You might call this a heads-up ~ although there may be many jerseys seen on the south shore tomorrow, no, it is not Jersey Shore.
REACH School kicked off the year with a corn roast and its annual meeting, both over the past week, giving parents plenty of opportunity to see the school and classrooms and meet with their childrens' teachers, the staff and the new school principal.
Tomorrow the beginning-of-the-year fun stuff continues, as students will be wearing their favourite sports jerseys in recognition of National Jersey Day, which is an offshoot of Sports Day in Canada.
Next Friday, Sept 23, will be the school's Terry Fox Run/Walk. And the following week REACH will be going apple picking!
Plenty of energy and excitement around the school as usual this year and, as always, the students are so anxious to embrace learning in the secure and supportive environment provided at REACH!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Special Olympics: Overview of Programs on the Montreal South Shore
There are several Special Olympics programs in different sports happening in several communities around the Montreal south shore / Monteregie area.
There are many summer and winter sports offered and in general both francophone and anglophone athletes are involved.
Following is an overview of what is presently available:
Track & field on Monday night 7:00 pm in St.Lambert
Soccer on Thursday at Boucherville and Saturday in Greenfield Park
Swimming on Wednesday at Boucherville.
Floor hockey and basketball: starting in September
In the winter there will be...
Alpine skiing Monday night at St. Bruno
Cross country skiing on Saturdays at St. Bruno
Snowshoeing Wednesday nights in Longueuil
Special Olympics volunteers and organizers are hoping to meet you soon and talk about the special olympic movement...a great place to be...!
Founded in 1981, Special Olympics Québec (SOQ) offers over 4,100 special athletes with training and competition programs in 14 official sports and 3 in development designed to increase their well-being, self-sufficiency, self-esteem and social integration.
Rapid is hoping to have a representative from the Special Olympics attend a meeting soon to discuss their programs on the south shore.
For further information or details on the events listed above, please email the Special Olympics contact for the south shore at lajemmerais-vr@osqsectionsoq.qc.ca.
The contact for the Southwest / Chateauguay region is chateauguay@osqsectionsoq.qc.ca.
There are many summer and winter sports offered and in general both francophone and anglophone athletes are involved.
Following is an overview of what is presently available:
Track & field on Monday night 7:00 pm in St.Lambert
Soccer on Thursday at Boucherville and Saturday in Greenfield Park
Swimming on Wednesday at Boucherville.
Floor hockey and basketball: starting in September
In the winter there will be...
Alpine skiing Monday night at St. Bruno
Cross country skiing on Saturdays at St. Bruno
Snowshoeing Wednesday nights in Longueuil
Special Olympics volunteers and organizers are hoping to meet you soon and talk about the special olympic movement...a great place to be...!
Founded in 1981, Special Olympics Québec (SOQ) offers over 4,100 special athletes with training and competition programs in 14 official sports and 3 in development designed to increase their well-being, self-sufficiency, self-esteem and social integration.
Rapid is hoping to have a representative from the Special Olympics attend a meeting soon to discuss their programs on the south shore.
For further information or details on the events listed above, please email the Special Olympics contact for the south shore at lajemmerais-vr@osqsectionsoq.qc.ca.
The contact for the Southwest / Chateauguay region is chateauguay@osqsectionsoq.qc.ca.
Friday, September 9, 2011
ARSDI Program Overview as of September 2011
ARSDI is the French acronym for the South Shore Association for the Intellectually Handicapped. This organization serves the south shore of Montreal area with a variety of services from their offices and respite centre located in St. Lambert at the addresses below.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
(ADULT PROGRAM)
Teacher: Sandra Beauregard
10 weeks
Cost: $100
Saturdays: 10 – 12
MUSIC THERAPY
(ADULT PROGRAM)
Teacher: Helen Gaudreau
10 weeks
Cost: $100
Wednesdays: 6:30 - 7:30 P.M.
GENTLE GYM
(ADULT PROGRAM)
Teacher: Jaime Moar
10 weeks
Cost: $100
Tuesdays: 6:30 - 8 P.M.
THE HANG OUT (in english)
Monitors: Chrissy and Nathan
10 weeks
Cost: $100
Every second Thursday: 6:30 - 9 P.M.
For young adults, ages 16 - 30.
