Interconnections Worldwide

Working internationally to share information, help build knowledge and support teamwork around babies, children and young people who are disabled, marginalised or vulnerable

The home of Team Around the Child (TAC) and the Multiagency Keyworker

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Expanding Horizons for the Early Years: Looking Back to Transform the Future – conference in Toronto, Canada, April, 2015

imhp2From the organisers: It is important for practitioners of all disciplines to be aware of social, emotional and cognitive development through screening and assessment approaches and to be able to support parents and each other when problems arise.

Because of the significant amount of development occurring in these first few years, ALL professionals working with infants and families have the capacity to have a significant impact on a child's life trajectory and improve outcomes through prevention and early intervention.

This year's theme - Looking Back to Transform the Future - will allow us to explore social, biological and environmental determinants and the impact of risk on mental health outcomes for infants and young children, as well as integral topics for promoting mental health: understanding brain development, self-regulation, attachment, parent/ child attunement, observation, assessment, intervention and support for infants and families.

More information: http://www.cvent.com/events/expanding-horizons-for-the-early-years-br-looking-back-to-transform-the-future/event-summary-c04dadda74b5493d94f1134a78f36e4b.aspx

Key Worker Online Course in early childhood intervention

ecii-logoThis is a dynamic, in-depth online learning experience on the Key Worker/ family liaison part of the Early Childhood Intervention professional's role.

The course explores the theories and practices in five areas:


  • Emotional Support
  • Information and Advice
  • Identifying & Addressing Needs
  • Advocacy
  • Service Coordination

The activities of the course include reading, watching DVDs, participating in online discussions, quizzes, trying new things out in your practice and reflecting upon these experiences.

Who is it for? The course is suitable for Early Childhood Intervention professionals from Australia or overseas who may have a lot experience or very little.

More information: http://ecii.org.au/

Everyday Revolutions: Horizontalism and autonomy in Argentina – by Marina Sitrin - 2012

sitrin2From Amazon: In the wake of the global financial crisis, new forms of social organization have begun to take shape, bringing disparate groups of people together in order to resist corporate globalization and seek a more positive way forward. These movements are not based on hierarchy, but rely on participants looking to one another to solve their problems, rather than to those in power. In certain countries in the West, this has been demonstrated by the recent and remarkable rise of the Occupy movement.

But in Argentina, such radical transformations have been taking place for some time, and Everyday Revolutions tells the story of how regular people changed their country and inspired others across the world.

Marina Sitrin shows how an economic crisis spurred a people's rebellion. How factory workers and medical clinic technicians are running their workplaces themselves, without bosses. How people have taken over land to build homes, raise livestock, grow crops and build schools, creating their own art and media in the process. In doing so, these new movements have created new forms of social organization - such as 'horizontalism' and 'autogestion' - that serve as instructive examples for activists the world over.

Dynamic and groundbreaking, Everyday Revolutions shows how the experiences of the autonomous movements in Argentina can help answer the question of how to turn a rupture into a revolution.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Everyday-Revolutions-Horizontalism-Autonomy-Argentina/dp/1780320493/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420196028&sr=1-3&keywords=everyday+revolutions

National Autistic Society's Professional Conference in Harrogate, UK - March 2015

Carol Povey writes: I'm delighted to invite you to this year's Professional Conference run by The National Autistic Society. We have been extremely saddened this year by the loss of Dr Lorna Wing, one of the founders of the NAS. Dr Wing developed the concept of autism as a spectrum condition in the 1970s, and later coined the term Asperger syndrome. Her work revolutionised the way autism was regarded, and her influence was felt across the globe.

This year's conference is dedicated to her memory and to her pioneering legacy of innovative and forward-thinking practice. That is why the theme for the conference this year is 'Innovative approaches to support and intervention'.

Our experts on the Editorial Board have worked hard to develop yet another outstanding programme, drawing together examples of best practice across the different sectors. 

Keynote sessions given by top international speakers, including Professors Chris and Uta Frith and Gina Davies, will present an overview of the changing autism environment. Plus, our series of expert seminars will provide you with practical strategies to implement with your colleagues.

Seminar topics at this year's conference include:

  • using technology in the classroom
  • implementing the SEN reforms
  • sensory integration - evidence and good practice
  • preventing cybercrime
  • oral health care
  • ASD and attachment problems.

Personal perspectives will be shared by world-famous speaker Jennifer O'Toole, creator of Asperkids LLC, and journalist and author Steve Silberman.

I am also excited that we'll be hosting our Autism Professionals Awards again this year. Read more about the awards and how to nominate a colleague, or your own team - http://www.autism.org.uk/News-and-events/NAS-conferences/Upcoming-conferences/Professionals-Conference-2015/Autism%20Professionals%20Awards.aspx

I hope that by providing this forum to share the creative and innovative work being done across the UK and worldwide, we can work together to improve delivery of services and ensure that people with autism get to live the life they choose.

Carol Povey
Director of the Centre for Autism at The National Autistic Society and Chair of the Professional Conference Editorial Board

Date: 3-4 March 2015
Location: Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate,
North Yorkshire, UK

More information here. http://www.autism.org.uk/news-and-events/nas-conferences/upcoming-conferences/professionals-conference-2015.aspx

Register here. http://www.autism.org.uk/news-and-events/nas-conferences/upcoming-conferences/professionals-conference-2015/register-now.aspx

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