New Life Learning News

Autism training program goes global
Dublin, Ireland, June 15th, 2003 : In a unique collaboration between leading clinicians and an e-learning company, parents from around the world are now accessing specialist programs that are proving highly successful in the treatment of autism and ASD disorders. "

At their facility in Florida, U.S.A., Dr. Jeff Bradstreet and his team of clinicians and researchers at the International Child Development and Research Centre (ICDRC), treat thousands of children from around the world. Over 80% of these children go on to successfully manage their autism bringing significant hope to them and their families. Rather than having parents travel to the U.S. with their child, Dr. Bradstreet’s aim is to make these programs accessible to parents and health professionals around the world, so that they don’t need to travel.

"We could see that combining practice with traditional training conferences, there would never have enough time to for us to bring our programs to parents, " says Dr. Bradstreet founder ICDRC, "we needed to find a way to reach people quickly and effectively, regardless of where they live."

Today parents from around the world are attending Dr. Jeff Bradstreet’s "Open Windows Essential Training" without ever leaving home. From NewLifeLearning.com parents can now see and hear each of the leading specialists from the ICDRC present their programs. Parents get to meet each other through closed discussion groups and receive handbooks and support materials.

"We first became aware of the needs of parents of children on the spectrum in March 2002, when we were asked by Kathy Sinnott, leading campaigner in the rights of persons with disabilities, to organise the first Open Windows Essential Training conference in Europe, for Dr. Bradstreet and his guest faculty, " says Ann Donnelly, New Life Learning’s Chief Executive.

Over 400 parents attended the weekend workshop in University College Dublin. For many it was the first time they were given new hope that autism is treatable.

"Despite the success of the conference many parents contacted us after the event, distraught that they would never be in a position to travel to the U.S. to hear this or other similar conferences. Many parents just could not leave their child for the weekend to attend", says Ann, "as parents ourselves, this concerned us. We were compelled to help."

Working with recognised specialists since then, New Life Learning have developed additional supports such as a parenting relationship program for parents of children with special needs, additional courses by Stephen Shore, such as Autism and Disclosure, Autism and College, Autism and Employment, with an outreach Applied Behavioural Analysis programme due for September 2003.

"This relationship with New Life Learning allows us to improve the lives of many more people than would ever have been physically possible, " says Dr. Bradstreet "This is a good partnership".

New Life Learning is the website name of Complementary Health ONLINE Limited a leading Irish owned e-learning company established in 2001 with the aim of providing direct access to specialist knowledge from around the world.

Working with leading specialists they create courses in Child Development, Women’s Health, Life Skills and Therapy Training. Partnering with government, private and public bodies they aim to make these programs accessible in the homes and communities of people around the world.

New Life Learning can be visited at www.NewLifeLearning.com