MYG 35th Anniversary

Looks like everyone is enjoying last Sat's concert... something that was created out of nothing... a journey that have everything effort, sweat, laughter, tear, stress, anxiety... Miracle does happen!

So what does MYG 35th anniversary mean do you? I heard some volunteers talking about it and I am surprise by some of the comments.

35th Anniversary - Internal Concert !

Dear all,

A big Thank You to all who has made the 1st concert a successful one !

The months of sweat and hard work .. from designing and painting the puzzle, cherographing, teaching and guiding the trainees, purchasing of accessories and clothes, tea break during rehearsals, coordination till the actual performance .... You guys were the BEST !!!!

Our trainees were on the stage doing the YMCA and I am sure all of you are SO PROUD of them !!!! Can't wait to see the video of the 17th concert ~~~

Our last and grand finale is the concert on the 8th Dec !

I am sure it will be another fantastic one ...

Thank you BKTG volunteers ! =)

---Fan Han ----

Remember

You know it's not always what the trainees do for me (how they make me feel, the potential I see in them) that keeps me here, but also what I see in my fellow volunteers that makes me want to be part of all this.

Like the 'go-all-out' attitude towards trainees, assuring me that all the internal struggles I put up with each week (while fighting for time to complete personal tasks) are worth the effort. Like the displays of extraordinary patience and other outstanding qualities shining through every unassuming appearance, causing me much pain and embarrassment as my own conduct pales in comparison.

Every person I have come to know through this volunteering platform is a gem in every sense of the word. The moment I look at one, I cannot help but hold my gaze. Even when several of them are gathered together, each is still so dazzling one simply cannot deny the individual contributions that result in this collective brilliance.

And I remember. How the unrefined stone that was I, gradually obtained some luminance of my own, when different gems rubbed off their magnificence on me. So grateful shall I always be. For the constant inspiration, for the unceasing encouragement. If occasionally I seem to have forgotten and gone away, know that I see the things you have done for everyone, which therefore includes me.

For contributing in your own special way, my world has become such a meaningful place.

Thank you.

Huizhen

Ways to address challenging behaviours and emotions

I attended the talk by MINDS "Ways to address challenging behaviours and emotions" last Tue. Just want to share with you...

First, we must know what is the purpose of the behaviour? Almost all behaviours have a purpose.
1. Attention
2. Defiant
3. Angry
4. Tired
5. Long day
6. Health reason (Physical/Mental)

Some challenging behaviours/emotions
1. Aggression
2. Self-injury
3. Definace
4. Hyperactivity
5. Anxiety
6. Depression
7. Sleep disturbances
8. Stereotypic behaviours

Strategies were discussed to handle such behaivours/emotions.
1. Using diversion to another activity
2. Teach to communicate what they want
3. Ground rules
4. Clear, calm instruction
5. Directed discussion
6. Ignoring
7. Logical consequences
8. Over-correction
9. Cool-off (or Time out)

Some discussion were done on the strategies!

1. Using diversion to another activity
- Preventive
- when you observe that your traniee may start to show some challenging behaviour (e.g. looking sad, grumpy, twitching fingers, crying softly, refusing to eat, etc)
- Get attention
- Redirect to another activity then praise

I remember such technique was used on Weizhi. Once he started to show sign of frustration, he was brought to listen to his favorite CD to calm him down. Only after that could we get him do another task. You must be able to identify the signs of your trainee and think what activity you will want him to be re-direct to.

2. Yan Hong shared on her experience on "teach to communicate what they want". She has a student who will yell/talk loudly when she is upset. What Yan Hong did was she will talk to her in a gentle voice and keep repeating to her student to speak gently (emphasising gently throughout the course of the communication) and it worked.

3. Some "ground rules" could be set so that your trainee established a common understanding with you what could not be done in certain settings. E.g. Remember we tell Weizhi not to jump inside enclosed areas (classroom) and he is able to do so in open areas? Other ground rules could include talk nicely, no-shouting, walking no running.

4. On "clear, calm instructions", when a behvaiour is inappropriate, you give a clear instruction about what to stop doing, and what to start doing. E.g. "Rina, stop crying. Please get ready to go to the centre."

5. In "directed discussion", it is used for minor behaviour and when your trainee is likely to practice "good" behaviour when reminded. E.g. "That is not where your shoes should be put - where should they go?"

6. Ignoring is usually applied on minor behaviours that are meant for attention, e.g. whining, soft crying, shouting briefly. Initially, when you start using ignoring, the problem may become worse, before getting better. You will only pay attention when the person has stopped the behaviour and praise. E.g. "It is good that you have stopped crying. Now please take your bath"

Take for the case of someone who is attention seeking. If we scold him when he does wrong and hardly praises him (said something to him) when he does right, how will he feel? Will he be "encourage" to do wrong since that's the time he will get your attention? Always remember to praise to encourage good behaviour. Don't be stingy with your praise!

That's about it... think about it :)

-choon seng

Bizlink talk... not really

I attended Bizlink talk last Sat to understand more on how Bizlink helps people in the diabled community looks for jobs in open/sheltered employment. Well I am not sharing on this... instead it is on something that I encountered during the talk.

One of the caregiver was venting her frustration on her experience with Bizlink. Her son went to Bizlink for vocational assessment in 2005 however he did not make it through to be selected for employment. She was more upset with Bizlink rejection letter to her, as there was no alternatives/references given to her, than her son failing to go pass the assessment. Her whole world collapsed then and she felt helpless. She is not expecting her son to get a job to support the family rather it was more of an avenue to let son integrate into the society... in fact she was even prepared to give her son more allowance in order to make it substainable for him to work.

As she relates the incident, I could see and sense her disappointment & frustration even till this moment. Fortunately, she is very persistent in seeking employment for her son (now at KFC) and her effort finally paid off. I am glad to hear that. It is heart warming to see the love this mother showed for her son but more importantly, her never say die, never give up attitude is something for us to learn.

I relate it to another incident that happened to Boon Ling early this year. He was caught throwing things off his HDB flat as most of you recall. I still remembered clearly the relief showed by his mother when this incident is finally closed. If not for Mr Goh -> MINDS -> Boon Ling's TDC intervention, she would be totally lost then.

What I am trying to say, support (either internal within the family or external from organisation/volunteers like you) to caregivers are very important because it does continue to give them the extra hope & belief despite the challenges they have experienced with their children for so many years. Sometimes, just some words of encouragement or a pat of the shoulder could easily give them the extra courage to move on in their lives... this I have just experienced it.

-choon seng


PS: Anyway, we have feedback to Bizlink to be more careful in their rejection letter to people who failed to make it through their vocational assessment... so that in the moment of disappoint of not getting pass the assessment, the families will still retain some hope with the society :)

Hitting head... Bitting hands

Sooner or later I will be doing that, just like Weizhi... frustrated! Cos I really don't know what is happening to Weizhi recently :(

Ever since there was some disruption to his DAC schedule, a couple of weeks back (things in DAC are back to norm soon after), Weizhi has been displaying some behaviour which I am unable to comprehend. It has been a nightmare at least for me when he went outing (this is happening in his DAC outings too). He has been wetting himself since the last 2 outings... in fact tracing back, it was found that whenever he went outing with us, he would wet himself on the transport back to project. This seem common. However, for the last outing, it got even worst though I tried my best bringing him to toilet as frequent as possible. He already wet himself twice in Sentosa. He then wet himself on the transport back to the project not once, not twice but thrice. It has been a nightmare for me bringing him for outing and it is also getting on my nerve as I keep reminding myself to remember to bring him to toilet.

Today on his way to project, he wet himself on the taxi and when he alight, he wet himself again!

There was alot of speculation did he do it deliberately because everytime when he wet himself, it was quite wet (alot). However, whenever he wet himself, he would be very frustrated, hit himself & want to change his wet clothing and I could see he is upset because his eyes were red. If it is not deliberate, it would mean incontinence and initially I suspect is it due to the behaviour management medication he was taking. However, after spoken to his mum, I found that he was only on medication for 2 days and have stopped taking it since then. Could it possible be incontinence out of sudden?

I wonder what could the doctor do if we bring him to the doctor for diagnosis, for incontinence treatment? Would the doctor understand him and know how to attend to people with special needs?

To make matter worse... I don't know why he is starting to hit his head and bit his hands so hard & so often nowadays. I can understand if he did it immediately after wetting himself or if the weather is hot. What I couldn't understand is even after bringing him to the playground to cool him down and the weather was good, he still did that to himself. Even when he is in the classroom listening to his favourite Westlife songs and with fan directly blowing on him, he still hit his head & bit his hands. I could see his eyes were red and yet couldn't do anything, I felt so useless.

