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Archived Newsletters
April 2000
In this edition
Who is Early Intervention Association of Nova Scotia Different Drummers Association Updates Upcoming Events Resources Kids Advice to Kids DISC: Diagnostic Inventory for Screening Children What Parents Are Saying About ... Editor's Note
Who is Early Intervention Association of Nova Scotia?
The Early Intervention Association of Nova Scotia is a registered charity administered by a volunteer board of directors. The association was created in 1996 to represent Early Intervention programs in Nova Scotia as well as staff, board members, families and other individuals interested in Early Intervention services in Nova Scotia. The Association's goals are to provide a voice for Early Intervention issues, to promote public awareness and education about the value of Early Intervention and the value of the children and families served, and to promote professional development in the field of Early Intervention.
Early Intervention in Nova Scotia involves the provision of specialized services and support to families with children between birth and school entry who have a developmental delay. These delays can be due to any number of factors. Programs assist families with children who have Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Autism/PDD, other more rare disorders or diagnoses, as well as children who are at risk for developmental delays due to prematurity and other birth complications. Many of the families served encompass children who are delayed for undiagnosed reasons. The program is essentially focussed "in-home" and is family-centered as our philosophy is that the most critical environmental contribution to child development is the nature and quality of parent-child, or indeed family-child relationships. Services may be extended to community-based programs to support the inclusion of children with special needs with their peers in their community. Early Intervention promotes the worth of all children in the belief that each belongs.
Early Intervention focuses on equipping children with the necessary skills for leading a normal, independent life and providing parents with the resources they need to acquire this. The focus is not to ‘do for' the families but to provide them with support and resources which enable them to problem solve for themselves. Interventionists strive to provide families with current information on their child's diagnosis, information on child development, access to local programs and resources and information on more widespread resources, assistance in contacting and communicating with other parents and professionals, assistance in transitions to new programs or into school and access to developmentally appropriate equipment, toys, games, books and activities.
There are currently sixteen Early Intervention programs in existence in Nova Scotia though the need exists for additional programs in areas not yet served. In 1998-1999 Early Intervention services were provided to an average of 342 families per month with more than 4000 home-visits made by interventionists to families over the year. Staff also accompanied families to more than 660 therapy sessions and other clinic visits and made in excess of 680 visits to support inclusion in child care centres. These programs are funded partially through grants from the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services but also must access funding from within their own communities.
Different Drummers
If I do not want what you want, please try not to tell me that my want is wrong.
Or if I believe other than you, at least pause before you correct my view.
Or if my emotion is less than yours, or more, given the same circumstances, try not to ask me to feel more strongly or weakly.
Or yet if I act, or fail to act, in the manner of your design for action, let me be.
I do not, for the moment at least, ask you to understand me. That will come only when you are willing to give up changing me into a copy of you.
I may be your spouse, your parent, your offspring, your friend, or your colleague. If you will allow me any of my own wants, or emotions, or beliefs, or actions, then you open yourself, so that some day these ways of mine might not seem so wrong, and might finally appear to you as right -- for me.
To put up with me is the first step to understanding me. Not that you embrace my ways as right for you, but that you are no longer irritated or disappointed with me for my seeming waywardness. And in understanding me you might come to prize my differences from you, and, far from seeking to change me, preserve and even nurture those differences.
Excerpted from Please Understand Me II
Copyright © 1998 by David Keirsey
http://www.keirsey.com/
Association Updates
Thank you to Angela Barnhart for her time and attention as she filled in for Nancy Taylor as our Program Administrative Officer for part of the last year. Welcome back to Nancy from our board members and program staff, both new and old.
Congratulations to Lisa Jollymore (and Dale) of the Pictou County program on their upcoming wedding!!
Welcome to Ghislaine D'Eon, Coordinator of the new Clare Association for Early Childhood Intervention and to Jill Piers, Coordinator of the new Annapolis County Bright Beginnings EI program!!
