Seeking Input from Families of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Alice Prichard, Ph.D., R. Psych., is a psychologist with Child Development Services (CDS) at the Child Development Centre (ACH). Her goal is to hear from families about what they believe are the gaps in services in Calgary and what types of services they need or needed that they were not able to access. 

 

Hearing that your child has a neurodevelopmental disorder can be overwhelming. Along with a new diagnosis, there might be new treatments and services to consider. Through the Neurodevelopmental Disorder Integrated Brain Health Initiative, Child Development Services (CDS) at Alberta Children’s Hospital is starting a pilot project to improve how we meet the needs of families and children with a new diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental disorder Our goal is to help families as they begin to access community services and to start addressing gaps in services that are not readily available or not easily accessible in the community.

The intent is not to duplicate existing services or provide long-term supports, but rather to offer new programming in areas of need and to improve existing services. For example, you may see a session that looks at the parent-child relationship in the context of a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis. Or, we may offer additional parent education that isn’t currently offered at CDS or in the community. We hope families will feel more empowered and have the tools they need as they begin this journey with their child.

We are seeking families of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorder to help us plan the best new programming at CDS. We want to learn from you about what would be most helpful to families after their child has received a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis, and about what services you find hard to access and why. We would appreciate you completing a short survey by clicking the link below. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete. It is voluntary, and you can decide to stop at any time. Thank you for your input!

 

Survey – Accessing Services in Calgary for Families of Children with NDD

 

Note: Neurodevelopmental Disorders include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and other disorders of the brain.

 

Contact Information:
Dr. Alice Prichard, R.Psych.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-955-5858

 

Free Parenting Workshop – Starts October 28, 2019

Join us for a FREE parent series geared toward helping parents find strategies to support their child’s social and emotional growth, to encourage positive behaviour!

WE want to become YOUR village of support!

Topics include:

  • Skills to support children with managing emotions and making good choices
  • Learn how to help children manage common challenges they may face at school, home and community
  • Find ways to promote healthy sleep habits
  • Managing misbehaviour
  • Supporting with completion of homework

 

This workshop will be held at the CN Gunn Elementary School, 6625 4th Street NE. It runs on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM from October 28 to December 2, 2019.

To find out more and to register, click here.

 

This workshop is a partnership by Wellness Empowerment Program (WEP), Alberta Health Services – Mental Health Capacity Building, FCSS Calgary, Renfrew Educational Services.
Presented by CanLearn Society.

Lauren Mayell – A CanLearn Fundraiser

Happy October and welcome to Learning Disabilities and ADHD Awareness Month!

We are so happy to kick off 2019 Awareness Month by telling you about a lovely young woman who has offered to do a concert for us at the Ironwood Stage and Grill here in Calgary.

The Song Writer concert will take place on Sunday October 6th

Lauren shared her story on Facebook and I hope that you will take a moment to read it and to come and join us on October 6th at 12:00 PM.

My Dad, Larry Mayell is the reason why I have achieved so many things in my career so far. I will not stop doing the things I love and I will push on and be strong for him! With that being said I am excited to announce this Charity event that I have put together that is very dear to my heart. ♥️

Many of you might not know but I have ADHD and growing up I had a Learning Disability that resulted in not being able to read until grade 3. But with the right tools, people to help, finding my passion and a determination to live my dreams I have thrived BECAUSE of my ADHD. I want people of all ages to know you can achieve anything you set your mind to despite any disability or disorder.

That is why I have teamed up with the CanLearn Society to raise money and awareness for ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Illiteracy. Sunday October 6 from 12-4 pm at the Ironwood Stage & Grill is going to be an amazing event. We have a songwriter circle featuring Brad Saunders , Crystal McGrath and myself. Keynote speeches and a silent auction. Please contact me for any more details and if you wish to help out with this event . Thank you so much!

⭐️You can also dedicate a donation here to the Strive to Thrive Fundraiser⭐️:

Musically Yours,
Lauren Mayell ??♥️

 

Thanks so much, Lauren for such a huge gesture towards CanLearn! Let’s help make this a success. Please come and bring your family and friends. All ages are welcome.

September 8 – International Literacy Day

September 8 – International Literacy Day

The 8th of September was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO in 1966 to remind the international community of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies.
2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages. Accordingly, the focus of this year’s International Literacy Day will be “Literacy and Multilingualism.”

