All communications should be addressed Ref: Meeting at Medical School

to Ministry of Primary and Secondary

"THE PROVINCIAL EDUCATION Education
DIRECTOR" Harare Province
P. O. Box CY 1343
Telephone : 792671-8 Causeway
Zimbabwe
e-mail: moeschre@yahoo.com

18 July 2016

WORKSHOP REPORT: INTERACTING WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN: PARIRENYATWA

MEDICAL SCHOOL: PSYCHIATRIC DEPARTMENT: HARARE METROPOLITAN
PROVINCE

Date of Attendance : 12 July 2016

Venue : Parirenyatwa Medical School, Psychiatric Department

Participants
Ms M. Munhuwa
Mrs. E. Mutandwa
Ms C. Shumba
Mr S. Shumbayarerwa
Preamble
Four psychologists attended a workshop on autism which was held at Parirenyatwa Medical School,
Psychiatric Department. About thirty participants attended the meeting. Dr. Oleen Morgan facilitated
at the workshop. The major aim of this workshop was to share top tips on interacting and
communicating with autistics children.

Subject: Engaging children with Autism through play to develop communication and language

Workshop Proceedings
The fishing Game
The facilitator first presented a video of a three and half year old boy that had autism and could not
communicate. She used play therapy where the examiner engaged the child in the fishing game. The
examiner first guided the child to catch a fish in a pond using a rod. The examiner would reward
whenever he caught a fish and used encouraging comments like ‘more fish’, that encouraged the child
to catch more fish. The child later on would initiate the catching of the fish. The issue of modelling
played a part resulting in the child engaging in meaningful play.
Picture Game
The aim of the game was to establish the child’s intent hence modify behaviour, help with decision
making and bring the aspect of discipline. The child would exchange a picture for a wanted item. For
example the child would exchange a picture of a sweet for a real sweet. At first the examiner guided
the child in the picture sweet exchange until she could initiate the process on her own. If the child
engaged in the desired behaviour, it was reinforced through rewarding with a sweet. In some
instances when the child would not do the desired behaviour of exchanging the picture for a real
thing, the examiner would stop the child from getting the reward, which is punishing the child for an
unwanted behaviour.

Comprehension Building
The aim of this aspect was to build language from simple to complex using things that emanated from
home environment like spoon, cup, plate to things outside the home e.g, animals, mode of transport
Stages of the game
1. Begin with objects that the child uses daily at home
2. Proceed to complex objects outside the home
3. Give instructions like “give me a cup” and not “what is this”
4. Proceed to “give me the small spoon”
5. Proceed to “take the fork and the spoon and put in a box”
6. Proceed to “show me the one that flies”
7. Proceed to “make the tiger jump” … the child should be able to do action words that are the
source of language building
NB: Do not give cues and increase items they have to look at hence following instructions indicates a
level of child’s comprehension

Principles that helps with interacting

 Engage the child to their level
 Keep language simple
 Repeat language
 Make the environment-
-3D-(Three Dimensional) and it has to be real
- make use of different sensories such as feeling, hearing etc.
- it has to be age appropriate
 Process
-It should shape, move and build the child
 Following child’s need
 -The interaction should be child centred
-They should be less instructions from an adult, it has to be child leading
-It has to be more of let us do it and not ‘no, don’t’
-The tone of the voice should be encouraging.
 Don’t be afraid
 The examiner should be more confident, patient and flexible to achieve the desired goal
 Promote eye contact
 Move from non-meaningful to a meaningful play.
 Interaction and Engagement
- Meaningful play – play that is not meaningful isn’t enough.
Conclusion
The meeting ended with questions from those present.

Compiled by: Munhuwa M. Supervised by: Maisiri H.

Signature: ……………………………… Signature:………………………..
Intern Educational Psychologist Registered Educational Psychologist
Harare Metropolitan Province Head Office