Congratulations to the fast moving Inverness Richmond group who have organized to advocate for an Early Intervention program for their area. They began as a steering committee last spring, had a board formed by January 2000 and have a proposal submitted to the Department of Community Services and are waiting to hear that it has been accepted. We hope we will soon be able to welcome them as our newest program!
The staff of the Allkids Services EI Program in Glace Bay recently traveled to the New Haven Centre in Toronto for an ABA conference featuring Catharine Maurice as keynote speaker. Margaret Ann Green's comments follow :
"The conference was fabulous! Unfortuneately it wasn't long enough, parents had a lot of questions to be answered and not enough time to do them. ... However other than that the sessions were well done. Catherine Maurice the author of "Let me Hear Your Voice" and a parent of 2 autisic children was the keynote speaker. She gave a wonderful perspective of a parent's triumphs over autism. Bridget A. Taylor, Psy.D. from the Alpine Learning Group gave a terrific presentation on ABA, what it is and what it is not. She also provided some video clips on children before and after treatment. She stressed that ABA is a very intensive therpy treatment not a "cure". Joanne Gerenser, M.A.,CCC-SLP offered an informative presentation of the importance of Speech and Language services in initiating and carrying through an effective ABA program. Audrey Meissner did an overview of setting up a home program and the difficulties of getting trained therapists as well as costs and many other challenges associated with setting up a home program."
Contact Margaret Ann at 849-3429 if you are interested in receiving copies of the handouts or more information about their experiences.
Cumberland Early Intervention Program has been awarded a Northern Region Prevention Program grant to pilot a parenting program created in North Carolina entitled "Raising Special Kids". This program is specifically for parents of children with special needs. We will be partnering with staff from Cumberland Psychiatric and Mental Health Services to facilitate this new venture in the fall of 2000.
And a belated welcome to Tatum Arcon ... I missed you in our last newsletter sweetie!!
The new EINS Board of Directors has met twice since the Annual General Meeting in October. These have been highly productive action oriented meetings which have resulted in continued PR and advocacy to build on the work that has been done since our inception as an Association in 1996. One focus has been to encourage recognition of Early Intervention programs in Nova Scotia as a support for ‘the early years'. We believe that Early Intervention programs are an important resource for families and communities and thank all of you who supported us with positive words about the value of Early Intervention in your life, your community, or as a partner in service provision.
The EINS Advocacy Committee met with the Honorable Peter Christie, Minister of Community Services, as well as Judy Jackson, Jane Fitzgerald and Virginia O'Connell in February. This was an extremely positive meeting which emphasized our good partnership with the Department of Community Services to promote Early Intervention services in Nova Scotia. The level of knowledge about our issues and commitment to continued support for this service was evident and reassuring. We will continue to work with our program Administrative Officer, Nancy Taylor, to promote this partnership.
The Advocacy Committee has also been meeting with the Maritime Health and Partnership Development office at the IWK Grace Health Centre to develop a new partnership agreement with that institution. Our previous partnership agreement was signed in May 1996 and needs to be updated and refocused to meet current guidelines for partnership development at the IWK. We are hoping to identify common goals and activities which will help us move towards those goals so that the partnership is beneficial to both our Association and the IWK Grace. Initially the IWK Grace has supplied us with a facilitator through their Learning and Organizational Development office (Rick Paradis) who will be leading us through a ‘visioning exercise' prior to our 5th Annual General Meeting on April 14, 2000.
The EINS Public Relations Committee has also been very active over the past six months. We targeted February 2000 as our first province-wide attempt at ‘Early Intervention' month. With the assistance of Tricia Morse of Progress Centre the Committee was able to have the month proclaimed as such by Premier John Hamm. A copy of the proclamation is included in this newsletter. The Committee also encouraged all of our existing Early Intervention programs to add local PR to support the province-wide campaign and I know that many had good press coverage and innovative ideas to help spread the word about our value. We have already begun thinking about improvements in strategy for next year and have been offered excellent assistance in this through the Department of Community Services (Communications Officer Tom Peck) and the IWK Grace Public Relations office. Dr. Sarah Shea of the Developmental Clinic at the IWK Grace has joined us in our partnership discussions and she has agreed to be the IWK Grace spokesperson for Early Intervention as needed. (Please thank Dr. Shea if you are in touch with her.) This will be another excellent benefit of our partnership development with that Centre!
