imagination club
Our primary school mentoring program ‘I CAN Imagination Club®’ is a program for students who are Autistic, or who have learning differences or experience social anxiety. The program can be used by a school to engage a broader range of primary students. ‘I CAN Imagination Clubs – for students with big imaginations’
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Albert Einstein
welcome
WHERE
Imagination Club® can be implemented in any school setting. Schools decide, in conversation with I CAN staff, on an appropriate space to run the program within the school (e.g classroom or library), or online.
HOW
Participants for the program are determined by each schools appointed teacher or supervisor. Programs run weekly or fortnightly for 45 mins to 75 minutes, across 16 (or less) sessions throughout the course of a school year.
WHO
Two I CAN Mentors (Network Leader and Mentor), facilitate each session, one of whom is on the Autism Spectrum. *All I CAN Staff hold current Working with Children’s Checks. Each session must be supervised by at least one VIT (or relevant state jurisdiction) registered teacher.
primary school program
Each session is designed to develop optimism, belonging, confidence and emotional literacy in the students to help them channel their strengths and develop resilience to their challenges.
During the sessions, our mentors avoid the term ‘Autism’ and the language which surrounds Autism due to the fact that many families are yet to disclose diagnoses or are in the middle of a diagnostic process.
Inter-school programs are also available where multiple schools come together from the same region to form a group. This option works particularly well in regional areas. Our program modules include:
TEAMWORK
Students get to know each through identifying the necessary components of an effective team and the value of what each individual has to offer.
Listening & compromise
Students are upskilled in capacities for listening and compromise through activities and social engagement and personal growth.
Communication & public speaking
Students are encouraged to share what specific areas of communication they find difficult as well as helpful strategies for navigating concentration, conversation and public speaking.
Emotional Literacy
Students are given practical advice on how to best navigate their personal emotional landscapes. Emotional literacy is explored here through the I CAN Imagination mascot: ‘Cam the Chameleon’.
Team projects
Students work together on creative projects which can be exhibited at the Imagination Club’s end of year celebration.
how to access i can schools
What we offer: We offer weekly one hour, group mentoring sessions for up to 16 Autistic students in both primary and high schools. Our packages also include educational talks for students and parents as well as professional development workshops for staff.
Areas served: Greater Melbourne, South West Victoria, Goulburn Murray Victoria, Brisbane Queensland, South East Queensland, North Coast Queensland
How to access: Interested schools can write to us at mentoring@icannetwork.com.au for program details, prices and packages. For families who are keen to bring our program to their young person’s school, we recommend starting with hosting an I CAN presenter on campus for an introduction presentation. We can also provide tailored templates and information for parents/carers to use for approaching school leadership who might not be familiar with our programs.
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I CAN Network Ltd. PO Box 356 Ashburton 3147, Victoria, Australia
Email: hello@icannetwork.com.au Website: icannetwork.com.au
