2001: A SMARTER Odyssey begins...

• A small dedicated group of parents worked hard to establish an organisation that would support them and their children on their life long journey with autism
• The journey began with uncertainty about what to do, where to go, and how to get there
• Despite all of those concerns, there was a sense of hope and determination..
• SMARTER Brunei was officially formed on the  9^th September 2001.
• Early activities included:
  • Meetings to establish the group, and its goals and objectives
  • The Drafting Of the Constitution
  • The Drafting of the Information Package
  • The first workshops
  • Stress Management
  • Visual Strategies

2002: Building on the foundations

• In 2002 SMARTER Brunei started an awareness campaign to increase knowledge in autism to the public.
• There were many workshops for parents
• The 1^st Brunei National Conference on Autism was held from April 19 to 21:
  • My child is Autistic - What next?
  • This gave a forum for sharing of ideas, hopes and dreams
• SMARTER Brunei organised a 24 hour marathon (Walking, Running and Cycling) from Kuala Belait to Bandar Seri Begawan to collect funds to send a representative from the society to attend the 1^st World Autism Congress in Melbourne, Australia on the 10^th to 14^th November 2002....
• In true SMARTER style, the Marathon raised more than $20,000.........
• .... enough to send 5 delegates to the World Congress!!

2003: 2^nd National Conference

• March  27 to 30 2003, the 2^nd Brunei National Conference on Autism:
  • Autistic individuals are not disabled, just different
• By the time the second conference was held in March 2003 the ASD centre was about to become a reality, well ahead of the planned schedule.......
• The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Centre was opened in a small loaned room in Jigsaw Primary School, Lambak  Berakas. It provided an Early Intervention Programme for children with Autism.

2003: First Staff

• The Early Intervention Programme was conducted by 5 professionals:
• 3 physical therapists,
• 1 occupational therapist
• 1 special education teacher/occupational therapist)

2003: Second Centre

• In October 2003, the ASD Centre in Kuala Belait District was opened.
• 2 of the therapists were assigned each day on a roster to handle the Early Intervention Programme in that centre

2004: Settling in to the centres

• The Sengkurong Centre
• The bungalow for this centre was contributed by Ministry of  Health
• The Kuala Belait Centre
• This bungalow was  given jointly by the  Shell Company and the Kuala Belait District Office

2004: 3^rd National Conference

• The 3^rd Brunei National Conference on Autism was held from March  1 to 3,  2004
  • Parents are not the problem, but the solution

2004: Continued growth

• The ASD Centres grew and more programmes were developed, including:
  • Sensory Integration
  • Music and Movement
  • Arts and Craft
  • All of the programmes focussed on 3 aspects of development:
    

    Social, emotion and Cognitive.

• SMARTER went Kayaking on  December 26^th 2004, the day the tsunami struck the region
• SMARTER paddlers were unaware of the drama unfolding in nearby countries as they paddled to Serasa

2005: Consolidation

• No National conference was held this year, so that the focus of public donation could stay on those in need following the Tsunami
• The two centres continued to provide quality services to meet the interest and needs of the children as well as their families.
• Some children joined regular classes in government or private schools.

2005: International links

• In May 2005, SMARTER was recognized by the special educational unit of UNESCO
• The President of SMARTER Brunei was invited as an NGO representative to attend a special education meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

2006: 4^th National Conference

• The 4^th Brunei National Conference on Autism was held from 8 to 10 September, 2006:

Parents and Family members as Co-therapists

2006:  Awareness and fundraising

• The President completed a 100 km Charity Walk, which raised both awareness and much needed funds

2007: Fundraising

• Monthly Carboot Sales
• 5 hills Challenge

2007: 5^th National Conference

• The 5^th Brunei National Conference on Autism, was held from September 7 to 9, 2007:
  • Strategies towards advocating an autism friendly society

2008: Institute of Medicine concert

• The Institute of Medicine, UBD arranged a concert which raised more than $70,000
• 2 new vans!!!

2008: Charity Shop

• The SMARTER Brunei Charity Shop opened in February 2008
• The shop provides:
  • income for  SMARTER
  • Vocational tasks for the students attending BACA
  • Opportunities to raise community awareness about  autism

2008: Autism Roadshow

• SMARTER Brunei organised an 'Autism Awareness Road Show' around Brunei throughout April, in conjunction with :
  • Child Development Centre of the Ministry of Health
  • Special Education Unit (UPK) of the Ministry of Education

2008: 7 Hills Challenge

• Malai went walking again!

2008: Expanding facilities, again

• In May 2008, major extensions provided an enlarged indoor sensory area at the Sengkurong Centre.
• The building renovation was completed as part of a community service project by the Royal Brunei  Armed Forces

2008: BACA

• The SMARTER Brunei Autism Centre for Adults (BACA) was established
• This centre will focus on:

1. Personal management
2. Home management
3. Leisure & spiritual management
4. Academic skills management
5. Vocational management
6. Employment management
7. Family life management

• Work for the SMARTER Charity shop

2008: Consultants appointed

• In June 2008, Debbie Smith and Yvette Cook made their first visit as consultants for SMARTER Brunei
• During their visit they observed in all classes, and worked with parents, staff and children
• They look forward to continuing to work closely with SMARTER in the future

The future?

• The past 7 years have seen amazing progress and development for SMARTER
• This has been possible because of ongoing collaboration and commitment
• We need to remember that:
  • Together We can Make a Difference