Our Association co-sponsored a visit to the province by Mary Gordon of the Maytree Centre in Toronto who gave excellent presentations on Family Literacy in both Halifax and Truro. Her community-based family programs and school-based Roots of Empathy program are receiving world-wide recognition and we were honoured to have Mary Gordon share her time and insights with us.
Your Attention Please !! ~ IMPORTANT NOTICES !!
Through our partnership discussions with the IWK Grace we have identified the need for the continued presence of families receiving Early Intervention services as part of their annual telethon. We have been asked to identify a family who would be willing to share their story as part of this year's telethon. If you can assist us please contact Barb Boiduk (667-8244) by April 30th with the name and contact number for the family and we will facilitate this.
We have also been asked to consider a submission to the NS Medical Newsletter, "Questions for doctors to ask of families with children with special needs ...". Families have identified a need for their child and their family to be valued and respected by all the professionals they must deal with when a child has special needs. How can we best convey this need to professionals? Please contribute to this opportunity to respectfully educate others who work with ‘Early Intervention' families. Ideas and questions could be forwarded to Barb by May 31 please ...
We are also seeking an individual(s) to represent families receiving Early Intervention services on the Family Centred Care Council at the IWK Grace Health Centre. Families interested in more information about this opportunity could contact the Council directly; either Nadia Williams (420-6706) or Laura Brine (464-3164) (Co-chairs). Please insure that any families who might be interested are made aware of this opportunity.
The Nova Scotia Truckers Association are gearing up for their annual campaign which supports our association as well as our IWK Grace partners. Thank you to the Truckers for their continued support and belief in what we do for families and special children in Nova Scotia. Watch for more details (rumour has it that the prizes will include a camper trailer and a four wheeler ...). We should soon have tickets for to distribute so we can assist in making this year's campaign another success. Our donation from the Truckers Association in April 1999 was $3500.00!!!
We have had ongoing requests over the years for assistance for parents and interventionists to attend professional development and educational opportunities. We hope soon to develop policy guidelines to assist us in making more consistent decisions. In response to a recent request our EINS Executive Committee has decided to make a sum of $500 available to families who need assistance to attend the Canadian Down Syndrome Society National Conference in Sydney in May. This will be distributed to families at $50 per family on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests should be made to Donna Dexter, EINS Treasurer at 354-5890. A request in writing for our records should also be faxed to 354-2018 or mailed to Donna at P.O. Box 1689, Liverpool, Nova Scotia, B0T 1K0.
We have developed a one page information sheet for the Early Intervention Association of Nova Scotia. This is included in the newsletter for your comments. It may need to be revised after our April 14 ‘visioning' session.
Upcoming Events
April 27 and 28 : Fredericton, NB. A World of Difference : Honouring Diversity and Embracing Change in Our Workplaces and Communities. Contact UNB Department of Extension. Phone (506) 453-4646.
April 29 : Halifax, NS. STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) Leader Training Workshop. Phone 1-800-263-3558.
May 13 : Halifax, NS. Caring Challenges (Behaviour Management / Reflecting on Our Caring Work). Child Care Connection. Phone 1-800-565-8199.
May 18 to 20 : Sydney, NS. We Rise Again 2000. Canadian Down Syndrome Society National Conference. Email wilsey.tanya@ns.sympatico.ca or 1-800-883-5608.
June 1 : New Minas, NS. The Principles of Positive Discipline. Dr. Jane Nelsen. Phone (902) 678-6176. Website http://www.glinx.com/~helpakid
June 1 to 3 : Halifax, NS. Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association Conference 2000. Sailing Into the Millennium : Tides of Change. Phone (902) 473-2616.
