The Ontario government announced $25 million in new funding for ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) therapy for autistic children yesterday.
The program is intended to benefit 8,000 children, although there has been no news about how these funds will be distributed. A current program, funded with $115 million, is currently treating 1,450 children with IBI therapy (Intensive Behaviour Intervention), while about 1,600 are on a waiting list.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Report: Mentally Disabled Sold for Manual Labour in Chinese Sweatshops
Mentally disabled and/or mentally ill men from Sichuan have been sold to do manual labour in Xinjiang, according to articles appearing in Danwei, the Chongqing Business News, the Tibet Business Daily and the Global Times.
A total of 11 workers, including eight mentally disabled people, were found to be working in appalling conditions at the Jiaersi Green Construction Material Chemical Factory in Toksun county, the Xinjiang Metropolitan newspaper reported.
According to the report, the workers have allegedly been confined to the factory, toiling for at least three years without being paid or given any protective uniforms or equipment. And authorities said the workers were forced to live in shabby conditions, not given showers for years and fed the same food as the boss' dogs.
A man in Sichuan Province has been arrested in connection with the case.
A total of 11 workers, including eight mentally disabled people, were found to be working in appalling conditions at the Jiaersi Green Construction Material Chemical Factory in Toksun county, the Xinjiang Metropolitan newspaper reported.
According to the report, the workers have allegedly been confined to the factory, toiling for at least three years without being paid or given any protective uniforms or equipment. And authorities said the workers were forced to live in shabby conditions, not given showers for years and fed the same food as the boss' dogs.
A man in Sichuan Province has been arrested in connection with the case.
Monday, December 13, 2010
New autism study raises hope, questions
A new study has been hailed as a "Breakthrough Discovery" on the causes of autism. The study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, is entitled "Mitochondrial Dysfuction in Autism".
Writing about the study in the Huffington Post, Dr. Mark Hyman says that he has already successfully treated autism by addressing known causes of mitochondrial dysfunction, including environmental toxins such as mercury, lead and persistent organic pollutants, latent infections, gluten, sugar, allergens and nutritional deficiencies.
I found all these problems in Jackson, and over a period of two years we slowly unraveled and treated the underlying causes of his energy loss which included gut inflammation, mercury, and nutrient deficiencies. Over time, the tests for his mitochondrial function and oxidative stress (as well as levels of inflammation and nutrient status) all normalized. When they became normal, so did Jackson. He went from full-blown regressive autism to a normal, bright beautiful six-year-old boy.
Dr. Hyman writes that the information taken from the new study is one symptom of a complex variety of causes that could be associated with autism. A number of other symptoms could include systemic inflammation, brain inflammation and many others. Therefore, he says, future research "must synthesize current data and design relevant whole systems research studies that don't focus on a single factor, but examine all the factors together."
Hyman notes that most physicians do not test autistic patients for oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction or other related factors which could possibly be treated by controlling environmental factors.
For a comprehensive overview of this subject, please see the article in the Facing Autism in New Brunswick blog, with its wider analysis of the implications and controversial overtones.
Writing about the study in the Huffington Post, Dr. Mark Hyman says that he has already successfully treated autism by addressing known causes of mitochondrial dysfunction, including environmental toxins such as mercury, lead and persistent organic pollutants, latent infections, gluten, sugar, allergens and nutritional deficiencies.
I found all these problems in Jackson, and over a period of two years we slowly unraveled and treated the underlying causes of his energy loss which included gut inflammation, mercury, and nutrient deficiencies. Over time, the tests for his mitochondrial function and oxidative stress (as well as levels of inflammation and nutrient status) all normalized. When they became normal, so did Jackson. He went from full-blown regressive autism to a normal, bright beautiful six-year-old boy.
Dr. Hyman writes that the information taken from the new study is one symptom of a complex variety of causes that could be associated with autism. A number of other symptoms could include systemic inflammation, brain inflammation and many others. Therefore, he says, future research "must synthesize current data and design relevant whole systems research studies that don't focus on a single factor, but examine all the factors together."
Hyman notes that most physicians do not test autistic patients for oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction or other related factors which could possibly be treated by controlling environmental factors.
For a comprehensive overview of this subject, please see the article in the Facing Autism in New Brunswick blog, with its wider analysis of the implications and controversial overtones.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
León y Olvido
A Spanish film about Down syndrome and relationships.
This is just the trailer but if you speak Spanish it looks like you can pretty much watch the whole thing on Youtube.
This is just the trailer but if you speak Spanish it looks like you can pretty much watch the whole thing on Youtube.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Germany Very Slow to Embrace Integration
A recent study has revealed surprising numbers from Germany reflecting the state of the integration of kids with special needs into school classrooms.
Overall, only 60% of pre-schoolers with special needs are integrated, 34% of elementary school students and 15% of high school students. This, despite the fact the Germany has adopted an official policy supporting integration and signed an international agreement to that effect, according to an article in thelocal.de.
The reasons given for this situation include "a lack of space" in appropriate classrooms.
The Bertelsmann Foundation, which produced the study, found that in 2009 there were some 480,000 students with special educations needs – about six percent of the country’s student population. Among these were 85,000 preschool age children.
As in Canada, the systems and scales of identifying students with special needs vary between jurisdictions, with German states claiming proportions of students requiring special education ranging from 6-11% of the total student population.
In Riverside School Board, the percentage of students who have an IEP (individualized education plan) is approximately 10% and rising. There is one specialized English language special needs school on the south shore of Montreal, REACH, which currently accommodates approximately 65 students with pervasive intellectual handicaps. It is the only public special needs school in the Montreal area, although the large majority of the students are from the Riverside area.
Overall, only 60% of pre-schoolers with special needs are integrated, 34% of elementary school students and 15% of high school students. This, despite the fact the Germany has adopted an official policy supporting integration and signed an international agreement to that effect, according to an article in thelocal.de.
The reasons given for this situation include "a lack of space" in appropriate classrooms.
The Bertelsmann Foundation, which produced the study, found that in 2009 there were some 480,000 students with special educations needs – about six percent of the country’s student population. Among these were 85,000 preschool age children.
As in Canada, the systems and scales of identifying students with special needs vary between jurisdictions, with German states claiming proportions of students requiring special education ranging from 6-11% of the total student population.
In Riverside School Board, the percentage of students who have an IEP (individualized education plan) is approximately 10% and rising. There is one specialized English language special needs school on the south shore of Montreal, REACH, which currently accommodates approximately 65 students with pervasive intellectual handicaps. It is the only public special needs school in the Montreal area, although the large majority of the students are from the Riverside area.
Monday, November 29, 2010
"Your truly honoured autism educator, Carly Fleischmann"
Pretty amazing stuff.
For anyone who missed seeing Carly Fleischmann on CTV News last night or on other media.
Carly's own blog is carlysvoice.com Changing the World of Autism
For anyone who missed seeing Carly Fleischmann on CTV News last night or on other media.
Carly's own blog is carlysvoice.com Changing the World of Autism
Friday, November 26, 2010
Ecole Vents Nouveau Inaugurates its White Room
Ecole Vents Nouveau is a specialized secondary school housing 130 students with special needs from the Commission Scolaire Marie Victorin and several other adjoining french language school districts in the Montreal south shore area. Vents Nouveau was opened in 2007. It is located at 5035 rue Orchard in St. Hubert, about 1 or 2 kms. from Centennial School.
A "White Room" is a room for special light therapy which provides students with enriched sensory experiences. The school also has a gym, a pool, an "apartment-workshop" allowing students to develop basic domestic skills, and other workshops where workplace-oriented skills can be developed.
The inauguration of the "white room" was held Nov. 25, 2010.
*** Special Needs CEGEP for South Shore? ***
It has also been reported that a french-language special needs "over-21 centre" ( a CEGEP alternative) is in the works. Perhaps there will be further news or an official announcement regarding that in the near future.
The Fondation Bel Essor has set this up as a fundraising objective for 2010.
A "White Room" is a room for special light therapy which provides students with enriched sensory experiences. The school also has a gym, a pool, an "apartment-workshop" allowing students to develop basic domestic skills, and other workshops where workplace-oriented skills can be developed.
The inauguration of the "white room" was held Nov. 25, 2010.
*** Special Needs CEGEP for South Shore? ***
It has also been reported that a french-language special needs "over-21 centre" ( a CEGEP alternative) is in the works. Perhaps there will be further news or an official announcement regarding that in the near future.
The Fondation Bel Essor has set this up as a fundraising objective for 2010.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Some fundraising options to check out...
A couple of fundraising possibilities of an ongoing nature have come up.
One is Canada Helps
Another is sponsored by Pepsi. It is called the Pepsi Refresh Project
In this project, groups or individuals can win funding for good causes, ranging from $5,000 up to $100,000 by uploading a video entry onto the Refresh Project site. Definitely worth looking at.
.
One is Canada Helps
Another is sponsored by Pepsi. It is called the Pepsi Refresh Project
In this project, groups or individuals can win funding for good causes, ranging from $5,000 up to $100,000 by uploading a video entry onto the Refresh Project site. Definitely worth looking at.
