Update: This research project is complete, and Manitoba Education has published a guide for educators and parents for guidance to define and to limit restraint and seclusion in schools. A researcher at the University of Manitoba is interested in learning about the use of restraint and seclusion in schools from the perspectives of parents/guardians of children with disabilities. Parents or […]
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Looking for research participants! In his book Engaging Autism, Stanley Greenspan said that Floortime for older kids can look like conversation. We all have times in the day with our kids when there’s not much else to do but chat. This study is looking at how to help parents use those opportunities for conversation to help children and teens talk […]
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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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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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ADAPT exists to help parents learn more about developmental therapies for supporting children with autism. This fall, Community Living Manitoba offered us a grant to do just that. ADAPT has used the opportunity to create two documents: A brochure for parents of newly diagnosed children, offering encouragement and perspective, with a little advice on how to keep the wellness of […]
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Emma was recently diagnosed with autism. Her mother likes the approach of Autism Outreach, but is concerned that the program is limited to ten visits and ends when Emma starts school. She’s uncertain how much help and guidance she will need, and feels pushed towards the ABA program, as it will follow children until they are adults. She likes the […]
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RDI Connect offers a podcast series exploring aspects of parenting and teaching children with autism. The following is an excerpt from a reflection of what autism awareness really needs to be, by Dr. Steven Gutstein. “There’s a lot more awareness that there is such a thing called autism, but there is not a great deal of awareness of what […]
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