Unlike Phang Wei who is usually frustrated by hot weather and who will calm down after cooling him, offering him food and letting him listen to his radio, Weizhi is different. It seem I need to put in more effort to understand him... maybe I am not up to the task!

Sigh.... I am not giving up but I don't know how to help him!

-choon seng

Volunteer Recruitment/Retention

Hi,

It has been quite a while since I posted something on this blog. Just want to share with you guys some thoughts that came across me recently, a valid concern I had.

During one of the recent class, Huizhen told me someone commented our programme was very well structured! I was quite happy to hear that (so is Huizhen when she was telling me) because that was something we have been trying to work on and improve, instead of being haphazard – which some of us felt.

The effort put in has paid off. It is also made possible by the presence of more regular, committed volunteers in the past few months that help to minimize disruption to the programme and to ensure continuous learning for our trainees. The programme is flexible enough to be executed during shortfall of volunteers. What's left is for us to document down the contingency plans, to allow volunteers to facilitate the session as and when needed.

With the above, does it mean that we are ready to expand our service to handle more trainees so that it will benefit more people with special needs?

Well, volunteer recruitment/retention is always a challenge for MYG and especially so for BK for many years. We do not have a continuous flow of new volunteers joining us, to cover the shortfall as well as to succeed the existing volunteers, who will move on to another stage of their life sooner or later. Our trainees profile seems not attractive enough to sustain the interests of new volunteers, to encourage them to continue offering their service to the project. But this is something we don't want to change because our trainees profile is the reason why BKTG exist. However, we can definitely put in place plans to deal with challenges in volunteer recruitment/retention. For example, we have plans (just need to execute them) to make arrangement with institutions/organizations to expose the project to more people and potentially recruit more new volunteers. I believe you have more ideas to share. So, do share your thoughts, k!

We have worked out something for our programme; it's time for us to work hand in hand to grow our volunteer pool. On good times with sufficient resources, we should put in place the proper infrastructure so that in times of crisis, things will just naturally fall in place and ride us through the tough times!

-choon seng

National Day Outing

Hey ppl!

Here's the highly anticipated (and procrastinated) results of our National Day Outing - Chek Jawa!

Chek Jawa is a swamp in Pulau Ubin, and it was *almost* reclaimed. Fortunately a group of nature lovers petitioned to have it conserved. Recently, a broadwalk is open to allow visitors clean feet while examining the flora and fauna. For more info, pls go to http://chekjawa.nus.edu.sg/

Details of the outing below:
Date: 9th Aug 07 (Thu)
Meeting Place: Tampines MRT
Meeting Time: 9am
Approx End Time: 2pm
Contact Person: Jianyun
Mode of transport: bus -> boat -> bicycle -> broadwalk (wow, 4 B's!)
To Bring: water, camera, hat, sunblock, insect repellant, spare clothes, sneakers / canvas shoes, snacks
Wet Weather plan: None (I'll send sms if it's cancelled) Watch movie?

SMS me if you are coming so I know who are the lazy pigs to wait for. Lastly, I must mention that the tides will be quite high (abt 2 m) and we may not see muddy flats. In any case, you can take it as a Pulau Ubin cycling trip. ;p

Hope to see ya,
Jianyun

Games to Help Improve Communication and Social Skills

Hi,

Read the following... thought some of the ideas shared was great! In general, having visual aids (improves understanding) will definitely help in communicating what we want & encourage/faciliate communication from the other party as well :D

-choon seng

=============================

Children with ADD/ADHD sometimes have a difficult time communicating with others. It may be because of low self-esteem or it could be that they have a hard time interpreting facial expressions other use. It may be that they are self conscious or they may have negative experiences in the past.

Whatever the reason, there are ways to help your child develop communication skills and have fun at the same time. Below are several games and activities that you can play together to help develop their ability to communicate and socialize with other children.


1. Telling Stories Cut out pictures from magazines and place them in a box. Take turns pulling out one picture and tell a story of what you think is happening in the picture. For older children, have the stories become more complicated. For younger children you can start with looking at the faces in the pictures and talking about what their facial expressions might tell you.

2. Play Feeling Charades Make up cards with as many different feelings as you can think of: Happy, Sad, Angry, Excited, Bored, Scared, Nervous, Unhappy, Tired, Pleased, Interested, Uninterested, etc. Each person takes a card and acts out the feeling without saying anything. This is great for those that may have a hard time reading facial expressions.

3. Play Action Charades Make up cards with as many action words as you can think of: Run, Jump, Walk, Hopped, Ran, Skipped, Hurried, Tiptoed, Stir, Stretched, Rolled, Hit, etc. Make other cards with sentences, such as: "The boy ____________ to his friend's house." Have each person take one card from each pile and put the sentence together to act it out. Have everyone else guess what they are doing.

4. Use puppets Sometimes children find it easier to talk if they are doing it through a puppet. Have a variety of puppets, some happy, some sad, some silly. Have your child use the appropriate puppet to tell you about their day.

5. Role Playing Make up cards with different activities. This can be geared toward whatever age or situation your child is currently going through. Cards can include: Playing with a friend, Sharing a toy, Arguing with a friend, Being the teacher, Being scared of something, Feeling left out, Going to a party, etc. Take turns playing the different people in the situation so that your child can get a feel for how all of the people may feel and look at situations from different points of view.

6. Finish the Story Use pictures from magazines and tell a short story about the picture. Stop the story so that your child can continue it and make their own ending. You can also use this with your child's books. Stop the story a few pages before it ends and ask them how they think it should end. Let them know there is no right or wrong way for it to end, each person might have a different ending.

7. Picture Box Use a shoe box and put pictures all around it on the outside of the box. Put a number on each picture and have cards inside the box with the numbers. Have your child choose a number from the box and then describe the picture. Have them give as many details as possible, who is in the picture, what are they doing, what else can you see, what shapes can they find in the picture, etc.

8. How Do You Feel? Make up cards for feelings, for younger children, draw pictures and have them hanging up somewhere your child can reach. Several times during the day have them use the cards to let you know how they are feeling.

9. Guess What Happened to Me!! Have a board where your child can keep memories of exciting things that have happened to them. For school age children, have them tell you one exciting or interesting thing that happened during the day and they can write the story or for younger ones, you can write the story. Keep the stories posted so they can go back over and see what has happened to them.

10. Conversation Ball If your child continuously interrupts during other people's conversations, use a conversation ball. During discussions, have the person that is talking hold onto a ball. No one else can speak. Once the first person is done, they hand the ball to the next person that wants to add to the conversation. Only the person holding the ball can speak.

Sharing photos from Taman Negara Trip

Hi guys,

just to share the photos which Jianyun and i had taken during our Taman Negara trip from 29th June to 3rd July. Yes, we did miss one BKTG session. Really thanks to you guys who helped out on the 30th June! Along the trip, BKTG was always one of the topic we had conversed =) Not to worry, no gossiping but serious discussion on BKTG and trainees! Haha..

Check it out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9699442@N02/sets/72157600832070248/detail/

Cheers,
June & Jianyun

Should we insist on eye contact with people who have autism spectrum disorders?

Just to share on an article titled as above from Indiana Resource Center for Autism. I felt it is applicable to all, not just for people with autism.

Enjoy the following extracts :)

-choon seng

===========================

Some people who have autism actively avoid eye contact and appear confused and anxious when it occurs. Some seemed to make eye contact relatively early but later reported they were actually looking at something that fascinated them (such as their reflection in one's eyeglasses). When cued “Look at me,” some make eye contact that recipients experience more as a staring gaze than as a communicative exchange. Some gradually learn to make eye contact and to read simple meanings that they have come to understand through experiences with what happens to them when a particular person’s eyes have specific look.


Many appear to become more adept at making eye contact as comfort and competencies in social situations increase. Some report that their ability to make eye contact depends on context. For example, when an individual is comfortable and feeling relatively competent, he may be able to tolerate such exchanges. When in confusingly complex, overloading and other anxiety prompting situations, the same individual may overtly avoid eye contact. Many seem to become more comfortable with eye contact, as well as better at reading some of the messages, over time. Few, it seems, report that eye contact ever becomes a really useful means for either receiving or sharing mutually understood messages. Few appear to feel confident concerning their abilities to read messages that may be conveyed via the eyes of various people in their lives.


In determining where we stand in the midst of ongoing controversy, it seems reasonable to consider what our purposes for expecting or "requiring" eye contact really are. Having defined our purposes, we need to ponder whether those purposes are best served by strategies that we employ.


