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/Parent Support?  

 Autism

 ADD/ADHD

 Down Syndrome  

Education  

FASD

Medical and Mental Health 

Sensory   

Technology

Transitions

Ministry Information

Workshops and Training

Seasonal

Other

Submissions and Questions?  

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Reach News

Reach Society opens Children's Thrift Store in Ladner June 7
Reach Child & Youth Development Society announces the grand opening of FINDS

Children's Thrift Store  FINDS features amazing deals on gently-used but high-quality children's, youth and maternity-related items, as well as games, books, and toys. The thrift store will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at 4927 Elliott

Street in Ladner.


Reach Society welcomes donations at FINDS during business hours once it

opens, as well at the Reach South Delta office - 3800 72nd Street - Monday

to Friday during business hours. Accepted are clean children's, youth and

maternity-related items, as well as games, books, and toys in good

condition. In addition, individuals interested in volunteering at FINDS are

encouraged to contact volunteer@reachdevelopment.org.


FINDS was the wonderful idea of Reach Society board members, including a

parent whose child had benefited from the Reach preschool program, which is

a developmental preschool for children aged 30 months to 5 years. This

inclusive preschool is for both children who require extra support and for

children who are developing typical. It features interactive learning

through play with an emphasis on kindergarten readiness.


• 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 

• REACH 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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• Experience For 60 Seconds How The World Looks, Sounds, And Feels To Someone Who Has Autism.  Click on the image below! 

• Sensory sensitivity (HD)

• And more from the National Autistic Society

• What is autism?

   
• Is Autism a Disability or a Difference? by Judy Endow.
  So many ideas in the larger autism community often become a debate. As an autistic this black-or-white, choose-your-side sort of thinking is very neurologically friendly to me. I like clear choices. But I also believe we are often unwittingly duped into believing we need to choose a side only because the idea is presented as a dichotomous choice.
  "Is autism a disability or a difference?" is one of these questions posed as a dichotomous choice in the autism community. The way the question is posed gives the impression that there is one correct answer. Click here to read more 

   

• Helen Wood is a member of The Autism Education Trust Youth Council. She is on the autism spectrum and uses communication aids. This is a film she and her team of support have made to show what she likes and dislikes at school and the challenges and successes that she faces on a day to day occurence. Click on the picture below to see the video!

Autism Education Trust - Helen's film.mov

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ADD/ADHD

•  I look in the mirror and what do I see, but 32 year old man who has ADHD
  
  Looking back things now it all makes sense
  As a kid I wasn't slow, stupid or dense  Click here to read more 
   
• Strategies for Keeping Your ADD Brain Happy and Health. People with ADHD spend too much time "accentuating the negative," says one ADD expert. Here are strategies to weed out the bad thoughts to make room for the positive ones. Negative Thinking, Negative Outcome. Everyone has negative thoughts from time to time, but most ADD children, teens, and adults have more of them more of the time. These thoughts come from other people's mistaken judgments ("Why are you so lazy?") and from themselves ("I can't do anything right!"). Many ADD children carhttps://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/emcf/email/edit?flow=edit&camefrom=view&agent.uid=1117515993523ry these negative thought patterns into adulthood, which can lead to problems with mood, behavior, anxiety, or depression. Click here to read more 

• 10 ADHD Quotes to Live By. Be inspired by the stars! Here's what celebrities (and people like us!) have to say about living with attention deficit.Words of Wisdom. Ever been told that ADHD or learning disabilities would prevent you from becoming a success? Ever started believing that...? Be inspired by these words of wisdom, from celebrities with ADHD, and adults and parents like you, who never stopped believing they could achieve greatness.Click here to read more 

•  The 8 Best Social Skills Apps for ADHDer.  Could better social skills for your ADHDer be a tap and a slide away? Check out these apps designed to deliver solid social skills. 
  Friendly Apps for Social Success. Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity can prevent kids with attention deficit from making -- and keeping friends. Here are our top picks for apps to help your ADHDer develop the social skills he needs to navigate the social sphere. Click here to read more

• Inside the Mind of the Teenage Boy with ADHD. Four ways parents can keep their attention deficit sons on track in high school -- and ready for college admissions -- even when they refuse help.  Teen boys with attention deficit disorder face their share of obstacles at school: They are often restless in the classroom, and their verbal skills lag behind those of girls. As a result, they can fall behind young women with ADHD (and girls without the disorder) in standardized test scores and rates of college admissions. This is especially true of boys with ADD and ADHD.  Click here to read more 

• Why We Feel So Intensely: Understanding ADHD Emotions Anger, outbursts, anxiety, irritability, impatience: more than most people, ADHDers can be driven by emotions.