.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Next RAPID meeting Dec. 1, 7 p.m. at ARSDI
The next RAPID meeting will be held Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the ARSDI building in St. Lambert. RAPID stands for "Resources for the Anglophone Population with Intellectual Disabilities."
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Comedy Nest Fundraising Event a Great Success for RAPID
The comics were on top of their game, the joint was packed, everyone had a great time and all the tickets were sold, with a few possible exceptions - final tallies to come. The event in support of kids and families with special needs / intellectual difficulties in the Montreal south shore area was termed a great success by organizers.
You couldn't ask for much more from a fundraiser evening so kudos to all involved. The Comedy Nest, the RAPID volunteer ticket selling "machine" and the four excellent Canadian comics, headlined by Jay Malone, who is now working out of LA. Let's just put it this way: further biographical details of the comics, as revealed during the performances, fall under the category of "what happens at the Comedy Nest..." you get the picture!
You couldn't ask for much more from a fundraiser evening so kudos to all involved. The Comedy Nest, the RAPID volunteer ticket selling "machine" and the four excellent Canadian comics, headlined by Jay Malone, who is now working out of LA. Let's just put it this way: further biographical details of the comics, as revealed during the performances, fall under the category of "what happens at the Comedy Nest..." you get the picture!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Hey Mom, Dad! Now I can tie my shoes by myself every day!
Ever notice how, as kids get a tiny bit older, there are fewer and fewer varieties of shoes with velcro fasteners available?
When your kids have special needs, this can be a much greater problem than it is otherwise. Finally, you get to that point in time when you have to search across all the stores in your area or further afield, just to find one usable pair of shoes that can be tied snug with anything but laces.
A Canadian company from Halifax has the problem solved with a great invention... the Quick Snap
The small plastic snaps can be fitted on most any shoes that have laces.
Getting the "thumbs up" on CBC's the Dragon's Den back in 2008 was a good boost for the company, but in this case most likely the idea was good enough that the super handy gadget would have taken off anyway.
Recently, Quick snaps have even been making appearances with Canadian troops overseas.
There are no stores carrying these products in the Montreal area according to the Quick Snap website however they are available online on the website. They also have a school fundraising program.
When your kids have special needs, this can be a much greater problem than it is otherwise. Finally, you get to that point in time when you have to search across all the stores in your area or further afield, just to find one usable pair of shoes that can be tied snug with anything but laces. A Canadian company from Halifax has the problem solved with a great invention... the Quick Snap
The small plastic snaps can be fitted on most any shoes that have laces.
Recently, Quick snaps have even been making appearances with Canadian troops overseas.
There are no stores carrying these products in the Montreal area according to the Quick Snap website however they are available online on the website. They also have a school fundraising program.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Don't get lost... Take A Hike! - Vancouver organization leads teens out of the woods
It's called "Take a Hike." It is a an alternative education program in which barriers to learning are minimized, personal issues are addressed, and students achieve a greater level of social and academic success.
Take a Hike is one of Clara Hughes' favourite causes, which raises the organization's profile and helps to explain why it easy to discover and why one might want to look into it further.
This is a program that empowers young people who have run into problems in the mainstream school system. Among other things, it gives them a belief in themselves and their abilities, as well as a lifelong respect and appreciation for nature and the outdoors.
The program combines the following four methodologies: adventure-based learning, therapies, academics and community learning.
Take a Hike has been around for over ten years, its foundation has raised over $1 million for at-risk students in Vancouver and its board of directors includes a generous selection of community and corporate leaders.
Keeping in mind that this is a school-based program, it must be recognized that various school districts across the country have developed their own alternative education solutions for their own communities. The program as it exists in Vancouver is also specifically utilized with "at risk" kids. There may be more to this than meets the eye however there is no readily apparent reason why some adapted version of Take A Hike couldn't be successful with other special needs groups.
It also sounds like this program has all the attributes of something that would be worth taking nation-wide. So hopefully we will see it, or something like it, soon in our own community, be it in Montreal or even in the South Shore Montreal area.
This is a program that empowers young people who have run into problems in the mainstream school system. Among other things, it gives them a belief in themselves and their abilities, as well as a lifelong respect and appreciation for nature and the outdoors.
The program combines the following four methodologies: adventure-based learning, therapies, academics and community learning.
Take a Hike has been around for over ten years, its foundation has raised over $1 million for at-risk students in Vancouver and its board of directors includes a generous selection of community and corporate leaders.
Keeping in mind that this is a school-based program, it must be recognized that various school districts across the country have developed their own alternative education solutions for their own communities. The program as it exists in Vancouver is also specifically utilized with "at risk" kids. There may be more to this than meets the eye however there is no readily apparent reason why some adapted version of Take A Hike couldn't be successful with other special needs groups.
It also sounds like this program has all the attributes of something that would be worth taking nation-wide. So hopefully we will see it, or something like it, soon in our own community, be it in Montreal or even in the South Shore Montreal area.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wave Against Bullying on CTV News
Here is a link to the story on CTV News about the giant wave against bullying held yesterday which appeared on this blog last week. REACH, PACE, and three other St. Lambert RSB schools participated.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Dog Adoption Day to Be Held at REACH School
The St. Lambert Underdog Club Dog Adoption Extravaganza will be held Sat. Nov. 27 at REACH School, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
It's the first St. Lambert Dog Adoption event! Dogs will be there to give you a little one on one sugar! Organizers are hoping to find some wonderful pooches a permanent (and very lucky) home and spread the word about fostering, too. At very least, stop by and say 'how do'!
Beyond the obvious specially trained dogs, such as seeing eye dogs, it is well known that pets and dogs in particular can be great additions for families with special needs.
Here are ten reasons why pets are a good thing for kids (or adults!) with special needs.
1. Unconditional love
2. Companionship
3. Accomplishment
4. Exercise
5. Responsibility
6. Learning about animals
7. Communication
8. Organization
9. Money skills
10. Problem solving
(see the link for the longer explanations)
Beyond the obvious specially trained dogs, such as seeing eye dogs, it is well known that pets and dogs in particular can be great additions for families with special needs.
Here are ten reasons why pets are a good thing for kids (or adults!) with special needs.
1. Unconditional love
2. Companionship
3. Accomplishment
4. Exercise
5. Responsibility
6. Learning about animals
7. Communication
8. Organization
9. Money skills
10. Problem solving
(see the link for the longer explanations)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
St. Lambert schools plan massive "Wave" against bullying
On Nov 16th, at approximately 11:00 a.m., over 1,000 students from Riverside School Board's St. Lambert schools will be participating in a wave against bullying. Over the past few weeks, some of the students have been involved in performing skits, making posters, listening to testimonials, etc., all to help them realize that bullying hurts and that it is time to do something to stop it.
Student at St. Lambert Elementary, REACH, Chambly Academy, PACE and the Alternate School will be gathering together, shoulder to shoulder, from one end of Green St. to the other. The students and teachers will be participating in the wave as a culminating activity to their campaigns against the harmful effects of bullying.
Organizers have applied for recognition to the Guinness World Records for the event, which will take place rain or shine.
Note: given the current situation with half of the down town streets dug up in St. Lambert, having a student wave running the length of Green should make driving in St. Lambert interesting, to say the least!
Student at St. Lambert Elementary, REACH, Chambly Academy, PACE and the Alternate School will be gathering together, shoulder to shoulder, from one end of Green St. to the other. The students and teachers will be participating in the wave as a culminating activity to their campaigns against the harmful effects of bullying.
Organizers have applied for recognition to the Guinness World Records for the event, which will take place rain or shine.
Note: given the current situation with half of the down town streets dug up in St. Lambert, having a student wave running the length of Green should make driving in St. Lambert interesting, to say the least!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
CS Marie-Victorin spent $327 Mil in 09-10
The 2009-10 financial school year wrapped up for the Commission Scolaire Marie-Victorin with a very slight deficit of 0.28 per cent on expenditures of $327,635,437 and revenues of $326,708,566. There are approximately 35,250 students in the school district, that covers Brossard, St. Lambert, Greenfield Park, Vieux Longueuil and St. Hubert.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Treats at REACH School for goblins and ghosts!!
Thank you to all the teachers and staff for all the help and encouragement for this event to be a great success!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
New Literacy Strategy for Longueuil and CS Marie-Victorin Territory
An action plan designed to prevent and combat illiteracy in Longueuil was unveiled by members of a group called Concertation Alphabétisation Longueuil (CAL), at a conference held at Notre-Dame de Longueuil school November 1.
Accompanied by the Députée for Taillon, Marie Malavoy, and the Chairperson of Commission Scolaire Marie-Victorin, Lucie Désilets, were members of CAL, represented by Lorraine Chiasson of L’Écrit Tôt in Saint-Hubert, Lynne Renée Houle from Alphabétisation IOTA, Suzanne Daneau of La Boîte à lettres in Longueuil and Sonia Desbiens of Fablier.
The action plan consists of three levels of intervention, including prevention, conventional professional intervention and a more pro-active style of intervention where the person requiring services would be assisted or accompanied to the appropriate venue.