RESPITE
(CHILD PROGRAM)
We offer a 24-48 hour respite
service every weekend throughout
the length of the year, as well as
two 10 day long respite periods in
march and july.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
(CHILD PROGRAM)
We offer an after school (2:30-6)
program throughout the school
year, and we are open on
pedagogical holidays (7:30-6).
DAY CAMP
(CHILD PROGRAM)
Every summer, we offer a day
camp for childrien, that is 8 weeks
long. The day begins at 9 and ends
at 4, with a daycare service from
7-9 and 4-6.
ADULT SLEEPOVER CAMP
A camp offered off grounds, runs
every summer for 3 weeks.
Ages 21 and up.
ADULT PROGRAMS
ARSDI courses are offered at 240
St. Laurent, St-Lambert
Winter and Fall
Qualified Teachers
Attentive and Bilingual
CHILD PROGRAMS
After school program
Day Camp
and Respite service
offered at
80 Bétournay, St-lambert.
For Information Please Call the ARSDI: 450-671-5344
Website: http://www.arsdi.org/
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Parrainage Civique Champlain Releases Fall Program
(Thanks to one of our readers for passing this info along)
There is always a link to Parrainage Civique Champlain's website on the sidebar also. The website is in French only however the organization has indicated an interest in offering services to anglophones.
Programmation d’automne
Bonjour chers parents,
L’été tirant à sa fin, nous profitons de l’occasion pour vous faire part de notre programmation d’automne. Nous vous demandons de réserver vos places le plus rapidement possible puisqu’elles sont limitées.
Soirées gardiennage
Les temps de répit sont rares? Nous vous offrons une soirée de congé parental en amusant vos jeunes au Parrainage civique! Pour la session d’automne, nous vous proposons deux dates soit :
*Le vendredi 30 septembre, de 18h à 22h
*Le vendredi 4 novembre, de 18h à 22h.
Coût par jeune, par soirée, 20$.
Cafés-rencontre
Puisque pour la deuxième année consécutive, les cafés du mardi ont été populaires, nous proposons aux parents deux dates à l’automne ou nous ferons un petit brunch pour se rencontrer et jaser, en tout simplicité. Encore une fois, réservez vos places dès que possible!
*Le dimanche 16 octobre, de 10h à 12h,
*Le dimanche 20 novembre, de 10h à 12h.
À noter que vos jeunes sont aussi les bienvenus! Une activité sera planifiée pour eux pendant que vous relaxez!
There is always a link to Parrainage Civique Champlain's website on the sidebar also. The website is in French only however the organization has indicated an interest in offering services to anglophones.
Programmation d’automne
Bonjour chers parents,
L’été tirant à sa fin, nous profitons de l’occasion pour vous faire part de notre programmation d’automne. Nous vous demandons de réserver vos places le plus rapidement possible puisqu’elles sont limitées.
Soirées gardiennage
Les temps de répit sont rares? Nous vous offrons une soirée de congé parental en amusant vos jeunes au Parrainage civique! Pour la session d’automne, nous vous proposons deux dates soit :
*Le vendredi 30 septembre, de 18h à 22h
*Le vendredi 4 novembre, de 18h à 22h.
Coût par jeune, par soirée, 20$.
Cafés-rencontre
Puisque pour la deuxième année consécutive, les cafés du mardi ont été populaires, nous proposons aux parents deux dates à l’automne ou nous ferons un petit brunch pour se rencontrer et jaser, en tout simplicité. Encore une fois, réservez vos places dès que possible!
*Le dimanche 16 octobre, de 10h à 12h,
*Le dimanche 20 novembre, de 10h à 12h.
À noter que vos jeunes sont aussi les bienvenus! Une activité sera planifiée pour eux pendant que vous relaxez!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Another View on Autism Treatment Methodologies
As anyone with any interest in the subject is aware, ABA has become a very widely used and accepted method for treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Many jurisdictions have created substantial budgets to provide ABA early intervention for increasing numbers of children. Nonetheless, the success of the treatment does vary among patients, as the following suggests:
In a 2009 review of 11 studies published from 1987–2007, the researchers wrote "there is strong evidence that EIBI (a type of ABA) is effective for some, but not all, children with autism spectrum disorders, and there is wide variability in response to treatment." Furthermore, any improvements are likely to be greatest in the first year of intervention.[91]
So there is definitely always room to look at alternatives to ABA, especially in cases where its results have appeared to be limited.
One such alternative out there is the "Son-Rise" Program offered by the Autism Treatment Center of America. There is an interesting comparison of the two approaches on the link. According to their material, Son-Rise's strategy builds on relationships whereas ABA addresses behaviors more directly.
