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REACH Parent Network Information Exchange.
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This information exchange, sponsored by Reach, is by parents for parents. It's content is guided by Reach's mission to provide choices for families, be family centered, facilitate inclusion, and exist as a quality resource. The information is meant to meet the needs of a multitude of families' interests. We caution readers that Reach does not investigate all claims, and that claims made are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Reach. Readers are encouraged to undertake further investigation on their own of items noted.
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 Reach News -
REACH is the charity of choice for the summer 2011 Tsawwassen Outdoor Movie Nights Events. That means that all money raised through fundraising efforts at these events will go towards Reach's Building for Children Together campaign to build a new child development centre in Ladner. Come for a night of fun for the whole family and support a great cause! Bring your blankets, pillows & chairs & some extra cash for goodies to purchase, (there will also be a 50/50 draw for a chance to win some cash). Hope to see you all there!
- JURASSIC PARK Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 6:30pm Diefenbaker Park, Tsawwassen B.C.
- TOY STORY Saturday, August 6 · 6:30pm - 9:30pm, Diefenbaker Park, Tsawwassen
- HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Saturday, August 20 · 6:30pm, Tsawwassen Town Centre mall, 56th street Tsawwassen
- ET Saturday, September 3 · 6:30pm - 9:30pm, Diefenbaker park, Tsawwassen
- We are looking for volunteers to help us out at these fun events selling popcorn, snacks and drinks to the crowd, selling 50/50 tickets, helping at the children's crafts table or to help clean up after the movie. Volunteers get their very own green Reach t-shirt & some other goodies. If you would like to help please contact Cathy at 604-946-6622 ext. 337 or email Cathy for details. Thanks!
- We're building a child development centre in the heart of the community. Click here to find out how you can help.
Click here to see our WEBSITE!
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Help a Parent?- My son has an iPad through SetBC. However, the account & password is kept with the school district, which is proving cumbersome. I have given them iTunes cards to purchase stuff I want for my son, but to do this the iPAD has to go back to the school district office as they have the password etc. It also means I cannot sync it to the home Mac, so no music, photos etc. How are other school districts managing? I would love to hear other family's experiences and advice. Please respond to MOMS here.
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Autism - Painted Lighthouse Counseling and Consulting Services is offering courses for children and Parents:
- Helping your Child with Difficult Emotions
- Understanding and working with Anxieties
- Supporting Kids through Divorce
- Siblings of Children with Special Needs
- Strengthening Communication with your Partner
- All programs located at 204B- 15225 Thrift Avenue, White Rock
- Now Live and Streaming - The Autism Media Channel. Today, we are proud to announce the official launch of the Autism Media Channel (AMC):Click here . Our mission is to provide you, the autism community, with engaging, informative and timely content about autism spectrum disorders. This site was built with your support and we want to make sure everyone impacted by autism can take advantage of what AMC has to offer:
- Video programs, podcasts and social media to stay informed on the latest developments in the world of autism
- Original content - stories, interviews, informational segments - on treatment and therapies, diet and nutrition, and education and research
- An extended community of families sharing their experiences and the day-to-day challenges in managing autism
- Go to the AMC Site Share it with a friend. Share it with several friends. Help us grow so we can add more original programming. And, let us know what you think. Your opinions and ideas are important to us.
- Five Tips for a happy future for kids with autism. Parents' greatest worry is what will happen to their children when they are no longer able to watch over and advocate for them. Here are some tips about what you should focus on to assure your children with special needs have the best chance for a happy life after you are gone.Click here to read more
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Teaching Children how to explore and express emotions:
Emotes, a series of children's books and comics co-authored by Silver Lake's licensed psychotherapist, Matt Casper, are designed to help kids understand and talk about their emotions and feelings. Each of the twenty-four Emotes characters represents a different emotion, and therefore becomes a mirror of a child's own emotions.