June 2 to 4 : Dartmouth, NS. Celebrating Success 2000. Atlantic Cerebral Palsy Conference. Phone (902) 479-0963
July 10 to 24 : Truro, NS. Institute for early Childhood Education and Developmental Services. Atlantic Summer School for Child Care.
July 10 to 14 - Movement Experiences for Young Children.
July 17 to 21 - Working With Families.
July 10 - Managing Difficult Behavior.
July 13 & 14 - Standard First Aid.
July 17 - Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. Phone (902) 893-3342
For those of you who asked, Brenda Putnam has provided the following description :
"Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is a program developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute in 1980. The program is applicable to all human service occupations including health care, mental health, education, social welfare, security, law enforcement, and corrections. It is a safe, nonharmful behavior management system designed to help human service workers provide for the best possible care and welfare of assaultive, disruptive or out-of-control persons even during the most violent moment."
Resources
Child Care and Early Intervention Services, Department of Community Services puts out a wonderful newsletter entitled Focus on Children and Families. If you aren't on their mailing list contact Nancy Taylor at 424-6286.
WOW! Winners on Wheels. A website for kids who use wheel chairs. http://www.wowusa.com/
Video : The Person Within : Preventing Abuse of Children and Young People With Disabilities. BC Institute Against Family Violence. Phone (604) 669-7055. Email : accounts@bcifv.org
Resource Kit : Making All Recreation Safe. Recreation Nova Scotia. Phone (902) 425-1128. Email : rns@sport.ns.ca
Kids Advice to Kids
Never trust a dog to watch your food. Patrick, 10
When your Dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" ... don't answer. Hannah, 9
Felt markers are not good to use a lipstick. Lauren, 9.
Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat. Joel, 10.
If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse. Naomi, 15.
Never baptize a cat. Eileen, 8.
SMILE
A smile is like an echo
Just see what it can do.
Give your smile to someone
And they'll give it back to you!
DISC : Diagnostic Inventory for Screening Children
THE MODEL, designed for the early identification of children with developmental problems, is based on fifteen years of research funded largely by Health and Welfare Canada and the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation in Toronto, Canada. The model is enjoying widespread use throughout Canada and the United States. DPS and DISC were developed for use by front-fine workers such as Public Health Nurses, Family & Children's Services Workers, Day Care Resource Teachers, Junior Kindergarten Teachers, etc. The DPS can also be a valuable screening tool for General Physicians and Paediatricians.
DISC is referred to as a "Diagnostic Screen" since it bridges the gap between a first-stage developmental screen and a thorough diagnostic assessment. DISC assesses developmental skills in eight areas: Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Receptive Language, Expressive Language, Auditory Attention & Memory, Visual Attention & Memory, Self Help and Social Skills. DISC requires approximately 45 minutes to administer and will identify specific skills areas in which the child is showing deficits. On the basis of DISC results, a referral for further diagnostic follow-up can be made or interim programming can be established using the child's identified strengths and weaknesses.
DISC Preschool Screen (DPS) is the first stage of the model and is to be administered on a one-to-one basis. DPS requires approximately 15 minutes to ad-minister and every child is given 12 age-appropriate items. The items on DPS represent a carefully chosen sample of the most discriminating items from DISC. Age appropriate cut-off scores on DPS suggest whether follow-up testing is indicated.
Queens Early Childhood Development Association staff have begun using this new screening / assessment tool called the DISC. The Diagnostic Inventory for Screening Children (DISC) is currently being used by over 500 agencies across Canada, including the Alberta Early Intervention Programs.
Early Interventionists, Donna Dexter and Maggie Fortey, were impressed when they first heard about the DISC because it is designed to be used by front-line workers rather than psychologists. Another appealing feature is that the DISC has a formal training and certification process. Staff in Queens County have begun their training by attending a one day training session taught by Anne Stewart, B.N., R.N.