Educators have been taught that it is essential to get individuals' attention before beginning instruction and to recapture attention to task when peoples' demeanors suggest that their attention is waning. To accomplish this task, teachers often first attempt to get attention by cuing "Look at me." They also often assume that they have individuals' attention when they "get eye contact" and that those who do not conform cannot be paying attention. Thus, when individuals who have autism seem to avoid looking into the eyes of teachers and others with whom they interact, the strategy that comes most naturally and is often pursued quite intently is the verbal cue "Look at me." If an individual who has an autism spectrum disorder fails to respond within what is viewed as a reasonable length of time, the cue may be repeated more forcefully. If the person still fails to look as directed, misinterpretations of why the person isn't "complying" may fuel futile power struggles that only frustrated everyone concerned and further thwart the abilities of individuals with autism to respond. Whether requesting eye contact is a wise approach to focusing attention depends both on the person who has autism and on circumstances surrounding the expectation.


Sometimes getting an individual to “make eye contact” becomes a high priority that falls under the rubric of “compliance and direction following” training. Individualized education programs often include objectives such as “will make eye contact when requested 80% of the time”. Some goals and objectives seem to be stated in context of assumptions that students with autism spectrum disorders have sufficient understanding of social conventions to make routine judgments about where, when, and with whom eye contact is appropriate and expected and/or that they are consistently able to spontaneously initiate and selectively maintain eye contact in social situations. We need to re-examine assumptions that undergird choices among instructional/interactive strategies, to define purposes that we hope to accomplish, and to candidly assess whether hoped-for outcomes are being met. While attempting to maximize adaptive behaviors on the part of individuals who have autism spectrum disorders, we too must adapt when observed responses clearly indicate that our purposes are not being achieved.


People who have autism spectrum disorders have difficulty with reading even the most overt social cues in context. They have extraordinary difficulty with reading more subtle body language, including messages often conveyed via the eyes. In addition to difficulties with attending to and interpreting information that is embedded in social context, some have great difficulty with attending to and coordinating two sources of sensory input at once. For example, astute teachers often observe that a student with autism “looks out of the window all the time, just doesn’t appear to be paying attention at all, but then can tell me everything I said.” It appears likely that the described student has difficulty with coordinating listening and looking behaviors and, perhaps, with receiving and processing information coming from multiple sensory channels. Insisting that he make eye contact might well render him unable to take in and store auditory input. Or… he may be able to coordinate looking and listening in some situations but not in others.


A 30-year-old “high functioning” man who was diagnosed with autism at age three and a half. He has described his difficulties with eye contact in words that are echoed by many individuals who have the disorder:

“Eye contact is something that I have always had trouble with. It does not come naturally to me and I do not appreciate having to give it all of the time, especially to people that I do not know. All of the stress that is put on doing it makes me more nervous, tense, and scared. Doing it also assumes that I can read the message in another person’s eyes. Don’t count on it! I can look at a person’s eyes and not be able to tell what they are saying to me…

… as a child, my eye contact was much worse than it is right now. People without autism could not understand why I would not look them in the eye… just because I am not making eye contact with you does not mean that I am not listening to you or paying attention to you. I can concentrate better not having to keep eye contact at the same time. I tell people, `You have a choice. Do you want a conversation or do you want eye contact? You will not get both unless I am comfortable with you and do not have to concentrate so much on the eye contact’.”


When developing strategies aimed at focusing and maintaining attention of the part of folks who have autism spectrum disorders, we need to consider idiosyncratic ways that individuals take in and process information. We need to recognize how conventional social expectations may, in fact, interfere with learning for some. Guiding individuals in focusing and engaging in tasks specifically related to the activity at hand is often more effective than trying to obtain attention through eye contact and then expecting that the person can quickly shift attention to a set of task-related stimuli. When, where, with whom, and whether to insist on eye contact with people who have autism spectrum disorders remains controversial. But… the need to define the purposes we wish to achieve through our instructions and expectations, and to assess (through individuals’ responses) whether those purposes are being served is clear.


Eye contact is a very social, almost intimate, type of interaction. When, whether and why to insist that individuals engage in that exchange are questions that, to answer wisely, require ongoing scrutiny, understanding, and flexibility on the part of the people who interact with folks who experience challenges common to autism spectrum disorders.

National Day Outing

Hey ppl!

It's about time to start planning for our next BK outing on National Day! As usual, I shall conduct a vote to decide where we'll go. Simply add your comments to this post, closing date is 14 Jul 2007. Feel free to suggest any alternatives ...

a) Sentosa - Beach volleyball, frisbee, cycling, blading, bumming
b) Pulau Ubin - cycling, walk around Chek Jawa
c) Marina South - kite flying, steamboat
d) East Coast Park - cycling, blading
e) Any other suggestions?

- Jianyun

2007 Q1 Budget Statement

Hey folks,

2007 Q1 budget statement has been submitted to MYC Centeral Committee. We do have a tiny surplus, yeah! If you would like to view the statement, email me.

Regards,
Jianyun
Treasurer
BKTG 07-08

MYG Chair Shares ....

Dear MYG volunteers,

After watching Transformers today, one quote from the movie has stuck with me: "No sacrifice, no victory". This quote resonated with me very strongly, as I reflect upon MYG's activities last month.

All the hard work put into the planning and preparations for ACID this year culminated with a very successful ACID 2007. Among many highlights, this year's committee experimented with a new initiative of grouping high support and low support needs trainees together. To me, that was an excellent idea, and in fact I thought that the outcome was great too. In any case, I always enjoyed attending ACID. For many of us, ACID might probably be a completely exhausting experience. Nonetheless, for me personally, that special touchy-feely sensation always runs through my body when I take a step back and appreciate how every drop of sweat (maybe even drop of tear in some cases?), every bit of hard work (and probably a lot of soft work too, developing the soft skills working together as a team?), every hour of sleepless nights (thinking about what can go wrong in ACID and trying to beat Murphy at his law game) just come together in a weekend of adrenaline rush for everyone involved. No sacrifice, no victory right?

Having the opportunity to be a part of Singapore's birthday celebrations preparation (though from quite a distance away) while gathering together as MYG to prepare something for MYG's birthday celebrations was a rather contemplative experience. As Singapore comes together to celebrate a very defining growth over the last 42 years, MYG is coming together after 35 years of existence in a period of redefining identity. As I ponder about this, I can't help but ask the perennial question: what does MYG mean to me? I reckon MYG means very different things to everyone of us but one thing remains clear, to me at least. Whatever MYG means to each of us, we all put in what our limits can allow and what our passions can drive. And I thought that the VA team did their best and put in their sacrifices, in spite of the many challenges, to put together a very eventful and enjoyable MYG Amazing Race. No sacrifice, no victory.

What sacrifice have I made for MYG today?

By the way, I thought Transformers was an excellent show =) No expectations, no disappointment, only satisfaction.

CheersDaniel

P.S. I started as a MYG volunteer with AMK and I have attended 3 ACIDs before this year's. Since coming back last year, I was helping out a bit at CW.

Neurofeedback

I attended the seminar on neurofeedback recently, thanks to MYG and conducted by Spectrum Learning Pte Ltd (www.spectrumlearning.biz)

Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback. So what then is biofeedback? It is biological signals which we don’t usually notice are measured and presented back so that one is consciously aware of them. With awareness, one can learn to control these biological signals. Control could be in the form of engaging the brain in customized activities.

Control = better regulation

The seminar focuses on EEG Biofeedback.

A search on the Internet helps to explain some of the terms.
- ElectroEncephaloGram (EEG) A diagnostic test which measures the electrical activity of the brain (brain waves) using highly sensitive recording equipment attached to the scalp by fine electrodes.

- EEG Biofeedback, also known as Neurotherapy and Brain Wave Therapy, is a non-invasive, sophisticated, computerized process for training in the self-regulation and normalization of brain waves after injury. It involves the use of monitoring devices that display information about the operation of a bodily function, for example, heart rate or blood pressure that is not normally consciously controlled.

So how does it benefit us? EEG biofeedback is able to help in
1. Modulation of levels of arousal regulation of sleep/wake cycle
2. Organisation of cognitive process
3. Normalisation of processing of sensory information
4. Inhibition of inappropriate motor responses
5. Management of moods and emotions
6. Organisation of memory

For autistic person, item 3 will definitely benefit them since they have a lot of “noise” in their sensory.

The assumptions underlying operant conditioning are that behavior
- produces consequences
- is a function of its consequences
- followed by positive consequences tends to be repeated
- followed by negative consequences tends to stop and how we behave in the future will depend on what those consequences are

If our actions have pleasant effects, then we will be more likely to repeat them in the future. If however, our actions have unpleasant effects, we are less likely to repeat them in the future.