Click here to learn more
- Akron Sergeant uses family's experience with Asperger's to train colleagues.... Training has been an 'absolute hit'. Among other things, understanding the developmental disorder ''has taught me to take my time and give people more time to express themselves,'' he said.That lesson extends to other neurological issues, like dementia.''You learn to understand why some people don't act the way you expect them to act,'' Hughes said.Mark said many officers have put their new knowledge to use and have sought him out to share successful experiences.''I can't tell you how much it means to me,'' Mark said, ''that it's making them better police officers, too.''Click here to read full story
- New Study Confirms Role of Environment in the Development of Autism. A study published this week again confirms that environmental factors play a critical role in the development of autism. The authors concluded: "Our study provides evidence that . . . the influence of genetic factors on the susceptibility to develop autism [has been] overestimated. . . . Increasingly, evidence is accumulating that overt symptoms of autism emerge around the end of the first year of life. Because the prenatal environment and early postnatal environment are shared between twin individuals, we hypothesize that at least some of the environmental factors impacting susceptibility to autism exert their effect during this critical period of life. . . . Future studies that seek to elucidate such factors and their role in enhancing or suppressing genetic susceptibility are likely to enhance our understanding of autism." Click here to read more
- AUTISM and Blood work: I received a frantic call from a parent requesting help for her son. He was scheduled to have lab work that morning and her husband, who helped to restrain him in the past, was out of town. The child, a 16 year old with an Asperger's diagnosis and two cochlear implants, had not been able to make it through a blood test without a physical intervention.Click here to read what happened and see a brilliant visual support!
- Sunday September 25, 2011 at the Nat Bailey Stadium Walk Now for Autism Speaks are fun-filled, family friendly events that bring together members from across the autism stakeholder community. Families, friends, teachers, service providers, corporate teams, researchers - all walking together to raise money to fund vital research, support family services programs, and raising awareness about autism and the issues facing local, provincial and national communities.Click here for more information
- Call for Submissions & Nominations: Children, Teens and Adults on the Autistic Spectrum. 2nd Annual 2011 International Naturally Autistic People Awards and Convention Sept 23 - 25, 2011 Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Our International Awards and Convention celebrates the accomplishments, talents and abilities of autistic people throughout the world. We welcome members of autistic communities everywhere to participate in this event. The general public is invited to experience firsthand the real life potential of autistic people in our communities. Our awards and convention also feature successful autistic adults conducting workshops in their area of expertise. For more information please visit Naturally Autistic
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ADD/ADHD
- Job-hunting Tips for ADHD Teens. How your teenager with ADHD can survive - and succeed - in the summer workplace. It's that time of year again. School has come to a close, so bookworms and athletes alike will transform themselves into short-order cooks, assistants, construction workers, waiters, and sales associates, if only for the summer. As parents, your summer job is to help them.Click here to read more
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Down Syndrome
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DSRF is expanding to Abbotsford, BC! DSRF is expanding to the city where "dreams and families grow" in Abbotsford, BC! We have recently been fielding many calls and emails from families living in the Fraser Valley area who are interested in our educational programs, but are unable to make the long commute to our Burnaby facility. Click here to learn more.
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FASD - Educational Film Features Bastion: Several Bastion Elementary School students will be leading by example. Six Grade 4 students from the school's French immersion program were filmed in French and English last Friday for a Ministry of Education Provincial Outreach Program for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (POPFASD). "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term that covers a range of harms or disorders caused by the mother's use of alcohol during pregnancy," says Janet Hohner, program consultant and former Salmon Arm teacher. Click here to read more
- Saskatchewan Government Funds FASD Awareness: Saskatchewan agencies that promote awareness and prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are receiving $165,000 in funding from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA).The funding will support the development and distribution of a FASD newsletter as well as other resource material focused on parenting and mental health issues related to FASD. Click here to learn more
- Alcohol damages DNA of unborn children beyond repair, says study. Scientists have identified the precise molecular mechanism leading the the breakdown of the body's natural defences that protect DNA against harm from excessive alcohol. Binge drinking can cause permanent genetic damage especially to the unborn children of women in the earliest stage of pregnancy, according to a study which shows for the first time how alcohol destroys DNA. Click here to read more
- Langley - FASD adoptive and foster parents. Monthly support group meetings for those with children who have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Info: Jamie, 604-530-5917.