Accompanied by the Députée for Taillon, Marie Malavoy, and the Chairperson of Commission Scolaire Marie-Victorin, Lucie Désilets, were members of CAL, represented by Lorraine Chiasson of L’Écrit Tôt in Saint-Hubert, Lynne Renée Houle from Alphabétisation IOTA, Suzanne Daneau of La Boîte à lettres in Longueuil and Sonia Desbiens of Fablier.
The action plan consists of three levels of intervention, including prevention, conventional professional intervention and a more pro-active style of intervention where the person requiring services would be assisted or accompanied to the appropriate venue.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Next RAPID special needs meeting Wed., Nov 3
A reminder that the next meeting of RAPID will be Wednesday, Nov. 3, 7:00 P.M., at the ARSDI building in St. Lambert. All interested parties welcome.
Friday, October 29, 2010
RAPID staging a fundraiser at the Comedy Nest
RAPID is pleased to announce a fundraiser at the Comedy Nest in Montreal.
The date of the event is Nov. 20 from 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $15, available from members of RAPID (Resources for the Anglophone Population with Intellectual Difficulties) or from REACH School.
According to the Comedy Nest website, the comic onstage on the 20th will be Jay Malone.
Funds raised will be used to help offset the cost of programs and services for the families with special needs in our community in the Montreal south shore area.
The address is 2313 St. Catherine St. West, (corner Atwater, Pepsi Forum) 3rd floor.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Special Needs Day Camp Offered for Ped Days on South Shore
A day camp for all special needs kids is offered at the ARSDI (l’Association de la Rive-Sud pour la Déficience Intellectuelle) during school pedagogical days. This day camp is offered in cooperation with RAPID (Resources for the Anglophone Population with Intellectual Difficulties) and with south shore school boards, although entirely operated by ARSDI.
The day camp is offered at the Maison Bétournay at 80 Rue Bétournay, in St. Lambert. Children need to be registered ahead of time with the ARSDI. The centre is open from 7 a.m. The phone number to contact the ARSDI is 450-672-9020. The cost of the day camp is $25.
The ARSDI also offers a day care program for those special needs kids whose schools do not offer day care or whose days cares have difficulty accepting special needs kids.
The Maison Bétournay normally has a very high staff-to-student ratio of 2 to 1. Also, ARSDI has undertaken to ensure that English-speaking staff will be available when there are English-speaking children to look after.
RAPID is offering a program to rebate a portion of the day camp fees to Rapid member who take advantage of the day camp services.
The day camp is offered at the Maison Bétournay at 80 Rue Bétournay, in St. Lambert. Children need to be registered ahead of time with the ARSDI. The centre is open from 7 a.m. The phone number to contact the ARSDI is 450-672-9020. The cost of the day camp is $25.
The ARSDI also offers a day care program for those special needs kids whose schools do not offer day care or whose days cares have difficulty accepting special needs kids.
The Maison Bétournay normally has a very high staff-to-student ratio of 2 to 1. Also, ARSDI has undertaken to ensure that English-speaking staff will be available when there are English-speaking children to look after.
RAPID is offering a program to rebate a portion of the day camp fees to Rapid member who take advantage of the day camp services.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Rapid Offers a Rebate on 2010 / 2011 Day Camp
RAPID (Resources for the Anglophone Population with Intellectual Disabilities) is offering a rebate for members who use ped day day camp services recognized by RAPID. Presently this includes the service offered by the ARSDI. For further details and contact info, please click here or see the RAPID link above.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Special Olympics makes a splash on Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill hosted about 70 Special Olympics athletes, family members, volunteers, coaches and staff from across the country for a "Day on the Hill", September 28..
The reception lasted a full day and the participants had the chance to meet government ministers, senators and MPs from all parties.
Also on the same day, Canada's Special Olympics team for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Athens, Greece, was announced.
The 109 athletes and 42 coaches and staff named were selected based on performances at the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, which were held earlier this year in London, Ontario.
22 national sponsors are contributing towards making it possible to send such a large delegation to Athens.
The reception lasted a full day and the participants had the chance to meet government ministers, senators and MPs from all parties.
The 109 athletes and 42 coaches and staff named were selected based on performances at the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, which were held earlier this year in London, Ontario.
22 national sponsors are contributing towards making it possible to send such a large delegation to Athens.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
As a part of Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada has launched a national campaign including social media elements such as Youtube, Facebook and Twitter.
The theme of the campaign is “the right to learn, the power to achieve!”
The marketing toolkit provided by LDAC at the link above is presented in such a way as to be useful for their local chapters and, as such, this information could also be valuable for other organizations with similar objectives.
The theme of the campaign is “the right to learn, the power to achieve!”
The marketing toolkit provided by LDAC at the link above is presented in such a way as to be useful for their local chapters and, as such, this information could also be valuable for other organizations with similar objectives.
Friday, October 15, 2010
RAPID next meeting Mon. October 18
Just a reminder that the next meeting of RAPID will be Monday, Oct. 18, 7:00 P.M., at the ARSDI building in St. Lambert. All interested parties welcome.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Down Syndrome Research Foundation in Vancouver forced to "pull plug" on brain scanner
The Down Syndrome Research Foundation (DSRF) in Burnaby, B.C., has been forced to "pull the plug" on its brain scanner due to lack of funds.
This is the second year in a row that the scanner has been forced to shut down for six months due to lack of funding. Because federal funding is a major component of several of the potential revenue sources for the scanner lab, as well as other medical and scientific projects, competition for funding has become tight.
Read the full story in Burnaby Now.
Among its other initiatives the DSRF also runs a Specialized Learning Center.
Following is the DSRF Vision Statement:
At the Down Syndrome Research Foundation, we firmly believe that if people with intellectual disabilities are provided with specific and relevant educational instruction they can reach their potential. This will allow them to contribute to their community thus requiring less dependence on government resources. Without meaningful instruction and interventions, their potential is untapped and they are destined to engage in empty activities.
Lifelong learning is the concept that “it’s never too soon or too late for learning”, a philosophy that drives research and program development at the Down Syndrome Research Foundation. Yet for people with disabilities, opportunity for ongoing learning stops at a very early age.
At the Down Syndrome Research Foundation we initiate and participate in research that provides insight into the unique learning style of these individuals. The data collected is analyzed and pilot interventions and educational programs are developed and offered. These programs test the understanding of the brain and are evaluated to observe the impact on our students. Even the slightest increase in cognitive ability, the objective that drives our work, can make a significant difference in the level of support an individual with an intellectual disability may require.
This is the second year in a row that the scanner has been forced to shut down for six months due to lack of funding. Because federal funding is a major component of several of the potential revenue sources for the scanner lab, as well as other medical and scientific projects, competition for funding has become tight.
Read the full story in Burnaby Now.
Among its other initiatives the DSRF also runs a Specialized Learning Center.
Following is the DSRF Vision Statement:
At the Down Syndrome Research Foundation, we firmly believe that if people with intellectual disabilities are provided with specific and relevant educational instruction they can reach their potential. This will allow them to contribute to their community thus requiring less dependence on government resources. Without meaningful instruction and interventions, their potential is untapped and they are destined to engage in empty activities.
Lifelong learning is the concept that “it’s never too soon or too late for learning”, a philosophy that drives research and program development at the Down Syndrome Research Foundation. Yet for people with disabilities, opportunity for ongoing learning stops at a very early age.
At the Down Syndrome Research Foundation we initiate and participate in research that provides insight into the unique learning style of these individuals. The data collected is analyzed and pilot interventions and educational programs are developed and offered. These programs test the understanding of the brain and are evaluated to observe the impact on our students. Even the slightest increase in cognitive ability, the objective that drives our work, can make a significant difference in the level of support an individual with an intellectual disability may require.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Boy with Down syndrome scores touchdown in Washington State high school game
A 17-year-old with Down syndrome scored a touchdown on Friday, Sept. 24, for his Snohomish Wa. high school team. Ike Ditzberger scored the TD with 10 seconds remaining in the game, which his team was losing 36-0. He scored on a 51-yard run, romping through a momentarily distracted opposing backfield. The milestone came against a Lake Stevens team which, it must be said, offered only a somewhat unconvincing defense against Ditzberger's breakout run.
"He's someone that everybody can kind of enjoy because he has such a great personality and character," Snohomish senior captain Keith Wigney told the Everett Herald in a feature on Ditzenberger.
"He's someone that everybody can kind of enjoy because he has such a great personality and character," Snohomish senior captain Keith Wigney told the Everett Herald in a feature on Ditzenberger.
Initial meeting of SNACS Committee set for Oct 13
The initial meeting of the Riverside School Board SNACS (Advisory Committee on Services for Students with Special Needs) for the coming year will be held at the RSB office on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Following is the text of the letter sent by RSB:
October 4, 2010
NOTICE OF ELECTIONS
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Riverside School Board will hold elections for its Advisory Committee on Services for Students with Special Needs for the 2010-2011 school year. This Advisory Committee is composed of 7 parents and 6 other members selected from the Board’s teachers, support staff, non-teaching professionals and administrators. The Committee provides an opportunity for this representative group to come together on a regular basis to discuss the special education services provided to its students.
Parents chosen for this committee are designated by the Board’s Parents’ Committee and are parents with children who have been identified for special education services. These services may include remedial assistance in schools from a teacher or other staff member, technician support for academic or behavioural difficulties, support of an attendant for integration purposes, or placement in a special education class or program. These students will have an Individualized Educational Plan in place for the 2010-2011 school year.
