REACH Parent Network Information Exchange.

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 

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 News

 

• TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR OUR 2ND ANNUAL REACH FOR THE STARS GALA AT HARRIS BARN MARCH 1ST, 2014

  Reach is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for our second annual Reach for the Stars gala to benefit the Building for Children Together capital campaign. All funds raised at this event will benefit Reach Child and Youth Development Society's project to build a new child development centre in Ladner for children and youth with special needs.

  Come dressed in your best western attire, ready for a good 'ole country time with live music, BBQ buffet dinner, silent and live auctions, and much more! Plus you could win a trip for two from Air Canada to anywhere they fly in North America including Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean! (Raffle tickets just $30 on sale now at Reach!) 

  DATE: Saturday, March 1st, 2014

  LOCATION: Harris Barn, 4140 Arthur Drive, Ladner, BC

  TIME: Cocktail Reception starts 5:30 pm

  TICKETS:  $95 for main floor, $75 for hay loft. $250 to reserve your special VIP table on the main floor.

  For tickets call 604-946-6622 ext.0 or visit the Reach main office at #3 3800 72nd Street Ladner

  Click here to purchase tickets online 

  Sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact Joni Wright, Reach Fundraising Coordinator at 604-946-6622 ext. 372 or email here 
   

• Volunteers Needed!

  Reach Child and Youth Development Society is a Ladner based non-profit organization that supports children with special needs. We are opening a small children's thrift store in downtown Ladner in April 2014 to help raise funds for our children's preschool.

  We need several volunteers to help make this thrift store a success.

  The thrift store, FINDS, will be open from 10am to 2pm three to five days per week. Ideally, volunteers will commit to at least one four to five hour shift per week. Sales and cashier volunteers must be available to work between 9.30am to 2.30pm at least one day per week. Sorting and pricing volunteers have more flexibility in hours (eg after school, evening or weekends are options depending on our volunteers' schedules).

  Examples of volunteer duties include, but are not limited to:             

  • Sorting and pricing
  • Sales
  • Cashier
  • Opening and closing the store

  Resumes please email here or fax (604) 946-6223 or mail to #3-3800 72nd Street Delta BC V4K 3N2  Attention Volunteer Coordinator.  We thank everyone for their interest but will only  contact candidates selected for an interview.

    
• REACH in collaboration with the Delta Early Children's Development Committee present Workshops for Delta Parents. Positive Parenting: The Basics For Parents of children ages 2-12. 

  You will learn: Positive strategies for dealing with difficult behaviours,how to defuse power struggles, offer appropriate choices,be consistent,provide consequences, model appropriate behaviour and much more!You have three choices for times and dates - choose A, B or C! 

  And for those that have already taken Positive Parenting the Basics - please choose D - The Basics and Beyond! For parents of Children 2 - 18 - you must have taken the pre-requisite course of Positive Parenting the Basics. In this class you will learn further strategies for strengthening your relationshisp and go deeper into learning the meaning of your child's behavior and how to develop teaching strategies that are specific to your child's profile and situation.

  	A two ˝ Day classes	B one Full Day	C Two Evenings	D - ADVANCED One Full day
  Day	Tuesdays	Saturday	Thursdays	Saturday
  Dates	April 1 and 8th	April 5th	May 22 and 29th	June 14
  Time	10:00 - 2:00	9:30 - 4:30	6:30 - 9:30	9:30 - 4;30
  Childminding	NO	YES	NO	YES
  Location	Delta Assist 9097 - 120th Street Delta BC	Reach #3- 3800 72nd Street Delta BC	Reach #3- 3800 72nd Street Delta BC	Reach #3- 3800 72nd Street Delta BC

  Register by email: here Or phone: 604-946-6622, ext.359

  $20workshop fee can be paid at the door. Cash or cheque only. Please let us know if you need childminding on the days it is provided. We need to know the ages of your children and if they require any extra special care. If you register for any of the following - April 1, 5, 8 or June 14th please feel free to bring a nut free lunch. 