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Medical - Stress and Youth Part 1: Recently I had the opportunity to view "Race to Nowhere: The Dark Side of America's Achievement Culture," a riveting documentary that is receiving much-deserved publicity throughout the United States. Concerned school and community groups have arranged to show this movie as a catalyst for parents, educators, childcare professionals, and community members to engage in a dialogue about the epidemic of unrealistic expectations, pressures, and stresses that are confronting today's youth. I watched the movie with hundreds of others at the Charles River School in Dover, Massachusetts and then served as the moderator for the lively discussion that followed. Click here to read more
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Education
- iPads could be coming to a school near you: A report to school trustees says eight school districts including Kamloops-Thompson, Abbotsford, Delta, Richmond, Surrey, Victoria, Vancouver and West Vancouver have spent the last year and a half developing a partnership with Apple to supply iPads to students.click here to read full article
- The Supreme Court of Canada agrees to hear case on special education: The country's highest court has agreed to hear a human rights case challenging the way B.C. public schools treat special-needs students. The case was launched more than a dozen years ago by Rick Moore, who alleged that the North Vancouver school district discriminated against his dyslexic son when it failed to teach him to read. Jeff was eight years old, in Grade 3 and struggling to learn. Click here to read more
- Special needs taken care of during job action: BCTF. The representative for children and youth is concerned special needs kids will be affected by a teach-only campaign in the fall, but the teachers' union says the education and well-being of students is their first priority. Click here to read more
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Technology
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Thanks to Apple, the iPad, iPhone and iTouch devices have become the primary means by which our special kids can tap into the incredible world of helpful apps. But for those of you working with PCs, today's guest has an option. Martijn van der Kooij has developed Picto Selector, a robust picto app with over 18,000 images that can be used in English, Spanish, French and Dutch. And where it was initially developed FOR the PC, it is also now available to those with Apple products. Autism Hangout, please welcome today's guest, Martijn van der Kooij. Click here to see a video about this product!
- From Cyndi at MOMS: Received a phone call from AFU today indicating that the powers of be have agreed to approve iPADs under the AFU funding, but there are some conditions.... a family may purchase either an iPad or a computer once every three years or if you have purchased a computer and a professional will support the use of an iPad as an augmentative communication device then AFU may agree to allow a family to do this on a case by case basis. I was also told that anyone that purchased an iPad in the last few months may apply to have the funds reimbursed, but double check with AFU on this as I can't remember the time line. Apparently they are approving them now....so good luck and keep us posted on the success you have with them Click here to email MOMS
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Ministry Information
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Workshops and Training -
ACT WORKSHOP Addressing Autism Across the Lifespan: A Symposium on Building a British Columbia Where Adults with ASD Can Thrive. Opening presentation by Dr. Anthony Bailey, UBC With panel members: Dr. David Batstone, Dr. Jill Calder, Dr. Jonathan Down, Dr. Suzanne Jacobsen, Tamara Kulusic,Chris McIntosh and Arlene Zuckernick
Friday, September 9th, 2011
Registration: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Workshop: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Mary Winspear Centre 2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, BC
Early Bird Deadline - August 4th, 2011Click here for more information
- Great Expectations: South Delta BABY FAIR! Saturday October 1, 2011
- 10am - 2 pm Ladner Community Centre - 4734 51st Street, Ladner
- This event is free for those who are expecting a baby, for those who have a new baby, and for all who are supporting families with very young children.
Over 20 exhibitors featuring trendy and useful products, tons of prizes, local programs, services and resources and fabulous demonstrations, such as Baby Massage instruction! - Contact Muriel Kerr at 604.267.7380 or email here to receive more
information.
- 2011 - 2nd annual International Naturally Autistic People AWARDS and Convention
Friday, September 23 - Sunday, September 25, 2011 - Our awards and convention celebrates all that the autistic community has to offer. Together, we can raise awareness, celebrate the autistic community and provide a unique opportunity to further education, understanding and acceptance. Please take this opportunity to participate in this worthwhile event. This year we have submissions and nominations from UK, Canada, Australia, India, USA, Germany, Scotland and New Zealand
- Friday night, Opening Ceremony Show line-up TBA
Saturday Full-Day Interactive-Workshop sessions and SHOWCASE
Sunday GALA AWARDS DINNER - Click here for registration and more information
- BCACL is happy to announce The Ripple Effect 7: a retreat for families supporting a child with special needs, coming October 14 - 16 2011. This fall's retreat will be held at the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort in the West Kootenays.
The Ripple Effect is a chance for families to join facilitators from the BC Association for Community Living and other families from across B.C. for a FREE thought-provoking and educational retreat, exploring the power of advocacy and community development. Families who attend will learn about the history of the community living movement, learn concepts of community development, individual advocacy, and systems change, and learn practical steps to help advocate for their children.
For full details and to register, Click here!
- Save the date! Speaking of Kids 2011, Friday Oct 21
Speaking of Kids conference 2011 is being held in Vancouver, BC, at Killarney Secondary School on October 21, 2011 (a province wide teacher's professional development day).
Everyone attending will be treated to some surprises. The day will start out with everyone receiving 'goodie bags' plus having their name automatically entered into a draw for a gift..
The 'Teacher Talk' series with Dr. Sam Goldstein, will kick off the morning. Following that will be a refreshment break (free refreshments provided) and then back to the auditorium for the guest speaker, Cloris Leachman!
