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 REACH Parent Network Information Exchange.

September 10, 2013

 

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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topQuick Links

Reach News 

Help a Parent?

 Autism

 ADD/ADHD

 Down Syndrome  

Education  

FASD

Medical and Mental Health 

 Sensory   

Technology

Ministry Information

Workshops and Training

Seasonal

Other

Submissions and Questions?  

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Reach
Reach News 
  • Monday, October 7th marks the date for the grand opening of FINDS thrift store
    Reach's new children's thrift store, run by volunteers, to help raise funds to support Reach programs. The store will be open at Reach's Main Ladner Centre at
    #3 - 3800 72nd Street, Delta beginning Mondays, October 7th  - 9:00am to 11:30am
    FINDS volunteers are asking families and friends to please begin to set aside children's items to donate including:
    ·   Children's clothing and shoes
    ·   Children's bedding
    ·   Books, toys and DVDs
    ·   Children's games, including functioning electronic games
    ·   Maternity wear
    Donations will be accepted starting in September on Monday - Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Reach Ladner location. Due to lack of space, FINDS thrift store will not be accepting furniture at this time. Proceeds from FINDS thrift store will go towards Reach programs  
  • Still have some spots available for our Social Smart Group - Learning Social Skills and Using them!
    Social skills are one of the most important skills that children need to learn. More importantly, children need to have the opportunity to use the social skills they have learned. Social Smart Group is a program that provides a natural setting where children will be learning and practicing the social skills through playing, chatting, snacking, outing, and more.
    Social Smart Group is a 1.5-hour program that runs once a week for 10 weeks. There will be 6 children in the group, programmed by one behaviour consultant and one group facilitator. Throughout the 10 weeks, our goal is to help strengthen your child's social skills by guiding, coaching, and supporting their social interaction with their peers. Who: Grade 2 - 4 boys and girls Time: Wednesday, 6:00pm - 7:30pm Dates: Sept. 25th-Nov.27th, 2013 Location: 10921 82nd Ave, North Delta Cost: $700 per child for 10 weeks **Most families use the autism funding to cover the cost of the program Registration - TEL: 604-946-6622, ext 315 or Email here * The above-mentioned grade level serves as aplacement guideline. Grade 5 - 7 group is also available* Different groups will have different time, dates,& cost
  • Save the date for Reach`s 54th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
    Saturday October 19th, 2013
    10:00 am - 2:00 pm at The Surrey Nature Centre 14225 Green Timbers Way, Surrey
    Join us in the morning for a presentation on the importance of social and emotional health across the age span with Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, Applied Developmental Psychologist and Associate Professor at UBC. Stay for lunch & help vote in our new leadership. Children are invited to come for a morning & afternoon of fun and nature-inspired activities during child minding (lunch provided.) Our AGM is FREE to all families who attend Reach programs and to our membership. Registration is required. More details to come.
    To book your spot early call 604-946-6622 ext.0 or email here 
  • REACH PARENT SUPPORT GROUP   NEW
    This group is for you if you are a parent or guardian of a child with additional needs who would like to talk with other parents about your struggles, concerns, successes and strategies. We meet to talk about certain topics and local resources, but mostly we are meeting to support each other in our journey with our children.
    Led by clinical counsellor, Yvonne McKenna, this monthly drop-in group might just be what you need.
    Where: Reach Play and Learn Centre, 11425 84th Ave, Delta
    When: The 2nd Tuesday of the month - 6:30 to 8:00 pm
    Fall Schedule
    September 10 - The Cycle of Acceptance
    October 8 - Finding Time for You
    November 12 - Setting Positive Limits
    December 10 - Celebrating Achievements
    Call (604) 946-6622 Ext 347 for more information. If you come or call, Yvonne will email you monthly to remind you of the upcoming event and other resources.  
  • Parent Circle: Parent Support Circle is a free, monthly, confidential parent gathering with a focus on parenting children with ADHD or behaviour challenges. Led by trained facilitators. The last Friday of every month from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.at Reach, #3 3800 72nd street Ladner
    To register call Lisa at 604-946-6622 ext.342 or email here
    or call Bella at 604-569-3110 or email here 
  • 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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Autism