     
• 3 Evening Workshop: Parenting the Anxious Child. Do you feel like your child is showing some signs of fear or worry that affect his or her daily life? If you answer yes to this question, your child may be suffering from anxiety and there are things you can do to help. This 3 session workshop for parents and caregivers of children ages 3 to 12 will address the biological, psychological and social aspects of anxiety with proven strategies to help your anxious child. Facilitator: Yvonne McKenna, Canadian Certified Counsellor
  Mondays, April 28, May 5 & 12 7:00pm - 8:30pm Reach Child & Youth #3-3800 72nd St. 
• For more information call Yvonne at Reach Child and Youth Development Society
  604.946.6622 ext. 347  or email here 
• Cost is $25pp/$40couple (payable at first session)
  Please call Yvonne at 604.946.6622, ext.347 or email: here

• 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 with Autism and special needs 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 8 children in the group, programmed by one behaviour consultant and one group facilitator. Throughout the 10 weeks, our goal is to help strengthen their social skills by guiding, coaching, and supporting their social interaction with their peers.
• Who: Grade 5 - 7 boys and girls Time: Tuesday, 6:00pm - 7:30pm Dates: April 8th -June 10th, 2014 Location: 10921 82nd Ave, North Delta Cost: $700 per child for 10 weeks
• Who: Grade 2 - 4 boys and girls Time: Wednesday, 6:00pm - 7:30pm Dates: April 9th-Jun.11, 2014 Location: 10921 82nd Ave, North Delta Cost: $700 per child for 10 weeks
• Registration - Monisha Jassi: TEL: 604-946-6622, ext 315 or
  Email here
   
• FINDS - Thriftshop at REACH! Raising funds to help support Reach programs 
  Open Every Monday 9:00am - 11:30am  CASH ONLY purchases (no credit cards or debit cards) #3-3800 72nd Street, Delta, BC 604.946.6622 ext. 300
  Donations can be dropped off Monday to Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm
  Please bring in your clean, resalable quality items for children 12 years and under: children's clothing, shoes, bedding, books, toys, DVD's, and games including functioning electronic games. We will also accept and sell maternity wear. 

• REACH PARENT SUPPORT GROUP  
  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 

• 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 Robyn at 604-946-6622 ext.328 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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• Why Do We Flap Our Hands?The saying goes, "if you've met one Autistic, you've met one Autistic." That was really hammered home for me today as I watched a short video in which an Autistic man explains why Autistic people flap our hands . . . . and pretty much nothing he said matched up with my own experience. A few of the things he said even bothered me. Click here to read more and see a video 

• Autistic man's gift for IKEA assembly turns into business . An Edmonton father starts a business with his 24-year-old son, who can't read or talk but can figure out how to put together complex furniture.The next time you are cursing the assembly instructions for an IKEA desk or bookshelf, you will wish you were living in Edmonton. Residents in the Alberta capital can hire Brad Fremmerlid, a 24-year-old man with severe autism who can build anything. Click here to read more 
    
• Aidan Quinn speaks out on autism, parenting, and vaccines: a must read! In addition to his many film and TV roles, actor and producer Aidan Quinn is also known among autism parents for speaking out on the link between vaccines and autism-no small undertaking given the potential pushback from publicly taking on what's considered a controversial topic.  Mr. Quinn is also on the board of directors of the Center for Discovery, a national specialty center for the advanced care of children and adults with severe and complex disabilities located 100 miles northwest of New York City.  His daughter, now 24, was diagnosed with autism 22 years ago and now resides at the Center for Discovery.  Autism File Editor-in-Chief Polly Tommey recently met with Mr. Quinn in New York to discuss the Center and what the future holds for individuals with autism. Cllick here to read more

• Social Sisters.  The purpose of Social Sisters is to offer the opportunity for girls with autism to get together and have a good time in a safe and supportive environment. The events change each month to offer a range of fun activities for participants to experience with other girls. Social Sisters is comprised of a large age range in order to allow participants to enjoy the fun activities with their peers as well as create opportunities for mentorship relationships between younger and older participants by doing things such as helping with activities and sharing their experiences living with autism.  We hope that by structuring the program this way it will allow for opportunities for both mentorship relationships between the younger and older participants as well as peer relationships. 

  Events are planned once per month.  Please check this website and/or the newsletter for this month's event. Participants are supported by a Program Coordinator, four Support Workers and Volunteers.

  SUPPORTS PROVIDED

  At Canucks Autism Network, we strive to meet the needs of each participant through parent and participant collaboration.  Our staff receive training on a variety of support strategies for individuals with ASD.  Please do not hesitate to speak with our staff about strategies that should be implemented (e.g., visual schedules, first-then boards, token systems, social stories, etc.) and contact the Program Coordinator, Tara Rodas here with any questions or  concerns.