All behaviors can be modified
- all complex behavior is learned, shaped, and subject to observable laws
- one can change behavior through rewards and punishment
- behavior is determined by the environment; i.e., determined by the consequences or anticipated consequences of that behavior
- some of what we learn is not the direct result of reinforcers but is rather the result of observing others and the consequences of their actions and modeling our behavior
- virtually all work behavior is operant i.e. it generates consequences in its environment and these consequences in part shape and control behavior

The reinforcers in neurofeedback
- When one produces the desirable brainwave profiles, he/she is rewarded and made to feel good.
- When one produces the undesirable brainwaves, there is no reward also.

Shaping involves
- breaking of complex tasks into basic steps
- arranging the basic steps in the proper sequence
- training each basic steps
- progressively train towards desired behavior

Modern day application
1. Attention deficit disorder
2. Depression and mood disorder
3. Substance abuse and addiction
4. Learning disorder
5. Chronic fatigue syndrome
6. Cerebral palsy
7. Hyperactivity disorder
8. Bipolar disorder
9. PMS
10. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
11. Anxiety & Post traumatic stress disorder
12. Myoclonic dystrophy
13. Epilepsy
14. Violence
15. Chronic pain
16. Head injury
17. Sleep disorders
18. Stroke
19. Autism
20. Dissociative disorder
21. Peak performance

With the maturity of neurofeedback and the advancement of technology, it is becoming more affordable and more accessible and that means more people will benefit from it.

-choon seng

Your attitude just might be my biggest barrier

Hi,

Just want to share the following abstracted from an article “Your attitude just might be my biggest barrier” from Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Happy reading…

-choon seng

Behaviors always happen for a reason. The reasons may or may not be obvious to us. They do not simply “just happen” but may be a function of a situation, a communication partner, the message that is being sent, or even a physiological need. Every human being uses behavior to communicate. Even though most of us can speak and have the ability to understand and solve problems, we often rely heavily on behaviors to express our feelings. Many of the individuals with autism spectrum disorders we support may have limited or no speech to access when they want to be left alone, or are having a rough time. Instead, they “act out” as a way of telling us.

Individuals who have autism spectrum disorders or other disabilities are faced with many challenges. One of the challenges they may face are attitudes and misconceptions regarding their behaviors. Often behaviors are looked at as something to be fixed or eliminated rather than a method for expressing feelings or desires.

To overcome this barrier, we need to

- Understand that behavior is communication and that communication is behavior. It is impossible for anyone to “not communicate”. Every human uses behavior to communicate at one time or another.

- Understand the concept of labels and how they are perceived. It is true that we use “labels” to name behaviors but unfortunately labels cause us to miss the message the behavior may be communicating. Often we may dismiss the message of the behavior by saying, “Oh, they’re just doing that for attention seeking.” In many instances, the term “attention seeking” has become a way of “devaluing the needs of people and not taking them seriously”. Perhaps it would be a better option to consider why attention is desired. Is the only time the individual receives any “meaningful” conversation and attention after they have done something which resembles “misbehavior?” Could the individual be hurt, frightened, or frustrated and wanting to tell someone? Could the individual be lonely and simply want to be noticed?

Young children in school love to receive attention and be noticed. Adults also like to receive attention. When you have called someone “just to talk,” has anyone ever told you “you need to call another time when you have something meaningful to say?” Perhaps “attention seeking” behaviors are not always wrong.

Behaviors, sometimes called “self-simulation behaviors,” may also be sensory in nature. Individuals may engage in these behaviors when they are bored, frustrated, stressed, or need to “chill out.” Most of us resort to such sensory-type behaviors however our behaviors are not obvious. We wiggle in our seats, tap our feet, chew on erasers, hum tunes, and bite our nails, to maintain attention or to calm ourselves when feeling anxious. Often when the individual with disabilities uses “self-stimulation,” we decide that we should extinguish the behavior because it is inappropriate, or make the individual stand out as very different. Perhaps we feel uncomfortable with behavior and how it might reflect on us.

By labeling people’s behavior we often feel that we have the right to act on how the behavior affects us rather than on what the person doing it might be trying to communicate. If that’s the case, maybe we should look more closely at those situations when individuals engage in sensory (self-stimulation) behaviors and instead of simply telling them to “stop” ask ourselves, “Why?” or “How can I help?” or “Does the person need help?”

We can make changes to our thinking.

Rather than discussing the behavior incident reports that everyone already knows, begin to focus on the person’s history and personality in order to get a different perspective for why some behaviors may be occurring. Share positive information as freely as “negative” information is shared. Include the individual whenever possible to get their feedback. Build on the strengths instead of creating a curriculum where each individual “majors in their deficits.” Create supportive communities for everyone by listening to the behaviors, avoiding labels, and asking, “Why” or “What can I do to help?”

Concentration!

That seems to be one of the hardest things to ask of our trainees. They tend to exhibit short span of concentration. Is it because people who are intellectually challenged have a lower concentration threshold and easily get restless? What causes them to lose concentration? Is it because they are not interested in the activities (boring/monotonous) that they are engaging in? Is it because they don't understand instruction (or we don’t understand them) and are not sure what is required of them in the activities? It can also be external factors such as hot/stuffy weather, non conducive environment, too noisy, too many movement/people?

How do we improve their concentration? Does doing jigsaw puzzle, beading, cross-stitch help or these tasks just make them more patient? Can one improve on concentration? Maybe by doing meditation, practicing taiji will help our trainees improve their concentration but how do we teach them? How do we get them understand, concentrate, learn and pick up meditation/taiji? That seem too challenging, we shall just focus on the tasks done during class. Maybe we can use apparatus to help them focus on their tasks... apparatus to narrow their views, to engage them in activities and don't let their eyes wander around. Maybe we can prepare our training aids to make the boring activities look more interesting? Say for example, if this trainee likes bright color and we are teaching him counting, we can use colourful cubes. Or if this trainee likes flower and we are teaching her time concept, we can improvise a clock with lots of flower on it. We can also improve on the external factors to help them concentrate better. For example, if the classroom is too hot or stuffy, get out of it and go to an open area with better airflow. Or if there are too many movements in the classroom, ask your trainee to do the task, back facing the crowd. What about playing some light, soothing music to enhance their concentration level?

Maybe we can communicate better using visual to help and give clear instructions to them so that they are not confused. Communication is a big topic and we will talk about it next time.

Meanwhile, ponder though the points discussed and share your insights =)

-choon seng

Malaysia Trip to Kluang

Pat has kindly organised our annual trip to Malaysia.

Date : 21 July (Saturday)
Time : Estimated 6.45am - 10pm
Venue: Tropical Village (Mini theme park, leisure corner and playground), Organic Park, Coffee Powder Farm and Mushroom Farm & Shopping !
Fees: Estimated about $50 per person (subjected to confirmation)

GLs, Please confirm the attendance for this outing for your trainees, caregivers and volunteers by 20 June. (Pat has mentioned this to some of the caregivers previously)

All other volunteers not directly allocated to volunteers, please email me if you are interested to participate in this outing by 20 June.

(itinery is in the email!)

-Fan Han

Amazing Race next Saturday - 23rd June 2007

Dear all,

23rd June 2007 (Saturday) will be the 1st VA outing of the year.

It will be an amazing race around Singapore.
The VA team has put in a lot of effort to put this event together so I do hope that all of you will join everyone in this amazing race ... It will be a good time to know other volunteers from other projects and make new friends.

Meeting place: space outside the Esplanade concert hall
Date: 23 June
Time: 2pm

Attractive prizes will be awaiting for you at the ending point.
Please do not drive as the ending point will not be at Esplanade.

GLs : Please collate attendance for your direct volunteers and send them to be ASAP before 19 June.

All other volunteers (regular or ad-hoc) please either drop me an email or sms me at 97623509. (Please do so before 19 June as well)

For those who cannot confirm the attendance, you are still welcome to join on the day itself. Just register then will do.

- Fan Han

thank you note

Dear all,
The eventful ACID 2007 is over ! (please be patient with my long long thank you list!)

I am sure all those who have attended are still recuperating from the late nights etc ....
As we have told many of you previously, ACID camp is the most tiring and eventful part of being a BKTG/MYG volunteer .... For many, this might really be a lot more tiring than expected and all the fits, wetting + soiling of beds, striping of pants etc ... may not be what was expected as well ... If there is any feedback or comments that you will like to express ... feel free to drop me an email k ?