Autism
  • NEW DSM V Controversy
    •  
  • UBC graduate student, Miriam Elfert is looking for fathers living in the Metro Vancouver area who are interested in joining a free fathers' group as part of a UBC research project. 'Shop Talk' has been developed for fathers of children with autism to meet and discuss their experiences of parenting. Small groups will talk about different topics every week, including coping and stress management, and how having a child with autism has affected relationships with friends and family members. Fathers will have the opportunity to learn new strategies and skills for parenting a child with autism and how to become a more effective parent and partner/spouse. The first Shop Talk group begins in September and a second one begins in October, but there are still spaces available, so if you are interested in more information please contact Miriam as soon as possible. For more information, please see the flyer here. You can contact Miriam Elfert by phone at (604) 677-7911 or email here.
  • How my life got filled with autism every day, and why yours should too. Three years ago, I was teaching in a charter school for students in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions. My campus was closing and I needed a new job. The first four years of my teaching career were spent working with addicts, gangsters, and wanna-be gangsters. This was exactly the population I had pictured myself working with, and I loved it. I had always been most drawn to the students that our society relegates to the fringes, the kids who fall through the cracks, unwanted, unnoticed or blamed for their inability to fit our expectations. Click here to read more
  • "Ask Dr. Tony" July 2011 - AS and sexuality. In this Program, Dr. Attwood talks about AS and aspects of sexuality and flirtation.
     
    "Ask Dr. Tony" July 2011 - AS and sexuality
     
  • Welcome one and all to Coach Family Services! COACH is an acronym for Creating Opportunities for Adults and Children. We are an organization designed to meet the needs of children, youth, and adults with disabilities in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia. Our mission at Coach Family Services is to provide individuals and their families with the tools and support they need to be independent and successful. We provide services based on the needs of the individual and place an emphasis on teaching and training families so they do not require long-term services and outside support. Coach Family Services is about supporting and celebrating neuro-diversity.  We offer a variety of programs including Behaviour Consultation, after school groups, adapted arts programs, transition planning and so much more.  Please visit our website here or email us here.
    • Adventurers! Activity club for kids and teens in Greater Vancouver.Adventurers! is a club for kids and teens who enjoy exploring what Greater Vancouver has to offer. We
      meet once per month for four hours at predetermined locations and then we're off to explore! Cost for the program is $60/month or $600/year (program runs September-June) Support persons are welcome, free of charge and if
      you sign a friend up, you receive 10% off, sign up two ore more friends and receive 20% off your program enrollment. First Meeting Date: September 28, 2013
      Time: 10:00 AM
    • Coach Family Services registration for September programs, including our after school program in Richmond, opens this week! Apply directly or through your social worker.     
  • Transition Focus Of New Documentary On PBS.A documentary following a special-education teacher as she prepares her students with autism to leave high school and enter adult life is set for its national television debut. The film "Best Kept Secret" examines the transition process through the eyes of teacher Janet Mino and her six students at John F. Kennedy High School in Newark, N.J. over the year-and-a-half prior to their graduation in the spring of 2012.  Click here to learn more 
     
  • REGISTRATION NOW OPEN - 2013 INTERNATIONAL NATURALLY AUTISTIC PEOPLE  AWARDS CONVENTION & FESTIVAL. October 1- 6, 2013
  •  SAVE THE DATE - 2nd Annual Richmond Autism Resource Fair.  Featuring presentations, youth advocates, parent panel and resource booths!   November 23, 2013 McMath Secondary School, 4251 Garry Street Richmond.  9:00am - 2:30pm.  For more information contact Llaesa Brownridge at 604-279-7014 or email here  
  • Fraser Valley Autism Society (FVAS) Click here for website!  
    •  The Fraser Valley Autism Society has resumed its free monthly meetings
      for the season. Meetings will alternate between Chilliwack and Abbotsford on a monthly basis.  For more information please visit Our website here or email HERE
      Karen Davis,President, Fraser Valley Autism Society


       

