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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• My Journey - Living With Autism Date: Oct 5, 2015
  Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  Place: Theatre at University of Fraser Valley - 33844 King Road, Abbotsford, BC
  Youth & Parent Panel
  Listen as four youths share their journey living with Autism. Also hear from a panel of parents who share their experience teaching, guiding & living with a child with Autism. No cost but please register by calling 778-789-8844

• Please Stop Whitewashing Autism. NeuroTribes calls autism a "gift," but parents paint a much different picture by Amy Lutz, Psychology Today. Few things are more surreal to the parent of a severely autistic child than the neurodiversity rhetoric that recently culminated in Steve Silberman's book NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity. To call the disorder that has left our children with profound impairments in cognition, communication and behavior a "strange gift," as Silberman does, is truly mind-boggling. Click here to read more 

• Teaching Toileting Hidden Rules and Etiquette by Maureen Bennie!
  When at a restaurant in Quebec, I went to use the bathroom and it suddenly occurred to me that the signs were in French . Luckily I speak French, and so I know the difference between femmes and garçons and could easily navigate which bathroom to use. But it got me thinking: had my two children with autism been confronted with signs in another language, they wouldn't have known which door to choose. Sometimes even something as small as not knowing which washroom to use can create panic and confusion for those on the spectrum. So how do we teach the symbols for toilet, which one to use if you're male or female, and general washroom etiquette to our children with autism? Click here to read more

• It is with great pleasure we announce the amalgamation of Autism Canada Foundation (established in 2002) and Autism Society Canada (established in 1976).  This amalgamation brings together two of Canada's largest, leading autism organizations to form Autism Canada.  The consolidated organization, including a Provincial and Territorial Council and an Adult Autism Advisory Committee, puts Autism Canada in a position to bring about real change for people living with autism and their families.Click here to see the new website!  
  
  
  
   
   
   

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   Down Syndrome  

• Good to Great: Enhancing Quality of Life for People with Down Syndrome The Down Syndrome Research Foundation's 20th Anniversary Conference and Celebration.  October 23 - 24, 2015. 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 starting October 1, 2015
  Where:
  Reach Developmental Preschool South #3-3800 72nd Street, Delta, BC
  Reach Developmental Preschool North Delta 10921 - 82nd Avenue, Delta, BC
  
  **alternating each month
• 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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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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Workshops and Training 

• Click here for the Fall CCRR Course Schedule 

• Click here for information on RDSP presentations 

• Click here for all upcoming workshops by Delta Assist   

•  Click here for upcoming presentations by BC Council for Families

• Parent Support and Training Free Training Evening
  
  Wednesday Oct 14th 7:00-8:30pm at our New Play Centre! 336 Columbia St. New Westminister
  Friend 2 Friend offers parent training sessions free to families of children with autism and related needs. Heather McCracken program creator and executive director of Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society will speak on raising three children (one with autism) and share information on principles and practice of the Friend 2 Friend - Integrated Play Groups program offered at the Friend 2 Friend Play Centres in East Vancouver and New Westminister. Come meet the team, meet other parents and learn about these unique programs! Click here to register

• 2015 International Conference: Claiming Full Citizenship: Self Determination, Personalization and Individualized Funding  Thursday, October 15 - Saturday, October 17, 2015, Vancouver - hosted by UBC, Centre for  Inclusion and Citizenship
  Early Bird Registration Date > September 7. With the passage of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, self-determination, personalization and individualized funding initiatives have a new foundation upon which to build. In countries all over the world, these initiatives are transforming the lives of people with disabilities. Like the shift from institutions to community services, these initiatives are a momentous step forward in assisting people with disabilities and seniors achieve meaningful and rewarding lives as full citizens. Register online and share in the excitement and fellowship of this important event. Scholarships for family members and self-advocates are available through the Family Support Institute of BC.  Click here for more information
   
• Positive Parenting the Basics! Sponsored by Langley Child Development Centre and Reach! For parents/caregivers of all children between the ages of 3 and 18
  Facilitated by Krista Clark and Jeannette Trombley. Behavioural Consultants
  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!Langley Child Development Centre #103-5171 221A St. Langley
  Two 2.5 hour sessions- Monday October 19 , 2015 and Monday October 26, 2015
  Must attend both sessions
  6:30-9:00 pm $10.00 per family for both sessions
  Karen Reid at email here 604-534-1155 ext. 139 or
  Lisa Laurie at email here 604-534- 1155 ext. 121
  Register early to guarantee your place!