I want to take this email to express my thanks to all who were at the camp taking care of the trainees with all their heart and soul and would also like to apologise for some things that I forgot to mention to those individuals during the camp:

Our new Volunteers:-
Alfred & Stanley (Thanks so much for bathing Jimmy on the 1st night and also helping out !), Affiq (Thanks for babysitting our big baby ! I am sure you love him as much as we do now !), Alvin (Thanks for being with Weizhi all the time together with Jianyun & Soo Hui while I disappear off to do other things !), Chan Leong, Chan Keet, Daryl, Desmond, Ernie, Jeslin, Jiayi, Reihorng, Robert, Sean, Stanley, Sze Ee, Thye Chuan, Xiaoting, Yue Qi & Violet (Great Job in getting Siew Phang engaged in the activities ! We saw another side of him at camp), Yuting and Zixiong [All the others, thank you for taking care of the trainees ... I must admit I still cannot put a name to many faces (sorry abt that) but we all saw the tremendous efforts put in to take care of all the trainees and I must truly say that it was very well done ! Please feel free to join us in our saturday classes whenever you guys are free or after your A Levels !]

Our Ad-Hoc Volunteers:-
Gim Heng (thanks for always thinking of us and buying supper for all of us !), Huimin (Thanks for looking after Cheng Kwong alone most of the time .. sorry to have not added other ppl to share your load), Libei & Liqiu (Thanks for coming down, sorry that I didn't manage to get your attendance in for the ACID camp), Robin, Isabelle, Serping, Soo Hui and Zhuting (A big big thank you to the both of you for bringing your friends down for ACID otherwise we will never have been able to bring all of them down this year ! Thanks for fulfiling my wish ! *muacks*), Susan & Wencheng (coming down at night to stay awake while the rest sleeps), Hwee Seng aka Dusty and Wee Sing aka Elder (coming down especially to bathe the trainees), Eng Eng

And of course, our dear regular volunteers:-
Andy, Benjamin, Chay Lan, Daniel & June (Thanks for helping to take care of the low support group while doing your observations ! Appreciate both of your help !), Hwei Hwei, Jianyun, Kah Mun, Kah Yee (Thanks for doing Night duty with Isabelle and sorry for waking the both of you while we were clearing the mats), Kelvin, Choon Seng & Pat (Thanks for helping me take care of so many things !) and Simin

(Please forgive me if I missed out anyone .... )

Big thank you to the PJC folks for the exercise mats, I am sure those who slept on it all slept very well !!!!

All the best to PJC canoeing team for your competition and all the best to all JC2 students for your A levels !!!!

Enough of thank you(s), I really hope everyone had fun during the camp despite the lack of sleep etc ...

I will send out separate emails regarding Q2 rooster, amazing race (1st VA outing) on 23 June and the major outing to Malaysia on 21 July !!!!!

Zhuting & Soo Hui: Please do me a big favour by forwarding this email to those who came .... I had some problems sending it to them the other time. Also, this is BKTG's blog address : http://bktg-myg.blogspot.com/ .... Please feel to drop us messages at the blog !!!

See you all in class on the 30th June !
(p/s: Jiat Chow is away in US for conference till 30 June and I will be away from 22 - 30 June)

~fanhan

ACID camp 2007

Just a kind reminder that ACID camp starts this Friday ....

Here are some details:

Event: ACID camp 2007
Venue: Pioneer JC
Date: 08 to 10 June
Meeting Time: 08 June, 7pm at Kembangan MRT. (Pls be punctual.)
Departure Time: 10 June, 1pm from Pioneer JC (ETA 1.40pm at Kembangan MRT)
Camp Fees: SGD $5 (Vols, pls pay to Jianyun on Fri. Soohui & Zhuting, pls collect and pass to us at PJC)

Zhuting to Collect: Yue Qi, Reihorng, Chan Keet, Robert, Yuting, Sean, Daryl, Zhuting, Robin
Soo Hui to Collect: Sze Ee, Violet, Zixiong, Jiayi, Alfred, Desmond, Xiao Ting, Alvin, Jeslin, Stanley, Thye Chuan, Chan Leong, Soo Hui, Huimin (Huiqi & Yiting are not coming)

Please check your emails for the programme list from the ACID committee, a map of PJC for those who are driving, to-bring list for the trainees (additional stuff to bring will be SLEEPING BAG) and the grouping for our trainees.

Also, John will not be able to fetch the trainees - Siew Phang, Ban Lee, Jee Ban and Sze Min on Friday. He will be picking the trainees up on Sunday 1.40pm at Kembangan MRT. For Siew Phang and Sze Min, please ask the parents to arrange to bring them down on Fri. We will arrange transport for Ban Lee and Jee Ban.

These are the people that we will be waiting for at the Kembangan MRT.
If your name is not here, please let me know else we will leave without you !

Fan Han
Andy
Ernie
Choon Seng
Jianyun
Affiq
Kah Mun
Patricia

Please note that our trainees are separated into 2 groups - Low support (High Functioning) & High support (Low Functioning). We will be paired with YCK trainees and CW (new project - Children's Wing, Children from MINDSville). For those who know Jane ... she will be in the same group as our trainees =)

p/s: The classroom do not have air-conditioning ...

See you all on Fri,
Fan Han

ACID or Acid?

Do you know Annual Camp for the Intellectually Disabled (ACID) is something MYG trainees look forward? This is THE event that is in the back of the mind of some trainees. When I informed Weizhi's mother of the coming camp, she gave a definite YES, he is coming for the camp. She related a recent case where Weizhi's younger brother was going for a trip/camp and his brother used Weizhi's bag to pack his camping stuff inside. When Weizhi saw the bag, he was very excited thinking he himself is going for camp. He opened up the bag, saw the things don’t belong to him, took it out and put his stuff in. Ha ha ha.... this happen for a few times until the family gave up :P

And do you know ACID is something some volunteers dread to attend? It means they have to spend 2 sleepless night and 2 tiring days to take care of our trainees. Why is it so tiring? I shall not say too much, experience it yourself bah. At the end of the camp, some of them actually require a break to "recuperate"... especially for some where age is catching up and naturally it will take longer for them to recover. It is an acid test for these volunteers to see their resilience, endurance and commitment... survival of the fittest.

Nonetheless, despite the challenges faced by volunteers during the camp, they will still turn up for the camp and never give up. They know that the trainees enjoy it; they know that the caregivers need the break and they know that they will learn a lot of their trainees during the camp and from the sharing of knowledge with fellow volunteers. They will want to bring every trainee to the camp even if the volunteers’ turnout may be low... at least not for this year :)

ACID exists for our trainees, for our volunteers. Enjoy the camp & enjoy every moment!

-choon seng

24th Anniversary...

It was our 3rd time visiting Jurong East Swimming Complex but it was the 1st time we are celebrating our anniversary there! The weather was kind to us, really suitable to have a dip in the water =) The trainees turnout were good, consider in the past going into the pool we were always low in attendance...

Every trainees really had fun.... sitting on the float going round the "canal", those more daring ones had a go on the slide and for some, just basically sitting in the wave pool, enjoying the wave, the jet spray and the sun it's good enough.

All of you who were present played a significant role in ensuring our trainees had fun. You ensured their safety were not compromised by following them closely and made sure they were not left alone. In fact, I think all of them could not swim... imagine how dangerous it would be to leave them alone, out of sight for just a split seconds in the pool! For some who don't know, we once lost Ban Lee (in a split seconds) for over an hour and he ended up in Tampines.

You ensured they did not feel out of place in the public and integrated them slowly with the rest. You made the public feel comfortable with our trainees and educated them these special people are just like anyone of us.

Last but not least, you gave the caregivers the assurance that they could leave their children in your care and their children would be well look after. You shown them that you looked into every details when you were with their children.

Keep it going my friends! Continue to show patience, love and be vigilant when you are with our trainees, especially in the public!

-choon seng

swimming cum lu-lianing

Hiya wonderful people

Lo and behold Saturday was a day to be remembered - ahem ahem .

I would like to take the opportunity to thank our event planner hwei hwei and all the hunky / goregalicious volunteers who made the event a total success . I am utterly convinced that the parents are really appreciative for all the time and effort we spend on them. Thank you so much to one and all that came on Saturday .

And with accordance with bk tradition ,food does play a very big part of our volunteering careers , dinner at the infamous red light district was great but desert – that was something of a entire different league

Durains

Its sweet luscious creamy flesh . the strong yet pungent aroma that lingers in your fingers .its velvet like texture giving the consumer A total sensory experience even before it touches the lip. As soon as its flesh comes in contact with the buds on the tongue a seismic feeling a little less than an orgasm engulfs all your mind body and soul...

ALL good thing start with LETTER 'd'

durains
DIOR
diamonds
daniel

I shall not mention any more about my insatiable craving for THE ALL AND MIGHTY D .somethingS JUST MAKE DANNY EUPHORIC ....

Toodles ppl
daniel

Happy Birthday BKTG !!!!

Happy Birthday BKTG !!!

7 May 1983 was the start of BKTG !

According to ancient records, BKTG was first formed in Oct 1982 with the aim of basically providing pre-school training to those people with intelluctual disability on the waiting list of the day school. However, a group of people with Intelluctual disability with behavioural problems who could not be admitted into MINDS' Schools was gradually included in the service ...

