AUT-erobics is in Jamaica and ready for autists in need

Sunday, November 08, 2009 2:28 AM

All Woman

BY THE MAIA CHUNG AUTISM AND DISABILITIES FOUNDATION

Monday, June 29, 2009

AUT-EROBICS the DVD, is an autism therapeutic aid designed by Joanne Lara the 'Autism Expert', to enact a unique sensory integration breakthrough programme of music and dance specifically designed for young people with autism.

The DVD is designed for use with a parent, therapist or instructor with the child or affected autistic person.

The DVD is said to improve motor and cognitive skills in a fun way.

Lara created Autism Movement Therapy to combine structured movement with music connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain for a whole brain cognitive re-mapping approach.

This innovative creative technique is the perfect solution for working with your child or student and assisting in the way that they interact with their peers, work in groups, and perform academically in the classroom.

Lara, who has a Master's in Special Education, is the creator and founder of AMT, which has been featured on ABC 7 Eyewitness News, Forbes magazine and Autism One Radio. Lara's successful aut-erobic DVD is the first movement and music instructional DVD of its kind to incorporate innovative inter-hemispheric sensory integration strategies (neuro-plasticity) using movement and music. It is designed to unlock and improve communication, cognitive and academic skills as well as increase social and behavioural awareness skills in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Last November, Lara assumed the position of master teacher at the RDI treatment programme for autism spectrum disorders. Founded by Dr Steven Gutstein, RDI is a parent-centred programme designed to establish and nurture missing pathways in the brains of children with autism. RDI provides consultation to families to address the core deficits, which include flexible thinking, communication and development of self, as well as social and emotional relationships.

Lara - who mounted a detailed explanation to Jamaicans about aut-erobics on Jamaica's radio series on autism, SPECIALS, aired on Newstalk 93 FM every Tuesday - earlier this month - donated a copy of the programme to The Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation.

Lara is allowing the sharing of the DVD for free to the needy Jamaican autist, having been made aware of the heavy costs involved with taking care of the autistic in Jamaica, through dialogue with the foundation. The product retails for US$30.

The foundation will make available for free the product with Lara's permission. Persons interested in acquiring the product will have to provide their own disc for copying and stand the cost of the copying.

To make contact with the foundation for this offer, email mcautismfoundation@mail.org or call the foundation's voicemail line at 876-578-3079 and leave a name and contact number.

Foundation head Maia Chung has watched the programme and says it's a really fun way to interact with your autistic child or even an adult in your care.

"It's just like watching those exercise programmes on TV and doing the moves, and the great thing is it has been proven to have scientific benefits to the autistic individual while having fun," she said.

"Whatever we can do to help the situation here for the autistic is our mission, especially as it relates to cutting the high costs associated with helping the autist improve," she said.

- For more information visit: www.AutismMovemenTtherapy.com

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