  PROGRAM CRITERIA
  • Female participants, ages 9-30 (Must be of correct age when starting the program)
  • Have an ASD diagnosis, and an active membership through the CAN Participant Membership Program 
  • This is an ASD only program
  • Commitment to attend the program (See Attendance Policy)   
  February social sisters event: a spa party!

   

  WHEN:        Friday, February 7, 2014 from 6:00-8:00pm 
  WHERE:      NEW Canucks Autism Network Office (101-2020 Yukon Street)
   
  WHAT:       Join us for a VIP spa night with fun treatments and activities for all of our social sisters!
   
  WHO:          Girls, aged 9-30

   

  For more information, please contact Tara Rodas, Program Coordinator, here 

  How to register
  Online registration for this Social Sisters event will open on Monday, January 13, 2014 at noon and will close on Friday, January 17 at noon. 
   
• 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/ADHD

• Parenting ADHD Children: Advice from Moms Like You. Moms' advice for parenting ADHD children, creating an ADD-friendly household, and smoothing out daily rough spots with discipline and behavior.It's the stuff attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD) days are made of: You're trying to get your daughter to finish her homework, but she insists on doing cartwheels across the living room. Or you've already had two big dustups with your son - and it's only 9 a.m. Click here to read more 

• ADHD Secrets My Teacher Should Know. A student with attention deficit gives advice to his teacher to bring out their unified best in the classroom. Dear Teacher, as we prepare for another day of school together, can we pause for a moment? We have gone through my checklist, gathering everything I need for the day's subjects. But did we go through your checklist? Both of us need to feel successful. Since you have helped me understand how you want me to prepare for school, here is my checklist for you.Click here to read more

• More Face Time, Less Screen Time Your teen gets lost in video games - so how can you bring him back now and then to life in the real world? Smart strategies for cutting down without cutting him off.  Your teenager with ADHD spends too much time playing video games, but you don't want to donate his xBox to charity or lock up his iPad just yet. Here are some things you can do to steer him toward a more balanced digital life without having to "cut the cord." Click here to read more 

• Secrets of ADHD Treatment You have ADHD - so your treatment plan should be based on how people with attention deficit think, feel, and live. To insure that a child with ADHD gets into a desired course, have an accommodation written into his IEP that allows him to register ahead of his classmates and to choose a teacher who works well with ADHD and LD kids.

  ACT therapy acknowledges that knowing the importance of a task doesn't motivate an ADHDer to get started on it. ACT solves the problem by having a person use his own values to get him to act and stay focused. Life is hard for a person with an ADHD-style nervous system. He is over-aroused and disorganized most of the time, yet he has to live with and enjoy neurotypical people in a neurotypical world. It is hard work, and it is best started early, before bad habits and low self-esteem set in. Click here to read more 

• Why ADHDers Act the Way We Do: Understanding ADHD Behavior Keys to understanding our thinking and behaviors -- from preferring the company of fellow ADDers to hyperfocusing all night, to doubting our ability to perform when others want us to.  Most ADHDers have always known they are different. They were told by parents, teachers, employers, and friends that they did not fit the common mold. They were told to assimilate and become like everyone else. The main obstacle to understanding ADHD has been the incorrect assumption that ADDers could and should be like the rest of us. For neurotypicals and ADDers alike, here's a detailed portrait of why those with ADD do what they do.   Click here to read more
  
   

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   Down Syndrome  

• 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

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FASD

• Check out all the latest information at Reach's Delta Connex!  Click here to see! 

• 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 and Mental Health

• Health Care for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Toolkit for Primary Care Providers.  Click here for this toolkit filled with brilliant resources.
    
• Click here for all the NEW things at ANXIETY BC!      

• Complex Child - January Edition - COPING - click here    

• 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  
• Click here for the current KELTY newsletter!  

• 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

•  10 Special Needs Apps recently added to the Special Needs App Review. Click here to see the reviews - there is one for social skills!

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Ministry Information  

• Ministry of Children and Family Development:Responsible for providing a range of services and supports for children and youth with special needs and their families.

