[FEAT BC Admin]

In this discussion area, please feel free to share your experience in implementing A.B.A. programs in the school system. We would particularly like to hear from those parents who converted their school teams to A.B.A. We’d like to hear the nightmares as well as the success stories.

Any insight that can be shared by school-based special education assistants to help parents would also be very meaningful.

Topic

[Brad & Roxanne Black]

Next ABA Support Network community meeting for South Surrey Feb 28th @7pm

Catherine Remedios, new head of special needs for Surrey School District will attend. Parents will have an opportunity to voice their concerns and she will answer any questions you may have. Please rsvp to bradrox@shaw.ca

[Super Dad]

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

Augmentative Communication in the Classroom Setting
How an iPad Can Promote Classroom Integration

by
Bohdanna Popowycz Kvam, M.Ed., BCBA
Executive Director of Harmony House CARES

at
7:00pm, Tues Feb 19

in
Welsh Hall West
downstairs in the
West Vancouver Memorial Library

TOPIC:

This presentation is about the use of augmentative communication systems to facilitate classroom integration, with focus on the iPad. The strategies covered are useful for teachers, aides and parents.

GUEST SPEAKER:

Bohdanna has been involved with children with autism for the past 2 decades. Bohdanna’s background includes teaching in the public school system in the states as well as working as a Clinical Director at a Lovaas’ replication site. Bohdanna prides herself on working with families to advocate for their children’s individual needs both in the home and school settings. She has travelled around the world opening clinics in the UK, USA and Canada. Bohdanna graduated from UBC with a Masters in Special Education/Counseling and Psychology with emphasis in autism. She is also a board certified behaviour analyst.

Bohdanna is the Executive Director of Harmony House CARES, a facility that serves children with autism in the Vancouver area. She is responsible for overseeing the preschool and day to day running of Harmony House. She continues to hold a small case load of children with autism who seek services from Harmony House and provides monthly supervision to staff. She lives in Surrey with her husband and three children ranging in age from 9-20.

DIRECTIONS:

The West Vancouver Memorial Library is at 1950 Marine Drive:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=1950+Marine+Dr,+West+Vancouver,+BC+V7V+1J8

The library is easily accessible via Highway #1 Upper Levels, taking either the 15th Street or 20th St. exits.

Coffee/Tea and snacks provided. Donations are greatly appreciated (but not required).

Please RSVP to <asbcnorthshore@yahoo.ca>.

Carol, Dragos and Tina
(Co-facilitators for ASBC North Shore Group)

[Renee Pupetz]

My son will be entering kindergarden in the fall 2013 in coquitlam/port Moody.I am being told by child supported development ,that he will be lucky to get any support.That the SEA's role is to support the classroom and the district does not believe in any 'one on one' support.This seems crazy to me.I work as a support person in Vancouver and work one on one all the time.I would love to hear from any parents with kids in this district and their experiences good or bad with the system out here.How did it work out with your child?I am terrified and very confused.I hear North Vancouver is great and allows an ABA aid and SEA's are required to take a 6 month course on Autism etc…IT would be a huge move for us to make.I'd appreciate any feedback.Thanks

Renee

Contact me at reneepupetz@hotmail.com

[Brad & Roxanne Black]

Parents of children living in Surrey and your kids are going into Kindergarten in Sept 2013, here's the info on an upcoming meeting.

SD36 – Parents of students with special Education needs entering Kindergarten in 2013 are invited to attend a special evening of information on Tuesday Feb 5 from 7-9 pm at the district Education Centre (14033 92nd Ave surrey Room 2020)..Education services staff will be there .. singed by Michelle Schmidt,Catherine rededios , Brad bauman, Trevor macquarrie and Gloria Raphael

I am also hosting a meeting tonight @7;30 to talk about school, email me at bradrox@shaw.ca for details.

[Chen Tan]

Hi,

I have a 5 year old daughter with autism. I am looking for an elementary school for her in Coquitlam. Any of you have experiences dealing with Coquitlam school district? More specifically any experiences with Miller Park Elementary? Any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Please contact me at mimiyue@yahoo.ca

Thanks,

Mimi

[Jodie Wickens]

Hi there!

I am a parent of a child with autism who is attending school in Coquitlam. I am currently looking for other parents in the district that are experiencing difficulties to form a parent group that we can approach the district together to raise our concerns. If you are interested in advocating with a group of us parents in sd 43 please send me an email.
jbtwickens@gmail.com

[C Poole]

Hi,

I'm wondering if someone could help me out. I'm looking for an advocate with ABA knowledge. Does anybody know where I could find one, or could recommend someone? Thanks for your help.

Reply to cwmp25@gmail.com

[Lorhainne Ekelund]

We just moved this school year to SD 64, Gulf Islands – are there any parents running a program in the Gulf Island School district who'd be willing to connect with me?
Dr. Sara White is our consultant and has been for many years. I have a son in grade 8.

Thank you,
Lorhainne Ekelund
lorhainneekelund@hotmail.com

[Dione Costanzo]

SD 36 Parents – Especially those going into Kindergarten in 2013 – read the ABA Home-School Collaboration document. There is some information about the history of ABA in the Surrey district as well as instructions on applying for an ABA SW
for your child.

The process should start in January as you also need to be training your potential ABA SW on your home team.

Note ABA Advisory Meeting (SD36) is on Jan 15 there will be lots of information at his meeting!

https://www.surreyschools.ca/departments/EDSC/Documents/ABA%20Home%20to%20School%20Collabor.pdf

[Dione Costanzo]

PARENTS – we all need to be familiar with the Hewko case of 2006 and the impact it had on the education of kids with autism in BC. Here is a brief from the http://www.asdfunding.com site:

The Hewko case has a major bearing on the quality of education for our children. The BC Supreme Court ruled that the Abbotsford School District breached its statutory duty to meaningfully consult with a student’s parents regarding the education of their autistic child. As a result of Hewko, there are three main parent/child rights:

The right to consult. This means that the parents can not simply be “told”, but have a right to participate fully in their child’s education. They also have the right to be consulted prior to an aide being assigned. The aide must have “instructional control” over the child. This is not the same as “functional control”. The child does not need a babysitter. They need the right circumstances for learning.

The right to review files. Parents can view all student records (unless it’s a protection/abuse case) and request copies. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy will apply.

The right to an Individual Education Plan (IEP). This is done with everyone concerned in one room. Parents can refer back to this document in the future to see if the child’s education is progressing in the specified manner.

Check out the FEAT BC/ASBC Summary of Hewko here:
http://testasdfunding.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/asbc-feat-hewko-interpretation.pdf

Know it and use it!

[Author]

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