Seven parents required for the committee will be selected as follows:
• Three parents with children in the elementary sector who have been identified with a
handicap condition, learning or behavioural difficulty
• Three parents with children in the secondary sector who have been identified with a handicap
condition, learning or behavioural difficulty
• One parent of a child attending REACH
Parents who wish to have further information or who would like to stand for election to this committee are invited to attend a general meeting Wednesday, October 13, 2010. Interested candidates may be asked to express the reason for their interests and the contribution they feel they could make to such a committee.
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Riverside School Board, Board Room, 299 Sir Wilfrid-Laurier, St. Lambert, Quebec
If you are unsure as to whether you qualify to sit on this committee, please contact the administration of your child’s school.
October 4, 2010
NOTICE OF ELECTIONS
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Riverside School Board will hold elections for its Advisory Committee on Services for Students with Special Needs for the 2010-2011 school year. This Advisory Committee is composed of 7 parents and 6 other members selected from the Board’s teachers, support staff, non-teaching professionals and administrators. The Committee provides an opportunity for this representative group to come together on a regular basis to discuss the special education services provided to its students.
Parents chosen for this committee are designated by the Board’s Parents’ Committee and are parents with children who have been identified for special education services. These services may include remedial assistance in schools from a teacher or other staff member, technician support for academic or behavioural difficulties, support of an attendant for integration purposes, or placement in a special education class or program. These students will have an Individualized Educational Plan in place for the 2010-2011 school year.
Seven parents required for the committee will be selected as follows:
• Three parents with children in the elementary sector who have been identified with a
handicap condition, learning or behavioural difficulty
• Three parents with children in the secondary sector who have been identified with a handicap
condition, learning or behavioural difficulty
• One parent of a child attending REACH
Parents who wish to have further information or who would like to stand for election to this committee are invited to attend a general meeting Wednesday, October 13, 2010. Interested candidates may be asked to express the reason for their interests and the contribution they feel they could make to such a committee.
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Riverside School Board, Board Room, 299 Sir Wilfrid-Laurier, St. Lambert, Quebec
If you are unsure as to whether you qualify to sit on this committee, please contact the administration of your child’s school.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Integration in schools to be addressed in Oct. 25th "Partners in Education" meeting
The Quebec Minister of Education Leisure and Sport recently announced that the first meeting of a series entitled "Partners in Education" will address the topic of inclusion in schools and will be held Oct. 25.
Here is the portion of the press release relating to the integration of special needs kids in regular classrooms:
LA MINISTRE LINE BEAUCHAMP ANNONCE LA TENUE D'UNE PREMIÈRE RENCONTRE DES PARTENAIRES EN ÉDUCATION
QUÉBEC, le 22 sept. 2010 /CNW Telbec/ - La ministre de l'Éducation, du
Loisir et du Sport, Mme Line Beauchamp, a annoncé aujourd'hui la tenue, le 25
octobre prochain, d'une première rencontre sur l'intégration des élèves
handicapés ou en difficulté d'adaptation ou d'apprentissage. «Ensemble, nous
allons faire le point sur la réussite des élèves handicapés ou en difficulté
d'adaptation ou d'apprentissage et leur intégration en classe ordinaire. Nous
allons réaffirmer les principes sur lesquels nos actions s'appuient,
identifier clairement les difficultés reliées à l'intégration de ces élèves,
nous entendre sur les ajustements à apporter et convenir des travaux à
réaliser», a déclaré la ministre.
La rencontre réunira des représentantes et représentants du personnel
enseignant, des directions d'école, de commissions scolaires, de différentes
associations, des parents et des partenaires ministériels. Un cahier du
participant servira à alimenter les discussions.
There is no specific mention of who exactly is to participate in the meeting, whether or not it is public or the time and location.
It would certainly be interesting to get the supporting documents and try to get some indication from the organizers whether presentations are encouraged and what influence the public might expect to have by participating, if possible.
Here is the portion of the press release relating to the integration of special needs kids in regular classrooms:
LA MINISTRE LINE BEAUCHAMP ANNONCE LA TENUE D'UNE PREMIÈRE RENCONTRE DES PARTENAIRES EN ÉDUCATION
QUÉBEC, le 22 sept. 2010 /CNW Telbec/ - La ministre de l'Éducation, du
Loisir et du Sport, Mme Line Beauchamp, a annoncé aujourd'hui la tenue, le 25
octobre prochain, d'une première rencontre sur l'intégration des élèves
handicapés ou en difficulté d'adaptation ou d'apprentissage. «Ensemble, nous
allons faire le point sur la réussite des élèves handicapés ou en difficulté
d'adaptation ou d'apprentissage et leur intégration en classe ordinaire. Nous
allons réaffirmer les principes sur lesquels nos actions s'appuient,
identifier clairement les difficultés reliées à l'intégration de ces élèves,
nous entendre sur les ajustements à apporter et convenir des travaux à
réaliser», a déclaré la ministre.
La rencontre réunira des représentantes et représentants du personnel
enseignant, des directions d'école, de commissions scolaires, de différentes
associations, des parents et des partenaires ministériels. Un cahier du
participant servira à alimenter les discussions.
There is no specific mention of who exactly is to participate in the meeting, whether or not it is public or the time and location.
It would certainly be interesting to get the supporting documents and try to get some indication from the organizers whether presentations are encouraged and what influence the public might expect to have by participating, if possible.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Official Policy Regarding Special Needs Education in Quebec
It would be useful to have more immediate and ready access to, and wider distribution of, the policies concerning special needs in Quebec schools. These policies were adopted about six or seven years ago, as required by the Ministry of Education. Each school board adopted its own policy based on a model provided by MELS, which was then modified in a consultative process with the various stakeholders.
In the future, these policies will be linked here on the sidebar.
This information is being put here as a reference, rather than to provoke questions or concerns. It must be said though, when one see how nearly identical the different school boards' policies are, it is curious how differently special needs education is handled in practice, from one board to another. For example, just the fact that REACH School, in St. Lambert on the south shore is the only public English language special needs school in the Montreal area is quite surprising. The other English special needs schools in the Montreal area are either private or run by charitable organizations. In fairness, most of these differences date back to the randomly differing ways that special needs education was originally handled in different communities.
This is a link to the policy identified as "Special Education Services" on the Riverside School Board website.
The complete title of the document is: Policy Concerning the Organization of Educational Services
for Students with Handicaps and Students with Social
Maladjustments or Learning Disabilities
On the English Montreal School Board site, there are two similar policies.
This is a link to the Special Needs Policy of the English Montreal School Board. This is only a one-page document.
The complete title of the document is: A Policy Adopting Standards and Procedures for the Organization of Educational Services for Handicapped Students and Students with Social Maladjustments or Learning Disabilities
The other policy on the EMSB site is identified as the Special Education Policy.on the EMSB website and the full title of it is: POLICY GOVERNING THE ORGANIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH HANDICAPS, SOCIAL MALADJUSTMENTS OR LEARNING DISABILITIES
This latter is the one that resembles the Riverside School Board policy. It would be most interesting to go through and identify any consequential differences between the two policies.
UPDATE: Oct. 7 - A copy of the document has now been circulated - posting it up on this site will be looked into. It is 50 or 60 pages.
In the future, these policies will be linked here on the sidebar.
This information is being put here as a reference, rather than to provoke questions or concerns. It must be said though, when one see how nearly identical the different school boards' policies are, it is curious how differently special needs education is handled in practice, from one board to another. For example, just the fact that REACH School, in St. Lambert on the south shore is the only public English language special needs school in the Montreal area is quite surprising. The other English special needs schools in the Montreal area are either private or run by charitable organizations. In fairness, most of these differences date back to the randomly differing ways that special needs education was originally handled in different communities.
This is a link to the policy identified as "Special Education Services" on the Riverside School Board website.
The complete title of the document is: Policy Concerning the Organization of Educational Services
for Students with Handicaps and Students with Social
Maladjustments or Learning Disabilities
On the English Montreal School Board site, there are two similar policies.
This is a link to the Special Needs Policy of the English Montreal School Board. This is only a one-page document.
The complete title of the document is: A Policy Adopting Standards and Procedures for the Organization of Educational Services for Handicapped Students and Students with Social Maladjustments or Learning Disabilities
The other policy on the EMSB site is identified as the Special Education Policy.on the EMSB website and the full title of it is: POLICY GOVERNING THE ORGANIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH HANDICAPS, SOCIAL MALADJUSTMENTS OR LEARNING DISABILITIES
This latter is the one that resembles the Riverside School Board policy. It would be most interesting to go through and identify any consequential differences between the two policies.
UPDATE: Oct. 7 - A copy of the document has now been circulated - posting it up on this site will be looked into. It is 50 or 60 pages.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Democracy is still a part of education
Following is a page borrowed off of another blog, "Straight Outa Edmonton".
I couldn't figure out a better way of putting the idea across than just cutting the whole thing and pasting it.
The differences between the level of public scrutiny and accountability of our school boards here in Quebec, and what we see in other parts of Canada, are becoming substantial.