• Community Living British Columbia:
  Responsible for delivering services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities   
• NEW Scholarship Fund Launched for Adults with Developmental Disabilities 
  Community Living BC (CLBC) and the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) today launched a $100,000 scholarship fund to benefit adults with developmental disabilities being served by CLBC across the province. The fund was established as a result of bargaining negotiations between CLBC and BCGEU. Starting today, people being served by CLBC will be eligible to apply for a scholarship to support their personal and professional development. Applications for 2014 will be accepted until March 3.A maximum contribution of $2,500/person will be established and funding priorities will focus on:
  • skills training related to securing employment opportunities
  • training courses being offered by accredited BC institutions
  • indirect costs associated with attending post-secondary education and training
  • community recreation activities that promote quality of life and new skills
    

• Ministry of Housing & Social Development:
  Responsible for education and support payments, work programs, bus passes and health and dental benefits for persons with disabilitie. 

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Workshops and Training 

• Click here to see all of ACT's Upcoming Presentations 

• Click here for Child Care Options Spring Professional Development Calendar 

• Click here for all upcoming workshops by Delta Assist   

• BC Council of Families Professional Development Calendar - CLICK HERE    
     
• Helping Others without Losing Yourself. A Workshop Presented by Powerful Paths Consulting Ltd. February 21, 2014 at Newlands Golf & Country Club
  9:00 am - 3:00 pm In this workshop you will learn to assess whether the decisions you make will drain you or energize you, to evaluate your own needs, to regain control of your boundaries and keep them healthy, and finally, to give yourself permission to recharge. By adopting these strategies of self-care, you will function more successfully over the long term within your chosen helping profession; you will be an expert on How to Help Others without Losing Yourself! Click here to register 

• Risk Management for Home Visitors
  
  Date: February 22, 2014 Location: Vancouver 
  Training Fee: $50.00
  Register now!Risk Management for Home Visitors is a practical and research-based 1-day workshop that will equip outreach workers with the skills, awareness, and strategies to stay safe and healthy in their work.  

  Included in training session:  

  • Resource manual
  • Certificate of completion 
  • Click here for more information and to register 
   
• Toilet Training: It's Never Too Late, February 28, 2014. SFU Downtown Campus - Harbour Centre  Vancouver, B.C. Presented byPat Mirenda,Ph.D., BCBA-D.Many individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities present significant challenges when it comes to toilet training. When a person is not toilet trained, it is often a severe barrier to successful inclusion in school and in community settings, and can negatively affect both self-esteem and peer relations. Lack of success in toilet training can be addressed successfully by caregivers using a behavioral approach. Dr. Mirenda will describe two approaches in this regard - an intensive intervention that can be completed in a few weeks and a more gradual approach that usually requires more time. Parents are strongly urged to attend with a professional (teacher, behaviour consultant, etc.) who will also be involved in the training, which is best accomplished through a team effort. This presentation will empower parents and their supporters to make progress in toilet training an individual with special needs. Toilet training is hard work, but in the end, it is the gift that keeps on giving! Click here for more information 
    
• Zones of Regulation!!  Leah Kuypers Friday February 28, 2014 and Judy Endow Saturday March 1, 2014.  Autism Awareness Centre is very proud to bring these two  speakers to Richmond BC!
• Friday February 28 - Zones of Regulation by Leah Kuypers:

  This presentation provides teachers, therapists and parents with hands-on knowledge on the nature of self-regulation and strategies for improving self-regulation and emotional control in individuals of all ages. The presentation addresses topics such as: the brain's involvement, typical development, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and executive functioning.

  Audience participants will learn an explicit, stair-stepped method and tools to guide individuals in utilizing The Zones framework across situations and environments to regulate sensory needs, impulses, and emotional states to social demands. Visuals and student work samples are highlighted to illustrate numerous learning activities. A variety of tools (sensory supports, calming techniques, and thinking strategies) are explored to help individuals recognize their internal emotions, sensory needs, and thinking patterns in each zone, when shifting from one zone to another, and then to self-regulate within zones. Participants explore ideas on how to teach, when, why, and how to use tools effectively. The Zones of Regulation presentation also incorporates core concepts from Michelle Garcia Winner's Social Thinking® framework to help teach individuals about perspective taking so they better understand how being in the different zones impacts the thoughts and feelings of other people around them.

• Saturday March 1 -Outsmarting Explosive Behavior by Judy Endow 

  This presentation, based on the book Outsmarting Explosive Behavior, a Visual System of Support and Intervention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, describes an effective way to support individuals with explosive behaviors by using a visual system of four train cars to depict the stages of explosive behavior along with stop and go signs to show effective support strategies to use during each stage in the explosive behavior cycle. This model has been effectively used with numerous students (Early Childhood through Adulthood), continues to be a part of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Autism Training Project and has been published by AAPC Publishing as a three part kit (facilitator manual, visual system and student workbook).

