About
Shine |
||||||||
Shine is a Voluntary Organisation and Registered Charity established in 2001 by the parents of autistic children to offer support and share information on services for their children. Shine has grown year on year since then and now offer services and support to 80 children through the Shine Centre based in Carrigaline Co Cork and over 250 families across the South Munster region. Shine is still run by parents with the Board of the Organisation comprising of parents of autistic children and adolescents and the organisation is committed to "giving every child the opportunity to reach their full potential" Shine provides the following services to autistic children and their families 1. Early Learning Unit
The Shine Early Learning Unit is located at the Shine Centre in Carrigaline and currently caters for 18 children in the 2009/10 academic year. - To learn more about the ELU please click on the homepage menu. 2. Life Skills & Social Groups
The Shine Life-Skills and Social Groups cater for 30 children and adolescents ranging in age from 6 years to 15 years. These groups focus on learning and using both social and practical skills where the children learn how to interact and make friends while having fun. The Life Skills and Social Skills groups are provided at no cost to the families of the children. 3. School Support Service
For many years now the Shine/IPAA has been fielding calls from Primary schools around Munster. The purpose of the calls varied greatly. Some schools sought simple information about ASD, while others were crying out for help and guidance. As a result of this, the Shine Educational Support Service was founded.The aim of the service was simple, to ensure positive outcomes and full inclusion for children with an ASD diagnosis in our mainstream schools. The Educational Support Service is provided free of charge to schools and is fully funded by Shine and currently works with over 35 schools and forty eight students in the Munster area. 4. Advice Line:
Shine offers an advice line for parents and professionals who need information or advice on an issue relating to their children. This service is often a lifeline to many parents as they are simply unaware or unable to get information on entitlements for their children. The advice line was set up in 2001 and has received thousands of calls in that time. To contact us please call: 021 4377052 5. Training
Shine believes very strongly in equiping as many parents and professionals with the knowledge and skills to both understand and aquire the skills to help and work with the positive development of autistic children. The concept of parallel learning is vital in creating the best outcomes for children and their families and their academic development. Shine has developed it's own courses for parents, teachers, SNAs and professionals and has developed partnerships with other training organisations to present or facilitate what we consider to be relevant courses in the area of autism. The majority of these courses are available at the Shine Centre and in 2009 we have held courses in Clare, Tipperary & Waterford so please check the website for venues and dates. Shine Offers The Following Courses: Autism An Introduction Understanding Autism Autism In The Mainstream Classroom First Steps In ABA Managing Challenging Behaviour
6. Seminars & Meetings
Shine regularly holds parents meeting to keep them updated on topics relating to services, legislation and provision. Shine also holds seminars to cater for larger numbers on topics that the autistic community feel are of imprtance. We have recently held seminars on the following topics: The Autistic Child In The Irish Education System Coaching People With Asperger Syndrome Taking Control - Funding Disability Services
The Early Learning Unit Team 2009/10
The ELU Team Is Committed To Give Every Child The Opportunity To Reach Their Full Potential Sue, Sara, Denise, Alma, Sinead, Laura, Grace & Amanda
Background Irish Progressive Association for Autism/Shine
Since it's foundation the IPAA has had massive increases in members, many of these families have joined the Association to access the practical supports offered to member families. The IPAA has taken the view that it is simply unacceptable for a family to be told that there is no service available for their child and will work with the family to secure these services or the Association will endeavour to fill the gap left by the state by proving the service itself. In late 2006 the Board
of the IPAA agreed to re-brand the Association's charitable element
as "SHINE the autism charity" as it was difficult for
the general public to understand who The IPAA were and what we did.
The Board felt that the symbol of a sun gave the vision of hope
and brightness and the "brighten the future" phrase was
what our Association was all about. As a result of the new charitable
logo a new website was developed and it is hoped that the IPAA was
eventaully apply only to the commercail and corporate element of
the Association and SHINE will become the primary name for our support
group. The Shine/IPAA have grown because we take on the day to day needs of parents. We address their practical problems and have solved many of them. We work closely with regional ASD teams and have supported them in many areas by financially supported joint ventures, such as appropriate awareness and training schemes for professionals working in the area of autism. We have put services in place that filled a void left by the state in an effort to help our children to get access to vital services at key stages in their development. Shine Provides The Following Services For Children & Their Families: Autistic Specific Early Learning Unit Life Skills & After Schools Clubs Educational Support Service Seminars & Training Courses Parent Advice Line Newsletter Website
|
||||||||