I think there is more acceptance of central management here in Quebec. And probably less tradition of local decision making. Unfortunately, in terms of special needs, it is my experience that the central authorities and bureaucrats in education have a tough time keeping up with best practices and applying them effectively throughout the diverse regions of Quebec. Even more problematic is keeping parents abreast of what's happening in the schools.
Here is a sample of what Edmonton voters are perusing this fall:
Social Media Catalogue for Edmonton's Public School Board 2010
Similar to the social media catalogue for candidates running for Edmonton City Council and Edmonton's Catholic School Board, here is a similar post with links for candidates running for Public School Board Trustee. Let me know if I missed any links.Public School Board Trustee — Ward A
Cheryl Johner (twitter, facebook)
Rory Johannes Koopmans
Kevan Warner (twitter, facebook)
Public School Board Trustee — Ward B
Amanda Beisiegel (facebook)
Perry Chahal (twitter, facebook)
Darryl Lagerquist (facebook, twitter)
George P. Nicholson
Ken Shipka
Public School Board Trustee — Ward C
Mary Gradisar
Tony Henshall (facebook)
Christopher Spencer (twitter, facebook)
Public School Board Trustee — Ward D
Dave Colburn (acclaimed - twitter, facebook)
Public School Board Trustee — Ward E
Neil MacDonald
Heather MacKenzie (twitter, facebook)
Ken Soroka (twitter, facebook)
Public School Board Trustee - Ward F
Michael Janz (twitter, facebook)
Joanna Rozmus (twitter)
Bev Sawyer (twitter, facebook)
Public School Board Trustee - Ward G
Sarah Hoffman (youtube, twitter, facebook)
George Rice (facebook)
Public School Board Trustee - Ward H
Catherine Ripley (acclaimed - twitter, facebook)
Public School Board Trustee - Ward I
Leslie Cleary (twitter, facebook)
Tina Jardine (twitter, facebook)
Balraj Manhas
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Helpful information for anyone with a mentally challenged special needs child
The following information should prove helpful for anyone with a mentally challenged special needs child. While a good portion of this “open letter” was written originally to a mother with a lower functioning 13 year old Down's syndrome student, I hope you find much information which will help with your child(ren).
This is one outtake from the full article:
This is one outtake from the full article:
"...As with any population of individuals, it is difficult to make a blanket statement that applies correctly to every Downs child. Many typical Downs children will have mental ages (and interests) approximately between seven and twelve years old as an adult, but not all (some will be higher and some will be lower). Obviously, a 7 year old's abilities will be less than the teen age reasoning abilities of a 12 year old. For these children, emphasize learning safety skills, personal information, leisure time activities that they can enjoy, and job related/work skills training which encourages them to function within their family and community. For higher functioning children, stress academics that lead to better job placements as adults.
In years past, Downs children were labeled as "educable" or "trainable", according to their IQs. These labels were restrictive and unfair to the families and children alike. Today, these labels have been removed, allowing many Downs children to surpass expectations and break the strangle-hold of stereotypes. Therefore, never limit your child by low expectations, but expose him to many realistic situations where he will experience success..."
We noticed right away that much of this didn't seem applicable in our case but we have long been willing to collect all information available and keep it in reserve, even if its relevance didn't seem immediately apparent.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
REACH School Provides Indispensable Services for South Shore Special Needs Kids
REACH, (or Realistic Educational Alternatives for Children with Handicaps) School, in Saint Lambert, Quebec, offers an alternate educational program within the family of services offered by the Riverside School Board. It is a regional program serving the territories of Riverside. Reach School is the only English public school for students with special needs in the Montreal area.
REACH has a focus on being as environmentally conscious as possible and many efforts to be more ecologically responsible within the school, the community and in the world are undertaken. They re-cycle, re-use, and reduce in many ways.
To contact REACH School: 450-671-1649 Here is the The Riverside School Board link for REACH School.
This year REACH has 7 classes, with a student population of approximately 65 students, aged 4 to 21 years. Each class has one teacher and one technician or attendant. Each class is composed so as to offer best learning potential for the students in a relatively homogeneous group.
The school's vision addresses the needs of a safe and caring community of learners that fosters individual growth and autonomy.
REACH promotes the autonomy and development of its students with intellectual and/or pervasive developmental challenges, such as autism spectrum, Down's syndrome (trisomy 21) and many other conditions, through programs of life skills, social skills, personal development, and functional academics; at the same time, enriching its students lives through many other exciting, innovative and meaningful experiences with sports, music, the arts, communication and language building, and specifically with occupational therapy services.
Some of the school's annual events include a Welcome Back Corn Roast, Meet the Staff/Annual GB General Assembly, the Graduation Exercise, holiday concerts, special outings ( e.g. Granby Zoo in June) and activities such as participation in the Defi Sportif.
One of REACH's great assets is its participation in McGill's "Double Challenge Program". In this program, all students spend one morning a week at McGill University, for a period of about ten weeks, where they are paired with a McGill special education student and have access to an extensive range of specialized facilities.
Each Thursday, several of the older students prepare ‘Yummy lunches' for all the school population, responsible for planning the menu, the budget, shopping and, of course, preparation and serving.
REACH has a focus on being as environmentally conscious as possible and many efforts to be more ecologically responsible within the school, the community and in the world are undertaken. They re-cycle, re-use, and reduce in many ways.
REACH has regularly participated in Arts Smarts, which partners with an artist from the community to come in and work with the students.
Some students learn important life and job skills at their work-study placements at such stores as Winners, Pharmaprix ToysRUs and Zellers. To facilitate this program, REACH has its own "travel trainer", who assists the students in using public transportation and, where necessary, in fulfilling their on-the-job responsibilities.
The children enjoy easy access to nearby community facilities, such as swimming at the community pool, visits to local parks, and field, the arena and gymnasium, which are all within walking distance through residential streets.
Typically REACH hosts work study students from McGill’s Occupational Therapy Department as well as from several local CEGEP programs. This year, Langmobile offered a summer day camp for the week before the new 2010/11 school year began. 
This was the 3rd year that REACH was able to hire its own Occupational Therapist, Mme. Carole Laliberte. This is an undertaking and special initiative of the parents who raise money for this vital service which we now enjoy 2 days a week. REACH also has speech therapy services and a music specialist.
REACH School serves the communities of St. Lambert, Greenfield Park, Longueuil, St. Hubert, Brossard, St. Bruno, Ste. Hilaire, Chambly, La Prairie, Candiac, Beloeil, Carignan, St. Julie and all other territories of Riverside School Board.
To contact REACH School: 450-671-1649 Here is the The Riverside School Board link for REACH School.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Open letter to the Regroupement pour la Trisomie 21
This letter was sent recently by parents of a child with Down's Syndrome to the Regroupement pour la Trisomie 21, the association for Down's Syndrome in Quebec. We will keep you appraised of what response is received, if any.
Hi,
As parent's of a 13-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome born here in Quebec, we would like to express our opinion that, by not having English on your website, the Regroupement pour la Trisomie 21 is fundamentally in error.
Although I speak some French, my wife does not and due to your French-only policy, we have been deprived of any benefits that your organization may have offered us over the past 13+ years since our son was born.
As you may well imagine, parents of kids with special needs are not the people who can most easily cope with navigating a second or third language when they go to seek help with their challenges.
The vast majority of websites in Quebec, or certainly Montreal, that deal with a wide public, are presented bilingually.
Your group should be a leader, representing a progressive view of "inclusion" and "diversity" in society. Yet you intentionally exclude English from your site and have no doubt driven away dozens or hundreds of families who need help, like ourselves.
Is this a welcoming, inclusive organization?
Furthermore, the Province of Quebec has undertaken to provide English services in health and education wherever warranted. Yet your organization seems totally oblivious to this moral obligation.
In conclusion, we would like to say that we are aware there are financial constraints in all charitable endeavors, no more so than in funding for special needs. This does not in any way justify alienating a large percentage of the population in the Montreal area, many of whom would benefit greatly from the assistance you could offer.
Therefore we urge you to implement an official bilingualism policy at your earliest possible convenience and anxiously await your response.
Sincerely yours,
Hi,
As parent's of a 13-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome born here in Quebec, we would like to express our opinion that, by not having English on your website, the Regroupement pour la Trisomie 21 is fundamentally in error.
Although I speak some French, my wife does not and due to your French-only policy, we have been deprived of any benefits that your organization may have offered us over the past 13+ years since our son was born.
As you may well imagine, parents of kids with special needs are not the people who can most easily cope with navigating a second or third language when they go to seek help with their challenges.
The vast majority of websites in Quebec, or certainly Montreal, that deal with a wide public, are presented bilingually.
Your group should be a leader, representing a progressive view of "inclusion" and "diversity" in society. Yet you intentionally exclude English from your site and have no doubt driven away dozens or hundreds of families who need help, like ourselves.
Is this a welcoming, inclusive organization?
Furthermore, the Province of Quebec has undertaken to provide English services in health and education wherever warranted. Yet your organization seems totally oblivious to this moral obligation.
In conclusion, we would like to say that we are aware there are financial constraints in all charitable endeavors, no more so than in funding for special needs. This does not in any way justify alienating a large percentage of the population in the Montreal area, many of whom would benefit greatly from the assistance you could offer.
