First Lady of Panama, Marta Linares de Martinelli explained sucessful model of Assistance and Education of The Ann Sullivan Center of Panama at the 6th Annual World Meeting of Autism in New York

Invited by principal activists of the Autism Speaks Organization based in USA, and having important world-wide leaders present, health care experts and autism awareness impulse givers, the First Lady of the Republic of Panama, Martha Linares de Martinelli expressed while sharing the successful model of assistance and Education applied in the Ann Sullivan Center of Panamá (CASPAN) provided for girls, boys and teenagers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

The presentation of Linares de Martinelli is given on occasion of the 6^th Annual World Meeting of Autism, celebrated each year on the framework of the United Nations General Assembly on the World Forum that gathers presidents and chief of states.

“The Ann Sullivan Center of Panamá (CASPAN) has already one year and four months of creation, and I feel happy and optimistic with its results. Ever since its first day of opening on the 31^st of May, it is changing the lives of families in Panama, especially those with little economic resources”, expressed Panama’s First Lady.

Through Executive Decree, Panamá celebrates April as ”Autism Month”, dedicating special attention to creating awareness and consciousness about the consequences that brings autism to whom they suffer it, but mostly we emphasize in expressing solidarity with these girls, boys and youngsters.

Also explained that the key of success in the actual process of learning and teaching is the result of applying the Natural Funcional Curriculum , method designed so students learn the necessary behaviors and skills to be able to work in the future, in regular working environments, so as to be independent in their daily lives.

To guarantee their quality, the CASPAN Staff is being trained and assessed by experts from the Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú (CASP), in the technical, educational, administrative and Management Areas as well. 

The Centro Ann Sullivan of Panamá, which began with recruiting 35 cases (the most severe ones), attends during the school period 2013 a total of 123 students. Also benefited from the CASPAN service attention, are minors with down syndrome.

“A great step we are making towards helping kids and youngsters with their condition of autism and severe cognitive deficiencies”, said the First Lady of Panama, “is the getting started of the Intensive School of Families, which will begin to operate the second trimester of the elective year 2013, in the provinces of Chiriquí, Herrera and Los Santos”.

The First Lady of the Republic of Panamá, Marta Linares de Martinelli, also mentioned “the technological advances that CASPAN is experiencing, and in that sense, worthwhile mentioning are the specially  putting into function of the Virtual Classroom, which allow that students maximize their positive social skills, of communication and team work. To be able to accomplish this, we are counting with adapted technology, interactive panel, a special adapted helpful table with technology for the sensory-perceptive stimulation of our students, among others”.

“Other positive aspects and that were very highly valued by the people present in this 6^th  World annual Meeting of Autism, was to know that CASPAN counts with the support of a Foundation, which makes it (CASPAN) sustainable through time. Same is the making of the first survey of autism in Panama, which will allow a better guidance of decision making policies and better the service rendering to this population in need”.

It is important to indicate that the First Lady of the Republic of Panama, Marta Linares de Martinelli, opened the Centro Ann Sullivan of Panama (CASPAN), which is the first center created in this Central American country for the education of people with different abilities, and which is based on the successful model of its similar in Perú, Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú,( CASP), who are working already 34 years with more than 450 people with different abilities and training their families, to help them, as a team, to achieve the CASP Goal: To make them Independent, Productive, and Happy.

Source: Web Home Page of the National Government of the Republic of Panama  September 26^th, 2013

Opening Ceremony of CASACOR PERÚ 2013 to benefit students of the Ann Sullivan Center of Perú

More than 600 people attended the traditional Opening  Cocktail of CASACOR PERÚ 2013, the most renowned Architecture, Decoration, & Landscaping Design exhibition of the country, which is held annually to benefit the Ann Sullivan Center of Perú (CASP).

The event brought together architects, interior designers, decorators, plastic artists and lovers of arts, good taste and decoration.

Dr. Liliana Mayo, Founder and General Director of CASP; Miki Miro Quezada de Romaña and Mrs. Ximena Salmòn, former and current presidents of the Supporting Committee, respectively; and students from the center were in charge of the welcome for attendees.

The Ann Sullivan store, which was completely decorated by the Spanish interior architect Monserrat Gonzales, opened its doors again at CASACOR 2013 with the purpose of raising funds to help our institution by selling last generation utilitarian items for home decoration, in the same way they have been doing for 16 years.

The Ann Sullivan Center of Perú (CASP) expresses its gratitude to all people who were present at the event and contributed toward the objective of offering a quality education to our students with different abilities and helping them to become independent, productive and happy people.

The 18th edition of CASACOR takes place in the Palacete de Souza, a neoclassical mansion located in Cajamarca Street, Barranco district, where 68 designers and architects showcase their creative talents until November 3.

CASACOR PERÚ 2013 opens its doors to benifit the Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú (CASP)

On Monday 23rd September CASACOR, the most renowned Architecture, Decoration, & Landscaping Design exhibition of our country, will host its traditional Opening Cocktail to benefit the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP in Spanish) and contribute to the education of their students from low-income families, so that they can learn to fend for themselves and become independent, productive and happy.

Those who attend the opening ceremony of the 18th Edition of CASACOR will be the first to visit the Neoclassical style Palacete Sousa, built in 1917, and one of the most representative architectural jewels in Barranco, district where it is located.  

Renowned ophthalmologist for people with different abilities at CASP

The Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP) is organizing "Free Visual Diagnostic Clinics" with the help of Dr. Linda Lawrence, an internationally renowned ophthalmologist from the University of Kansas who has specialized in ophthalmic assessment of people with different abilities, either verbal or nonverbal children.  Dr. Lawrence emphasizes the importance of vision in learning.  She states that between 50% and 75% of people with different abilities’ population have vision problems.  And since 80% of learning occurs through vision, the visual evaluation is important.

This campaign, which occurred for the first time in 2008, takes place in different cities of Peru, thanks to the active participation of our Distance Education Facilitators from each city and from CASP.

 "Free Visual Diagnostic Clinics" are currently taking place from September 9 through 13 at CASP, where infants, small children, young people and adults with different abilities are being evaluated by Dr. Lawrence, who also follows up with children who have been in earlier campaigns.  

Dr. Lawrence, who has received many international awards for her humanitarian work in several countries throughout the world, uses simple language and diverse methods to identify when a person with different abilities has vision difficulties, thereby avoiding problems in the learning process.

CASP participated in the II International Forum of Inclusion in Brazil

 

August 28 through 30 marked the II International Forum of Inclusion: Discussing Inclusive for People with Autism and Multiple Disabilities. Health professionals, educators, and family and friends of people with different abilities participated in the forum organized by Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) and the Ann Sullivan Institute of Brazil, which has followed the philosophy and model of CASP since 2000.

 

CASP was one of the main guests invited to explain its practices and methodology. Dr. Liliana Mayo, Director and Founder of CASP, and Elizabeth Tijero, the Coordinator of the Program of Inclusion, represented CASP, presenting the topics “How people with autism and multiple disabilities economically support their families in Peru” and “Inclusion to Life: Experiences of the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru,” respectively. Also, Dr. Judith LeBlanc, Ph.D., Head Consultant of CASP, gave an excellent presentation titled “Why the education of people with autism and multiple disabilities is successful through a Functional Natural Curriculum.”

 

The main objective of this event, which occurred in the main auditorium of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), was to train the participants to be able to give more qualified and effective attention to people with autism and multiple disabilities in Brazil, a sector that represents 2 percent of the Brazilian population (around 4 million people). Therefore, inclusion becomes an important topic of today. This forum also served as an environment for sharing and discussing different points of view among inclusive practices in Brazil with people with different abilities and their families.