• EduTalks 2015 Fall Series Thursday, October 22, 2015, 6:30 - 9:30 PM Understanding and Managing Children with ADHD.  DR. MARGARET WEISS will return for a second presentation following numerous requests from former EduTalks attendees.  She will discuss topics such as, What is ADHD, Sluggish Cognitive Tempo, Executive Function, Treatment of Attention Problems and Classroom Strategies. DR. WEISS has been described as "the expert to the experts" in the field of ADHD. This is a rare opportunity for us to learn from this world-renowned authority. Her ADHD Workshop sold out in February so please register early for what is sure to be another most informative and beneficial session.
• Friday, October 23, 2015, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Addressing the Challenge of Diversity in the Classroom.  AUTISM, ANXIETY, ADHD, LEARNING DISABILITIES, COGNITIVE DELAYS-----these are only a few examples of the challenges that children face and that we, as professionals, must address daily. The diversity of challenges can be very time consuming and even overwhelming for all of us. This seminar will examine concrete ways that classroom teachers, education assistants, educational specialists and parents can work together to enhance the growth and development of all students and effectively address the diversity of learners in today's schools. EduTalks Seminars is pleased and fortunate to feature DR. DAVE CARTER, former Director of Special Education in Surrey, as leader of this Workshop.  DR. CARTER has been an educator in B.C public schools since 1973, having worked also as a classroom teacher, school psychologist, University faculty member and consultant to the BC Ministry of Education and the Attorney General of BC. With over 40 years of working with a multitude of different learners, we look forward to the skills and strategies he will impart to this important topic.
• Friday, October 23, 2015, 12:30 - 2:00 PM. Practical Strategies for Addressing Diversity in the Classroom. TANIS ANDERSON is an Elementary School Teacher with over 14 years of experience and holds a graduate degree in Literacy from SFU. Prior to this, Tanis worked as a Literacy Support Teacher for the Burnaby School District and has a background in Special Education supporting children with special needs. She will discuss a variety of strategies to help address diversity in the classroom.
• Workshops will be held at Hycroft: 1489 McRae Avenue, Vancouver, BC
  Cost:
  Thursday, October 22 - $55 (refreshments included)
  Friday, October 23 - $125 (muffins and light lunch included)
  Early Bird Special for Both - $160 (until October 9)
  Online payment and registration here
   
• David Pitonyak for Shared Living Folks: The Importance of Belonging - Oct 26, 2015. Being connected to the people we love is critical to our emotional and physical well-being.  Many people experiencing our services are sick from loneliness.  This workshop is about ideas for moving beyond interventions and coverage to a system that supports enduring, freely chosen relationships. Click here to learn more! 

• Thriving in Youth with ASD - What Does it Take? Friday, October 23rd, 2015 Jonathan Weiss has identified thriving as an important but almost unused term in the realm of autism research which is largely focused on problem behaviors and the negative impact of autism on the lives of young people. In his presentation Dr. Weiss will look at how to promote positive outcomes in youth with ASD, including those with Intellectual Disability, by focusing on indicators such as happiness, satisfaction and resilience. This presentation has significant implications for educators, families and therapists as they look at the pivotal interventions that will have the biggest impacts on youth with ASD as they prepare and enter into adult life, specifically, interventions that target social-communication difficulties and promote social interaction and community inclusion for youth with ASD. Click here for more information
   
• Good to Great: Enhancing Quality of Life for People with Down Syndrome. Join families, educators, clinicians, service providers, and researchers in beautiful Vancouver British Columbia Oct. 23-24 as we come together to learn, share and inspire. We have an outstanding lineup of speakers, including international experts and experienced practitioners in the field of Down syndrome. Behavior problems impact 30% of children with Down syndrome. Left untreated, these same children often exhibit behavior problems as adults, limiting work and independent living opportunities. Many typical behavioral management tools are less effective for children with DS. In order to address behavior problems in DS effectively, one must understand the brain-based reasons for these challenges and direct treatment appropriately. This workshop will present the basic neuroscience of Down syndrome and how this informs effective behavior management, with practical strategies provided for use in the home and school settings. Click here for more information 