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ADD

ADD/ADHD

  • 6 Tips to Fight Distractions and Get Homework Done! From fidgeting to shifting between different tasks, six techniques to help distracted ADD/ADHD students focus at school and on their homework. Having two children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), I tried a lot of traditional study methods through the years, with no success. Such techniques -- usually involving sitting down at a table for extended periods with pen, paper, study guides, and textbook -- do not accommodate the way that ADD/ADHD brains work.  Click here to read more
  • Why ADHD Children Don't Sleep-and What You Can Do About It . Better sleep leads to better control of ADHD symptoms for children. Here are parent-tested solutions for a good night's rest. A good night's sleep is vital to your child's mood and brain function. Studies show that not getting enough rest can worsen ADD/ADHD symptoms, leading to loss of emotional control. It can also adversely affect working memory, a problem many of our children suffer from. What to do? Try some of these tips, all of which I have used successfully with my own children, one of whom has ADD/ADHD. These strategies got me -- and them -- through the night.   Click here to read more 
  • ADHD Alternative Therapies: A User's Guide Medication is often the first line of treatment for ADHD, but there is a wide range of alternative therapies that may work in conjunction with meds, or by themselves in some cases. Medication is a valuable tool for managing the core symptoms of ADHD, but it is not the only treatment option available to those with ADHD. Some alternative therapies involve diet and lifestyle changes, while others tap into technology to train the brain to be more focused and less impulsive. For many, the best treatment plan includes several approaches.  Click here to read more 
  • "I'm Not Hungry, Mom!" Meds may dull your child's interest in food. Bring back her appetite with these smart expert strategies.  The group of medications usually prescribed to treat ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults are called psycho-stimulants, or just plain stimulants. Specifically, they are methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextro-amphetamine (Dexedrine), and a mixture of dextro- and levo-amphetamine (Adderall). At the proper dose and timing, these stimulants decrease a child's activity level, his inattention and disorganization, and his impulsivity. Using these medications can make the difference between an individual's struggling or succeeding in school or at work, causing family conflicts or getting along at home, having friends or not.  Click here to read more  
  • Help Your Child Control His Temper Children benefit from learning to wait for rewards and letting go of desires that are not reasonable or healthy.  We've all confronted those dreaded candy displays oh-so-conveniently located at the checkout counters in grocery stores. How often must parents exert control and say "NO!" when "Oh, why not," is much easier than facing a potential temper tantrum in front of everyone waiting in line. Any parenting magazine at the same checkout counter will taunt us with "10 Easy Ways to Set Limits with Kids." Not so EASY for me.Click here to read more 
  • Help Your Kindergartener Become a Social Superstar In kindergarten, children need to learn how to make new friends and get along with students from other backgrounds - and kids with attention deficit may need more help doing it.  Kindergarten is a wake-up moment for many kids with ADHD. Suddenly, they run into demands to "sit still and listen." Many encounter rules for the first time. Not only do they need to learn the rules, they also need to make new friends, learn new skills, get along with students from other backgrounds, and work in large groups.Click here to read more
  • Become Your Child's Friendship Coach: ADHD Parenting Advice. Children with ADHD often have trouble making friends, but a social skills expert discusses ways parents can coach their kids toward lasting friendships. Amori Yee Mikami, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at University of Virginia, is studying this subject. In a series of study groups, she teaches parents of elementary school-age children how to be "friendship coaches" for their kids. The results are promising. Even teachers who don't know about the program notice that kids who participate play better with their peers.We asked Dr. Mikami to suggest social skills techniques that parents might find useful. Click here to read more 

 

 

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 DOWNS  Down Syndrome  

       

 

  •  Inspiring video for BACK TO SCHOOL From CACL: Megan Bomgaars a self advocate has a very inspiring message of inclusion for everyone returning to school in the next few weeks. In this video not only does Megan tell us all about her personal achievements as a result of her inclusive education environment she also demands not to be limited in her video: Don't Limit Me!   Click on the picture below to see this fabulous video!
    Don't Limit Me! 
    Don't Limit Me!
     