  Practical Solutions to Stabilize Students With Classic Autism

  Based on Judy's publication, Practical Solutions to Stabilize Students with Classic Autism to Be Ready to Learn: Getting to Go, this presentation clearly delineates the nuts and bolts of what Judy does when she is called in to consult for a student with classic autism. Included are many practical strategies for supporting a student to be all he can be - his best version of self and most available for learning. This application of this information has been many a student's ticket onward to eventual placement in a more inclusive educational setting.

• Click here for more information and to register  

• Ready, Set, Coach: Supporting Kids with Autism in Community Recreation Activities. March 1, 2014. SFU Downtown Campus - Harbour Centre Vancouver, B.C. Presented by
  Stephanie Jull,

  Ph.D., BCBA-DChildren with autism are less likely than their typically-developing peers to participate in sports and community recreation.  When they do, coaches and community instructors have often not received training or support to help them know what strategies work best for supporting kids on the spectrum. This one day event is for recreation instructors and coaches who want to understand how to teach kids with autism in swimming lessons, skating programs, soccer programs, fitness instruction, and other community recreation activities.  It is also useful for parents who want to understand more about how to help their kids participate in community sports, and for PE teachers who want to know more about autism.  The day will include an introduction to autism, outline different coaching strategies and provide an introduction to key skills and techniques that are proven to be successful with kids with autism. Dr. Jull will discuss a number of case study examples in different types of sports and show many videos of coaches working effectively to teach kids with autism a variety of skills.  There will be plenty of time for questions and to brainstorm strategies with your colleagues. Participants will leave the event with strategies in hand and a plan for implementation in their own recreation setting. Click here for more information and to register 

   

• Pivot Point proudly presents: Sexual Health Education: Parenting Teens with Disabilities
  Presented by Jessica Wollen (BA, B.Ed), Shift Education. 

  In this two-hour training, participants will:

  - Learn methods to protect children and teens from unsafe adults.

  - Clarify values and develop the skills to teach them.

  - Learn how to teach anatomy and body function with comfort.

  - Learn which body changes to expect at when.

  - Learn to clarify private and public boundaries using the Circles Program.

  When a person is young, building skills to effectively communicate social and family values around body science, safety, and sexuality, helps families and care providers to build a foundation of trust and openness. When a young person knows they can ask a trusted adult anything, they will seek out support in that safe environment, become more informed, have access to reliable information, and make better life decisions.

  Walnut Grove Community Centre 8889 Walnut Grove Drive, Langley, BC V1M 2N7 Thursday March 6, 2014 From 07:00 PM to 09:30 PM (PDT) Click here for more information and to register 

• Foundational Skills and Resources Required for Supporting Families with Vulnerabilities. For Family Resource Program Practitioners and Volunteers.Friday, March 7, 2014 Delta Manor Education Centre 4750, 57th Street Delta, BC 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  (downstairs in the multi-purpose room).Who Should Attend:
  Family support practitioners, particularly those in prevention focused parent/child engagement programs including: Practitioners working or volunteering in a Family Resource Program Practitioners working or volunteering in a Community Action Program for Children (CAPC), Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) or the Aboriginal Head Start Program Parent Educators working in related fieldsnPractitioners working in related fields such as early learning  Click here for more information

• Asperger syndrome in adulthood: Our kids are growing up.Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Time: 07:00PM - 8:00PM
  SF Walker is a behaviour consultant and the co-owner of Coach Family Services. She also has Asperger syndrome and will be sharing anecdotes and insight about life on the spectrum. The cost is $10, payable in cash or cheque at the door. NO CHARGE for Self-Advocates!
  11295 Mellis Drive Richmond, BC To register contact us: here 

• Domestic Violence Focused Couples Treatment: A Safe Model. Dr. Sandra Stith will present a successful model for treating mild to moderate domestic violence. Contrary to accepted wisdom situational violence can now be safely addressed in couples treatment, with this safety focused model.The treatment is based on a solution-focused therapy and targets couples who choose to stay together after experiencing situational Intimate Partner Violence. The treatment program is offered to individual couples and to couples participating in multi-couple groups. The 2-day workshop will include suggestions for screening appropriate clients and a clear description of the treatment model. Participants will be encouraged to share their own success stories and the challenges they experience working with these couples. Dr. Stith illustrate the model using video from her work.
  March 27 & 28, 2014 La Perla Ballroom , New Westminster, BC #230 - 810 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, BC For more information, please contact Jenny Lee at 604-434-9101 Ext.334 or email here 

• REACH in collaboration with the Delta Early Children's Development Committee present Workshops for Delta Parents. Positive Parenting: The Basics For Parents of children ages 2-12. 

