Part 1: Summary of the trip
During the time from 2nd to 22nd October, 2014, Ms. Do Thi Hien – manager of “Working With Others” (WWO) programme – participated in the “Changing the Course of Autism” Conference and the study tour in Canada. This passage presents brief information and some experience gained from the trip.
The conference provided Ms. Hien with new learning on autism through presentations of new researches, such as: causes of autism before/after pregnancy and giving birth; medical features related to autism: symptoms, screening, nutritional matters, etc; practical methods that were applicable and effective in teaching autistic children: approaches, communication, encouragement, etc.

Besides, there were 5 special guesses who used to be autistics attended in the conference to present and share major impacts of their parents, teachers, as well as what they had been through to be successful. This had proven that there were positive interventions for people with autism in Canada so that they had better community integration. Autistic people had chances for self-advocacy by telling their own needs: what they expected from a teacher when they study, how they hoped everyone treats them, as well as what made their life easier. These efforts to help autistic people had been appreciated thanks to its effectiveness.
During the rest of the time in Canada, Ms. Hien had chances to visit centres, schools and organisations working with autistic people and recognized the favour of national policies in Canada for disabled children in general, and for autistic children in particular. More precisely, most centers, schools, hospitals had modern technical devices for study, such as: smart boards, smart tables, Gotalk, Ipad,etc which facilitated the teaching and study of both teachers and students. Moreover, there were teachers to be always beside them, together with necessary equipments to help them integrate while studied in public schools.

[To be continued]