  • 2014 Mission Possible Down Syndrome Cruise Conference
    7 nights round trip to Alaska ! On board Celebrity's Solstice Ship - the Jewel of Alaska
    Departs July 4, 2014 from Seattle, Washington.Please join us for the next Mission Possible Down Syndrome Cruise Conference.  This conference will have speakers covering Education, Biomedical and Therapies for Down Syndrome.  It is open to:
    ·         Children and Adults with Down syndrome
    ·         Parents
    ·         Caregivers
    ·         Teachers
    ·         School Aids
    ·         Homeschool community ·         Therapists
    You will all benefit from our fantastic group of speakers.  The networking and connections made on this Cruise will be a wonderful experience for everyone who joins us. Click here for more information 
  • You are Invited to a Delta Down Syndrome Support Group meeting: OUR GOALS ARE
    · To provide guest speakers (Reach therapists, community
    professionals and other programs) to discuss common issues
    · To provide support and information to families in Delta who
    have a child with Down Syndrome
    · To help connect parents of children with Down Syndrome
    · To provide monthly meetings for parents and their children
    · To provide on-site child minding while you attend the
    discussion
    When: First Thursday of each month
    Where: Reach Developmental Preschool North Delta
    10921 - 82nd Avenue, Delta, BC
    Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
    Cost: No charge
    Light refreshments provided
    Please RSVP to Sarah Garnham at 604-946-6622 extension 321.
    or email here 

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Education

Education

 

    • Inspiring video for BACK TO SCHOOL From CACL: Megan Bomgaars a self advocate has a very inspiring message of inclusion for everyone returning to school in the next few weeks. In this video not only does Megan tell us all about her personal achievements as a result of her inclusive education environment she also demands not to be limited in her video: Don't Limit Me!
      Don't Limit Me! 
      Don't Limit Me!
       
        
    • TRULY AMAZING TEACHER!  Jeffrey Wright uses wacky experiments to teach children about the universe, but it is his own personal story that teaches them the true meaning of life. 
      Wright's Law: A Unique Teacher Imparts Real Life Lessons
      Wright's Law: A Unique Teacher Imparts Real Life Lessons

    • Autism File goes Digital!! Click here for the first copy dedicated to education issues, IEP's to Classroom Technology!  


    • Complex Child Magazine - ADVOCACY EDITION NEW

 


 

 

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FASD

FASD

 

  • 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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Sensory
Sensory
  •  8 Online Stores To Purchase Sensory Friendly Clothing.  Children with autism and sensory challenges have many enemies when it comes to clothing. Clothing tags, exposed elastic bands and itchy socks are just some of the challenges facing children with special needs. As more parents start requesting sensory friendly clothing more stores will start to carry these products. To get you started in the comfortable clothing hunt we found eight stores that sell sensory friendly clothing: Click here to read more  

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MedicalMedical and Mental Health

    

  • The Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre and the FORCE Society for Kids' Mental Health are pleased to announce an amazing lineup of educational events  To find out more about the dates, topics, and how you can join in, view our poster or visit our website HERE .
    Time Thursdays, 12-1pm (PST)
    Registration PHONE 604-875-2084 or 1-800-665-1822
    EMAIL HERE
    WEB HERE  
  • Mind Matters e-newsletter provides new resources and programs offered by Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) BC Division and is committed to the mental health of British Columbians. Click here for the current edition    

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Technology

Technology

  •  StoryMaker™ is the premier app for creating and presenting Social Stories™ using pictures, text and audio. Independent research, funded by the U.S. Department of Education's IES SBIR program, has validated StoryMaker as a feasible intervention in classrooms with students with autism. Create Social Stories with Pictures and Text
    Create as many stories as you'd like. Use up to three pictures per page, or use none. The text you use stretches automatically to fit the screen, whether you've typed four words or forty, on an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Use our stock library of images, add your own from the camera, import from an external source, or search and download from the Web.  Add audio, email and print!Click here for more information 

 

 

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Ministry

Ministry Information  

 


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WorkshopsWorkshops and Training 

