Ausome, IPB University Student Programme Strengthens Life Skills and Social Awareness of Autistic Children in Bogor City
Currently, autistic children in Indonesia, especially in Bogor City, still need special attention from various parties. For this reason, the IPB University Student Creativity Programme for Community Service (PKM-PM) team released a programme to strengthen life skills for children with autism at Yayasan Penyandang Disabilitas (YPD) Bogor City. The programme, named Ausome or Autism Awesome, is aimed at increasing the social-awareness of autistic children there.
“Basically, children with autism also have creative potential that can be explored. Of course, this potential can be realised if they receive the right treatment and opportunities to develop themselves. Despite having special needs, children with autism also have the right to education,” said Censa Amelia Febriyanti as the team leader.
The programme promoted by the IPB University PKM-PM team uses the Love-Mission method, consisting of five Ausome Mission, including Get to Know Ausome, Hear My Story, Ausome Activity Schedule, Rainbow Farming, My Adventure and Ausome Day: Spread Autism Love. IPB University students presented the programme using learning methods through a behaviouristic approach by adopting the Lovaas method and instilling the four pillars of character from the Indonesia Heritage Foundation (IHF).
“As the name implies, Ausome, we hope that children with autism will become extraordinary children. It is hoped that this programme will help build social skills, reduce undesirable behaviours and increase desirable behaviours in autistic children,” she explained.
Censa said, based on the results of the IPB University PKM-PM team’s interview with the Chairman of YPD Bogor City, most children with autism did not have discipline, independence and self-help skills. They have not been able to independently perform daily activities such as sleeping, bathing, wearing clothes, eating and drinking. In addition, personally, the problem of autistic children is that they cannot understand themselves. In fact, there are autistic children who do not know their own names.
“Autistic children in YPD Bogor City tend to focus on their favourite activities so that during the learning process, they do not care about the instructions from the teacher and have difficulty in working together. Limited learning tools and materials, learning materials that have not been well integrated and the limited number of teaching staff also cause the learning activities there to not be optimal,” said Censa.
The PKM PM Ausome team consists of Censa Amelia Febriyanti, Khopipah Assonda, Ganta Gaffrila, Kheisya Mutiara Idhan, Ryza Sativa and is accompanied by Dr Adisti Permatasari Putri Hartoyo as the supervisor. (IAAS/RUM)