Therefore we urge you to implement an official bilingualism policy at your earliest possible convenience and anxiously await your response.
Sincerely yours,
Monday, September 13, 2010
RAPID seeking to facilitate ped day and before/after school day care for south shore RSB special needs kids
RAPID, the non-profit that looks out for the rights and well being of English language special needs families on Montreal's south shore, is hoping to announce ped day and day care programs in the near future.
RAPID has been working together with ARSDI (L’Association de la Rive-Sud pour la Déficience Intellectuelle) to offer the services, which should be obtainable for any Riverside School Board children who are not being served by their own school.
The south shore of Montreal (parts of which also known as the "Monteregie") is served by Riverside School Board (St. Lambert, Greenfield Park, Longueuil, St. Hubert, Brossard, St. Bruno, Ste. Hilaire, Chambly, La Prairie, Candiac, Beloeil, Carignan, St. Julie and others) as well as New Frontiers School Board (Chateauguay, Ormstown, etc.) and Eastern Townships School Board (Magog, Granby, Cowansville, etc.).
RAPID has been working together with ARSDI (L’Association de la Rive-Sud pour la Déficience Intellectuelle) to offer the services, which should be obtainable for any Riverside School Board children who are not being served by their own school.
The south shore of Montreal (parts of which also known as the "Monteregie") is served by Riverside School Board (St. Lambert, Greenfield Park, Longueuil, St. Hubert, Brossard, St. Bruno, Ste. Hilaire, Chambly, La Prairie, Candiac, Beloeil, Carignan, St. Julie and others) as well as New Frontiers School Board (Chateauguay, Ormstown, etc.) and Eastern Townships School Board (Magog, Granby, Cowansville, etc.).
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Heartfelt letter from a special needs parent
Here's an interesting blog by a special needs teacher called, (surprise, surprise) Notes From a Special Needs Teacher.
What caught my eye was an inspirational letter from a special needs parent that is currently the most recent post on the blog.
Fairly long, but worth re-pasting, I thought.
Read and reflect...
What caught my eye was an inspirational letter from a special needs parent that is currently the most recent post on the blog.
Fairly long, but worth re-pasting, I thought.
Read and reflect...
My dear friend,
I am so sorry for your pain.
Don’t worry; no one else sees it, I promise. To the rest of the world, you’re fine. But when you’ve been there, you can’t miss it.
I see it in your eyes. That awful, combustible mixture of heart-wrenching pain and abject fear. God, I remember the fear.
I see it in the weight of that invisible cloak that you wear. I remember the coarseness of its fabric on my skin. Like raw wool in the middle of the desert. You see, it was mine for a time.
I never would have wanted to pass it on to you, my love. I remember so well suffocating under the weight of it, struggling for breath, fighting to throw it off while wrapping myself in its awful warmth, clutching its worn edges for dear life.
I know that it feels like it’s permanent, fixed. But one day down the line you will wake up and find that you’ve left it next to the bed. Eventually, you’ll hang it in the closet. You’ll visit it now and then. You’ll try it on for size. You’ll run your fingers over the fabric and remember when you lived in it, when it was constant, when you couldn’t take it off and leave it behind. But soon days will go by before you wear it again, then weeks, then months.
I know you are staring down what looks to be an impossibly steep learning curve. I know it looks like an immovable mountain. It is not. I know you don’t believe me, but step by step you will climb until suddenly, without warning, you will look down. You will see how far you’ve come. You’ll breathe. I promise. You might even be able to take in the view.
You will doubt yourself. You won’t trust your instincts right away. You will be afraid that you don’t have the capacity to be what your baby will need you to be. Worse, you’ll think that you don’t even know what she needs you to be. You do. I promise. You will.
When you became a mother, you held that tiny baby girl in your arms and in an instant, she filled your heart. You were overwhelmed with love. The kind of love you never expected. The kind that knocks the wind out of you. The kind of all encompassing love that you think couldn’t possibly leave room for any other. But it did.
When your son was born, you looked into those big blue eyes and he crawled right into your heart. He made room for himself, didn’t he? He carved out a space all his own. Suddenly your heart was just bigger. And then again when your youngest was born. She made herself right at home there too.
That’s how it happens. When you need capacity you find it. Your heart expands. It just does. It’s elastic. I promise.
You are so much stronger than you think you are. Trust me. I know you. Hell, I am you.
You will find people in your life who get it and some that don’t. You’ll find some that want to get it and some that never will. You’ll find a closeness with people you never thought you had anything in common with. You’ll find comfort and relief with friends who speak your new language. You’ll find your village.
You’ll change. One day you’ll notice a shift. You’ll realize that certain words have dropped out of your lexicon. The ones you hadn’t ever thought could be hurtful. Dude, that’s retarded. Never again. You won’t laugh at vulnerability. You’ll see the world through a lens of sensitivity. The people around you will notice. You’ll change them too.
You will learn to ask for help. You’ll have to. It won’t be easy. You’ll forget sometimes. Life will remind you.
You will read more than you can process. You’ll buy books that you can’t handle reading. You’ll feel guilty that they’re sitting by the side of the bed unopened. Take small bites. The information isn’t going anywhere. Let your heart heal. It will. Breathe. You can.
You will blame yourself. You’ll think you missed signs you should have seen. You’ll be convinced that you should have known. That you should have somehow gotten help earlier. You couldn’t have known. Don’t let yourself live there for long.
You will dig deep and find reserves of energy you never would have believed you had. You will run on adrenaline and crash into dreamless sleep. But you will come through it. I swear, you will. You will find a rhythm.
You will neglect yourself. You will suddenly realize that you haven’t stopped moving. You’ve missed the gym. You’ve taken care of everyone but you. You will forget how important it is to take care of yourself. Listen to me. If you hear nothing else, hear this. You MUST take care of yourself. You are no use to anyone unless you are healthy. I mean that holistically, my friend. HEALTHY. Nourished, rested, soul-fed. Your children deserve that example.
A friend will force you to take a walk. You will go outside. You will look at the sky. Follow the clouds upward. Try to find where they end. You’ll need that. You’ll need the air. You’ll need to remember how small we all really are.
You will question your faith. Or find it. Maybe both.
You will never, ever take progress for granted. Every milestone met, no matter what the timing, will be cause for celebration. Every baby step will be a quantum leap. You will find the people who understand that. You will revel in their support and love and shared excitement.
You will encounter people who care for your child in ways that restore your faith in humanity. You will cherish the teachers and therapists and caregivers who see past your child’s challenges and who truly understand her strengths. They will feel like family.
You will examine and re-examine every one of your own insecurities. You will recognize some of your child’s challenges as your own. You will get to know yourself as you get to know your child. You will look to the tools you have used to mitigate your own challenges. You will share them. You will both be better for it.
You will come to understand that there are gifts in all of this. Tolerance, compassion, understanding. Precious, life altering gifts.
You will worry about your other children. You will feel like you’re not giving them enough time. You will find the time. Yes, you will. No, really. You will. You will discover that the time that means something to them is not big. It’s not a trip to the circus. It doesn’t involve planning. It’s free. You will forget the dog and pony shows. Instead, you will find fifteen minutes before bed. You will close the door. You will sit on the floor. You’ll play Barbies with your daughter or Legos with your son. You’ll talk. You’ll listen. You’ll listen some more. You’ll start to believe they’ll be OK. And they will. You will be a better parent for all of it.
You will find the tools that you need. You will take bits and pieces of different theories and practices. You’ll talk to parents and doctors and therapists. You’ll take something from each of them. You’ll even find value in those you don’t agree with at all. Sometimes the most. From the scraps that you gather, you will start to build your child’s quilt. A little of this, a little of that, a lot of love.
You will speak hesitantly at first, but you’ll find your voice. You will come to see that no one knows your child better than you do. You will respectfully listen to the experts in each field. You will value their experience and their knowledge. But you will ultimately remember that while they are the experts in science, you are the expert in your child.
You will think you can’t handle it. You will be wrong.
This is not an easy road, but its rewards are tremendous. It’s joys are the very sweetest of life’s nectar. You will drink them in and taste and smell and feel every last drop of them.
You will be OK.
You will help your sweet girl be far better than OK. You will show her boundless love. She will know that she is accepted and cherished and celebrated for every last morsel of who she is. She will know that her Mama’s there at every turn. She will believe in herself as you believe in her. She will astound you. Over and over and over again. She will teach you far more than you teach her. She will fly.
You will be OK.
And I will be here for you. Every step of the way.
With love,
Jess
I am so sorry for your pain.
Don’t worry; no one else sees it, I promise. To the rest of the world, you’re fine. But when you’ve been there, you can’t miss it.
I see it in your eyes. That awful, combustible mixture of heart-wrenching pain and abject fear. God, I remember the fear.
I see it in the weight of that invisible cloak that you wear. I remember the coarseness of its fabric on my skin. Like raw wool in the middle of the desert. You see, it was mine for a time.
I never would have wanted to pass it on to you, my love. I remember so well suffocating under the weight of it, struggling for breath, fighting to throw it off while wrapping myself in its awful warmth, clutching its worn edges for dear life.