  Few doctors factor in emotional challenges when making an ADHD diagnosis. In fact, current diagnostic criteria for ADHD include no mention of "problems with emotions." Yet recent research reveals that those with ADHD have significantly more difficulty with low frustration tolerance, impatience, hot temper, and excitability than a control group. Click here to read more

• 11 Tips for No-Shout, No-Tears Discipline. You don't have to blow a gasket to put your child on his best behavior. These kinder, gentler strategies will work wonders.

  Does your ADHD child melt down, act up, or get defiant? It's tough to keep discipline talking points in mind when a child turns up the volume or starts throwing toys. The more parents react to their child, the worse things usually get. Here, experts show you how to discipline your child before you reach the boiling point.Click here to read more 

• 11 Powerful ADHD Treatments You've Probably Never Tried. These ADHD-friendly therapies, based on how ADHDers think, feel, and live, really work.   Most parents, teachers, and spouses don't understand how an ADHD brain is wired, and use techniques that work only for the neurotypical brain. When the treatment doesn't work for the ADHDer, they admonish the person and insist that he re-try it. This approach suggests that the person didn't succeed because he has a fundamental flaw: "You're lazy!" or "You didn't really try." But, the technique is wrong, not the person.Click here to read more

• The Anger Games. Beaten down by your child's oppositional defiant disorder? Stop the madness - and the violent outbursts - with these strategies for change.

  Anne dreads waking up in the morning. Her son, Sam, who is nine, is unpredictable. Sometimes he just goes along with the morning routine. Other times, he'll lash out at the smallest thing - a request to get dressed, an unplanned stop on the way to school, or a simple "No" to a request for pizza for dinner."On any given day, I never know what to expect from him," says Anne, a public relations manager for an independent high school in New Hampshire. "He'll start yelling and kicking when anything doesn't go his way." 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

• What Is Bipolar Disorder? This Is What It's Like To Have The Condition.  Sometimes called manic-depression, this brain disorder causes dramatic mood swings from depressing lows to manic highs. Although this mental illness is often portrayed in poetic terms, with patients experiencing unimaginable euphoria and indescribable despair, the hard truth is much less elevated, much more mundane. Symptoms are individual-based and mood shifts may occur as frequently as several times a day or as rarely as a couple times a year. Some sufferers find their illness to be highly disruptive. During a depressive mood, they feel hopeless and lose interest in their usual activities... and then the manic period causes opposite feelings, including grandiose delusions and high-wire energy. In more rare cases, bipolar disorder causes symptoms of depression and mania at the same time. Click here to read more and see a video

• Eeyore opens ours eyes to enhancing mental health perspective. I love this perspective on Eeyore - as it widens the circle, instead of decreasing it.  I never looked at Eeyore this way before.  And that's a good thing. Whether it's perspectives on mental health issues or anything, with wider eyes, more light gets in & there's more room for understanding. Click here to read more 

• 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 
• JUL 17 2014: Art and Creative Therapies
  SEP 18 2014: Eating Disorders in Boys and Men
  OCT 16 2014: Suicide and Safety Planning
  NOV 13 2014: Mental Health and Online Safety    

• 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 their current newsletter   

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Technology

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Transitions  

• Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation Improving Services to People with Developmental Disabilities Click here to learn more and see a video showing how to apply for services!  

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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    

• 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 for the spring/summer CCRR Workshop Schedule 

• Click here for information on RDSP presentations 

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

• Click here for all upcoming workshops by Delta Assist   

• Click here for upcoming events sponsored by the BC Council for Families   
   
• RDSP Information Session June 28th.  This 2-hour RSDP workshop provides the participant with a step-by-step approach to eligibility, opening a Registered Disability Saving Plan and the Potential benefits of the RDSP. Presented by the Ric Tesan- Plan Institute for Caring Citizenship & Family Support Institute Resource Parents. Ric has made an incredible contribution to families not only in PLAN but also throughout the province of BC. Ric's knowledge in the RDSP is unsurpassed. Ric is a  Lifetime Member of PLAN who support their daughter Erin, now a young woman, to live a meaningful life, with a personal network, a RDSP, a Representation Agreement, a Trust and individualized staffing through a "Microboard". Truly a good life.   

