Welcome to the Autism Connect Early Programme!

The ACE (Autism Connect Early) Programme has been developed according to best-practice guidelines to assist autistic children in integrating successfully into long-day care with their peers. The focus is on applying specialised strategies to build skills in effective communication, interaction and play with peers, self-directed learning, and personal resilience.

Our transdisciplinary team are dedicated to creating a learning environment in which autistic children feel safe, confident, and valued. Whilst the focus is on helping children to engage in learning to create short- and long-term benefits, our transdisciplinary team uphold the ethos of learning via relationship building. Therefore, all learning opportunities are embedded in empathic interactions aimed at understanding the child’s experiences.

The ACE Programme is immersed in a research framework that provides us with the opportunity to continuously evaluate and refine all learning experiences to ensure that they are tailored to the particular needs of each child. The Programme content and delivery is closely monitored by autism experts from the University of New England to ensure that a high level of integrity is maintained and children receive access to the most recent advances in autism education.

Enquire today for our Autism Connect Early Programme:

“There needs to be a lot more emphasis on what a child can do instead of what they cannot do.”

The ACE Difference

In our partnership with The University of New England, we have direct research evidence that will support our programme. Four key differences that sets the ACE Programme apart from other early invention approaches include:

1.

Our programme is implemented by a transdisciplinary team which includes therapists within early childhood services.

2.

Our programme is implemented by a transdisciplinary team which includes therapists within early childhood services.

3.

Our Educators receive regular training in gold-standard techniques for autism education as well as specialised skills in connecting with children.

4.

Our practices are embedded in evidence-based guidelines obtained from the research field.

Working Towards Meaningful Participation by Introducing:

Learning, thinking, problem-solving, and play

Natural and social communication, relationship skills, and intrinsic motivation

Physical development and sensory integration

Personal resilience, confidence, and self-esteem

Working towards strength in social and physical independence

Emotional-regulation

The ACE Programme utilises naturalistic interventions which involve creating teaching opportunities for learning during naturally occurring situations. Naturalistic interventions tend to be child-directed, based on the learner’s interests and focus on naturally reinforcing activities and skills. Our approach draws from high-quality evidence regarding best practice standards for early intervention.

The ACE Programme is set up to support children who seek extra sensory input and who experience sensory sensitivities in the environment. It is familiar and predictable, providing opportunities for unhurried investigation and reflection of intentional teaching moments. Children process information in their way, in their time and in their place.

Our transdisciplinary team which includes families, educators, and practitioners work together to set goals. These goals encourage the child to explore indoor and outdoor play, capacity-building for meaningful participation, be involved in one-on-one therapy-based experiences, and engage in extra-curricular experiences that meet their individual needs.