  You will learn: Positive strategies for dealing with difficult behaviours,how to defuse power struggles, offer appropriate choices,be consistent,provide consequences, model appropriate behaviour and much more!You have three choices for times and dates - choose A, B or C! 

  And for those that have already taken Positive Parenting the Basics - please choose D - The Basics and Beyond! For parents of Children 2 - 18 - you must have taken the pre-requisite course of Positive Parenting the Basics. In this class you will learn further strategies for strengthening your relationshisp and go deeper into learning the meaning of your child's behavior and how to develop teaching strategies that are specific to your child's profile and situation.

  	A two ˝ Day classes	B one Full Day	C Two Evenings	D - ADVANCED One Full day
  Day	Tuesdays	Saturday	Thursdays	Saturday
  Dates	April 1 and 8th	April 5th	May 22 and 29th	June 14
  Time	10:00 - 2:00	9:30 - 4:30	6:30 - 9:30	9:30 - 4;30
  Childminding	NO	YES	NO	YES
  Location	Delta Assist 9097 - 120th Street Delta BC	Reach #3- 3800 72nd Street Delta BC	Reach #3- 3800 72nd Street Delta BC	Reach #3- 3800 72nd Street Delta BC

  Register by email: here Or phone: 604-946-6622, ext.359

  $20 workshop fee can be paid at the door. Cash or cheque only. Please let us know if you need childminding on the days it is provided. We need to know the ages of your children and if they require any extra special care. If you register for any of the following - April 1, 5, 8 or June 14th please feel free to bring a nut free lunch.  

     
• FASD: Changing the Conversation 6th National Biennial Conference on Adolescents and Adults  with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
  April 9 to 12, 2014 | Hyatt Regency Hotel | Vancouver, BC. The conference will bring together a diverse group of professionals, families and individuals with FASD to discuss research, evidence, model practice and ideas to expand how we sustain and enhance the lives of individuals with FASD. Participants will consider and debate how we continue to build on strengths and modify existing programs, services and systems to address barriers to ethical practice in healthcare, housing, social services, mental health, criminal and civil justice, employment and education. Participants will explore ideas for the creation and provision of integrated and collaborative approaches across systems with an emphasis on inclusion, creating a good life, social justice and practicality. Click here to learn more 

• Sharing the Autism Diagnosis with your child:What will they think? How will they react?
  When is the right time? right age? What do we say? Who else do we tell? when and why?
  Sharing the autism diagnosis with our children can be scary. Come and learn how you can positively share this information with your child so they can feel great about themselves and learn to become their own advocates. Presented by Pam Collins.
  April 9, 2014 7 - 9 pm
  Richmond Caring Place 340 - 7000 Minoru blvd, Richmond
  Free, but registration required.
  To register, please contact Llaesa Brownridge at 604-279-7014 or email here
  sorry, childcare not available

• Reach 3 Evening Workshop: Parenting the Anxious Child. Do you feel like your child is showing some signs of fear or worry that affect his or her daily life? If you answer yes to this question, your child may be suffering from anxiety and there are things you can do to help. This 3 session workshop for parents and caregivers of children ages 3 to 12 will address the biological, psychological and social aspects of anxiety with proven strategies to help your anxious child. Facilitator: Yvonne McKenna, Canadian Certified Counsellor
  Mondays, April 28, May 5 & 12 7:00pm - 8:30pm Reach Child & Youth #3-3800 72nd St. 
  • For more information call Yvonne at Reach Child and Youth Development Society 604.946.6622 ext. 347  or email here 
  • Cost is $25pp/$40couple (payable at first session)
    Please call Yvonne at 604.946.6622, ext.347 or email: here 
    
• My Tween & Me Leader Training
  Date: May 7th - 8th, 2014 Location: Vancouver Early Bird Training Fee: $360.00*
  *Ends March 15, 2014. Register Now. This interactive, two-day training session prepares program leaders to deliver the My Tween and Me parenting program. Get the tools and know-how to help parents maintain a strong connection with their children as they move into the teen years.  After attending this training you will have developed:
  Increased knowledge of tweens' developmental milestones
  Awareness of risk and protective factors that affect children as they move through the tween years and into adolescence
  Strengthened understanding of the issues parents of tweens face in diverse cultural and linguistic communities in BC
  Enhanced practical skills to help parents strengthen their relationships with their pre-teens
  Packed with information, discussion and activities, the My Tween and Me leader training session incorporates current research along with practical communication skills for parents.  Click here for more information and to register  

