The First Ever Autism Handbook in Maltese for Maltese Parents.

Raising Funds to Publish this much needed Guide.

Autism Parents Association Community April 24, 2017 at 5:35 pm
  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Backers

Project Description

The Project:

On 6th May, 4 brave runners will grit their teeth and complete a gruelling 50 kilometre run, totally off road on dirt tracks in the searing Gozitan sun. They’ll be clocking up a total climb of 1400 metres (that’s like running up the famous Ben Nevis Mountain 1½ times !!).

This is pure endurance and determination and they’re doing it to help Maltese parents cope when they first find out about their child’s autism diagnosis.

The Objective:

Their incredible effort is a catalyst to make the first ever Maltese written guide a reality, helping parents during an extremely confusing and distressing period. We need to raise 5000 Euros to make this happen. Please, please support these incredible runners and help us achieve a first for autism support in Malta.

This 120 page book will provide Maltese parents of newly diagnosed children with an overview of autism, guidance on how to cope in the early years and the services offered locally.

What Autism Parents Association need:

  • Translation of text into Maltese – Euro 2500
  • Design and layout of the handbook – Euro 1700
  • Printing 100 copies – Euro 800

Any translation, layout or printing costs saved will go towards printing more copies of the book.

If the goal of Euro 5,000 is achieved  surplus funds will be spent on the next guide “Autism: A Guide for Mainstream Primary Schools” in Maltese and English

If we raise even more money we will produce “A Guide for Those Who Support Adults Following a Diagnosis” in English and Maltese

Our Testimonials:

“It’s hard to describe, but the helplessness you experience when you discover your child has autism is truly disorientating. A simple guide like this would have been incredibly valuable for Julian and I during those early years.”

 

“15 years ago, when we were going through those confusing thoughts like ‘where shall we start?’, little to no help was available and a handbook like this would have been a gift from heaven.”

 

“How I wish I had a guide book available when I got my son’s diagnosis. It would have made the world of difference to have a simple guide. Well done for the initiative”

Our Sponsors:

We would like to give a big thank you to our sponsors whom have helped us along the way:

Team Sport

Vibe FM

  

Mayhem Design & Branding

  
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Project FAQ

  1. Who are the nutters running 50km off road around Gozo? 

Tiziana Bonnici, Jason Greenaway, Patrick Tabone, Italo Bonnici

  1. Who is organising the event?

It's a Hellfire event organised by the amazing people at Xterra Malta. On the 6th May, there is also at 21km off road trail run and also a mountain bike challenge but that’s not tough enough for our guys.
http://www.maltaxterra.com/shop/gozo-trail-run/

  1. What is Autism?

An autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder which affects the way a person communicates with and relates to other people and the world around them. The way in which people are affected varies from one individual to another and by age and intellectual functioning.Children with ASD are affected in a variety of ways and to very different degrees.

This is why it’s called ‘the autistic spectrum’. Autism can affect children with any level of intellectual ability, from those who are profoundly learning disabled, to those with average or high intelligence. So, having ASD doesn’t necessarily mean that you have learning difficulties. The more seriously affected children at one end of the spectrum have learning difficulties as well and require high levels of support. At the other end of the spectrum, some people with Asperger syndrome or ‘high-functioning autism’ are very intelligent academically. They may go on to be successful in their chosen field. However, they still experience significant social and communication difficulties.

  1. Who are Autism Parents Association?

APA is a Maltese registered NGO. All committee members are parents of children on the autism spectrum who volunteer their time to provide those with autism the same opportunities as everyone else, and to support the families.

APA are members of Autism Europe. We meet with various bodies and decision makers on all aspects concerting the rights of people with autism to raise awareness, acceptance and inclusion.

We have been in the press, on TV and in social media. Behind the scenes, we attend international and national conferences and events, meet with government, education, public bodies, NGOs and decision-makers on all aspects concerning the rights of people with autism to raise public awareness, acceptance and inclusion. Our website keeps the public up to date with who we are, what we do, activities and other information. APA members are invited to a ‘closed’ private Facebook group where APA shares news and parents post questions, experiences and tips. We circulate newsletters, organise a yearly fun day, social events and hold an annual General Meeting. We have active parent support agents and, for when children are older, youth groups.

 

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