• Time : 10:00am - 12:00pm

  Location : 1-3800 72 Street,Resource Centre, Large Boardroom, Delta, BC

• This workshop is for parents and family members and anyone who is in receipt of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC

•  If you would like more information on this workshop contact Si Stainton, Family Services Manager at email here or 604.952.6490.   

   

   
• 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 

 

• Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Practical Applications (POPARD).
• August 11 to 15, 2014 - Vancouver, B.C.
  August 18 to 22, 2014 - Vancouver, B.C.
  August 25 to 29, 2014 - Victoria, B.C.
• This 30 hour course has recently been revised to reflect current research and evidence-based practice in teaching students with ASD. Instruction includes pre-readings, practical hands-on training through instructor demonstration and coaching. In addition, course participants complete applied exercises in the key elements of teaching and supporting students with ASD.
• Kenneth Cole, Ph.D., R.Psych. is a psychologist on staff at the Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders (POPARD). In addition, he is a School Psychologist in School District #36 (Surrey) and a Supervisor in the Adult Assessment Clinic at The University of British Columbia where he has previously served as Adjunct Faculty.
• Click here for more information 

• Invitation to present at the 1st Annual Canadian Social Thinking ® Providers Conference:Applying Social Thinking and Teaching Executive Function Skills:  Where, When, How and with Whom?
• Wednesday & Thursday
  September 17 & 18, 2014
  Executive Airport Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre, Richmond, B.C
  Key Note Speakers:Joanne Gerenser, ABA and Social Thinking
  Sarah Ward, Executive Functioning
  Michelle Garcia Winner, Founder of Social Thinking
  
  Pamela Crooke, Authentic Data. Present on your own experience: Deadline to submit proposals - May 23, 2014 Click here for more information 

• Boy Smarts - Action Talk!  Barry MacDonald! RATHER than surppressing a boy's high-spirited physicality and aggression, or his sensitive and shy reluctance, learn constructive ways to respond to his varied needs so he can express himself in safe

  and respectful ways. LEARN how to listen beyond your son's frustration and anger to connect with him, and to understand his deeper needs. LEARN how to advocate for your son at school to ensure that he receives optimal support and guidance. BARRY MACDONALD

  is a skilled educator, author, and Registered Clinical Counsellor, who will expertly lead you through the corridors of boyhood. His highly practical and positive approach will inspire you to mentor your son to be successful at school, and become a man of courage and compassion. take advantage of earlybird specials: register 4 people for the price of 3

  bring a guest for free until june 30th

  Vancouver October 4, 2014  Register here 
   
• Barry MacDonald - NEW Teacher Workshop: Teaching Marginalized and Vulnerable boys! S t r at e g i e s to engage boys. A growing body of evidence says that increasingly Canadian boys are disengaging from school and are lacking the single most important tool for lifelong success-the ability to read and write.
  Discover solutions to these critical topics:
  * What do trends say about educating boys, and especially
  certain sub-groups of boys?
  * What interferes with boys' learning and school success?
  * How to address the link between moving and learning?
  * How to help boys regulate their emotions?
  * To what degree do boys who think in pictures become
  overwhelmed with verbal instructions?
  * How can school staff communicate better with boys and
  help them develop relational skills and socially responsibility?
  Surrey October 24, 2014  Click here for more information 
   
• 6th International Conference on FASD Research: Results and Relevance 2015
  Integrating Research, Policy, and Promising Practice Around the World
  March 4-7, 2015 | The Westin Bayshore | Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Abstract Submission by May 31, 2014
• Click here for more conference information  

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Seasonal 

• WOW! HandsOnHistory! Presented this summer by the Delta Museum and Archives Society 

  Myths,Mosaics and Mazes July15th,16th,17th,and18th10am-12pm& 1pm-3pm

  Travel back in time to Ancient Greece. Learn about Greek myths, art and more!Try out a floor maze, make a Greek mask and

  create a mosaic.

