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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• Amythest Schaber delivered the keynote presentation at the recent Richmond Autism Information Fair Saturday November 21st.   She literally brought UP the house with a standing ovation.  You can see her incredible presentation here:
• and please take a moment to visit you tube to see some of her video blogs - she so eloquently describes the neurodiversity of ASD.  Here is just one about Executive Functioning:
• How Do You Know When A Child With Autism Is Feeling Pain? by Maureen Bennie! My son Marc has always had difficulty telling me about his physical feelings. Like many parents of children with autism, I can't depend on him to tell me if he is hungry, thirsty, cold, hot, or in pain. Instead I have to rely on my own senses of observation, basic idea of timing around meals etc, or my feelings of temperature, to gauge what his needs or discomforts are.
  Marc suffers from advanced, crippling arthritis. At medical appointments, doctors always asked him to rate his pain levels on a scale of 1 to 10, a task which is impossible for him to do. The only way to measure his pain is through MRI's and X-rays. With no expression of pain, it is difficult to treat Marc's symptoms because even with medications,  Marc gives no verbal feedback about how he feels on the medication. I have to use my own observations to decide if his medication is working - observations such as whether there is more fluidity in his movements, or if there is an increase in physical activity such as dancing, an activity he enjoys. Click here to read more
   
• New Estimate 1 in 45 American Children Have Autism.  The government has a new estimate for autism - 1 in 45 U.S. children - but other federal calculations say the developmental disorder is less common. The latest figure released Friday is one of three estimates that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives for autism based on different surveys; the most rigorous one gives a lower estimate of 1 in 68 children. Click here to read more 

• 2016 CALL for NOMINATIONS - NOW OPEN. 2016 ANCA World Autism FestivalCelebrate Autistic Achievements Across The Globe. Nominations Open to Autistic Individuals and Others Supporting the Global Autistic Community.  Click here for more information 

• Request for "Expressions of Interest" for program and services at the PAFC We are very excited to announce that we have now issued our request for "Expressions of Interest" for program and services at the Pacific Autism Family Centre.  We encourage any present providors, parent groups, or interested parties to download the PDF application on our web site here The purpose of this Expression of Interest (EOI) is to secure responses from organizations, companies and individuals interested in providing services within the new Pacific Autism Family Centre (PAFC), currently under construction in Richmond BC and scheduled to open in the summer of 2016.

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   Down Syndrome  

• "There's nothing down about Down syndrome" preview | Down syndrome awareness | a Julie Willson film.  My name is Julie Willson and I have decided to create this video in addition to my recent photo shoot to help raise awareness of Down Syndrome. Down syndrome is sadly looked at as a negative thing but after watching this video, you will see how wonderful it can be. The full video will be released in March 2016. Click below to see the preview!
  
• New Show Will Put Spotlight on People With Down Syndrome.  A new television show is putting people with Down syndrome front and center.A&E Networks recently announced it will be airing "Born This Way," a new six-episode documentary series this December about young adults with Down syndrome. Click here to read more

• Downs Designs! At 62 years old, Bowersox has had three successful businesses. Although she admits her age entered her mind when starting Downs Designs, her love for her granddaughter, who has Down syndrome, was much greater.
  "Just starting another business at my age is a little unnerving," Bowersox said. "But the deep emotion that I feel is my passion to help people like my granddaughter."
  Nearly 5.8 million people have Down syndrome; a condition characterized by shorter limbs, a thicker neck and waist, and delayed fine motor skills.
  Although Bowersox doesn't have experience making clothes, her determination to keep people with Down syndrome from rolling up another sleeve or pant leg leads her way.
  "I see Downs Designs eventually offering a full-line of clothing that changes the lives of people with Down syndrome of all ages," Bowersox said. "They have enough challenges to face in their lives every day, and I want to see their clothing challenges as one fewer thing they have to deal with on a daily basis."
• Click here to see her website and fabulous jeans! 
• Click here to see the new adopt a jean program - they are giving away FREE jeans! 
•    
•  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

• ADHD Education Day for Parents. Presented by The Provincial ADHD Clinic
  Wednesday November 25th 2015 9:00 am to 2.30 pm Chan Auditorium B.C Children's Hospital. It is free to attend and open to any parent who has a child with ADHD. Click here to register
   
• Finding Our Way 8th ANNUAL FASD COLLABORATION ROUNDTABLE FALL CONFERENCE Saturday, November 28, 2015 Douglas College 700 Royal Ave, New Westminster. FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD) AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS. The Conference will focus on:
  Strategies Safety Planning Anxiety Pocket Cards. Click here for more information 

