New Senia Europe Chairperson

Christine Köstlin is a trained special education teacher from Germany. She has worked in primary and secondary school settings in Germany as well as an international school in Hong Kong, where she taught and lived for 5 years. During her time abroad she entered the international teaching community and started her journey as a speaker and author. She is currently working for the government of her state in the Ministry of Education, where she is on the team of the special needs department.

In her free time, Christine enjoys arts and crafts, traveling and learning something new. She loves spending time with her friends and is active in her neighborhood where she brings people together.

Senia India Board Members

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SENIA-India Community Connect November 29th 2024

We were excited to host the second in-person event, following the success of our Pumpkin Patch SENIA Scholarship Award ceremony! SENIA India had the pleasure of organizing the Community Connect event at Stonehill International School, Bangalore, and we are grateful for their gracious hospitality. Members from different parts of India signed up for this event, and we were thrilled to bring everyone together. The day began with informal networking over coffee and tea during registration. After the welcome session, we kicked off the day with an engaging icebreaker activity designed to set the tone for the rest of the event and help everyone get to know each other. The rest of the morning featured a special session led by Anita Churchville on the academic and socio-emotional strengths and challenges of gifted and twice-exceptional learners. The session explored best practices, strategies, and insights for supporting students with unique learning profiles and provided a solid foundation for the day’s subsequent discussions. After a break for lunch, we divided the group into smaller discussion circles. Participants engaged in meaningful conversations around four selected “hot topics,” aimed at furthering our collective knowledge of best practices. Prompts were provided for each topic to stimulate thoughtful and productive exchanges. To conclude, we gathered for a brief feedback session, where participants shared their thoughts and reflections on the day’s discussions. It was an inspiring day of collaboration, learning, and community building, and we look forward to many more such events in the future!

SENIA-INDIA JANUARY 20TH 2024 ONLINE EVENT

SENIA India successfully hosted its inaugural online event, bringing together educators from various corners of the country. The primary objective of this two-hour session, held on January 20, 2024, from 10 am to 12 pm, was to foster acquaintance among participants and delve into their goals as members of SENIA India.

The session commenced with a focused discussion on the theme, “What Inclusion Looks Like at Your School.” Participants enthusiastically shared insights, experiences, and aspirations related to inclusion in their respective educational settings. This dynamic exchange of ideas laid the groundwork for understanding the diverse perspectives and future goals of SENIA India members.

The event marked a significant milestone in building a collaborative community dedicated to promoting inclusive education across India. As SENIA India continues to grow, these insightful conversations will undoubtedly contribute to the collective efforts towards creating more inclusive and supportive learning environments.

 

 

Schools and Services Database

We are thrilled to announce that SENIA Thailand is in the process of building a comprehensive database designed to help educators and parents connect with current service providers and inclusive school services across Thailand and surrounding regions. This resource aims to make finding the right support easier for those seeking therapy, assessment and inclusive education solutions.

To make this database as accurate and useful as possible, we are reaching out to schools, service providers, and community members for their input. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in ensuring we have up-to-date information. Please take a moment to share your details or encourage others in your network to participate.

Help Us Grow the Database! Please share the following link throughout the community to complete the form and join our database: https://forms.gle/Xmxa8iRM578Zji816

Thank you for helping us build a stronger, more connected community dedicated to inclusive education!

Makaton Taster Session

The Makaton Taster event held on Thursday 10th October provided participants with a fun and informative introduction to the world of Makaton, a language program that uses signs and symbols to support communication.

We learnt about how Makaton can be used to bridge communication gaps and promote understanding between individuals with and without communication challenges and of course there was a lot of enthusiastic signing! 

Attendees left the event with newfound knowledge, the confidence to start integrating Makaton into their daily routines, whether at home or in the classroom, and some Makaton freebies! A big thank you to all that attended and we look forward to hosting more learning events throughout the academic year.

Meet the 2024-2025 Board Members

Boon Eu : Secretary

Boon Eu CHEAH is a medical doctor who sees children, youth and adults with various disabilities (including rare disorders) in her daily career. Her interest pours out to those with autism, specific learning difficulties, ADHD and Irlen Syndrome as she shares similar struggles and was only given the late diagnoses in adulthood. As a neurodivergent and an avid advocate about being inclusive, understanding and accepting of each other, she believes she can ensure early intervention and opportunity for the individuals to assimilate into the community.

Katarzyna (Kate) Czapor : School and Community Networker

Kate is dedicated to promoting inclusion as the Inclusion Lead for a group of schools in Malaysia. As a SEN mother herself, she’s passionate about supporting teachers, raising awareness among parents, and supporting positive change for students with special educational needs. Her focus is on ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed in an inclusive environment.

Jacqueline Vincent: Written Content Creator

Jacqueline is the Principal of HEI Schools Cyberjaya, Malaysia, where learning through play is at the heart of the Finnish-inspired preschool experience. As a passionate advocate for inclusive education, she’s on a mission to make classrooms more welcoming, reflecting both Finland’s playful approach and SENIA’s mission. With a big heart for children and their right to equal learning opportunities, Jacqueline brings fun and fairness to education in Malaysia!

Adam Azlan: Treasurer 

Adam is a Treasury Analyst at Maybank, and is currently the Chairperson of Amnesty International Malaysia. As a mental health advocate and a volunteer tutor-mentor for several non-governmental organizations, he seeks to learn more and become a better advocate for inclusivity in and through education. His interest and long term goal lies in ensuring Human Rights and Education is accessible to all in Malaysia!

 

Emy Hieber: Chairperson

Emy is the Learning Support Coordinator at Dalat International School in Penang. She has been working there for the last 9 years, and connected to SENIA in various capacities since 2018. She and her husband have a cat, many fish, and hundreds of books to keep them company. Emy is passionate about neurodiversity and empowering learners to advocate for their needs and embrace their own way of being in the world.


Become a SENIA Malaysia member by joining our mailing list! You will receive notifications of any upcoming events or news.

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Contact the board at malaysiachapter@seniainternational.org.

Networking Event

Please share and come and join us!

World Changer Award

We are delighted that a member of the SENIA Thailand community has been recognised for a SENIA World Changer Award! Motivated by a desire to support individuals with communication difficulties, she dedicated her evenings to learning Makaton for her Duke of Edinburgh International Award. After completing Level 1, Florence achieved certifications in Levels 2, 3, and 4. Her commitment has not only equipped her with a valuable skill but has also fostered a more inclusive community for those facing communication challenges. Congratulations, Florence, on this well-deserved recognition of your impactful journey!

Phuket SEN Networking Event

The SENIA Thailand Phuket chapter had a great end to the school week as they gathered together from across the island for a morning filled with meaningful connections, knowledge exchange, and community building. Thank you to HeadStart International School Phuket for hosting the first Phuket Learning Support Networking Event for this academic year.