TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Kalle Ristikartano
The main aim of the seminar was to increase the knowhow of the participants on the different sensory issues young people in general and youth with autism in particular face. Different, too high or too low sensory input can significantly affect youth ability to participate and act in different situations and as such sensory issues need to be understood and addressed properly in the youth work. The seminar also aimed to give participants tools and ideas how to address sensory issues and support youth having trouble with too low or too high sensory input.
The seminar training team consisted of Slovenian and Finnish trainers. The 12 participants of the seminar came from Slovenia, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden having 2-4 participants from each country.
The seminar was based on Non-Formal-Education methods and Do-It-Yourself approach. The participants were guided to experience some sensory issues, map possible sensory challenges in different environments, they got theoretical input, met and cooperated with youth with autism having sensory issues and planned and created tools to help youth with sensory issues.
Through the training course the participants designed and created several different tools to help youth with sensory issues, like sensory tent, tactile table, visual mobiles etc. The planning and creation process was documented in several short videos with thoughts from participants and youth with autism.
The feedback from the participants and from the youth with autism cooperating with the participants was overall positive and all involved brought up how the seminar increased their knowhow on the sensory issues.
I worked as one of the three full-time trainers planning, implementing and evaluating the seminar programme.