  • Kelty Pinwheel Mental Health Series!  
    • September 26 - School Anxiety
    • October 17 - Social Support
    • November 14 - Cannabis
    • December 5 - nutrition and mental health  
    • How to Join:
      In person: Click here to register. 
      Telephone: Join us through the telephone by dialing 1-877-291-3022 and entering the access code 4611577#  - no registration required! 
      Telehealth: Please contact your local Telehealth coordinator and book a videoconference room and forward this invite with your location name, room number and the ISDN/IP Address/Alias of your site to here , two days before the event. For questions, please contact Olivia Stewardson, Telehealth Coordinator at email here.   
  • Think Like an O.T. An Occupational Therapy Course for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Special Needs. Are you looking for ways to enable your child to do the things he/she needs to do, wants to do or is expected to do? Would you like to learn about and practice occupational therapy strategies that are relevant to your family? Do you want to know how to turn your ordinary, everyday activities into therapeutic moments? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this course is for you!
    Date: Saturday, September 21, 28, Oct 5, 19, 26, Nov 2, 2013
    Time: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    Location: Surrey Christian Primary Campus 9115-160th Street, Surrey
    Participants: For parents and caregivers of children ages 3 years and up with special needs.
    Cost: LMDSS Members: $135.00 non-member: $200.00 (includes 1 in- home visit, assessment, and a Sensory Profile assessment) Registration deadline: August 24 , 2013 Call LMDSS at: 604-591-2722; or email here
  • Making Sense of Anxiety in Children Course.  Deborah McNamara. This is a 4 week course offered on Thursday evenings. September 12, 19, 26 & October 3.  There is currently an epidemic of anxiety affecting children of all ages. Differing estimates suggest that one in five to one in eight qualify for an anxiety disorder diagnosis, making this the most common diagnosis in children. Anxiety can take many forms including obsessions, compulsions, phobias, panic, as well as a host of perplexing seeking and avoidant behaviours. Various strategies are emerging on how to treat anxiety problems, but most interventions are hand-me-downs from adult treatment and are questionable in terms of their appropriateness with children. Click here for more information 
  • Welcoming & Celebrating Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity in Families: From Preconception to Preschool
    Vancouver - September 23  |  Victoria - September 25
    Welcoming LGBTQ people and families into programs and services can mean taking practical steps such as re-designing intake forms, putting up posters, or incorporating books that reflect diversity. It can also mean deepening your understanding of how assumptions about gender, sexuality, and family composition shape your everyday practice. Price: $125 early bird rate (before July 30)
    *Lunch & light refreshments will be provided
    If you have questions, or require more information about this training, please contact the Program Coordinator at 604 678 8884 ext 222 pilaro@bccf.ca  or visit our website at here
    Click here for Vancouver Registration 
  • Hey! My Brain Doesn't Work That Way! Understanding Sensory Processing
    Promoting Self-Regulation Supporting Stress Management by Marc Landry
  • Integrated Play GroupsŪ Conference Sep 27 & 28, 2013 Vancouver, BC, Canada.  Fostering Peer Play and Friendships for Children and Teens on the Autism Spectrum
    Blending the Integrated Play GroupsŪ and Friend 2 Friend Models
    Presented by Dr. Pamela Wolfberg and Heather McCracken

    This specialized two-day seminar brings together the Integrated Play GroupsŪ (IPG) and Friend 2 Friend (F2F) models to address the social, communication, play and friendship needs of individuals on the autism spectrum. Drawing on evidence-based practices, these complementary models enhance socialization, communication, emotional regulation, peer play and imagination in children and adolescents while building meaningful relationships with typical peers in inclusive school, community and therapeutic settings.  Click here for moe information 

     
  • BARRY MACDONALD! Boy Smarts Talk: how to talk so boys will listen & listen so boys will talk.  RATHER than disapproving or surpressing boys' high-spirited physicality, aggression, or shy reluctance, how can parents respond to their varied needs and structure their environments so boys can express these drives in safe, respectful ways? September 28, 2013 9am - 1pm, Unity of Vancouver, 5840 Oak Street, Vancouver BC.Click here for more information
      
  • Introduction to "Positive Behaviour Support" for Children with ASD and Other Developmental Disabilities (in Cantonese) 正面行為支持"與自閉及發展障礙兒童 【廣東話】
    2013 年10月4日，星期五 - 溫哥華
    Friday, October 4, 2013 - Vancouver
    Presented by Dianna Yip, M.Ed., BCBA 教育系碩士, 國際認證行為分析師 葉曉欣 主講 Parents and main caregivers will be empowered to use practical strategies of Positive Behavior Support to prevent and change problematic behaviors in children with ASD and other developmental disabilities.
    家長及主要照顧者能透過此講座了解"正面行為支持"的實用對策，進而預防及改變孩子的問題行為。Click here for more information
  • David Pitonyak, in Vancouver, October 18th!  David Pitonyak - A Toolbox For Change. The Changing Role of Community Supports. Reclaiming joy, purpose and commitment in the helping profession with David Pitonyak, Ph.D.