• David Pitonyak: Beyond "Behaviors": Supporting Competence, Confidence, and Well-Being.  October 29, 2015 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Difficult behaviors result from unmet needs. This workshop examines seven quality of life indicators that are often missing in the life of a person who experiences our services. Based on the idea from Jean Clarke that a person's needs are best met by people whose needs are met, this day-long workshop examines strategies for supporting not only an individual who experiences disabilities but also the needs of his or her caregivers.At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will have developed knowledge in the following areas:
  Determining what people may be communicating through their difficult behaviors;
  The role of physiological or psychiatric needs in the development of difficult behaviors
  The importance of asking critical quality of life questions in building a support plan;
  The critical importance of addressing caregiver needs in the development of a support plan;
  Ways to support an individual in crisis. Click here for more information!!
   
• Transforming TRAUMA: How to do this work and not completely lose our minds
  For many front line workers, professionals, caregivers and community members our days are often filled with witnessing trauma and suffering, we misplace caring for self while we care for others. Laura van Dernoot Lipsky will offer a compelling mix of personal insight, cutting edge research, and humor to help us understand the cumulative toll of exposure to suffering (trauma) over time and gain skills to reconcile it. Wednesday, October 28, 2015
  8:30am - 3:30pm Langley Events Centre 7888 200 Street. Langley, BC CLick here to register
   
• In celebration of Community Living Month, we would like to invite family members to attend:

  Family Voices Family Choices. A family conference to support youth in transition from school to adulthood in Delta and Surrey.

  When: Friday, October 30, 2015 9:00am - 3:30pm

  Where: Delta Town & Country Inn 6005 Hwy 17A, Delta

  Speakers:

  Keynote: Laney Breynton, ELAN Consulting
  Family Advocacy: Angela Clancy, Family Support Institute
  Individualized Funding & Microboards: Linda Perry, Vela
  Planning Tools: Pam Collins, Reach Child & Youth Development Society.  Employment Opportunities: Rochelle Ali, DCLS Navigating the Transition: tba.  Questions:
  For more information, or to submit your interest in attending, email here 

  or call 604.946.9508. Click here for more information

• Positive Behavior Support: What Parents Need to Know! Saturday, November 7th, 2015
  Brenda Fossett, Ph.D., BCBA-D.  Parents often assume that difficult eating, sleeping and toileting behaviors are part of their child's autism and must be endured. This workshop will provide parents with an overview of Positive Behavior Support (PBS). Many families find PBS very helpful in learning how to help their children with special needs develop functional behaviors that can make a huge difference in the quality of family life and the child's ability to be included in school and community activities. Core features of PBS include the application of behavioral science (ABA), the use of practical interventions to prevent problem behavior and promote desired behavior, and a focus on improving the quality of life for the individual and those who live with and support him/her. Click here for more information

  Simon Fraser University - Downtown Campus Vancouver, BC

• Growing Hearts in Growing Children: Promoting Socio-Emotional Development in the Young Child Presented by Dr. Vanessa Lapointe. November 14, 2015 Children are born already wired to mature, but much of how development actually unfolds depends on the type of world the child grows up in. As far as growing a child's heart, a child's capacity to relate socially to others, and a child's ability to develop emotional maturity, the conditions around the child must be ideal. It is the responsibility of all the big people in a child's world to ensure that such ideal conditions are indeed provided. In this workshop we will delve deep into how our practices with children can allow for us to delver this kind of care, and ultimately grow hearts in all of the children we work with.  Click here for more information

