668

345

Manleys help launch international ABA pack at Stormont

Manleys saw 2 years of hard work finally come together at Stormont on Wednesday 15th September with the launch of the Simple Steps pack in four language variations.

Having won the European wide tender, Manleys partnered with the University of Ulster and Queens University, Northern Ireland; University de Oviedo, Spain; IFA Bremen and Munster University, Germany; Akershus University, Norway; the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA), UK and local charity PEAT, to produce the internationally acclaimed multimedia based pack.

John McCallister, MLA, Ulster Unionist Party on behalf of Dominic Bradley, MLA welcomed everyone to Stormont, including our international visitors, to showcase not only this great achievement but to give people an insight into the contents of the pack which includes over 2 hours of training footage.

The pack has been a culmination of working with the universities to provide practical tools to support parents who have children on the Autism Spectrum by understanding and using the science of ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis).

Having worked in this field for several years, Manleys were in the perfect position to guide the team on how to produce a complicated set of materials from a DVD including video training, animated tutorials, advice from professionals and stories from parents, to the ABA guide book, notebook, CDROM packed full of useful data collection sheets to the pen and stress item...all in 4 languages.

Supported by the Leonardo Da Vinci fund, 1000 copies will be rolled out in each partner country.  The original pack was developed by PEAT and Manleys looking at the use of multimedia as a teaching method for the masses, and caught the imagination of Europe who also have an acute shortage of suitably qualified professionals in behaviour analysis.  

That said, it is truly a testament to the home grown talent and vision coming directly from Northern Ireland that has been the catalyst behind this project and the leading force behind the use of ABA in the treatment of Autism.

Lester Manley commented,

"I have been working with ABA for some time now both in my own business and through this project.  It is very encouraging to see this project get the recognition it deserves and to see the innovation that can come out of Northern Ireland.  Manleys have been very proud to play a pivotal part in the development of this innovative and comprehensive product".

The University of Ulster where the lead partners in the project and Dr Mickey Keenan of the UU commented,

"This pack could not have been completed without the help, understanding and professionalism of Manleys.  Not only did they have to deal with the many challenges of developing physical pack, but the challenges of working with International partners across Europe".

It has been a privilege and a pleasure working with the team to produce this pack so thanks to all involved.

Pictured:  Dr Mickey Keenan, University of Ulster, Prof Lester Manley, Manleys and Dr Stephen Gallagher, University of Ulster the lead partners in the project at the launch of Simple Steps in Parliament Buildings, Stormont.