Even though few people think about it in their everyday lives, multilingualism is a daily reality for many. Canada is a multicultural country, with people from many different language backgrounds. According to Statistics Canada, 21% of people in Canada are immigrants, 6% of whom speak only their language of heritage/mother tongue at home. Additionally, it is important to mention that approximately 0.6 of Canadians report an Indigenous language as their mother tongue.Canada supports multilingualism through:

  • Providing ELL programs that serve diverse immigrant and refugee populations with different needs and goals.
  • Providing opportunities for different ethnic groups to maintain their languages of origin at the community level.
  • Putting efforts into reviving and preserving Indigenous languages.
  • Providing children’s French immersion programs which have been identified worldwide as models for successful second language and academic learning.

The adult foundational learning field in Alberta serves two distinct groups of learners.

The first group consists of native speakers of English who have not acquired the literacy skills needed to function in society. The second group consists of English Language Learners who have limited or no formal schooling in their first language. The commonly used term for the programs which cover these learners is LESLLA – Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults. Because such adults have to learn to read and write in English from scratch, they are at a disadvantage compared to learners with strong literacy skills in their first language.

Our adult foundational learning field shows strengths and faces challenges in serving LESLLA learners. One of our most significant strengths is that we provide an entry/engagement point for learners who are not ready to participate in ELL courses in which they are immediately required to read and write. The challenges stem from the fact that LESLLA learners are adults, second language learners, immigrants and refugees and non-readers all at the same time. They are often impacted by poverty, traumatic events from their past and social isolation. Facilitating learning for these learners is different from any other type of teaching.

At CanLearn, we have recently started the Needs Assessment for Bi-Literacy Classes in Adult English Language Learning project aimed at exploring the potential of using mother tongue instruction as a tool for achieving positive outcomes for learners with limited or no literacy in their first language.
Funded by Calgary Learns, the project will work with practitioners in the field and potential learners to assess the need for bi-literacy programming in Calgary and create an evidence-based curriculum framework.

Stay tuned.

For more information about International Literacy Day, visit:

https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/literacyday

Written by Nada Jerkovic

PGI – 2019

Where can you find an event to support learners and sample wines from amazing wineries?

Since 1979, the CanLearn Society has helped improve the lives of thousands of children, adults, and families with learning, attention, and literacy challenges. We have 40 years of proof that our services and programs work! Our clients experience better success at school, home, and work ultimately improving their lives. We believe that everyone has the potential to become a successful learner — IF they have access to the services, they need to help them read and learn with confidence.

We invite you to join us this year, as we host the fifth Annual Uncorking Potential event, continuing the tradition of the late Peter Gzowski’s legacy, to celebrate literacy and learning, poetry, music, and student success.

100% of funds raised at this event stay local and supports our work as a leader in services for learning and attention difficulties and an innovator in literacy programs.

The fundraiser will be held at Fort Calgary, on September 19, 2019, from 6-9pm.

You can purchase tickets for the event by clicking here.

Hope to see you there!

Brain Child Podcast: Dr. Carly McMorris talks about Autism

In this Brain Child podcast episode, Krista Forand, registered psychologist, interviews researcher Dr. Carly McMorris about university students with Autism, as well as the Facing Your Fears program, which helps youth with Autism (and their parents) manage anxiety.

 

Relevant links:

CanLearn Society: www.canlearnsociety.ca

Owerko Centre: research4kids.ucalgary.ca/owerko-centre

Dr. Carly McMorris: research4kids.ucalgary.ca/profiles/carly-mcmorris

Society for the Treatment of Autism www.sta-ab.com/

Autism Calgary: autismcalgary.com/

Ability Hub: sinneavefoundation.org/sinneave_work…-ability-hub/

 

 

Healing by Helping

My name is Luke Sandham. In recent years, my life has been in a major “reshuffle mode,” including time off work, ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression, and significantly, a diagnosis of Adult ADHD. Learning to understand this diagnosis, (I prefer the word “description”) of myself, and all the implications it holds has been supremely challenging.

As part of my adventure down the road to wellness, I had the chance to attend ADHD coaching sessions with Laura Godfrey at the CanLearn Society. Laura’s mentorship included (among many other gems) a discussion of the critical need for those with ADHD to get regular exercise. That discussion helped renew my passion for off-road cycling, which had faded in recent years.

When good fortune granted me a chance to participate in the TransRockies Classic mountain bike race, I found myself with a lofty fitness goal, but I knew I wanted to give back somehow; to help others who may be struggling as I have. So, I decided to use my participation in the event to raise funds and awareness for a good cause: The CanLearn Society!

The TransRockies Classic is a mountain bike stage race, of either 3 or 7 days. I will be competing in the 3-day version. (That’s plenty this year!) My goal is to raise 1000.00 dollars for the CanLearn Society to assist them in offering their wonderful programs and services. They have done so much for me, and for many many others who face challenges to their learning.

