NEWS AND EVENTS
Afasic Cymru is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year – 2012
We are currently planning events and activities to celebrate our milestone anniversary and these will be circulated, advertised on our website and placed in the new E Newsletter in March. Meanwhile, we invite you to write a short article, email or letter for a ‘Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary’ type feature to go in the “new” E Newsletter.
Over the 10 years we have been fortunate to secure funding from Welsh Government, Big Lottery, Children In Need, Waterloo Foundation and many other grant trusts enabling us to raise awareness of SLCN/SLI and better support the children and young people we represent. We have built good working relationships with both Health and Education and of course other organisations working in the voluntary sector. Our database of parents contacting us for information and advice has grown considerably over the 10 years, so we are hopeful that many of you will be willing to write something to go in our newsletter, the articles will also be display at our 10th Anniversary celebration which we hope to hold at the Senedd, date yet to be advised.
All articles should be sent to . We look forward to hearing from you.
posted 24 January 2012 [top of page]
Afasic/Tape Youth Project
TAPE will be working with Afasic Cymru to deliver a weekly youth club for young people aged 11 to 17 who have speech, language and communication impairments and needs.
When?
The club will run every Thursday during term-time from 6pm to 8pm and will cost 50p each week.
Where?
The TAPE Community Arts Centre, Myn y Don Park, Berthes Road, Old Colwyn LL29 9SD
Planned Activities
26 Jan - Big screen film in the hall with fish and chips. Everyone will bring in a DVD and we'll decide as a group which one to watch.
2 Feb - Art night - including puppet making.
4 Feb –Travel Challenge.
9 Feb - Puppet show using puppets made
16 Feb - Half term
23 Feb - Magic evening to include (learning and performing tricks).
1 Mar - Theatre Trip
8 Mar - Games night including Wii and/or x-box on the cinema and plasma screens and board games.
For more information, email Yvonne.
Event flyer
Christmas song and video
updated 24 January 2012 [top of page]
Afasic Charity Disco - 24 February
Afasic Cymru would like to invite people to a 1970’s and 1980’s Charity DISCO to be held at Plas yn dre Restaurant, Bala on 24 February 2012 7pm until late.
Tickets costs £10.00 and include a Hot Buffet.
For more information or tickets please contact:
Yvonne Brookes on Tel:01745 550461 or by email
Wendy Williams at Plas yn dre Tel: 01678 521256
All proceeds raised will go to Afasic Cymru will be spent on projects with in Wales.
Event flyer - English
Event flyer - Welsh
posted 17 January 2012 [top of page]
Afasic Cymru Youth Awards 2012
Afasic Cymru is once again inviting nominations of children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and have achieved a “personal goal”. We would be delighted to receive nominations for academic or social skills achievements. Our aim is to recognise the young person for their hard work and determination. Nominations can be made by anyone including parents/carers, teachers, S&L Therapists and support staff who will be able to illustrate how the young person has achieved.
There will be 3 age categories for the Youth Awards:
Up to age 11 Primary
11–16 Secondary
16+
Each winner will receive a £50 voucher, a trophy and certificate. ALL entries will receive a certificate. All entries should be submitted by 31 March 2012 with the results announced on/around 30 April 2012.
Please see guidance notes for making nominations and the nomination forms below in English and Welsh.
Guidance Notes - English
Guidance Notes - Welsh
Nomination Form - English
Nomination Form - Welsh
posted 3 January 2012 [top of page]
Oliver Ainsworth Award
In addition to the Afasic Cymru Youth Award, this year we will be introducing the “Oliver Ainsworth Award” – Oliver’s mum who has recently moved to USA is sponsoring the award. Whilst living in North Wales, Oliver received Speech and Language therapy and indeed won the Afasic Cymru Youth Award in 2009.
Oliver worked very hard in school to overcome and manage his communication impairment by having the courage and confidence to stand up in front of the whole school and give a voluntary speech to put himself forward for the position of class representative for the school council.
Oliver and his mum both recognise this “feat” would not have been possible without the additional support from speech and language therapy services, therefore they are keen that this award will recognise the hard work of a particular Speech and Language Therapist who you as a parent/carer or indeed young person receiving Speech and Language Therapy would like to nominate. Teachers, LSAs, SALT managers and saltherapy colleagues can also make nominations.
There will be 2 prizes of £200 vouchers for winning entries, one from the North and the other from South Wales. Nomination forms can be downloaded below and all entries should be submitted by 31 March 2012 with the results announced on/around 30 April 2012.
