Today’s podcast features Dr. Adam Boddison, the Chief Executive of NASEN, which is the National Association for Special Education Needs.

The details for the next virtual conference are finalized!

Aizat Izzuddin is an art enthusiast as well as a poetry performer, a storyteller, a voice actor, an illustrator and an orator. He, along with his classmate, narrated three short stories and recited three poems at the art festival “2020 Tiny Lit Fest”, hosted virtually by an association in Brunei.The two students became the first Malaysians to take part in the art festival as performers. In early 2021, Aizat represented Malaysia to compete at the Asian English Olympics organized by an Indonesian university where he participated in the storytelling category, together with two of his classmates. He was one of the first individuals with disabilities to take part in the event as contestants. His accomplishments in literary, performing and visuals arts have catalyzed the active participation of special needs learners in various arts events in his community. More students have been inspired to participate in the art festivals being held locally, nationally and internationally.

Congratulations to Muhammad Aizat Izzuddin Bin Azme as the recipient of the 2021 May World Changer Award!

Aizat’s short story presentations and poetry along with his classmates can be accessed via this link: https://youtu.be/YkeS2ohTe_Y

 

A year ago today, my family and I made the difficult decision to leave our host country of Thailand to return to our home country. Our son, who is profoundly affected by autism and intellectual developmental delay (IDD) was not coping well with lockdown. It made sense to remove him from that stressful environment and into one where he felt most at peace. We thought it would “just be for the summer,” but it turned out that COVID had other plans and we were unable to get back. We are now in the US and call ourselves “COVID refugees.”

Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez is the award-winning founder of HEART in Mind Consulting.

Today the Vice-President of the National Council of Severe Autism, Amy Lutz and I speak about raising children who are profoundly affected by Autism and how it looks so different from parenting our typically developing children in many ways.

Lex is an Early Years professional from the UK with a PGCert in Special Educational Needs Coordination. She has worked with children for 20 years in various countries including Australia and Rwanda. She moved to Cambodia with her husband in 2015 with the desire to increase quality SEND provision within the country. She is SENCO and Head of The Giving Tree School’s Early Years campus in Phnom Penh. As well as supporting her fellow teachers she also teaches a class of two year old students. Lex is passionate about early intervention and networking with other professionals to bring awareness and high quality provision to all children with SEND in Cambodia. She also has 3 young boys at home that love to keep her busy when she’s not teaching! Lex took over as Chair of SENIA Cambodia Chapter in 2020, spearheading multiple projects while tirelessly supporting SENIA and wider community members.

Congratulations to Lex Hamilton as the April 2021 SENIA World Changer recipient!

Today Lori and Jill discuss healthy strategies for you as a parent or teacher to use on yourself or with your students/children when you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed during COVID.

SENIA is pleased to announce the launch of the 2021 SENIA Student Award.  Do you know of a student who advocates and promotes inclusion in their community?  Please nominate at seniainternational.org/awards

The recipient of the award receives a scholarship, plaque, certificate and the opportunity to present their inspirational story at the SENIA International conference, as well as, be featured in future SENIA publications.

The deadline for all nominations is October 15, 2021.   A full list of rules and regulations can be found here.