The International Chess Federation (FIDE), together with the Asian Chess Federation and Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, with the support of the International Olympic Committee, FIDE Planning and Development Commission, and FIDE Social Commission, pleased to announce the Asian Educational Seminar “Chess for children with ASD. Learn & teach”. It will be held offline from December 18-19 in Al Ain, UAE, at 14:00 – 17:00 (UAE time).
Teaching chess to children with autism spectrum disorder positively impacts their communication abilities, speech, thinking, self-esteem and confidence. Speakers will present a unique training program they developed in 2021 and provide practical advice. The seminar aims to deliver core knowledge to potential chess teachers and coaches starting to work with children within our Infinite Chess project.
Participation is free of charge, please fill in the registration form to save the place: https://forms.gle/4QLBWHDqsXPN1W2j7
Speakers of the seminar will talk about the ways of teaching chess to children with autism spectrum disorder and explain their methodology covering the following topics:
• What is autism spectrum disorder?
• How to teach chess to children with autism?
• How to prepare the classroom? What else to pay attention to?
The list of speakers includes:
Natalia Popova – WIM, FIDE Trainer, leader of the two-year-long project teaching chess to children with autistic spectrum disorder (FIDE);
Ala Mishchanka – Special needs educational assistant, more than 17 years of experience (Canada);
Melodi Dincel – MD, child and adolescent psychiatry specialist at Istanbul University, Infinite Chess project partner (Turkey)
Case study Turkey: lessons learned & recommendations on the efficiency of the training process
Viesturs Kapce – FIDE Instructor, chess coach, Infinite Chess project partner (Latvia)
Case study Latvia: lessons learned & recommendations on the efficiency of the training process
Detailed seminar program:
Day 1
14:00 – welcome speech by Hisham al Taher, General Secretary of Asian Chess Federation
14:05 – welcome speech by Abdulla Ismail Alkamali, Executive Director for People of Determination (UAE)
14:10 – welcome speech by Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Project supervisor, FIDE Deputy Chair
14:15 – welcome speech by the Anastasia Sorokina, Leader of the project, FIDE WOM Chair, Chairperson of Asian Chess Federation Social Commission
14:20 – Mishchanka Ala (co-author of the program, Canada)
Introduction to Autism.
Statistics.
Treatment and early intervention.
14:50 – Coffee break
15:00 – Popova Natalia (co-author of the program, FIDE)
Basic principles of the Chess programme for children with an autism spectrum disorder.
Chess classes – Main ideas.
Methodological guidelines for teachers. Topics 1 – 3 of the methodological guide.
15:40 – Coffee break
15:50 – Mishchanka Ala (co-author of the program, Canada)
Challenges children with Autism face.
How to set up Autism classroom.
16:20 – Popova Natalia (co-author of the program, FIDE)
How I organised a chess space for children with ASD.
Methodological guidelines for teachers. Topic 4 of the methodological guide.
17:00 – Questions
Day 2
11:00 – Visi to Al Ain Autism Centre Zayed higher organisation for people of determination
14:00 – Mishchanka Ala (co-author of the program, Canada)
How to teach children with ASD.
Strategies.
Lessons 1,2,3 of the methodological guide.
Lesson16 of the methodological guide.
14:30 – Coffee break
14:40 – Popova Natalia (co-author of the program, FIDE)
Methodological guidelines for teachers. Topics 5 – 16 of the methodological guide.
Practical exercises.
15:10 – Melodi Dincel (MD, child and adolescent psychiatry specialist in Istanbul University, Infinite Chess project partner, Turkey)
15:30 – Viesturs Kapce (FIDE Instructor, chess coach, Infinite Chess project partner, Latvia)
16:00 – Coffee break
16:10 – Questions
16:20 – Final test for participants
All participants successfully passed a final test will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Registration is open until 11 December 2023.
Registration form https://forms.gle/4QLBWHDqsXPN1W2j7
For further inquiries, please contact:
Maria Tamkovich, Project Coordinator