I know that it feels like it’s permanent, fixed. But one day down the line you will wake up and find that you’ve left it next to the bed. Eventually, you’ll hang it in the closet. You’ll visit it now and then. You’ll try it on for size. You’ll run your fingers over the fabric and remember when you lived in it, when it was constant, when you couldn’t take it off and leave it behind. But soon days will go by before you wear it again, then weeks, then months.
I know you are staring down what looks to be an impossibly steep learning curve. I know it looks like an immovable mountain. It is not. I know you don’t believe me, but step by step you will climb until suddenly, without warning, you will look down. You will see how far you’ve come. You’ll breathe. I promise. You might even be able to take in the view.
You will doubt yourself. You won’t trust your instincts right away. You will be afraid that you don’t have the capacity to be what your baby will need you to be. Worse, you’ll think that you don’t even know what she needs you to be. You do. I promise. You will.
When you became a mother, you held that tiny baby girl in your arms and in an instant, she filled your heart. You were overwhelmed with love. The kind of love you never expected. The kind that knocks the wind out of you. The kind of all encompassing love that you think couldn’t possibly leave room for any other. But it did.
When your son was born, you looked into those big blue eyes and he crawled right into your heart. He made room for himself, didn’t he? He carved out a space all his own. Suddenly your heart was just bigger. And then again when your youngest was born. She made herself right at home there too.
That’s how it happens. When you need capacity you find it. Your heart expands. It just does. It’s elastic. I promise.
You are so much stronger than you think you are. Trust me. I know you. Hell, I am you.
You will find people in your life who get it and some that don’t. You’ll find some that want to get it and some that never will. You’ll find a closeness with people you never thought you had anything in common with. You’ll find comfort and relief with friends who speak your new language. You’ll find your village.
You’ll change. One day you’ll notice a shift. You’ll realize that certain words have dropped out of your lexicon. The ones you hadn’t ever thought could be hurtful. Dude, that’s retarded. Never again. You won’t laugh at vulnerability. You’ll see the world through a lens of sensitivity. The people around you will notice. You’ll change them too.
You will learn to ask for help. You’ll have to. It won’t be easy. You’ll forget sometimes. Life will remind you.
You will read more than you can process. You’ll buy books that you can’t handle reading. You’ll feel guilty that they’re sitting by the side of the bed unopened. Take small bites. The information isn’t going anywhere. Let your heart heal. It will. Breathe. You can.
You will blame yourself. You’ll think you missed signs you should have seen. You’ll be convinced that you should have known. That you should have somehow gotten help earlier. You couldn’t have known. Don’t let yourself live there for long.
You will dig deep and find reserves of energy you never would have believed you had. You will run on adrenaline and crash into dreamless sleep. But you will come through it. I swear, you will. You will find a rhythm.
You will neglect yourself. You will suddenly realize that you haven’t stopped moving. You’ve missed the gym. You’ve taken care of everyone but you. You will forget how important it is to take care of yourself. Listen to me. If you hear nothing else, hear this. You MUST take care of yourself. You are no use to anyone unless you are healthy. I mean that holistically, my friend. HEALTHY. Nourished, rested, soul-fed. Your children deserve that example.
A friend will force you to take a walk. You will go outside. You will look at the sky. Follow the clouds upward. Try to find where they end. You’ll need that. You’ll need the air. You’ll need to remember how small we all really are.
You will question your faith. Or find it. Maybe both.
You will never, ever take progress for granted. Every milestone met, no matter what the timing, will be cause for celebration. Every baby step will be a quantum leap. You will find the people who understand that. You will revel in their support and love and shared excitement.
You will encounter people who care for your child in ways that restore your faith in humanity. You will cherish the teachers and therapists and caregivers who see past your child’s challenges and who truly understand her strengths. They will feel like family.
You will examine and re-examine every one of your own insecurities. You will recognize some of your child’s challenges as your own. You will get to know yourself as you get to know your child. You will look to the tools you have used to mitigate your own challenges. You will share them. You will both be better for it.
You will come to understand that there are gifts in all of this. Tolerance, compassion, understanding. Precious, life altering gifts.
You will worry about your other children. You will feel like you’re not giving them enough time. You will find the time. Yes, you will. No, really. You will. You will discover that the time that means something to them is not big. It’s not a trip to the circus. It doesn’t involve planning. It’s free. You will forget the dog and pony shows. Instead, you will find fifteen minutes before bed. You will close the door. You will sit on the floor. You’ll play Barbies with your daughter or Legos with your son. You’ll talk. You’ll listen. You’ll listen some more. You’ll start to believe they’ll be OK. And they will. You will be a better parent for all of it.
You will find the tools that you need. You will take bits and pieces of different theories and practices. You’ll talk to parents and doctors and therapists. You’ll take something from each of them. You’ll even find value in those you don’t agree with at all. Sometimes the most. From the scraps that you gather, you will start to build your child’s quilt. A little of this, a little of that, a lot of love.
You will speak hesitantly at first, but you’ll find your voice. You will come to see that no one knows your child better than you do. You will respectfully listen to the experts in each field. You will value their experience and their knowledge. But you will ultimately remember that while they are the experts in science, you are the expert in your child.
You will think you can’t handle it. You will be wrong.
This is not an easy road, but its rewards are tremendous. It’s joys are the very sweetest of life’s nectar. You will drink them in and taste and smell and feel every last drop of them.
You will be OK.
You will help your sweet girl be far better than OK. You will show her boundless love. She will know that she is accepted and cherished and celebrated for every last morsel of who she is. She will know that her Mama’s there at every turn. She will believe in herself as you believe in her. She will astound you. Over and over and over again. She will teach you far more than you teach her. She will fly.
You will be OK.
And I will be here for you. Every step of the way.
With love,
Jess
Saturday, September 11, 2010
G.I.R.A.F. Autisme - an option for families on the South Shore
Spotted while out and about... above the Mikes on Taschereau, there is an office for the organization, G.I.R.A.F. The initials stand for, Groupe d’Intervention et de Réadaptation pour enfants Autistes et leur Famille. There wasn't time to look into the operation any further at that time, however they do have a website, at www.giraf-autisme.com where their programs are outlined and the phone number is (450) 904-2144.
Could be a convenient solution for some of our readers. Anyone with further information, please let us know.
Could be a convenient solution for some of our readers. Anyone with further information, please let us know.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Some FAQs on bilingualism and ASDs
Quebec is one of the areas of the world where bilingualism is very important. No doubt it is a top priority for most English-speaking parents that their children become proficient in French, in order to optimize their future opportunities in this province. Obviously, this holds true for children with special needs, when at all possible.
However, many parents have worried that attempts to teach two languages may be confusing, or have other undesirable effects.
Some studies in the past that have concluded that many special needs have not been found to be detrimental to a child's ability to succeed in learning a second language.
A new study that some families from the South Shore participated in was called Home Language Study, funded by Autism Speaks and conducted by co-investigators C. Hambly and Dr. E. Fombonne.
There are no findings as yet posted on the website, but there is an informative page of FAQs that could be of interest to many.
However, many parents have worried that attempts to teach two languages may be confusing, or have other undesirable effects.
Some studies in the past that have concluded that many special needs have not been found to be detrimental to a child's ability to succeed in learning a second language.
A new study that some families from the South Shore participated in was called Home Language Study, funded by Autism Speaks and conducted by co-investigators C. Hambly and Dr. E. Fombonne.
There are no findings as yet posted on the website, but there is an informative page of FAQs that could be of interest to many.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
New gov't school board restrictions hammer Quebec special needs kids
The core reason for a serious new budget shortfall at Lester B. Pearson School Board is changes to accounting regulations imposed on school boards by the provincial government.
According to a recent story in the Montreal Gazette, LBPSB is scrambling to find an additional $500,000 just to keep services for special needs kids in their schools at roughly the same level as in past years. This, after the board already injected $750,000 over and above the allocation made last June.
LBPSB Director General Bob Mills said new provincial regulations, prohibiting the board from dipping into its surplus by more than 10%, are largely responsible for the board being unable to make up its special needs shortfall in the usual manner. As described in the article by Brenda Branswell, the Quebec Ministry of Education & Leisure typically provides the board with $10-11 million for special needs, which the board tops up with about $4 million which it gets from its surplus and other sources.
This situation plays out in other school districts across the province to varying degrees, depending on local situations.
Now that the new accounting is putting the spotlight on the situation, perhaps the shortfall of government funding for special needs will get more attention as well.
The fact is that the provincial funding, which is based on a system that "codes" students according to conditions they have or have been evaluated with, only provides significant funding for the most severe cases. Many of the less serious cases generate no additional provincial funding whatsoever - even though most if not all of these students require special attention from teachers both in the classroom and administratively.
According to a recent story in the Montreal Gazette, LBPSB is scrambling to find an additional $500,000 just to keep services for special needs kids in their schools at roughly the same level as in past years. This, after the board already injected $750,000 over and above the allocation made last June.
LBPSB Director General Bob Mills said new provincial regulations, prohibiting the board from dipping into its surplus by more than 10%, are largely responsible for the board being unable to make up its special needs shortfall in the usual manner. As described in the article by Brenda Branswell, the Quebec Ministry of Education & Leisure typically provides the board with $10-11 million for special needs, which the board tops up with about $4 million which it gets from its surplus and other sources.