  Sow Some Seeds July22nd,23rd,24th,and25th10am-12pm&1pm-3pm

  Get your hands dirty as you dig in to the seeds,soil and the life style of farmers from the past.Find out how Delta's early pioneers cleared and farmed the land and plant your own miniature garden.

  Toys Unplugged July29th,30th,31st,and August1st10am-12pm&1pm-3pm

  What in the world did children do for fun before video games and electricity?Join us outside for some pioneer games,play with old fashioned toys,and make a toy to take home.Please dress for the weather and bring a water bottle.

  Butter Me Up August 5th,6th,7th,and8th10am-12pm&1pm-3pm

  Have you ever wondered where your butter comes from?Discover how butter gets from the cow to the table,try your hand at butter making,and make your own butter sculpture. 

  Parlour Games Galore   August 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm

  Come play some Victorian parlour games and explore museum exhibits

  to learn what people did for fun long ago.

  $5perchild Private  bookingsareavailablefor daycare groups.Tuesday, Thursday,and Friday or join the public WOW

  sessions on Wednesdays.A minimum of 10 children is required for a private booking.

  Estuary Explorers

  August19th,20th,21st,and22nd 10am-12pm&1pm-3pm

  Discover how the Fraser River Estuary formed and learn about the people and animals who call the estuary home.Take a walking tour exploring the estuary before coming back to the museum for some estuary crafts and activities.Please ress fort he weather and bring a water bottle. 

  For more information,or to register,contact:Delta Museum and Archives Society

  4918 Delta Street, DeltaBC 604-946-9322 email here 

    
• KIDSMATTER Summer Camps
  Would you like to keep your kids healthy, happy and active during the summer months?
  Have you made plans for them yet? We can help!
  Check out some of the fun, stimulating and inspiring summer camps. 
  We cover Cooking, Art, Sports, Acting and we even have something for those that love Bugs!! Spots are filling up fast... don't delay  1 week programs for children 6-13 with ASD and other Developmental Disabilities for Abbotsford and Cloverdale and surrounding communities! 
  July and August 2014
  Cost:  $300.00 half day 9:30-12:30/ $500.00 full day 9:30-3:00 per child per week
  (Includes Gluten and Casein free snacks (GFCF), all required materials) Click here for more information  
• Friend2Friend - FREE! Summer Camp Integrated Play Groups Programs for Expert Players.  An expert player is a typically developing child who has good social, communication and peer play skills (developmentally typical for their age). They are interested in playing with other children, and demonstrate good self-help, and life skills remaining well regulated (ready and available for engagement and learning) even when excited.Click here for more information on expert players.
  
  School Age Summer Camps (ages 6-12) program is designed for children with autism (novice players) or related needs and their peers (expert players). Each program has a maximum of 5 children (2-3 novice and 2-3 expert players).
  Early Childhood Summer Camps (ages 3-5) program is designed for children with autism (novice player) or related needs and their peers (expert player).  Click here for more information on the groups 

        

• Eureka Outdoor Camp is operated by Eureka Camp Society. The Society has been offering outdoor recreational programs for children and adolescents with invisible disabilities since 1980.  Click here for more information 
   
• Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities was established in 1973 to provide therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. For over 39 years, we've been giving youth and adults with varying  disabilities the chance to bond with horses, make lasting friendships, have fun, and receive therapy at the same time. PRDA provides a caring and welcoming environment, and we pride ourselves on being a safe place for people to experience new things. We want our riders to feel like they can challenge themselves knowing that there is a strong support system in place for them should they require help.Click here for summer lesson information 

• BC Easter Seals Camps programs for young adults include:
  Lit Camp Leadership On-site leadership programs at Camp Squamish for young persons transitioning into adulthood who are looking to enjoy a memorable and fun week at camp, and build leadership skills transferable to their lives and communities. Open to young adults with or without disabilities aged 19 - 25.
  LIT Wilderness Challenge: A one-week canoe trip which encompasses nature-based leadership-building activities and themes. Open to young adults with or without disabilities aged 19 - 25.
  Young Adult Camp (YAC): Traditional summer camping experiences at Camp Shawnigan. Open to young adults with disabilities aged 19 - 29.
  BC Easter Seals Camps also offer week-long residential summer camping programs for children and youth with disabilities aged 6 - 18 years throughout the summer at three sites across BC: Shawnigan Lake, Squamish and Winfield.  Click here for more information 