Ms Leachman will then move to a different room for autographs (available for all conference registrants). LDAV conference committee members are fast at work obtaining 'goodie-bag' items and a raffle draw prize. This year's event will be the best one yet! Click here for registration and more information - October 21, 2011 Pro-D Day Speaker: "How To Reach The Stuggling Student: Providing Brain -Based Instruction To Accommodate Learning Difficulties" will be presented by Dr. James B. Hale Associate Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Victoria. This speaking engagement is hosted by the Learning Disabilities Association - Fraser South Chapter on Oct 21, 2011 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. and is open to all teachers and parents. Registration is available by calling 604-591-5156 or emailing to info@ldafs.org. Cost $20.00.
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- US Autism & Asperger Association 2011 World Conference & Expo 6th Annual ConferenceOctober 27-30, Seattle, Washington CLICK HERE for conference information.
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Fifth National Biennial Conference on Adolescents and Adults with Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Social Justice - Moving Forward
April 18 - 21, 2012
The Hyatt Regency Vancouver, British Columbia Click here for more information
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Seasonal - Looking for Swim Diapers? Here are a couple of Sites offering a variety of sizes:
- Chevron has coupons, you can ask for at the desk (free) buy a ticket, get one free to many vancouver attractions, plus 4 free caruousel rides at BBy Village Museum..(which by the way is free until Sept 7th to enter.) Click here for other Free Ideas for July!
- UBC is holding a daycamp called
"Camp Connect" for kids between 6 to 11 with learning differences (w/c includes kids with Autism). They usually host a bunch of daycamps at the Aquatic Centre but it's their first year to offer this type of camp.
It runs for five days from 9am to 4pm, with camps throughout the summer. Click here for more information or call 604-822-4501/604-822-4522
- KIDSMATTER; 1 Week social skills programs for children with ASD and other developmental disabilities in Abbotsford and Langley for July and August 2011. This year we are offering morning (9:00-12 pm) or afternoon (12:30-3:30) sessions so you can choose either or both! Click here for more information
- False Creek Racing Canoe Club (based out of Granville Island) is
pleased to offer Vancouver's first adaptive paddling program this
summer. PaddleALL is an adaptive paddling program geared towards
breaking down the barriers individuals with disabilities face in
getting involved with the exciting sport of flatwater canoe/kayak.
PaddleALL is offered both competitively and recreationally to people
of all ages, abilities, and walks of life.
Participants will paddle in False Creek (out of Granville Island) in a
fun, safe environment. Going by the motto of "Every Boat, EVERYBODY,"
dedicated staff will work with participants in small groups, building
physical fitness, confidence, self-esteem.
We are currently promoting for this summer's program registration, and
were wondering if this program would be a suitable fit for the members
of your organization. Click here to learn more
- Improve Your English While Having Fun at Summer Camp! DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society is pleased to offer Summer Camps for youth aged 12-18 years old. Participants will have an opportunity to develop their English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in a fun and supportive environment. There will be exciting field trips to places like Stanley Park, Science World, Recreation Centres and much more.... All English levels are welcome and sessions are led by certified ESL instructors. When? Sessions run from Monday to Friday: 9:00 - 12:00 ESL Lessons 12:00 - 4:00 Field Trips &/or Outdoor Activities Camps start on July 4th, 18th and August 1st Where? 8855 156 St. Surrey (Fleetwood) Please register at Career Services Department #200 - 7380 137 St. Surrey Cost $300.00 for 2 Weeks (Includes the cost of field trips)
- Do you want to learn about unique cultures and religions?
DIVERSEcity is pleased to offer Summer Camps for children and youth grades 1 and up and seniors aged 55+. Come learn about different religions and cultures of the world, many of which are represented in your very own communities by your friends and neighbours! Participants will learn what it means to Honour Diverse Beliefs and how to embrace Cultural Learning. There will be field trips to visit temples, churches and other local sites that are significant to different cultures and religions.
When: Sessions run from Mon-Fri 9:00-12:00 pm In-Class Lessons 12:00-4:00 pm Field Trips
Camps start July 4th, 18th and August 1st.
Where: 8855 - 156 St. Surrey (Fleetwood)
Please register at Career Services Department #200 - 7380 137 St. Surrey
Cost: $300.00 for 2 Weeks (Includes costs/fees for field trips )For more information or to register, please call 604-597-3448 or click here!