Then there was this point abt "Future Direction" .. It says ... "It is expected that in the near future, the project will serve mainly those clients with behavioural problems. As such, volunteers would have to exercise more conviction and initiative, especially in the planning stages, it is forseen that the main area of service would be in the training of basic self-care skills."

True enough .. we are in the future from 1986 and serving clients of those nature !!!

Treasures you will find as we dig through the store ...

-Fan Han

1-Day Kota Tinggi Firefly Trip

Dear all,

The firefly trip is up and ready to go! =) It'll be a trip with the volunteers and trainees from Terra Hope; tentative date is 31st May (Vesak Day). Should be fun and a great chance to meet NEW PEOPLE ;)

Or just go with me lah...pls...? :D


Have a wonderful week ahead!
Huizhen


*****************************************************************

Heys all,

TH will be orgainising a 1 Day trip to Kota Tinggi for a firefly cruise trip. Along the way, we will also be visiting fruit plantation and Ostrich farms. The trip also inclusive of a seafood lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.. wow! Great Lobang at a good price of S$69 only!! (Details and itenary as below)

We need at least 30 ppl to make up this trip..coz the organiser need min # of ppl..

We are inviting all projects to join us for this 1 day event..It should be great fun!!

If you all are planning to bring any trainees along..do let me know..I may be bringing some trainees along as well...:)

Do let me know by this week..Thanks! !

Cheerzzz
Ken

1 Day Pengarang, Fruit plantation, Ostrich Farm & Fireflies Tour

0730hrs Assemble at designated venue and proceed to Woodlands Customs for clearance
0900hrs Breakfast and shopping for maltose biscuit and local products
Proceed to Pengarang
Visit Ostrich farm
1300hrs Seafood lunch at Pengarang
Visit Fruit Farm
Proceed to Kota Tinggi
1830hrs Dinner at local restaurant at Kota Tinggi
1945hrs River Cruise - Kota Tinggi River for fireflies
2100hrs Proceed back to Singapore

Time is Estimated and subject to changes, sequence of itinerary subject to changes

Rate (with holiday Surcharge):
Adult: S$69 nett Child: S$50 nett (3-11years old)

Prices include (Min 30pax):
- Singapore registered 40 seater air-con coach
- Malaysian tour guide
- 1 Seafood Lunch and 1 Dinner
- $10,000 insurance coverage and $500 medical expenses
- *Ostrich Farm Entrance Fees
- Boat ride for fireflies.
- 1 free seat for organiser

*If don't want Ostrich Farm, replace with shopping at Jusco before proceeding to Pengarang.
There will be less $5 for the Ostrich Farm entrance fees ie Adult: S$64 nett Child: S$45 nett (3-11years old)

Prices Exclude : S$1 Driver tips and S$1 Guide tips per person (Compulsory)

A place like home...

After reading Huizhen's very chim post, I was inspired to post an entry (as a break from 孟浩然、李白、杜甫...) Haha... Yeahz... I'm currently mugging for my examinations.

I was first introduced to BKTG through Robyn (TPJC classmate). I will always remember how I got used to the place and everyone there in less than a month! I remember how Andy, Patricia and the rest made me feel welcomed into the big family. I've since felt comfortable there, even without Robyn as company.

I remember Andy asking me, "他这样你会怕吗？", when I saw Boon Peng throwing tantrums. I said "不会". As time goes by, I got to know the trainees better, their habits especially. By then you would probably realised how cute and lovable some trainees can be, even Boon Peng.

Later on, I think it was last year (time passes so fast that I lost track), I was roped in to help plan BKTG's Camp (actually, only the programmes). The process was enjoyable, working with Zhuting, Soohui, Robyn and Doreen. The camp would not have been successful if not for the "seniors" guiding us along! =D Through the camp, I learnt a lot of things that I could not have learnt in textbooks, or planning school events.

I've been absent from BKTG activities for quite some time now, coz I was put in charge of my school's biggest event, and had to juggle with my studies at the same time. I nearly died from the workload and stress, literally. Haha... But I'll be back in action after my exams end (4th May)!

Meanwhile... Remember to miss me every now and then!~ =P

I'LL BE BACK! =P

-Yi Wei-

Re: Next Outing - Labour Day

Hi all,

Due to the "overwhelming" response (8 votes so far), I shall close the poll and announce the results - Beach bumming at Sentosa!

In view of the Firefly outing by TH(?), I shall bring forward the Beach Bumming to Labour Day (1 May). Considering that Labour Day is a day to free us from the drudgery of school / work, we shall celebrate it with tequilla and hammocks by the beach. For those who prefer sweating it out under the sun, there's always frisbee and beach volleyball.

Date: 1 May 2007
Meeting Time: 8.30am
Meeting Place: Seah Im Hawker Center (near bus interchange)
Mode of transport: Sentosa Express, $3
Beach: Siloso http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/beaches/siloso_beach.html
Pls bring: sunscreen, swimsuit, bathing stuff, change of clothes, bikinis (optional)
Point of Contact: Jianyun

If you have any of the following, can u pls bring it?
- Frisbee (Jianyun)
- Beach volleyball
- Beach Mats / Sarong / Picnic Mats
- Hammock (anyone?)

Any guests (bf / gf / other MYG groups) are welcome and they are "strongly encouraged" to contribute to our beach bum fund - drinks, tidbits etc.

For those lazypigs among us (u know who u are), pls arrange your own morning calls. Alternatively, you may wish to meet us at Vivo for lunch around noon.

Jianyun

Growing to Learn

It's already the new financial year, and all anticipated changes have now been set well in motion. Perhaps from the lack of so much as a kind notice from slipping Time, my mind has yet to keep up with the exciting pace of new projects and responsibilities. But this night as I sit around awaiting the sleepy bug (which tarries with an attitude...), I am given the opportunity to reflect on all the good things that are in store; and I am still amazed at what has become possible for my life, if not for one simple (I would have used the word 'innocuous', but then I would be acting against the preferences of my co-VA :p) thought, on which I took action.

The meaning of volunteering for me has evolved rather drastically within such a short timespan. There are levels of insight that would forever have remained closed to me if I had never embarked on this new experience against my most skeptical notions. I think everyone who has heard my beginnings as a volunteer would know that I didn't always use to believe that causing one weak semblance of a change (which could be so easily erased like vapour in the wind) would make a difference. I wanted to change the world, and to think I didn't realize it were actually a result of many, many tiny steps put together...

I get caught up in what I take on, all the same. And this life has become so much the better for it :) Growing up is more difficult than one imagines. You first have to acknowledge the fact that you're immature, that you truly do not know enough. And then it's another difficult process of forcing yourself to view events beyond the veil of your emotions. Unreliable, shifting sensations that usually have no bearing on the external situation.

I am growing to understand, that in order to learn, you first have to mature to the stage whereby you are capable of learning. It's a humbling realization, that only the wise do the learning. Because of the courage involved, the effort needed, and the discomfort evoked. And in this way, among numerous others, our beloved trainees have taught me well. They're endearing like that (my curent in-phrase that absolutely has to appear on every piece of writing associated with me :D).

The next time you detect a bias that you hold on to, slow down a while. Are you truly repelled by the inadequacy of a circumstance, or have you failed to grasp the intricacies within? You don't have to subscribe to everything that logic compels against your fancies, but at least, one could strive to be cognizant of that decision :)

Huizhen

Next outing!

Hey ppl,

This is my first blog entry (in BK blog as well as in my life). Yes, there is a compelling reason why I'm here .. that is to plan for the next outing!

Firstly, thanks to Daniel for organising the fun and healthy tree top walk. It definitely justifies the goreng pisang I had after that. It's amazing how big the turnout was at *7.30am*.

For the next outing, it'll be on 31 May (Vesak Day) as I'm not free before that. Whoever is keen to take up the Labour Day slot can go ahead.

As a democratic organiser, the venue shall be decided via voting. Pls comment on this post by 30 Apr, indicating your preference. And the options are:

a) Cycling @ Pulau Ubin (whole day)
b) Beach bumming at Sentosa (morning) - beach volleyball, frisbee
c) Fly kite at Marina South (evening) and maybe steamboat?

Alright, the polls are now open ..

Jianyun

maiden walk

Hiya wonderful bktgians & invited guest

It is your friendly neighborhood va writing this entry . actually it more of a thank you note than a blog entry but like wadever! .i would like to take this opportunity to personally thank each and everyone who came for the HSBC tree top walk , it being a public holiday and all .it really means a lot to me.