• Neufeld Institute Presents an On-Line Conference: Sibling Rivalry! Conflict between siblings can be a natural occurence, but one that often drives parents crazy. Competition between siblings close in age can be exasperating. Witnessing one child verbally or physically attack his/her sibling is very challenging and often leaves parents at a loss as to what to do. Faculty members and siblings, Colleen and Patti Drobot, will help make sense of the roots of aggression and impulsivity in children and explain why sibling conflict is so prevalent. They will offer suggestions about handling incidences as well as cultivating caring behaviour between siblings. They will also provide examples, stories, and opportunities for questions and answers to help bring their suggestions into everyday life. Monday, November 30, 2015 from 10 am to 12 pm Pacific Time ONLINE. Click here for more information
   
• EARLY START DENVER MODEL (ESDM) INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP.  The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is an evidence-based early intervention specifically developed for very young children with autism. The ESDM is a play-based intervention that fuses behavioral and developmental principles into an integrated approach. The ESDM can be implemented in different natural settings such as the home or the daycare/preschool by trained therapists as well as parents within play and daily routines. The ESDM aims to reduce the symptoms of autism and targets all developmental areas.Tuesday December 1, 2015 from 9:00am - 5:00pm. Presenter - Michaela Jelen, M.Ed.  For more information and to register (before November 23) please contact Dulcie Basto here
   
• Kids Have Stress Too!® An interactive training workshop from The Psychology Foundation of Canada for professionals who work with families and children in early learning and care environments.The Kids Have Stress Too! (KHST!®) program is based on evidence that with help, young children can learn practical strategies to relieve stress, and effective ways to respond to stressful situations. By learning to cope with life's ups and downs, children develop healthy strategies that help them to adapt, self-regulate, be resourceful, feel competent and become more resilient. Saturday, December 5, 2015  from 9:30-4:00.  To register please call Cindy Andrew at 250-391-8452 or email here
   
• 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 

• Early Childhood Education and the Autism Spectrum: Fostering Social Inclusion and Play at Preschool and Daycare. Join us for an evening at the Friend 2 Friend Play Centre - New Westminster on Tuesday January 12th, 2016  6:30-8:30pm The focus of this 2-hour seminar is on developing a better understanding autism and how to facilitate social play interactions between children with autism and peers in preschools and daycares. This seminar is designed for Early Childhood Educations and parents. The session will focus on children ages 2 through 7 years. Click here to register 

• 19th annual Children the Heart of the Matter Conference January 15 & 16, 2016.
  Click here to see all the topics and the exceptional speakers!

• 20th Anniversary Early Years Conference - Sp'e'qum.  January 28 - 31, 2016.  
  Join us to celebrate 20 years of innovative professional development with our 10th conference in Canada for early childhood development and family support. Our success reflects the powerful partnerships that we have formed across many communities: University of British Columbia,Infant Development Program, Aboriginal Infant Development Program,Sunny Hill Health Centre, BC Children's Hospital, Family Support Institute and many more. These partnerships allow us to address diverse topics of evidence based practice and research. The 2016 conference will continue to lead the field to improve skill development, practice and systems. Over the last 20 years there has been an explosion of research in areas of child development, child welfare, infant mental health, and family support. The conference has evolved from national to international participation. Click here to see the full brochure! 

• Friend2Friend Free Family Training and Information Evening
  Wednesday February 10, 2016  6:30-8:00pm Play Centre - New Westminster  336 Columbia Street, New WestminsterFriend 2 Friend offers free family 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
  
   
• 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. Click here to see the incredible list of presentations available! 

• Autism Awareness Centre's Annual Two Day Conference!  February 26, 27, 2015 Brenda Smith Myles and Kelly Mahler!
• February 26th - Brenda Smith Myles: Individuals with ASD who Present with Challenging Behaviour:  Understanding the Role of Self-Reguation.Self-regulation challenges are inherent in many individuals on the spectrum and interfere with learning and socialization. This session will discuss the characteristics of ASD that are related to self-regulation challenges and then provide a variety of evidence-based self-regulation interventions that can help a learner on the spectrum understand, monitor, control, and redirection his self-regulation system.
• February 27th - Kelly Mahler: Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System. Practical Considerations and Strategies for Improving Emotion Regulation and Other Related Skills. Interoception is an extremely important sensory system that helps us to 'feel' the internal states of our body. For example, the interoceptive system helps us feel many different internal sensations including: hunger, thirst, needing the bathroom, pain, body temperature, sexual arousal, heart rate and muscle tension. Additionally, interoception is a key component to our emotional experience. Research indicates that interoception (our ability to clearly sense body signals, like an increase in heart rate or tingly stomach), enables us to accurately identify, understand and control our emotions
• Click here for more information and to register
  
  
   
• 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 

•  Click here for the new Parenting Special Needs Magazine!
• check out the ad for NBZ Jeans on page 25
• check out the gift guide on page 32
• 
   

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