This situation plays out in other school districts across the province to varying degrees, depending on local situations.
Now that the new accounting is putting the spotlight on the situation, perhaps the shortfall of government funding for special needs will get more attention as well.
The fact is that the provincial funding, which is based on a system that "codes" students according to conditions they have or have been evaluated with, only provides significant funding for the most severe cases. Many of the less serious cases generate no additional provincial funding whatsoever - even though most if not all of these students require special attention from teachers both in the classroom and administratively.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Parents of Montreal 14-year-old take legal action to integrate son in school
The West Island parents of a 14-year-old adopted boy, who suffers effects of radiation acquired from his Chernobyl birth parents, have been forced to take extreme action to have the boy integrated at a Lester B Pearson School Board high school.
According to a story in the Aug. 19 Montreal Gazette, the case in Quebec Superior Court had been postponed until later in August. At present, news of any decision is not readily available.
The School Board Chairman Marcus Tabachnick said that LBPSB integrates 98% of its special needs kids, more than any other district in Quebec. However, in this case the board was offering to provide either partial home schooling or a full time technician to sit with the boy in school hallways.
The student's condition affects his speech and behaviour. He attended regular classes until 2007, when he was suspended from classes due to incidents at school, the details of which are disputed by the parents.
According to a story in the Aug. 19 Montreal Gazette, the case in Quebec Superior Court had been postponed until later in August. At present, news of any decision is not readily available.
The School Board Chairman Marcus Tabachnick said that LBPSB integrates 98% of its special needs kids, more than any other district in Quebec. However, in this case the board was offering to provide either partial home schooling or a full time technician to sit with the boy in school hallways.
The student's condition affects his speech and behaviour. He attended regular classes until 2007, when he was suspended from classes due to incidents at school, the details of which are disputed by the parents.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
5th Annual Autism Awareness Gala
This is about an upcoming event.
It isn't specifically south shore but may be of interest to many.
I just took the text directly from the notice, as follows:
5th Annual Autism Awareness Gala benefiting the Otis Grant Foundation - featuring A Chinese Auction ($20/20 tickets), Entertainment and we are honored to have Mr ADAM REID as the Master Of Ceremony - Surprise Guests - Black & White theme -
Autism currently affects 1-91 children - it could be someone close to you - Time is of the essence and the time to help is NOW!!
Since this is the big 5th year - 5 LUCKY guests will win one of 5 Golden Ticket Prizes - Chocolates By Design will be providing all the chocolate this year and inside 5 will be a GOLDEN TICKET!
Tickets are $90 with a $45 tax receipt -
Corporate Sponships are available - individual or group tickets
can be purchased - donations/sponsorships are greatly
appreciated -
For more info please contact Melissa Vitulano either by email at autismgala@aol.com or 514-758-6396
It isn't specifically south shore but may be of interest to many.
I just took the text directly from the notice, as follows:
5th Annual Autism Awareness Gala benefiting the Otis Grant Foundation - featuring A Chinese Auction ($20/20 tickets), Entertainment and we are honored to have Mr ADAM REID as the Master Of Ceremony - Surprise Guests - Black & White theme -
Autism currently affects 1-91 children - it could be someone close to you - Time is of the essence and the time to help is NOW!!
Since this is the big 5th year - 5 LUCKY guests will win one of 5 Golden Ticket Prizes - Chocolates By Design will be providing all the chocolate this year and inside 5 will be a GOLDEN TICKET!
Tickets are $90 with a $45 tax receipt -
Corporate Sponships are available - individual or group tickets
can be purchased - donations/sponsorships are greatly
appreciated -
For more info please contact Melissa Vitulano either by email at autismgala@aol.com or 514-758-6396
Friday, August 20, 2010
Maria & I - Autistic Daughter is a Father's Inspiration
An award-winning Spanish illustrator, Miguel Gallardo, has created a beautiful film and comic book about his relationship with his autistic daughter, Maria.
Both the comic book and film are entitled Maria y Yo and include sketches and drawing that the artist has done over the past 12 or 13 years. Maria is now 14.
The artist uses humour and a father's insight to bring his subject to life and also keeps a blog by the same title.
He says that the sketches form "a map of Maria's world".
Thursday, August 19, 2010
RAPID's "Saturday Mornings in the Park" a Great Time for All!
This summer, a small group of special needs families from Montreal's south shore area experienced a rare opportunity to share fun activities and exchange ideas.
Moving between a variety of parks in St. Lambert and Greenfield Park, the group was organized by parents from RAPID and also benefited from contributions from volunteers and an animator provided by the ARSDI (L'Association de la Rive-Sud pour la Déficience Intellectuelle).
With new and familiar faces in attendance most every week, organizers are hoping to continue to build on this success to benefit more families in the future.
This activity could even branch into a number of offshoots, if the demand is there, including possibly a Saturday afternoon respite-style program where parents could leave their kids for two or three hours and/or a "traveling" Saturday in the Park schedule which would visit different locations around the south shore.
Some of the people in attendance came from as far away as Chateauguay and Carignan, as well as other areas of the south shore, such as St. Bruno, Longueuil, Brossard, Greenfield Park and St. Lambert.
Moving between a variety of parks in St. Lambert and Greenfield Park, the group was organized by parents from RAPID and also benefited from contributions from volunteers and an animator provided by the ARSDI (L'Association de la Rive-Sud pour la Déficience Intellectuelle).
With new and familiar faces in attendance most every week, organizers are hoping to continue to build on this success to benefit more families in the future.
This activity could even branch into a number of offshoots, if the demand is there, including possibly a Saturday afternoon respite-style program where parents could leave their kids for two or three hours and/or a "traveling" Saturday in the Park schedule which would visit different locations around the south shore.
Some of the people in attendance came from as far away as Chateauguay and Carignan, as well as other areas of the south shore, such as St. Bruno, Longueuil, Brossard, Greenfield Park and St. Lambert.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Abitibi Autism Group Assails Local School's Security Policies
Helmeted teachers and in-classroom security guards are the norm in one Quebec school and the local autism chapter is protesting. Read the full story in the CBC.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
DSM-5: The Future of Psychiatric Diagnosis
Publication of the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in May 2013 will mark one the most anticipated events in the mental health field. As part of the development process, the preliminary draft revisions to the current diagnostic criteria for psychiatric diagnoses are now available for public review and comment.
This may be of particular interest for people with interest in autism and Aspergers, as summarized in a Facing Autism in New Brunswick blog posting today.
This may be of particular interest for people with interest in autism and Aspergers, as summarized in a Facing Autism in New Brunswick blog posting today.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
SOS Handicapes - Another South Shore Organization to Turn to When in Need
I came across a pamphlet at the Primary International School in Greenfield Park Friday.
It is an organization called "SOS Handicapés". The website is www.soshandicapes.org
I'm not sure if anyone is aware of this organization. I wasn't - I don't think.
They are located on the south shore. Their clientele includes people with all kinds of special needs, many of which fall within the scope of our organization (Rapid).
Except they seem to target people who are applying to them as a "last resort".
They are trying to raise $30,000 to buy a hyper-baric chamber... and have ambitious fundraising targets apart from that also.
Pretty interesting - worth checking out.
The other thing that caught my attention was their website - it is a good example of how simple it can be.
Oh yeah, one other thing - there was a nice little table which had these brochures and some other ones on it. The principal happened to walk by just as I was standing there and I asked her if it would be alright to put some of our brochures there. No problem, I was told.
It is an organization called "SOS Handicapés". The website is www.soshandicapes.org
I'm not sure if anyone is aware of this organization. I wasn't - I don't think.
They are located on the south shore. Their clientele includes people with all kinds of special needs, many of which fall within the scope of our organization (Rapid).
Except they seem to target people who are applying to them as a "last resort".
They are trying to raise $30,000 to buy a hyper-baric chamber... and have ambitious fundraising targets apart from that also.
Pretty interesting - worth checking out.
The other thing that caught my attention was their website - it is a good example of how simple it can be.
Oh yeah, one other thing - there was a nice little table which had these brochures and some other ones on it. The principal happened to walk by just as I was standing there and I asked her if it would be alright to put some of our brochures there. No problem, I was told.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Welcome to Special Needs South Shore Montreal Blog
This blog is for all of the thousands of people with special needs, and their friends, families, work associates and employers, on the south shore of Montreal, and anywhere in the Montreal area.
We are going to strive to be a "catching point" - somewhere for new arrivals to the area and people with new diagnoses to find some answers, and somewhere that people can use as a starting point to start looking for answers.
There will be a lot of news of many different types here. Information on state-of-the-art pedagogical techniques, new medical or scientific theories and real time current events news on special needs happenings in the local or regional area.
We are going to strive to be a "catching point" - somewhere for new arrivals to the area and people with new diagnoses to find some answers, and somewhere that people can use as a starting point to start looking for answers.
There will be a lot of news of many different types here. Information on state-of-the-art pedagogical techniques, new medical or scientific theories and real time current events news on special needs happenings in the local or regional area.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)