Just flew home from China — my angel wings are tired!
by Patricia
I just returned from China, where I had the opportunity to spend time with and learn from the autism service and support community in Anshan. The opportunity to work internationally is a wonderful component of my job here at Easter Seals — I learn so much from working in other cultures.
Easter Seals collaborates with the Five Project. This organization and its team members have been promoting autism awareness and professional skill development in China since 1992. This trip included an intensive training week at the Anshan Angel Wings Autism Program. I wrote a post here about a two-week visit to this program back in January 2011 — it was great to see familiar faces and witness all the progress first hand.
Last Friday, just before I left, the Angel Wings Program hosted a community training for parents, community members and members of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation of Anshan. The training was a huge success — more than 200 people attended.
All too often international work consists of simply providing a lecture to a large group. Large group lectures are great at conveying information, but they do not translate to practice. The opportunity to spend extended time on-site is what provides true meaning for me — intensive on-site coaching and modeling for teachers with children provides true professional development and improved teaching practices. A plan is in the works to have me return to China in June — I can’t wait!