    How do organizations move towards person-centered supports? How do caregivers maintain their sense of purpose, joy, and commitment in times of growing complexity and changing expectations? This is a day-long workshop focused on specific strategies for transforming system-centered organizations to person- and family-centered organizations while never losing track of joy. Target audience: leaders, aspiring leaders and community support workers of all sorts.  Feel free to have lunch on your own at one of Oakridge's many restaurants.  Morning and afternoon coffee and snacks are included.  

    Objectives:  At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will have developed knowledge in the following areas:

    A basic understanding of the contrast between traditional and person-centered supports;

    Tools for establishing an agency vision steeped in detail;

    Tools for localizing decision-making;

    Tools for staying focused as an organization and keeping track of the importance of joy Click here to register 

      
  • POPARD Conference OCTOBER 18, 2013 | VANCOUVER, BC
    Overcoming Deficits in Executive Skills.  Do your students lose assignments and forget to hand in homework? Are their workspaces disorganized? Would you describe their backpacks and lockers as "black holes" ? presented by Dr. RICHARD GUARE
    Dr. Guare is co-author of the books, Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents,
    Smart but Scattered and Coaching Students with Executive Skill Deficits. He is a
    Registered Psychologist and BCBA-D.  Participants will leave this seminar with a set of tools that includes strategies for task modifications, skill development through cognitive behavioural techniques and creation of incentive systems for use in regular classrooms.  This presentation is targeted towards professionals who already have knowledgeand experience in the field of ASD.This would be considered an intermediate level session, would be appropriate for teachers, allied professionals and para-professionals.  Click here for more details 
  • Thursday, October 24, 2013, 7 - 9PM
    The Use of the iPad for Special Needs Students
    Nadine Trottier, Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) for the Burnaby School District, and Bridget Gaster, Elementary Teacher in an alternate program providing support to students with ASD, will discuss using iPads in a meaningful way with special needs students.  
    Friday, October 25, 2013, 9 - 10:30AM
    Asperger's Syndrome and Mental Health
    Dr. David Worling, Clinical Director of Westcoast Child Development Group, will discuss a number of common mental health challenges that can coexist with Asperger's Syndrome.
    Friday, October 25, 2013, 10:45AM - 12:15PM
    Functional Approach to Challenging Behaviour
    Tina Linton, Clinical Director of Family Canted Practices Group, will provide a better understanding of why children with ASD engage in challenging behaviours, as well as a process for establishing strategies to better address and diminish behaviour challenges.
    Panel Presentation on the Autistic Child in the Classroom - 12:45 - 2PM
    Workshops will be held at the University Women's Club at Hycroft, 1489 McRae Ave (at 16th and Granville) Vancouver, BC.
    Parking available on The Crescent and side streets.
    Cost: Thursday October 24 - $35
    Friday October 25 - $110
    Early Bird Special for Both - $130 (before Sept 30)
     More information, online payment and registration available here Inquiries: email here 
  • "What Works" in Therapy: Translating 40 years of Outcome Research into Strategies
    for Effective Clinical Practice.For today's practitioner, finding reliable information about "what works" in therapy-separating fact from fiction-can be challenging. "So, "what works?" Drawing from a comprehensive review of 40 years of outcome research in his best-selling book, The Heart and Soul of Change: Delivering "What Works" (with Bruce Wampold and Barry Duncan [APA Press, revised 2008]), Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. will identify core factors responsible for therapeutic success regardless of theoretical orientation or psychiatric diagnosis. The research on "what works" will be carefully translated into practical, common sense, and empirically-supported therapeutic skills that can be used for the efficient and effective resolution of problems clients bring to treatment. Finally, participants will learn a simple, valid, and reliable method for maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of treatment based on using ongoing client feedback to empirically tailor services to the individual client needs and characteristics. Guest Speaker: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
    is a co-founder of the Center for Clinical Excellence, an international consortium of clinicians, researchers, and educators dedicated to promoting excellence in behavior health.
  • Autism Canada Annual "Changing the Course of Autism" Conference
    It's official!  Autism Canada's annual conference will be held this year on October 24th and 25th in Victoria, British Columbia at the Mary Winspear Centre (Sidney, BC). We will be partnering with the Victoria Society for Children with Autism.   Whether you are a parent, educator, medical professional, researcher or individual dedicated to improving the life of individuals with autism, you will not want to miss this 2-day conference/webcast. 
    James Adams, Doreen Granpeesheh, Jim Tanaka,  Heather McCracken, Dave Humphrey,  Eunice Lee, Dave Malterre, Lois Jean Brody, Wendy Edwards.  CLick here for more information 
  • Functional Analysis and Treatment of Severe Behavior Disorders - Methods for Educators and Clinicians Friday and Saturday, October 25 & 26, 2013 Vancouver, B.C. Presented by Brian Iwata, Ph.D. Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Florida.Functional analysis is considered a "best practice" for identifying the causes of problem behavior such as self-injury, aggression, stereotypy and noncompliance. Dr. Iwata will provide a review of currently used techniques and will illustrate the assessment-treatment continuum using handouts and case examples. The emphasis will be on translating research findings into practical application relevant to clinicians and educators.  Click here for more information and to register  
  • Sibshop Training - Building Community Support for Siblings of Children with Special Needs Friday, November 15th &  Saturday, November 16th, 2013 Vancouver, B.C. Presented by Don Meyer, Director Sibling Support Project, Seattle. With the exception of perhaps mothers, siblings spend more time with children who have developmental disabilities or chronic health impairments than any other family member. And, because the sibling relationship is the longest-lasting relationship in the family, brothers and sisters are likely to experience concerns throughout their lives. Despite their importance, siblings' concerns are too often ignored. For everyone's sake, parents and providers must learn more about life as a brother or sister of a person with special needs. Click here for more information 
  • Cities Fit for Children 2013 Conference
    November 21 - 22, 2013 Guildford Sheraton Surrey BC
    Surrey is proud to host Cities Fit For Children 2013 - See more here 
    Cities Fit for Children 2013 Conference is a provincial summit to bring together municipal, child development, and other professionals to share expertise and ideas in making communities fit for children and youth.   
  • Save the Date: November 22: Restraint and Seclusion: Hear our Stories. Inclusion BC, with Family Support Institute and Douglas College will announce the results of our provincial survey on restraint and seclusion, and hold a viewing and discussion of the film "Restraint and Seclusion: Hear Our Stories" on November 22.