Want to join me in making a difference? I would be honoured if you could support me by pledging to support me, and thus many others, as we continue to be the beneficiaries of the CanLearn society’s vision of “Unlocking potential so all can learn.” Any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

With humble and heartfelt thanks,

Luke Sandham

Click here to go the link to support Luke in the Trans Rockies Classic.

Colleen Smereka – The Ripple Effect

My name is Colleen Smereka. I’m excited to share my story as part of CanLearn’s Celebration of 40 years of changing lives. 22 years ago I participated in the Partners for Learning program at CanLearn. This program had an extraordinary impact on my personal life journey.

When I started the Partners for Learning program my goal was to learn how to read and write better, but I learned so much more. I learned that I am intelligent, and with the right approach I can learn anything; the seed that all future decisions about my life grew out of. CanLearn allowed me to carve out a new life path.

Before CanLearn I wouldn’t try at learning because I didn’t want to look stupid. My inability to trust in my own ways of learning was holding me back in all areas of my life. Because I don’t learn like other people, I struggled to gain the confidence to embrace how I learn. In the program I was surrounded by people who were able to clearly explain how my brain worked. They helped me believe in my ability to learn. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could trust the people who were supporting my learning process. Everything I am today started because of the trust that was built between me and the people I met and the hope they gave me. In the program I found my voice and my confidence.

When I first started at the Partners for Learning program I had a dream to graduate from university, but I never thought it would be possible. After attending the program I had new found hope. I completed two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University and a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Mary’s University. Over time I learned to use my voice to express what I needed to achieve personal success. I also used this voice to help advocate for others with similar learning challenges and I have been working in this area ever since.

Last year I helped to set up a new college in the United States. It was amazing to bring the voice of disability to a college from the outset. My journey has led me to understand that there is something unique and valuable within me that only I can share with the world and I have the confidence and the voice to share it. The insight that I provide can change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people like CanLearn changed mine.

My life is proof that you can change a life through learning. Thank you will never be enough for what you have given me; the gift of learning is the greatest gift of all.

Thoughts about Adult Reading Difficulties

Too many adults in Canada struggle with reading skills. Adult literacy programs can change their lives. Adult literacy matters.

I have a car that I drive only occasionally. For some reason, I find driving difficult, frustrating and anxiety-provoking. I am not sure why – perhaps it has something to do that I was learning to drive when I first moved to Calgary and was going through the resettlement process. Anyway, I avoid driving whenever I can. I am quite happy to walk or use transit to get around. I am fortunate to have people in my life who are happy to give me a ride when I ask them.

I used to have a job that involved a lot of driving around the city. More driving did not help me improve my driving skills and confidence. I feel no embarrassment in admitting I avoid driving; I even joke about it.

I sometimes try to look at my driving issue through the lenses of adults with reading and writing difficulties, and I realize that avoiding driving is not the same at all as avoiding reading or not being able to read.

Struggles with reading come at a high cost. Unemployment, poverty, social isolation, poor physical and mental health and many forms of social maladjustment are unmistakably related to literacy challenges.

Reading difficulties also take an emotional toll. Reading researcher Steven Dyckstra coined the term “shame fatigue” to describe a host of negative emotions experienced by struggling readers:

  • Frustration, anger, anxiety and sadness
  • Learned helplessness and fixed mindset – struggling readers often believe they can’t learn so they have no interest in learning
  • Low self-esteem and self-defeating ways to deal with challenges, like quitting, avoidance and denial.

The research backing this up has been available for a long time; long enough to be doing better than we are.

17% of Canadian adults struggle with reading at the word recognition (decoding) level. Another 32% can read but lack the proficiency of a skilled reader necessary to succeed in the modern knowledge-based economy.
There is much talk about 21-century skills, the need for innovation and jobs that haven’t been invented yet. There is no doubt that these are essential and valuable conversations that will impact our future. However, for the future to be prosperous and bright we need to figure out what can be done to help the many people who can’t read or write.

What stands in the way of teaching literacy is not a lack of knowledge –the science of reading is well understood. I believe that what we need to do is put this research in practice so that we can:

  • Design effective programs that provide both explicit, evidence-based reading instruction and opportunities for struggling adult readers to re-frame negative learning identities
  • Keep in mind that various programs designed to help adults with employment, parenting, upgrading, GED preparation, etc. are very likely to fall flat for those with limited reading skills
  • Remember that when adult reading skills improve, everything changes for their children.

To avoid reading or not to be able to read is not the same as avoiding driving!

I will probably continue to avoid driving and count on my friends to give me rides. A completely different approach is needed to help adults overcome their reading difficulties.

By: Nada Jerkovic