EVERYTHING about today was great -

the company
the route
the bridge
the vegetarian food ( for me at least )
the movie ( sponsored by our in house chn teacher Jessica ) TMNT mind u
the deserts ( after losing all those calories I have to put them back on how else will I maintain my figure hehehehe)

I really enjoyed myself it being my maiden walk to the tree top walk. yipee i a tree top virgin no more.... The conversation we had very great all those who were invovled would know wad I mean .- educated crap with huichen around every conversation moves a notch higher

Thank you so much ken ( th chairmeh ) ,Daniel ( myg chair meh ) smart ppl are always know as daniels, jiaty chowi, fan hanny ,hwei hweiy , kel kel , jian smartypants , ka arty farty , hui psyco , ja-si-ca & fren , fiq-o and yi ting and of cos a special thanks go to SAMUEL DANIEL who kept his complainings to a minimal.

With load of love
Signing off /toodles
.: [ d@n!eL ] :.

MYG Inter-Project Challenge Trophy 2007 Overall Champion: BKTG !!!

Dearest BKTGians!

At last, after three years of all the ‘so-near-yet-so-fars’ and waiting…
We are finally the proud and rightful winner of MYG Challenge Trophy!! =)

Yesterday’s Inter-Project Captain’s Ball Competition saw us claiming 2nd spot for the competition and eventually got BKTG crowned as the overall champion to lift the Challenge Trophy for the 1st time since its inception four/five years ago J

(FYI RO has been the challenge trophy winner back-to-back for the past three years)

On top of that of seeing BKTG becoming the new power house in the MYG volunteer sports arena, this sweet victory also shows our dynamic team-spirit and cohesiveness as a team and family!

For Choon Seng and me, this is truly a timely and wonderful occasion for both of us to gloriously “retire” and step down as your bosses…

With this achievement, both of us want to thank and dedicate this milestone in BKTG’s history to all you hunks and babes who contributed to this great success:

* Wencheng, Jianyun, Kelvin, Kah Yee, Robin, Zhuting , June, Jinrui, Esther, Simin (& Simin’s sister) – thank you for all the sweat, the spectacular jumps, smart passes, brilliant interceptions & steady catch – thanks for playing your hearts out and taking all the knocks on the courts for us! J

* Patricia, Jiat Chow, Fan Han, Daniel, Huizhen, Wendy & Kah Mun – thank you for being there to support & cheer for our players – your presence matters! J

* Daniel, Huizhen & Kah Mun – and thank you for helping out the VA Team to be the match officials that contributed to the competition’s success J

* Patricia – thank you for being our Da Jie Da and “medic”, tending to Jianyun when she was being knocked down & stretched off.

* Jiat Chow – thank for being not just our goal-catcher, but also standing faithfully behind to support our goal-catchers to ensure their safety J

* Teck Choon, Siew Peng, Glen, Claudia, Huiping, Hwei Hwei, Serene, Shuzhen, Susan, Wee Choo , Jenny , Siok Cheng, Bing Yuan, Nian Jie, Isabelle, Lily, Eleanor, Fui Kien, Dusty & Wee Sing (Elder) – thank you for being there to play for us for the past fours years – you definitely have helped to play a big part in building up the great team that we have today! J

Lastly…

Though this thanksgiving is from both of us, I want to take this opportunity to personally thank CHOON SENG my “ex” co-chairperson for being a great fellow-leader, a diligent fellow-servant, a caring big brother, a patient & loyal friend to me…. Thanks, Seng! It has certainly been one of my greatest blessings serving and growing with you for the past three good years as we go through our ups and downs at BKTG…
You’re simply wonderful, bro! J

And as a closing, Choon Seng and I would like to urge all you hunks & babes – whether the seniors or the newbies, to continue to give all your support to BKTG by rendering your service faithfully to the new committee headed by Jiat Chow & Fan Han J

Let’s make it another huaty and fruitful year for BKTG together!!

Ooooooooh HUAT AH!!


Yours sincerely
Andy & Choon Seng
(Your bosses no more :P)

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Flag Day for Special Olympics Singapore

Hi people ...

We will be participating in the following event :

Event: Special Olympics Singapore Flag Day
Date: 05 May 2007
Time: 8.30am to 1.00pm

We will be bringing the following trainees along:
1. Ailing
2. Keng Yew
3. Siew Phang
4. Wei Xiong
5. Wu Lin
6. Timothy
7. Weizhi

Volunteers, please do let me know if you are interested in going for the flag day by 6 April 2007.
You can either email me or sms me.
Please provide me with your NRIC no. if you are going ! =)

-Fan Han

BKTG AGM & Annual Camp (16 to 18 Mar 2007)

BK camp has always been one that I enjoyed ...

With the previous night as the AGM, volunteers have the chance to gather and exchange thoughts ... There was food and games beside the AGM itself ... Dinner was cooked by Pat & Serene !! (Pat: Thanks for cooking the curry ! Yummy !) Games were ranging from Nintendo to Poker Cards to Mahjong !!! (Choon Seng: Thanks for bringing the Nintendo !)

This year ... we presented certificate of appreciation to the outgoing committee for their hard work over the past 1 year and also certificate of appointment to the incoming committee ... a big thank you to all the volunteers in the past 1 year !
Everyone was good on the friday night and slept early in 4 separate rooms ...
The next morning .. there were really a lot of "interesting" stories .... oops ! Can't share them with all of you here .... =)

There are also the healthier ones who woke up early for jogs & walk ... and the lazier ones like me ... who just sleep and sleep .. haha !

Programme for the camp was great ... the messy newspaper game was back with more MESS !!! There were simple station games (bowling, basketball etc ...) and the costume dress-up competition ....
I was glad to see that both the volunteers and trainees enjoy the programmes ...

The weather was good on the 2nd day to accommodate us at the swimming pool ! Volunteers played "Monkey", trainees played with the slide and this time round, Ban Lee enjoyed the slide very much ... Weizhi obviously enjoyed the pool as he could jump as much as he want !!! (Thanks to Timothy's swimming trunks .. if not ... )

Well ... at the end of swimming ... Daniel and the rest ganged up to start a new tradition of pouring coke on the incoming chairpersons .. Jiat Chow & I became literally "SWEET" !!! Oh my god !

Here, I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to the following people (pls do not faint at the long list but it was the teamwork tht made the camp successful):

• Camp committee, Soo Hui, Yi Ting, Hui Qi & Huimin .. thank you for organising the camp despite your exams on the following Monday ! I hope all of you did well for it ...
• Patricia for taking care of all our stomach !!!!
• Choon Seng for taking care of all the trainee and logistic issues.
• Wee Sing (Elder), Hwee Seng (Dusty) and all the other guys in BK for bathing our trainees .... =)
• JianYun, Gim Heng, Nian Jie & Daniel for staying up the whole night looking after our dear Boon Peng who finally went to sleep at 6am !
• Eng Eng for baking the nice nice cakes ! (YUM !)
• Andrea, my dear da jie for coming down ! =)
• And of coz ... all the volunteers who were present at the camp - Andy, Chay Lan, Little Xian Zheng, June, Jenny, Siok Cheng, Nian Jie, Choon Seng, Pat, Benjamin, Hwei Hwei, Wee Sing, Eng Eng, Andrea, Hwee Seng, Jian Yun, Gim Heng, Kah Mun, Kah Yee, Ser Peng, Jiat Chow, Wee Choo, Daniel, Kelvin & Simin

Anyone interested in organising the camp next year ??

- Fan Han

My new trainee...

He was onced considered difficult to handle (especially after what we witnessed during his time with EP) and there was extensive discussion, debate & assessment to decide whether to let him join us. Well that's history already...

During the camp, it was the first time I took him. He started making sound, jumping, rubbing his ears to create sensation, scratching his wound until it bleed, traits of a ASD person. But well, he understood ground rules once they were set!

No jumping indoor, he knew it although sometimes he would need reminder but who don't need reminder :) We could see him enjoying the jump... leaping so high reaching the sky! It is exhaustive jumping this way & by evening he was totally exhausted if not for some chocolate, he would have fallen flat. On ground rules, he was told him I would slap his hands when he was caught scratching. At the end of the camp, the frequency of him scratching reduced but when he did it, he would just put out his hands to be slapped :p That's what we call negative reinforcement.

We found that he like arcade very much. Twice, he sneaked into the arcade sitting in the Daytona machine. Maybe next time, we could have a competition.

Afterall, he is not that bad & I dare say he is improving. That's the challenge for me in the coming year! So what's yours?

-choon seng

PS: Fyi, throughout the camp, we are correcting his behavior of scratching his wound till it bleed. Also, do you know, he slept next to Phang Wei. Before he fell asleep, he was creating alot of noise & yet Phang Wei didn't react. Instead Phang Wei was laughing away... that's amazing.