    When: Friday, November 22nd, 2013. 5-9 pm (light supper included)

    Where: Douglas College, Lecture Theatre, Room 2201 700 Royal Avenue New Westminster,  

    Speakers include: Dr. Pat Mirenda, UBC - Postive Behaviour Support; Dr. Vianne Timmons, U of Regina - Benefits of Inclusive Education for all. Contact: Karen De Long 604-777-9100 or email here 

     
  • The 6th Annual FASD Fall Conference: Understanding Trauma, will take place on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Douglas College in New Westminster. Registration will open in early fall 2013. Click here for more information  

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  •  Back to School!
    • ADHD Term-Paper Help: Three Weeks to Success A step-by-step plan for choosing, researching, organizing, writing, and submitting a winning term paper for school.Your child with___________ is about a month into the school year, and he's getting the hang of the routines, new teachers, and different classes. He's doing OK - keeping up with the math reviews and reading assignments. But now the teacher throws him the curveball you knew was coming - the first long research paper.  Click here to read more  
  • October is Community Living Month!  
    • Lights! Camera! Inclusion! In celebration of Community Living Month in October, Inclusion BC is hosting its second annual contest to showcase the gifts and abilities that people with developmental disabilities and their friends, families and supporters bring to the community. Download a high resolution poster here (11" x 17:). The deadline for submissions is October 21, 2013. Winners will be announced by Wednesday, October 31, 2013.
       

 

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  • QUOTE of the day: "If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be." Maya Angelou
     
