[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

[Dr. Jeremy Schmidt]

RE: Vancouver — Choosing a School (primary)

My wife and I have made the difficult and impossible decision to move from Victoria, where our 6-year-old son (diagnosed with aspergers) has had excellent support and a full-time aide in a public school for Grade One, to Vancouver, where we do not yet have a place to live or a school.

We may have some freedom in where we live in Vancouver, but wish to live in the general vicinity of West or East Van. Can any of you give us pointers as to schools to try to live near, or schools to try to avoid? Or any other tips when approaching schools in this area?

For what it is worth: our son is high functioning and highly social, with some sensory issues; our main challenge has been motivation and compliance with classroom tasks when these fall outside of his narrow interests, which they usually do.

This might be of interest to others; but if not, reply to jkvothschmidt@yahoo.ca.

cheers,

Jeremy

[Super Dad]

I am trying to help Mandana. Does anyone know the chain of command (names and titles) for the Supported Child Development Program at the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living?

Tony.Tamer@yahoo.com

[Mandana]

Thanks Barbara for responding my message. My son turned 5 at the end of Sep. 2008. He was still 4 on sep. 1st. For his support in preschool I pay from my pocket, and I don't receive any funding for his support. It's ashame that I will loose supports if I hold him back another year, but that's just that.
Thanks anyways.

[Barbara Rodrigues]

HI Mandana:

You have the option of keeping your child back for 1 year. Was he supposed to attend Kindergarten this year? If so – I assume you held him back for a year from this. Next year you can hold him back again but I think you need to register him as 'homeschooled'. I don't think they are worried about you keeping him out of school as much as your son's funding- what will change is you will not be able to get the funding that you may receive for preschool supports because the MCFD or CLBC is only alloted so much money for each child and up to each age then when they hit 'school age' it is up to the Education Ministry/School to provide that support. This would include OT/SLP and if he is given an aide in preschool now which would become an aide in school -this all becomes the responsibility (such as it is) of the school. So it's not a matter if you 'can do it' it's more a matter 'can you afford to lose those supports?' It all comes down to funding unfortunately.

Barbara

[Mandana]

My son is 5 years old. I have decided to hold him back from grade one for two years because he is not ready for academic learning and I want to focus on ABA for the next two years to get him ready for school. He is currently going to preschool, and I have registered him for another year in preschool. I was told by his OT (government service provider)that this is against School Act, and even his SLP called the School Board Office (without my awarness) and asked about holding back my son from grade one.
The OT advised me to call the Shool Board to check whether my son does not have to go to school this sep. 2009.
I am very concerned about this matter. I would appreciate any information in this regard.

[Super Dad]

*** REMINDER ***

Don't miss the opportunity to hear two experts with years of experience in the school environment!

As a bonus, David Marley, founding director of "Medicare for Autism Now" will be updating us on the latest initiative to have autism treatment covered under Medicare. Come meet the brain behind the effort.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

Social Strategies and Inclusive Environments in School
by
Harmony House
at
7:00pm, April 21
in the North Building of the
Delbrook Recreation Centre in North Vancouver

We are very excited to have Bohdanna Popowycz Kvam and Michele Shilvock as our guest speakers. The objective of this lecture is to promote understanding of inclusion for children with autism and strategies to enhance social integration in the school setting.

Topics to be covered include:
– Social development and its role in inclusion;
– Identifying and defining the levels of friendship;
– Strategies for inclusion in the classroom setting and during social/recreational times;
– Facilitation of peer play;
– Getting buy-in from all stakeholders;
– Organizing a "lunch bunch."

This is a 2-hour version of the 1-day workshop previous provided at Harmony House.

DATE: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
LOCATION: Delbrook Recreation Centre ( 600 West Queens Road , North Vancouver ), North Building

For those going north/west on Highway #1: take exit 17 for Westview Dr, turn right at Westview Dr, and then turn right at Queens Rd. For those going east on Highway #1: take exit 17 for Westview Dr, turn left at Westview Dr, and then turn right at Queens Rd.

Coffee/Tea and snacks provided.
Donations are greatly appreciated.