Hottest Event !

BKTG Annual Camp is just around the corner !

Volunteers who are coming down for the event, please remember to bring swim wear & sleeping bag !!!!

For those who have not heard about it (very unlikely!), here goes:

Fri Night (16/03) - Volunteer's night cum AGM
Sat & Sun (17/03 & 18/03) - Annual Camp

Location : Aloha Loyang

For exact details ... do call us !!!!

=) Fan Han

CNY celebration 3 Mar 07

Hi there!


We definitely missed your presence for the event. Check out some of the photos : )

Siew Phang & Ban Lee arrived early to help decorate the place...

Thanks Daniel for being so spontanteous by leading the sing-a-long....

We done handicraft to decorate the place... its amazing to see Si Min so young handling a few trainees @ one go... Good work, Si Min!

The moment we have been waiting for.... Lo Hei

So don't miss our next major activity.... BK Camp on 17-18 Mar ; )

-choon seng

Big Brother(BB)/Da Ge(大哥) says....

Ha Ha Ha.... yes BK has a BB now!

When did it happen? ;) Every era/generation in BK history, a BB or Big Sister(BS)/Da Jie (大姐)or both is born. There are many undisputed BB/BS in the past and can you name them? So what do you think are the attributes/traits of a BB/BS? Age/Seniority/... And what's expected of him/her from the rest?

I believe having someone associated with such a "title" does show the family spirit in BK... keep it going little brothers & sisters :) Waiting for the next upcoming BB/BS (下一个接班人！）

PS: BB/BS will progress to "elderly" (长老）then... ha ha ha...

- Choon Seng

WY2006/2007 coming to a close

WY2006/2007 is coming to a close. It's also the time of the year where we BKTGians wind down and celebrate the hard work we've put in for the past year with our CNY celebration on 3rd Mar and BKTG camp on the 17th of Mar.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heart-felt appreciation to all volunteers, young and old, for making BKTG a HAPPENING place. A big salute to all our volunteer leaders, Andy, Choon Seng, Fan Han, Benjamin, Huizhen, Serene, Wee Choo & Patricia; thanks for your valuable leadership. Special thanks to all our senior volunteers, Hwei Hwei, Yeow Cheong, Fui Kien, Wee Sing, Siew Peng, Teck Choon & Claudia; thank you for staying the course. And thanks to Kah Yee and Isabelle for the time and effort in taking care of Group A trainees.

WY 2007/2008 will be a year of special significance. There will be new initiatives, a new committee and a new breed of young and attractive volunteer leaders like Jianyun, June, Kah Yee & Daniel. BKTG will be a stronger project and more importantly, BKTG will become a more HAPPENING place. Let us work together to open a new chapter for BKTG. Let's huat!

JC

P.S. Daniel, this should stop you from complaining that I didn't contribute any posts. And I should get bonus pts for starting this blog and for playing an active role in commenting to posts =P You still owe me a post for our Chinatown outing; make it a good one, yah =P

I would like to use this opportunity to say a Big Thank You to Choon Seng & Jian Yun !!!!

Though I started the ball rolling but I must admit that I never had the time to complete them !
The trainee files are almost all completed by the 2 of them !
We will try our best to complete all the files before the next FY !!!

Do take your time to read and go through the files !
There are really a lot of "treasures" inside them !

-Fan Han

speech therapy needed!!!

Yo guys,

do u know the trainee that can jump the highest? well.... isn't it too trivial? of course Weizhi ;-)

BUT do u know he can't jump when he is 10 yrs old? (he is born in 1988... so you do your sum how old is he now).... was it because of the activities he engagged in at Special school or during his early days with EP? i think both do play a part! so never underestimate what you can help our trainees...

now the challenge! how to maintain the speech capability of our trainees.... it has been mentioned repeatedly that alot of them are losing their speech :(

Just to name a few Keng Yew, Wulin, Boon Peng, Ban Lee...so if you do have any ideas/thoughts/programmes to help in this area.... just share with us K? you never know it might just meet our objectives.

-choon seng

PS: when you have time next time, do read through your trainee's file and you will unearth more things :)

August 2000....

.... that was the time Mr Ong join BK through Joseph :-)

I still remember taking care of Tua Tee (some of you might remember), for the benefit of the rest, he is down syndrome, late 30s, no verbal comm, understand hokkien, very small-build... i still remember he didn't response much to me and basically we just walk around the compound .... very much like Jee Ban.

there was little development for him and frankly, it can be quite disappointing for someone new to people with intellectual disability ... and discouraging as well ... Tua Tee ultimately quit BK because of violent conduct at home and he was brought to IMH ... i remember visiting him there twice... the condition there was bad... the only comfort i gain was during the visits, though he is expressionless... he did seem to understand what i am telling him... but now i completely lost touch of him.... just hope things are fine with him!

Sometimes i wonder how much impact we can have on our trainees... the growth may not seem significant over the years.... but it is the companionship/love from their closed ones that really have an effect on them ... as well as on ourselves...

looking at BL.. i can't help but wonder how much difference of a person he would be if he was to stay with his family instead of being placed in the nursing home? he definitely would have achieved as much as anyone in GrpA if he has the family support.... he was there for many many years (was put in the home because of violent conduct)....

Are they being understood? What triggered the violence for both of them?

... think it is the lack of understanding and the inability of expressing themselves.... if ppl are able to understand/empathise their needs (being more tolerance and patience -> more public education) and provide proper guidance/training (the existence of BK with your presence) to facilitate them to express themselves, i believe the violent behaviour would have greatly reduced ler...

-choon seng

Secret revealed..

Hi guys!

Yes, i am back from my trip. Gifts? Well, even though i was on a budget trip, i had saved and scrimped so that i could bring some little gifts for all of you...Touch? Better be :-) But i guess you guys might be disappointed though, its tada....CHEWING GUM from China. Everyone will be given a pack except trainess :( . There are spearmint, peppermint, orange and lemon flavours for you guys to choose. No advanced booking is accepted, its on "first come, first serve" basis. I apologised if any of you guys does not like chewing gum. Those are all i have :)

On the other hand, i am glad that BKTG has its own blog! Its so cool and i can't help wanting to write an entry when i knew about it just a while ago. I think it is a good idea for us to share our thoughts, get feedbacks and encouragements. This blog will definately bring us a step closer to each other.

A secret to share which i think i had shared it with Huizhen. Tada, here it goes: Initially, when i browsed through MINDS Youth Group website, i had taken an interest in EP and i remembered CLEARLY indicating my choice to volunteer with EP when i filled up the volunteer's application form. On the second day, Huizhen messaged me and suggested to meet me to introduce their project which i thought was EP (No project group name was mentioned). I met up with Huizhen and Andy. Tada..."Welcome to BKTG...Thank you for your interest. Want to join us for ACID camp?" Something like that..Wops, i thought they are from EP, on considering the time and effort that Huizhen and Andy had come to meet me and also on the account of the FREE Burger King meal, i had decided to keep my mouth shut about EP and politely answered and questioned about BKTG. Tada..i was officially a volunteer with BKTG since that day. So please pardon me if you caught me glancing at EP during BKTG session. Haha, just kidding. On a serious note, I have never regretted joining BKTG. Guess, it is all fated :)

See ya guys soon.

Cheers,
June :)

BKTG - A new era

It has been a pretty exciting past 1 year for BK with many new faces joining us... Chay Lan, June, Daniel, Huizhen, Bingyuan, Nianjie, Joanna, Felicia, Kah Yee, Gim Heng, Simin, Wendy, Jinrui, Jessica, Priscilla...

And for the new year, things are definitely looking positive with Jiat Chow, Fan Han leading BK. They do have a lot of plans for BK... so I hope all of you can come forward & lend them your support... I am optimistic that it will even be a better year for BK...


Ooooo....Huat ah...

-choon seng

Gone but not lost

How time flies ... i am gonna be done with school this May. YES!!! Graduating soon! Unless my screw comes loose one day and decide to overstay in campus. =P Meantime, looking for my next full-time job already ... keeping my fingers, toes & whatever crossable crossed. =P

L@@king forward to seeing you guys in May ... and Ah Ban, Baby Peng, Timothy and all our trainees! Missed the P.E. sessions in Towner, especially the basketball shootings! Still running these days to keep fit, though I hope to run away from life. Duh! *shakes the tot outta my head* Ok, maybe we should train hard for the next StandChart & do our recruiting simultaneously while sweating it out. Hahaha. Imagine a contingent (alright, a mini one lor) of BKTG runners ... WOW! Work hard, play hard, volunteer hard! :)

Leave a kopi-&-tea duty slot for me this end May, pppppllllllssssss...

Wee Choo