April 2 is on the calendar as World Autism Awareness Day. Lots of people are doing lots of things to mark the occasion, and everyone has their own perspective on the meaning of the day. There is a vibrant and active community of adults with autism and parents of children with autism in the blogging world, many of whom would […]
Read moreUpdate: school funding is undergoing a significant change. Applications for funding is no longer on a child by child basis, unless you are in an independent school. It remains important to collaborate and to share information to help the school staff fully support your child’s growth. I have to go to a school meeting for my son re: support as […]
Read more
Adapted with permission from an article by Caitlin Wray, originally shared in the Facebook group Autism Manitoba – For Parents and Caregivers. There are many reasons why families decide to home school. There are also many misconceptions about homeschooling as well. What follows is meant to be a starting point for parents thinking about home schooling their children.
Read moreThe last post was on understanding our children as the key to helping them be alert, calm and ready to engage with their world. To expand on that idea, here are some thoughts about what to do when they aren’t calm at all… What do you do if your child is yelling at you all the time? We arrive at […]
Read moreOne of the important foundations of successfully working with kids is that you need to get to know them. Each child is a unique individual. Kids with autism are no exception. Under what conditions do they feel comfortable and curious, so that they are ready to learn? The idea to understand is regulation. It’s the main concept of the first […]
Read moreWhat is Floortime all about anyway? This post (the first in a series) is about explaining what DIR/Floortime is, in ordinary parent language. How does this approach to autism intervention help us understand our kids better, and what strategies does it offer? I write this as a parent who has gone through training in our local program, taken one online […]
Read moreFor parents, having a school experience that works for our kids is the equivalent of “winning.” That’s especially true for parents of children with disabilities – we are aware of their vulnerability, and we often feel pressure to help them grow as quickly as possible. There’s been lots of great advice about preparing our children (and our schools) for a […]
Read moreHere’s a big question: if all children learn best through play, why would our children with autism be any different? At the World Conference of Early Childhood and Education held in Moscow, Russian in 2010, the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC) published a statement (available here) on play-based learning. They underscored the enormous importance of purposeful play based […]
Read moreWe met in the park today with our families…and it was windy, but it was fun! Thanks to everyone who came.
Read moreUpdate: The Family Resource Centre library is now located on the main floor of the SSCY Building at 1155 Notre Dame Avenue. If you go into the Rehabilitation Centre for Children and head down the hallway, you’ll find yourself in a large, welcoming room. At one end there is a well-equipped play area with lots of toys, and to one side […]
Read more