• Special Olympics Canada Summer Games:  The 2014 Summer Special Olympics are taking place in Vancouver this year from July 8th - 12th.  Find out how to participate or volunteer by visiting their website here.  Families who have children and youth who are new to Special Olympics may want to start with youth programs. Click here for more information 

   

• MISSION POSSIBLE CRUISE TO ALASKA  JULY 4 to 11, 2014
  THIS CRUISE IS NOT just for families with children or students with Down Syndrome.....the information being shared this time will be of value and interest for other families and individuals with varying challenges, including autism.
  SPEAKERS INCLUDE: an Occupational Therapist, a Speech Therapist,a physio therapist, a teacher specializing in a reading program for students with Developmental Disabilities, medical personnal and myself...am so honored to be included..and I will lead discussions around Educational Strategies, Behaviour, Sexuality and Puberty, if wanted..tolieting, advocacy..whatever people want to talk , share and brainstorm on.
  Should be great fun, a whole week to talk, laugh, cry and learn and simply have lots of fun!!!
  Join us on the DS July 4th, 2014 Alaska Inside Passage 7 Night Cruise from Seattle
  Click here for more informationAccess the FREE 2013 DS Cruise Speaker Videos here
  CONTACT ROSALIE here  for more information
  THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH OTHERS
  Barbara Laird BEd.
  www.beyondtheboxbasics.com
  604 325 9990
  
  
   

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Other                

• Quote of the Day:"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." Maja Angelou

•  Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2014.  Stop Telling Me That I'm Pretty for a Girl in a Wheelchair: How Your Words Contribute to Violence Against Women with Disabilities Women with disabilities experience the highest rate of personal violence of any group in our society. There are many factors that contribute to this and one factor is self-esteem. Please click here to read this passionate plea! 

• Complex Child - June Edition - Special Education - Click here! 

•  Kids reading to cats proves to be a win-win situation (with video). At a Fort St. John shelter one sickly cat has even shown significant improvement since the reading sessions began. he Cat in the Hat knew nothing of shyness and embarrasment. But the best-selling kids' favourite is helping lead a breakthrough in literary help for children strugging with their words. A movement that started in the U.S. has now spread north, with a B.C. cat shelter offering a first-of-its-kind program coupling children with cats. The idea is that a child who feels uncomfortable reading out loud in front of other children and adults due to shyness or embarrasment is more comfortable reading to a patient feline. Click here to read more 

• As Long As It's Healthy.... But What If It's Not?..."Oh, I like girls, but it doesn't matter to me!" she exclaimed. "You know, as long as they're healthy and running around!" I felt it and Lou felt it, simultaneously -- that hot knife of grief in the belly. I think he actually winced. I laughed, bewildered, and said something like, "LOL I KNOW RIGHT? HAHAHA OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE AWFUL, WOULDN'T IT, IF THEY COULDN'T WALK???" and then slumped back to the waiting room with my paperwork.  Click here to read more 

• 7 Things You Don't Know About A Special Needs Parent.About 6 million kids in America

  receive special education, according to the U.S. Department of Education. One out of every 10 children under the age of 14 has some type of special need, which includes any physical, cognitive, or medical disability, or chronic or life-threatening illness. My 3-year-old son Jacob is one of them. Chances are that you know a special needs parent, or you may be one yourself. As a special needs parent, I often don't share my feelings on this aspect of my life, even with my closest friends, so I decided to compile a list here with the goal of building understanding (I was largely inspired by this beautiful post, authored by another parent to a child with a chromosomal disorder). I don't claim to speak for every special needs parent out there, but from the ones I know, some of these are pretty universal. If I've missed any, please leave a comment below. Click here to read more 

• Sibling Rivalry: Teach Kids To Respect One Another. One way that you can help your kids get along is to teach them to respect their sibling's bad mood. I know that when one child is crying or whining, their sibling might use that opportunity to tease them. They will say things like:"You are such a crybaby!" "Why do you make such a big deal about everything?"

  Or they will imitate the whining, which I personally find to be the most irritating. Needless to say their sibling's heartlessness only exacerbates the problem.Click here to read more

  
   

   

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