  •  REACH PARENT SUPPORT GROUP
       NEW 
    This group is for you if you are a parent or guardian of a child with additional needs who would like to talk with other parents about your struggles, concerns, successes and strategies. We meet to talk about certain topics and local resources, but mostly we are meeting to support each other in our journey with our children.
    Led by clinical counsellor, Yvonne McKenna, this monthly drop-in group might just be what you need.
    Where: Reach Play and Learn Centre, 11425 84th Ave, Delta
    When: The 2nd Tuesday of the month - 6:30 to 8:00 pm
    Fall Schedule
    September 10 - The Cycle of Acceptance
    October 8 - Finding Time for You
    November 12 - Setting Positive Limits
    December 10 - Celebrating Achievements
    Call (604) 946-6622 Ext 347 for more information. If you come or call, Yvonne will email you monthly to remind you of the upcoming event and other resources.
  • UBC graduate student, Miriam Elfert is looking for fathers living in the Metro Vancouver area who are interested in joining a free fathers' group as part of a UBC research project. 'Shop Talk' has been developed for fathers of children with autism to meet and discuss their experiences of parenting. Small groups will talk about different topics every week, including coping and stress management, and how having a child with autism has affected relationships with friends and family members. Fathers will have the opportunity to learn new strategies and skills for parenting a child with autism and how to become a more effective parent and partner/spouse. The first Shop Talk group begins in September and a second one begins in October, but there are still spaces available, so if you are interested in more information please contact Miriam as soon as possible. For more information, please see the flyer here .You can contact Miriam Elfert by phone at (604) 677-7911 or email here .
  • Welcome one and all to Coach Family Services! COACH is an acronym for Creating Opportunities for Adults and Children. We are an organization designed to meet the needs of children, youth, and adults with disabilities in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia. Our mission at Coach Family Services is to provide individuals and their families with the tools and support they need to be independent and successful. We provide services based on the needs of the individual and place an emphasis on teaching and training families so they do not require long-term services and outside support. Coach Family Services is about supporting and celebrating neuro-diversity.  We offer a variety of programs including Behaviour Consultation, after school groups, adapted arts programs, transition planning and so much more.  Please visit our website here or email us here.
    • Adventurers! Activity club for kids and teens in Greater Vancouver.Adventurers! is a club for kids and teens who enjoy exploring what Greater Vancouver has to offer. We
      meet once per month for four hours at predetermined locations and then we're off to explore! Cost for the program is $60/month or $600/year (program runs September-June) Support persons are welcome, free of charge and if
      you sign a friend up, you receive 10% off, sign up two ore more friends and receive 20% off your program enrollment. First Meeting Date: September 28, 2013
      Time: 10:00 AM  
  • Free 52 Week Family Home-Education Curriculum. Here We Are Together
    Cooking For Kids.  This weekly cooking curriculum is designed to build basic cooking skills as well as confidence. Together we will learn new recipes, cook together, bake together and eventually even cook whole meals, so put on your aprons, wash your hands and get ready to join in the fun! Click here for more information and to see the recipes!
  • Transition Support Group! Della and I have already started rounding up some excellent speakers for the transition Support group this year.We've decided to pair some of our speakers up to try and make bettersense of the whole system around transition... so we hope this makes it all the more clear. Our first meeting is scheduled for October 8 at our usual time here at the Centre. We have speakers from the school district and CYSN with great information on how to ensure that transition is being discussed at your child's IEP this fall. Contact Cindy by email here  
  • Jill Topp, Speech Language Pathologist has openings for new clients! I wanted to inform you that I am now accepting new clients, starting in September. Should you know of anyone who is searching for a qualified speech-language pathologist, I can help. Potential clientele can learn about me and my services here on my website. My phone number is 604 277-6906.     
  • Click here for the current edition of Special Needs Magazine  
    • Check out the story on page 24 about keeping our children safe in community!
    • page 36 - Letting GO!  letting your child have some independence! 
  • Family Support Institute is having its' 6th annual Trivia Night on November 1, 2013 (7:30pm-10:00pm - doors open at 7:00pm) at Marlborough Elementary School (6060 Marlborough Avenue in Burnaby).If you are in town, come join us for a night of fun, laughter, food and prizes. The funds raised will help FSI to strengthen and support families faced with the extraordinary circumstances that come with having a family member who has a disability. A limited number of tickets will be sold so get a team together (table of 8) or buy a ticket individually. Come and challenge the FSI board of directors!  Please see the attached flyer for details.  If you would like more information please contact the FSI office at 604-540-8374 (extension 523) / toll free at 1-800-441-5403
  • Langley Parent Support! The FiT Network Society A Social Educational Network created to get Families in Touch. Monthly FiT meets, seasonal family fun events and casual coffee nights provide opportunities for families who have children with special needs to "Get FiT*" - *Families in Touch. Click here for their website and current events

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SubmissionSubmissions 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 |