Please RSVP to Carol at colemanmoser@hotmail.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Carol and Tony
(Co-facilitators for ASBC North Shore Group)

[Milburn Drysdale]

New FEAT User Accounts

There has been considerable frustration for quite a while now as new User ID and passwords have not been given out to new parents and therapists. The previous parent responsible for handing out User Ids, simply became overwhelmed with everyday life (something I'm sure we can all understand) and fell behind.

A new parent (myself) has taken over this responsibility. There is a massive backlog of emails and I suspect it will take me a couple of weeks to get through them all.

Please bear with me, as I figure this out. If you haven't heard from me within a few weeks, send another email to FEAT Admin requesting a User ID and password.

Thanks for your patience.
FEAT Admin

[Lisa Castle]

We are currently looking for an experienced therapist to join our home team. Specifically, we would like to hire a therapist who is currently employed by the Surrey School District as an ABA-SW, or a therapist who is currently taking the course, and who would be eligible to be hired by the school district for September. Our expectation would then be that this individual would apply to the posting to work with our son, who will be entering grade one at a South Surrey area school.

Our son is high-functioning, witty and very intelligent, so experience with highly skilled children, and the application of behavioural principles to a variety of behaviours, is beneficial. He has made great strides during his Kindergarten year. He participates fully in all classroom activities, alongside his peers, but requires support with peer interactions and behaviour management. He is a clever little guy who will keep you on your toes and those who work with him have shared that they find the challenge particularly rewarding! We have had great collaboration between the school, our ABA-SW / lead therapist, and home team. Unfortunately, our current ABA-SW will not be available to work with our son next year, however, so we wish to find someone who welcomes the opportunity to work collaboratively with a great principal, wonderful integration teacher, our amazing Program Supervisor, Leah Mumford, and our fantastic consultants, Liana Maione and Dr. Sara White. With frequent supervision from our home team, this is a wonderful opportunity for an ABA-SW, as there is a great deal of support available to him / her.

We would hope to hire to our home team shortly, so that you could train with our team over the next few months, prior to September. Once school starts, we would ask for a commitment of one shift a week after school at home, as well as attendance at monthly team meetings, and a school meeting at our home with our Program Supervisor, myself and yourself, for the duration of the school year, or longer!

If interested, please e-mail mummyx2@hotmail.com for further details.

Thank you.

[Super Dad]

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

Social Strategies and Inclusive Environments in School
by
Harmony House
at
7:00pm, April 21
in the North Building of the
Delbrook Recreation Centre in North Vancouver

We are very excited to have Bohdanna Popowycz Kvam and Michele Shilvock as our guest speakers. The objective of this lecture is to promote understanding of inclusion for children with autism and strategies to enhance social integration in the school setting.

Topics to be covered include:
– Social development and its role in inclusion;
– Identifying and defining the levels of friendship;
– Strategies for inclusion in the classroom setting and during social/recreational times;
– Facilitation of peer play;
– Getting buy-in from all stakeholders;
– Organizing a "lunch bunch."

This is a 2-hour version of the 1-day workshop previous provided at Harmony House.

DATE: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
LOCATION: Delbrook Recreation Centre (600 West Queens Road, North Vancouver), North Building

For those going north/west on Highway #1: take exit 17 for Westview Dr, turn right at Westview Dr, and then turn right at Queens Rd. For those going east on Highway #1: take exit 17 for Westview Dr, turn left at Westview Dr, and then turn right at Queens Rd.

Coffee/Tea and snacks provided.
Donations are greatly appreciated.

Please RSVP to Carol at colemanmoser@hotmail.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Carol and Tony
(Co-facilitators for ASBC North Shore Group)

[Nancy Walton]

Surrey School District Parents

The next ABA Advisory meeting is on Tuesday, April 7th at 7pm. We meet in the old 400 building at the Surrey College: 9260 140th Street.

If you would like to get on our e-mail list, please e-mail ABAAdvisory@gmail.com.

If you would like more information on the ABA Advisory you can visit our website at http://abaadvisory.googlepages.com/.

Hope to see you Tuesday

Nancy

[Author]

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