Nomination Form - English
Nomination Form - Welsh
posted 6 January 2012 [top of page]
NAS Conwy and Denbighshire Branch INTERNET CAFÉ
Saturday 10 December 2pm – 4pm
The Interchange
317- 9 Abergele Road,
Old Colwyn
For young people with ASD and their families
This month Polar Express Special with the film, hot chocolate and more.
View the Polar Express trailer here.
Next dates
All second Saturdays of each month
- 14 January and 11 February 2012
posted 9 December 2011 [top of page]
Turning up the volume of school acoustics
Afasic Cymru is supporting the campaign by the National Deaf Children's Society to raise awareness of deaf children who are struggling to listen and learn in noisy, echoing school buildings.
NDCS Cymru wants the Welsh Government to use new powers it will receive on New Year's Eve 2011 to strengthen the law on acoustics in new school buildings. The NDCS are asking Assembly Members to sign up to our New Year's Resolution and show their support for good school acoustics... but they need your help! Please encourage your Assembly Member to join the campaign. You can find out more about the campaign from the NDCS website.
posted 9 December 2011 [top of page]
Auditing Language Resources across Wales
Afasic Cymru is currently collating information regarding specialist educational provision for children and young people with SLI/SLCN.
A Language Unit – also known as a Communication Resource Base (CRB) a Resource Base, a Specialist Teaching Facility (STF) or a Language Base is a special facility which is usually attached to a mainstream school, giving extra help to children with specific language difficulties so that they are able to return to a place in mainstream school as soon as possible. Language units will not necessarily resolve all of the difficulties a child may face but they will give a boost to the learning of language.
We are keen to build up a database of all existing Language Units across Wales and to compare the entry criteria stipulated in them. A child “generally” needs a Statement of Educational Needs to be admitted in to the Language Unit so we would be keen to hear if this is not the case in your area. Initially, we would be grateful if teaching staff and S & L Therapy services could email Jeannette with the name of the school in which a Language Unit exists together with the contact details of the teacher in charge and the therapist assigned to the unit and a copy of the entry criteria checklist so that we can build a profile of the variance and pathways of the provision of support.
In addition to feedback from schools and S & L Therapists, we are keen to hear from parents and indeed young people of their experiences of attending a Language Unit. Ideally we would like to use this feedback as case studies to allow us to campaign and lobby against any closures in this current economic climate. ALL feedback will be treated confidentially and can be submitted anonymously.
posted 29 November 2011 [top of page]
Auxiliary Aids Consultation
Equality Act 2010: Duty on schools and Local Authorities to provide auxiliary aids and services for disabled children. This consultation document seeks views on commencing the provision within the Equality Act 2010.
Start of consultation: 11/11/2011
End of consultation: 03/02/2012
Welsh Government Consultation Document
The provision that places a duty on schools and local authorities to provide auxiliary aids as part of their duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled children.
The Equality Act 2010 makes a Minister of the UK Government responsible for commencing the new auxiliary aids duty, making any regulations under section 22 of the Act and for undertaking any consultation regarding these matters in relation to Wales. The Welsh Ministers have agreed however to consult in relation to Wales on the UK Minister’s behalf under section 83(1) of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
This consultation seeks responses on two issues. Firstly, the date by which the new duty should be brought into effect, including consideration of whether there are any reasons why the duty should not be commenced or should be commenced later than September 2012. Secondly, whether regulations under section 22 of the Equality Act 2010 would be necessary to define the duty on schools and local authorities to provide auxiliary aids.
Please use the questionnaire below for your responses. Further information about the consultation is also available.
How to respond
Please submit your comments by 03 February 2012, in any of the following ways:
Email: AdditionalLearningNeedsBranch@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Post:
Additional Learning Needs Branch
Support for Learners Division
Department for Education and Skills
Welsh Government, Freepost NAT 8910
Cathays Park
CF10 3NQ
posted 29 November 2011 [top of page]
Afasic Cymru poster competition winner in the news!
Year 8 pupil Sam Moffatt from Mynydd Isa’s Argoed High School took part in a poster design competition, winning a Wii console for the school in the process. The poster competition title was ‘Communication is important because...’
Teacher Sheila Davies said: “Sam was thrilled to win the computer console. It’s important we supported Afasic’s competition and reinforced the importance of communication."
Read the Flintshire Chronicle article
posted 21 November 2011 [top of page]