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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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".

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.