Daily Activities at SAA Resource and Educational Centre

Greetings and Attendance

At the start of each session, the students led by the teachers sing songs as well as the national anthem. Attendance is then taken.

The purpose of this activity is to exchange greetings amongst the students and welcome each other. It also helps to emphasize personal identities when their names are being called up.

Drill

Drill is a method of one-to-one teaching based on Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). The drill includes Receptive/Expressive Language, Verbal/Non-Verbal Compliance, Imitation and Reciprocal Conversation. A major component of ABA programme is Discrete Trial Training (DTT) which involves breaking down a skill into smaller parts and teaching each part or sub-skill, one at a time. ABA provides an effective form of treatment. The purpose of ABA involves the division of the programme into 3 parts.

1st part : The programme conducted aims to reduce self stimulation and aggressive behaviour, build compliance and teach imitation skill. Students also establish the beginnings of appropriate play with toys and objects.

2nd part: Students are taught to use expressive and abstract language. They are also encouraged to play with other students in acceptable and expected manners of society.

3rd part: ABA programme conducted during this time emphasizes on reading, arithmetic and expression of feelings as well as observational learning.

Tea-Break

Tea break is taken to enable students and teachers to rest. Most importantly, it emphasizes the sequence of activities and the importance of timing and to teach them a sense of responsibility. They are expected to keep their food containers and water bottles in proper order. Good eating habits and table manners are also taught.

Self-Help Skills

Self-help skills include activities of daily living e.g. eating, drinking, toilet-training, dressing, brushing of teeth, hair combing, hand washing etc.

Self-help skills are the most important aspects of autistic persons’ education as once they mastered, they enable the autistic persons to be independent in looking after their basic daily needs and prepare them for adulthood.

Interactive Activities

As the name suggests, these activities include outdoor activities, social interaction speech therapy, art and craft and brain gym.

As children learn through playing, interactive activities stimulate and motivate them to explore their surroundings. It also enables them to socialize and interact with their peers within the expectations of society whilst encouraging them to cultivate good relationship with peers. These activities also teach the autistic persons about turn-taking and sharing especially in group activities.

TEACCH Workstation

During workstation time, autistic children are taught and expected to perform certain tasks such as match, sort, assemble or pack accordingly and independently. Advanced students are also taught functional academics such as ABC’s, 123’s and simple arithmetic.

These activities refer to the completion of tasks which are performed successfully and independently by the autistic persons without any physical, verbal or gestural prompts from the teachers.