledge to suit these children’s needs and to assist them with new and unfamiliar tasks. We like to offer this program as a safe space, especially for those parents that may feel unsettled with a child with ASD, that they may not fit in, or may not be cared for the way they deserve and the way they know how. These kids will feel protected and cared for all while enjoying themselves and making new friends.
This school holidays our program was heavily effected due to COVID-19, although we soldiered on and rushed to find replacement activities to still ensure our kids still enjoyed a safe and educational school holiday program.
Day 1 was spent in Berrima doing some fun Geocaching, followed by a picnic in the park and some time to play around and have fun.
On day 2 they ventured to Shoalhaven Zoo for a fun day out. They saw peacocks, wombats, geese, lions, emus, horses and much more – they even got to feed the kangaroos!
Day 3 the group had a fun outing to the local cinemas. They spent the morning baking cupcakes and making pizzas and then after the movie they played Wii and enjoyed some afternoon tea.
Day 4 they spent their day on an incredible bushwalk in the open air through the fern forests of Forty Foot Falls and doing some exploring of our native Fauna and Flora, all while looking at some beautiful natural landscapes. They even took home a little gift for their parents, a beautiful canvas artwork each child created of their favourite part of the hike.
On Day 5 the group will spend a nice day in-house, doing science experiments, making beautiful artworks and just hanging out after a full week of fun activities.
For week two of Kids Klub quite a lot of the activities were Sydney based making it quite a challenge. Although we quickly came up with some replacement activities and can’t wait to see what the kids get up to on their adventures.
Day 6 week 2 is a fun day of arcade games at a local venue with TONS for the kids to get up to all day.
Day 7 will be a fun cinema day, with baking, cooking, fun in-house games and plenty of Wii.
Day 8 the kids will be learning how to make kites and then making their own to later fly at a local park.
On day 9 the group will have a fun day at an incredible new mini golf course AS WELL as fun games of bowling.
And finally, on day 10 the kids will end their school holidays at a local playground with loads of fun facilities and play some sports in the park.
Each child leaves ASDESI Kids Klub learning life skills, visiting new places and making new friends. We can’t wait for all the photos and feedback from the exciting ASDESI Kids Klub we have planned this June/July.
For more information on ASDESI and the services we provide, give us a call on 4868 6688 or 1300 112 334