• Heart-Mind 2014: The Science of Kindness. 
  Thursday, May 8, 2014 - Saturday, May 10, 2014 Old Auditorium, UBC, Vancouver, BC

  Heart-Mind 2014 brings together scientists, educators, parents, out-of-school care providers, health and wellness professionals, recreation and community leaders - and all those who want to help children flourish.

  The theme of this year's conference is The Science of Kindness.

  Compassion, empathy, altruism and kindness are positive qualities we intuitively want our children to have. These qualities help a child to be successful in all aspects of life. Scientific research shows that when children perform acts of kindness they are happier and have more friends. Bullying is reduced. Some studies even show that helping others helps them stay healthy by diminishing the effect of diseases and disorders-both psychological and physical.

  Heart-Mind 2014 will share the most up-to-date science and practice related to how adults can cultivate kindness, empathy, compassion and altruism in children and in themselves - in families and schools, during recreational activities, and throughout the community. Kindness towards people, other living creatures, the environment and themselves. Click here for more information

• Live Your Best Life: Are you tired of feeling like you are not moving forward in your life? Do you feel like you are never given the breaks that you need? Is there something that you have always wanted to do but have not been able to achieve it? There are times in our lives when we want to stop feeling like a spectator on the sidelines and start creating the life we want. Debbie Holmes and Scott Robertson will give you a clear understanding of how to obtain and maintain balance in life even when it seems impossible due to a busy lifestyle or a stressful vocation. You will be given opportunities to assess your health, both physically and mentally, so you can achieve your goals. They will lay out a fool-proof plan to develop your skills with step-by-step methods that will enhance your opportunity to Live Your Best Life! 
• May 2, 2014 @ Newlands Golf & Country Club 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  May 16, 2014 @ Burnaby Village Museum 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  Click here to register 

• Summer Institute 2014 Creating the Future- Partnerships for Inclusive Learning is a summer conference designed to provide a robust learning environment that will facilitate strategic approaches to inclusion and belonging for all students in B.C.'s elementary and secondary schools.
  Many of the support calls that FSI gets in our office and through our volunteer network are school based challenges. Many of our families want for their kids to be included, adored, have access to a good solid education, and have a network of friends who celebrate their abilities and accomplishments. We know schools are filled with educated well-meaning professionals who are looking for tools to help them deal with the complexity of classrooms and diversity. We have designed this Summer Institute to bring school based team members from all over BC together to look at ways to create inclusive schools for all kids.Registration is now open!

This three-day conference will take place on August 25-27, 2014  at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Participants will include administrators, teachers, parents, paraprofessionals, therapists and other members of a school based team.

This year's chosen topics of study are Universal Design for Learing (UDL), Positive Behaviour Supports (PBS), Literacy, Transition, Inclusion in the BC Context, Parent-Professional Relationships, and Social Networks.

Cost is $250 per person (15% discount to teams of 3 and more from the same school). Early bird $200 by April 30th, 2014. Click here for more information 

 

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Seasonal 

• Summer Fun 2014 Info Night: The Delta Life Skills Society is anticipating spaces for their annual 6-week Summer Program running, monday thru friday, 9am-3pm with multiple
  locations in North and South Delta. The focus of the Summer Fun Program is to provide children with special needs a variety of recreational activities which promote essential life skills development, in a relaxed stimulating atmosphere. This program is designed especially for children and young adults ages 6-20. Summer Fun has several sights in both the North and South Delta areas. Each site has approximately 6 to 8 participants and typically provides 1:1 support for each camper. Campers are grouped according to age, ability and location.
  Space is limited. Tuesday February 25th, 2014 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ladner Pioneer Library
  4683-51st Further information can also be found on our website HERE. RSVP to Lori
  604 943 9193 Or email here
  
  

   

• February is National Inclusive Education Month. This year, along with people from across Canada, Inclusion BC is celebrating February as Inclusive Education Month.
  National Inclusive Education Awards
  Nominations for the 2014 Inclusive Education Awards are now open! Download your nominations form here. The deadline for nominations is March 22, 2014.
  About the awards: To highlight National Inclusive Education Month and to bring attention to the many positive examples of inclusive classrooms and schools across the country, the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) has created a national certificate of recognition to be bestowed upon recipients who have made positive contributions to inclusive education in their province or territory.
  The BC award recipients will be recognized at our 2014 conference in Vancouver at the end of May.