- CHILDREN & YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CAMPS Groups are free of Charge! Once again DIVERSEcity will be holding its Children & Youth Empowerment Camps through our Children Who Witness Abuse (CWWA) program. The focus will be on identifying & expressing feelings, enhancing self esteem, understanding & identifying abuse, conflict resolution, coping skills and LOTS OF FUN ACTIVITIES. There is no cost to participants and snacks/lunch are provided. Space is limited so REGISTER TODAY- Call 604-597-0205 ext. 1202 or email here
- BC Easter Seals Camps provides free overnight camping experiences for children and teens with physical and/or mental disabilities residing in British Columbia. All children with disabilities living in British Columbia are eligible to attend one week at Easter Seals Camps: Camp Winfield, Camp Shawnigan, or Camp Squamish.Click here for more information
- Cerebral Palsy Association of BC Offering Camp Subsidies
The Cerebral Palsy Association of BC is offering a Special Needs Summer Camp Subsidy to assist children, teens and adults with Cerebral Palsy, across BC, in attending a summer camp. The deadline for applications is June 14, 2011. Camp Subsidy Committee will review applications and recipients will be notified by July 18, 2011. Download the application here.
- BC Fraser Valley Autism Society is offering a summer camp for children with ASD. Check it out:HERE
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Other - Dear School Personnel, Community Members and Neighbours: To Whom it May Concern, I am the parent of a special needs child. I was overwhelmed, confused, heart broken and struggling to unravel the complexities before me. Please do not pass judgement of me without knowing why I did not attend the school PTA breakfasts or community picnics. Please take a few minutes to understand why I did not take you up on your offer to have lunch or grab a cup of coffee. Although we see each other in the supermarket or at school functions, I don't think you really ever knew me, actually, I can guarantee that you did not know me because just as my child was different, so was I. Click here to read more of this letter
- TED TALK! Is there something you've always meant to do, wanted to do, but just ... haven't? Matt Cutts suggests: Try it for 30 days. This short, lighthearted talk offers a neat way to think about setting and achieving goals. Click here to see the video!
- HOT OFF THE ATLANTIC PRESS: How to Land your Kid in Therapy: Why the obsession with our kid's happiness may be dooming them to unhappy adulthoods. A therapist and mother reports by Lori Gottlieb. Today, Wendy Mogel [clinical psychologist, parenting expert and author of "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee"] says, "every child is either learning-disabled, gifted, or both-there's no curve left, no average." When she first started doing psychological testing, in the 1980s, she would dread having to tell parents that their child had a learning disability. But now, she says, parents would prefer to believe that their child has a learning disability that explains any less-than-stellar performance, rather than have their child be perceived as simply average. "They believe that 'average' is bad for self-esteem." Read the full article here
- The Downside of Special: Parenting a Child with Special Needs: Stress, guilt and uncertainty are the norm for parents of children with developmental disabilities. But instead of doling out pity and those can't-you-control-your-kid? glares, one mom asks for your support and a little understanding. The first time someone told me my son has special needs, I smiled proudly. Yes, I remember thinking, he is special: Look at that gorgeous smile-whoa! Special needs? Miss P., his nursery school teacher, watched me with a carefully neutral yet alert expression, as though she was ready for anything: tears, cursing, a handgun. My own expression, I'm sure, was blank. I really had no idea what "special needs" meant, only that it wasn't good. Click here to read more.
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Introducing TOTTOOS - safe temporary tattoos! All Tottoos products are custom made using high quality, non-toxic materials, so Tottoos are safe, durable, and easy to use. You choose the information that will be printed on your Tottoos and we personalize them to your specifications. Tottoos are durable and water resistent, so you can use them at the beach or water park too! Tottoos will last 12 hours or more (even up to a couple of days), if applied properly to clean, dry skin. We recommend, particularly with very young children, that you remove the decal when you're done with it so the skin can "breathe" instead of leaving it on for several days.Click here for more information
- New Event - October 1st- The South Delta Baby Fair"Great Expectations" This event is free for those who are expecting a baby, for those who have a new baby, and for all who are supporting families with very young children.
Over 20 exhibitors featuring trendy and useful products, tons of prizes, local programs, services and resources and fabulous demonstrations, such as Baby Massage instruction!
10am to 2pm
Ladner Community Centre
4734 51st Street, Ladner For more information Contact Muriel Kerr at 604.267.7380 or at email here.
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Submissions or Questions?
To submit for our newsletter or have a question for Pam to research please contact her at
Parent Network
or 604-946-6622 ext 359.
You can sign up at the Reach Child and Youth Development Society website to receive this newsletter directly.
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Reach | danl@reachdevelopment.org | delta, BC |
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