“星星雨”派教师赴美学习

 

       2008年10月4日-24日，“星星雨”派养护部吴良生老师和教学部李敬“老师到美国“心灵之春”学习，这是一个长期的教师交流的项目，自2005年6月至今，“星星雨”共派11名老师到美国参观学习，08年3月份美国“心灵之春”派2名教师到“星星雨”参观指导。

 

背景：

2005年春天，美国堪萨斯州惠科塔市障碍人士服务机构“心灵之春”（Heartspring in Wichita Kansas）邀请北京星星雨教育研究所所长田惠平前往美国参加“Shaklee”夏季特殊教育研讨会。“心灵之春”同时表示，如果“星星雨”有其他老师一同前往，他们可以提供在惠科塔访问和学习的机会以及相应的食宿等费用。为了争取到这一难得的机会，“星星雨”需要得到社会的资助以购买国际机票。在得到北京的一些热心人士的帮助承诺后，2005年7月，田惠萍女士和其他两位教师前往美国堪萨斯州惠科塔市进行了为期两周的交流访问。

在美国期间“星星雨”代表团参加了“Shaklee 夏季特殊教育研讨会”，与来自美国七个州的特殊教育工作者进行了积极而富有成效的交流；其间，“星星雨”代表团还参观了“心灵之春”的障碍者服务设施，并深入到班级观摩和参与教学活动。除此之外，“星星雨”代表团还参观访问了惠科塔地区的其他五所障碍人士服务机构。两位教师通过访问打开了眼界，第一次对障碍人士的社会服务体系有了具体而形象地了解；与美国ABA特教同行的直接交流更使“星星雨”的教师直接受益，对自己所从事的专业领域有了深刻的理解。 在美国期间，田惠平所长做了两场关于“星星雨”工作与自闭症人在中国的报告，给美国同业人员留下了深刻的印象，他们都表示非常敬佩“星星雨”在社会服务体系极不健全的条件下所做的一切，为“星星雨”所取得的成就而惊叹。

China, India send teachers to learn from Heartspring

Foreign relations might be a struggle for governments, but for teachers seeking training to enhance education for children with autism, there is only opportunity. Heartspring, in keeping with its vision to help children with special needs succeed around the world, is once again hosting two individuals from its sister school, Stars and Rain Education Institute for Autism in Beijing, China. Additionally two teachers from Heartspring's second sister school, the Open Door School, part of the Action for Autism program in New Delhi, India, will be traveling to Wichita to learn along side the Chinese educators. This is the fourth year in a row that Stars and Rain has sent staff members to Heartspring to learn from their 74 years of experience helping children with multiple disabilities.

Arriving Monday October 6, Heartspring's guests, Mr. Wu (Lion) Liangsheng and Ms Li (Lilly) Jing from China and Ms Preeti Siwach and Ms Jayati Ghosh from India, will observe a variety of therapies, educational activities and programs provided by Heartspring through outpatient services, special education classrooms and at the residential homes on campus. Each set of educators will present information on their programs to Heartspring staff. The visitors will be on the Heartspring campus until October 23.

In March 2008, Heartspring sent specialists to Beijing to train teachers at Stars and Rain. During that time CNN filmed Heartspring staff as part of a feature on autism in China that aired on World Autism Day, April 2. The Heartspring teacher exchange is part of an ongoing initiative through Heartspring World Reach.