• November 21, 2015 Richmond Annual Autism Information Fair.  We are pleased to present our keynote speaker: Amythest Schaber an artist, writer, public speaker and advocate for Autism, disability, and living life on the spectrum.
  This year's presentations will be:
   Possibility, Progress & Hope: A Journey Through Autism by Shanna Tibble Beach, Mom and Autism Advocate
   Family Quality of Life In Families Caring for Children with ASD in BC by Dr. Grace Iarocci, Simon Fraser University's Autism and Developmental Disorders Lab
   Sensory Processing and Attunement by Megan Eastwood, Occupational Therapist
   Augmentative Communication by Betsy Neily, Speech Language Pathologist with the Richmond School District and a Market Place
  Come join us for a hassle-free, no pressure opportunity to meet and mingle with a wide variety of professionals, groups and businesses providing services in the Richmond area.
  To learn more about Autism resources in Richmond please visit our website:here
• November 21, 2015  9:00 am - 2:45 pm  Doors Open at 9:00 am
  McMath Secondary School 4251 Garry Street, Richmond
  Childcare is not available
  Refreshments and a pizza lunch will be provided
  This is a free event but registration is required
  Please register online here or by phone at 604 279-7013

• Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). Join us for a FREE info session to learn about the RDSP, the Grant and the Bond. The RDSP helps Canadians with disabilities and their families save for the future. Come and see Ric Tesan from Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) share his expertise on these valuable financial tools for our loved ones. To register, email Pam Collins here or phone 604-946-6622 ext 359  NOV 17, 2015, 6-8 pm at Reach #3 - 3800 72nd Street, Delta

• Taking Control of the Future - Planning for Families with Special Needs.  
  Saturday, November 21st, 2015  Blair Dwyer & Layli Antinuk, Dwyer Tax Law, Victoria.
  A primary source of stress for families who have children with special needs is worrying about securing their future. This workshop will help families better understand planning options that are available to help secure the financial future of their children. The goals of the presentation are to help families supporting members with special needs to:
  • Understand the full range of planning opportunities that are available;
  • See how these strategies might be used to accomplish the family's planning objectives;
  • Enable parents to articulate their objectives and communicate them to a professional advisor with greater confidence;
  • Remain in control of the development and implementation of a plan that suits their needs.
  The presenters will discuss Registered Disability Savings Plans and the use of trusts. Click here for more information 
   
• Faster than a Speeding Bullet: iPads in Autism Intervention (Vancouver).  
  Saturday, December 5th, 2015 Brenda Fossett, Ph.D., BCBA-D
  Simon Fraser University - Downtown Campus, Vancouver, BC.It's hard to believe that the iPad was first released only in 2010. In such a short period of time, the use of iPads and other tablets have become common learning tool in the educational environment. For individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, the iPad and other tablets have been seen as the "miracle" device but to be effective, there is a lot to be considered.  This workshop will review a number of skill areas in which the iPad can be a useful instructional tool and/or an aid for daily living. Click here for more information 

• Save the Date! 19th annual Children the Heart of the Matter Conference January 15 & 16, 2016.

• Save the date: Bottom Line 2016. It's official! Next year's Bottom Line Conference has been confirmed for February 23 and 24, 2016. The upcoming conference theme will be Heroes in the Workplace: Stories from the Champions of Change. Promote mental health in your workplace with CMHA BC's education and training workshops. Choose from general awareness sessions or specialized training for leaders, supervisors, and Occupational Health and Safety representatives.
   
• Save the Date! Inclusion BC 2016 Conference, June 22-25, 2016
  Inclusion BC is excited to announce that we're partnering up with AimHi (Prince George Association for Community Living) to host our 2016 conference and AGM in Prince George. Stay tuned for more information!

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Seasonal 

• October is Community Inclusion Month
  The theme of this year's Community Inclusion Month is Claiming Full Citizenship.
  Community Inclusion Month welcomes all members of community to celebrate and bring awareness to the strengths and achievements of people with developmental disabilities. It challenges us to think of community as more than just a place where we live; it is where we all come together to work, learn and play. Click here for a calendar of events

• This year, our 11th Annual INCLUSION Art Show and Sale will take place on October 28, 2015 from 5:00 -8:00pm and October 29, 2015 from 11:00am - 8:00pm at Heritage Hall in Vancouver.  Held during Community Inclusion month in BC, this Art Show is a springboard for connection and collaboration in the community.Click here for more information
   
  
   

• CONNECT Carnival Date: October 26, 2015. LBC Connect Carnival on Oct 26th for families of individuals or children with special needs. A free harvest celebration specifically geared towards kids with special needs and abilities. Games, candy, fun! Monday, October 26, 6:30-8:00p.m. Costumes are encouraged but no scary ones please.Click here for contact information
   
  
   

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