Last summer, two of us from ADAPT decided to see if we could create a way to share with parents what developmental therapies were all about. We were fortunate to receive a grant from Community Living Manitoba, and began to ask clinicians for their help writing a description of three therapies available in Manitoba: Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), DIR/Floortime, and […]
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We know that both nature and nurture have an impact on the way people grow. The social environment – parents, school, friends, community opportunities – has a big impact on the quality of a person’s life, and people with autism are no exception. This is a hopeful thing. Social environments can be changed. An article published this month in Pediatrics […]
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Cafe Scientifique is a series of seminars for the public, offered by the University of Manitoba at McNally Robinson Bookstore. In March, Cafe Scientifique presented a panel discussion on the neuroscience of autism. The event was recorded, and now the video is online for the community to enjoy and learn. Topics include what we know about the genetic basis of […]
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When my son was 4 or 5, I brought him with his sister and some friends with their children to a spray park. While I was busy with his sister, out of the corner of my eye I saw him walking – on the other side of the fence. By the time I got to where I had seen him, […]
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They say the best friendships are built on common interests. So as parents, it’s great when we can find ways for our children to do things they enjoy with others who enjoy the same things. It’s also important to keep developing and sharing interests into the teen years and beyond. Once a week, a group of friends meets to read […]
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If you are the parent of a child with autism, you might be very busy with managing the here and now. We spend a lot of mental energy looking for and maintaining services like daycare, education, and therapy. Thinking about your child’s life as an independent adult might seem far away…or it might be something you worry about. Last week, […]
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We sure have a lot of autism groups in Manitoba. Why is that? Probably because autistic people -and their parents- are so diverse. Groups have a pattern of forming to meet around specific needs. Supporting therapy choice, degrees of disability, location, age, role (parent or autistic person), a need for recreation or parent support… all these have been starting points […]
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Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. Desmond Tutu Lately there has been a lot of online discussion about the challenges of parenting children with autism, and responses that raise concerns about the damage that can be done by parents who publicly focus on the struggle they have with their child. The […]
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Last week, a report summarizing the thoughts of over 600 students, parents and professionals on the state of inclusive education in Manitoba was released. Many of us were not surprised that an enormous percentage of respondents described significant barriers to education, right from preschool childcare right through post secondary. It was a collaborative effort between Education Solutions Manitoba, Barrier Free […]
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Looking for information on autism in Manitoba? ASDMB.ca is a source of information on diagnosis, programs and supports for toddlers to adults, recreation and community living resources, and more. It was created as a collaborative effort between Autism Society Manitoba, Family Services, Community Living Manitoba, Asperger Manitoba, ADAPT and St. Amant. Check it out! www.asdmb.ca
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