• NEWS FROM EASTER SEAL CAMPS: Dear Parents and Guardians
  The cost of running one week of an Easter Seals general camping session is approximately $2400. In the past the Lions Society has been able to subsidize 100% of this cost and up until 2012 our camper families have not had to pay anything. Unfortunately times have changed and our traditional funding sources have diminished over the years. In order for us to continue offering exceptional camping programs for children with disabilities, we need to change the paradigm with which we approach summer camping.
  Starting this summer, we will be charging a fee of $500 (26% of the cost) for a week of general camping. The Lions Society will subsidize the balance of $1900. This was a hard decision for us but a necessary one. Why was it necessary?
  For over 40 years we offered free camping for kids with disabilities and that is an amazing thing. We are truly proud of that feat. However, competition for the charity dollar has increased at a very fast pace over the last 10 years. There are thousands of more not for profits that have emerged. Special events are no longer being run by a few charities but every organization is trying their hand at this form of fundraising. Individual and corporate donations have been shrinking partly due to the economy and partly due to increased demand from other organizations.  And government funding has become impossible to access due to their budget balancing and many more new community requests. 
  Our camping program is special and unique. We want it to continue. We are going to do what it takes to keep this program running for as long as there is a want and need for it. It is our goal to be able to provide the highest quality camping experience to children with disabilities in five years, ten years and fifty years from now.
  In the coming months we will be sending out information on different subsidy programs and money that is available for families who can demonstrate financial need or wishes to access respite funds. We recommend that parents and guardians also look into what is available. There are a lot of options. We firmly believe that this cost will not be a barrier for anyone who really wants to come to camp.
  We have also had to make some changes to our summer schedule. We have tried to keep the changes small though. The 2014 summer schedules are now available on our website.
  If you have any questions or concerns or even any ideas or helpful tips for other parents please feel free to contact myself or James Gagnon, our Director of Camping, camp@lionsbc.ca.
   
  
   

    
   
    
    

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Other                

• QUOTE of the day:  "

• Your One Stop Shop for children and families in Delta - Deltakids.ca - click here!

• Parenting Special Needs Magazine - Click Here! 
• some of my favorite articles are:
• Creating a PATH towards the future
• A Glass Half Full (optomistic parenting) 
• IEP Preparation - mama bear strategy

• TED TALK: "I have cerebral palsy. I shake all the time," Maysoon Zayid announces at the beginning of this exhilarating, hilarious talk. (Really, it's hilarious.) "I'm like Shakira meets Muhammad Ali." With grace and wit, the Arab-American comedian takes us on a whistle-stop tour of her adventures as an actress, stand-up comic, philanthropist and advocate for the disabled.  Click here to see this fabulous TED TALK! 

• Fraser Valley Families in Touch (FIT) Network Society recently had a presentation regarding RDSP's - Click here to learn more and see a great handout! 

• Is your child worried or anxious? A Free monthly drop-in support group for parents of children (ages 3 to 12) who are worried and anxious most of the time. Come and learn ways to help your child build a bridge over their fears and develop courage To attend: Please call Yvonne at (778) 554-8050 or email her here 
• Yvonne Family Counselling ((Counselling * Play Therapy * Parent Coaching * Infant Massage * Workshops)
  Meetings are the Last Monday of the month at 6:30 - 8:00pm
  #206 - 4840 Delta St., Delta (Ladner) Click here to see Yvonne's website 

• Click here for Canucks Autism Network Sibling Sign-up 

•  BOY SMARTS - FEBRUARY EDITION - Beware of the CHAIR - Click here 

• Parents/Caregivers of Special Needs Children in Surrey!
  If your child has "special needs" (any special need, diagnosed or not), you are invited to come to Surrey Kids Voice. The meetings will be held at: Surrey College Room 110, 9260 140 Street, Surrey,  Currently, childcare is not available. See you there! No need to pre-register. For more info, please contact Cheryl at 604-690-5649 or email here.  

• Click here for Barry McDonald's Current Boysmarts Issue 
• "Look at me when I am talking to you" - the issue on EYE CONTACT!  

• 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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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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