Son-Rise was the title of a book written in the '70s by Barry Kaufman, the father of an autistic boy. Kaufman and his wife Samahria went on to found the Autism Treatment Center of America and the techniques they use are based on what they developed to treat their autistic son.
In a 2009 review of 11 studies published from 1987–2007, the researchers wrote "there is strong evidence that EIBI (a type of ABA) is effective for some, but not all, children with autism spectrum disorders, and there is wide variability in response to treatment." Furthermore, any improvements are likely to be greatest in the first year of intervention.[91]
So there is definitely always room to look at alternatives to ABA, especially in cases where its results have appeared to be limited.
One such alternative out there is the "Son-Rise" Program offered by the Autism Treatment Center of America. There is an interesting comparison of the two approaches on the link. According to their material, Son-Rise's strategy builds on relationships whereas ABA addresses behaviors more directly.
Son-Rise was the title of a book written in the '70s by Barry Kaufman, the father of an autistic boy. Kaufman and his wife Samahria went on to found the Autism Treatment Center of America and the techniques they use are based on what they developed to treat their autistic son.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Hyperbaric Therapy Expensive But Many Believe it is Effective
Hyperbaric therapy is a treatment that is available, with multiple claims regarding its effectiveness in a variety of special needs situations.
Many believe it is effective.
The claims of some private clinics offering the treatment are quite extensive.
They say it is useful in treating ADD, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome (and trisomy 13), dysphasia, fetal alcohol syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and stroke, among other diseases and conditions.
Yet, it is not covered by Medicare in Quebec.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the treatment at least has a temporary effect on patients.
Hyperbaric therapy was looked at in a recent news story on CTV News. They say that a round of 40 treatments can cost $5,000 in Quebec and that some parents have noticed improvements and have returned to continue with more treatments. Obviously there is little way of knowing whether these improvements would have occurred without the treatment. Neither is it certain how permanent they will be.
In the U.S., hyperbaric therapy is indicated for 14 applications with medicare coverage, mostly physical healing enhancement situations such as skin grafts, etc.
One small double-blind study in 2009 showed hyperbaric therapy to be effective for treating certain aspects of autism, particularly social interaction and eye contact.
However a randomized study for the Center for Autism Related Disorders (CARD) found that the therapy had no effect. (Doreen Granpeesheh, Jonathan Tarbox, Dennis R. Dixon, Arthur E. Wilke, Michael S. Allen (2009). The lead researcher is also the founder of CARD.
Many believe it is effective.
The claims of some private clinics offering the treatment are quite extensive.
They say it is useful in treating ADD, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome (and trisomy 13), dysphasia, fetal alcohol syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and stroke, among other diseases and conditions.
Yet, it is not covered by Medicare in Quebec.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the treatment at least has a temporary effect on patients.
Hyperbaric therapy was looked at in a recent news story on CTV News. They say that a round of 40 treatments can cost $5,000 in Quebec and that some parents have noticed improvements and have returned to continue with more treatments. Obviously there is little way of knowing whether these improvements would have occurred without the treatment. Neither is it certain how permanent they will be.
In the U.S., hyperbaric therapy is indicated for 14 applications with medicare coverage, mostly physical healing enhancement situations such as skin grafts, etc.
One small double-blind study in 2009 showed hyperbaric therapy to be effective for treating certain aspects of autism, particularly social interaction and eye contact.
However a randomized study for the Center for Autism Related Disorders (CARD) found that the therapy had no effect. (Doreen Granpeesheh, Jonathan Tarbox, Dennis R. Dixon, Arthur E. Wilke, Michael S. Allen (2009). The lead researcher is also the founder of CARD.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Mike Reid Memorial Softball Tournament this Weekend
The tournament begins tomorrow evening in Greenfield Park and continues right through the weekend. In the past there have been over 30 mens teams and a good number of womens teams as well.
The tournament is held annually in the memory of Mike Reid, who grew up in Greenfield Park and died in 1984 at age 20 after a courageous battle with Duschenne Muscular Dystrophy. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for charity over the years.
Here's the link to their Facebook group.
The tournament is held annually in the memory of Mike Reid, who grew up in Greenfield Park and died in 1984 at age 20 after a courageous battle with Duschenne Muscular Dystrophy. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for charity over the years.
Here's the link to their Facebook group.
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