Donna and Maggie plan to use the DISC for initial assessment of children who are newly referred to their program. The resulting information will enable them to identify a child's areas of strength and need and will assist in making appropriate referrals as well as program planning. Interpretation and summary sheets will help to clearly illustrate the results to parents.
In addition to using the DISC for assessment of newly referred children, Donna and Maggie have used the shorter version, the DPS, for broad screening of children in their community at a recent Well Child Clinic, sponsored by the Queens Community Health Board.
For more information contact Donna and Maggie at 354-5890.
The DISC website is http://www.golden.net/~mmainland/disc/
What Parents Are Saying About ...
I clearly remember when my son, Rory was born. The Down Syndrome World was foreign to me and frankly, one I never dreamed I'd be living in. I hit the books, surfed the net, and subscribed to the national society in search for…well, I wasn't sure what. Finally, I joined the local support group and it was through that association that I realized I needed to hear what other parents were saying, thinking and experiencing. Adding this real-life factor to the information I'd downloaded into my brain made the milestones I was trying desperately to help Rory reach, seem so much more achievable. Suggestions from the professionals in our life over-flowed with common sense, but what parents had to say often did the trick.
A perfect example of this recently occurred when my son was diagnosed as being farsighted and we were given a prescription for eye glasses. As we were leaving the Optometrist's office, I asked them how to convince my non-compliant 3 year old to put glasses on, not to mention leave them on all day. The answer was simple. Once he gets them on, he'll see better and want to leave them on. A common sense answer, I thought, and left it at that. We went to an outlet to get the prescription filled. What an ordeal that was! After trying to get Rory to "put the nice glasses on" , frequently retrieving them off the floor from the other side of the room, the elderly salesman politely suggested that we come back some other time with an extra person to "hold him still". I wondered if this man had been a cowboy in a previous life, suggesting if I roped and tied my little stallion, he'd eventually tire and let us slip the saddle on - only in this case it was eye glasses. I had news for him. My bucking bronco doesn't tire easily and there are other factors to consider here…like compassion, respect, and fear (of the boy's mother, that is!?!)
The next day when I dropped Rory off to play with my girlfriend's little guy, I relayed my experience. When I pick him up later that day, he was wearing an old pair of her sunglasses. She suggested we take them home and play with them for the week to get Rory used to having something on his head and face. I also spoke to the parents of a little boy at my son's preschool who wears glasses to hear what their experience was like. "Try negotiating with him". "Don't rush it". "You don't want to scare him off", were their words of advice. They started off by insisting their son put his glasses on when he played Nintendo, and gradually he wore them all day.
A week later, Rory was fitted for his glasses by a very friendly and patient saleslady - at a different store. We got the glasses and sure enough, he squirmed and wiggled, moaned and insisted "no, no, no"! We didn't force the issue. Lucky for us our boy is mesmerized by Barney and would literally spend hours watching the same video of the purple singing dinosaur. That's how we got the glasses on. "You want to watch Barney?" "You have to wear your glasses." When the glasses came off, the VCR stopped. Within a couple of days he was wearing his glasses all day without any complaints. Just like the Doctor said, he realized he could see better with them on. Ahhh,a story with a happy ending. You gotta love that.
That's been our most recent parenting experience that I am happy to share with any of you out there having the same or similar difficulties.
Let's do this again. What Parents Have To Say About… can be a regular feature of the newsletter; a great way for us to share our thoughts as parents on common issues. So, if you have any hints that are more helpful than Heloise's or experiences dearer than Abby's to share, drop us a line before the next newsletter deadline, September 30, 2000 when the topic will be Learning to Swim.
Cheers!
Kim Arcon
There ought to be some great Learning to Swim stories after the summer!! Forward your stories to:
Barb Boiduk, Newsletter Editor
P.O. Box 997
Amherst, Nova Scotia B4H 4E1
Phone 667-8244 Fax 667-0585
Email ceip@atcon.com
Editor's Note
Contributions are always welcome ... our next issue will be in April 2000. Please send contributions by March 31 to:
Barb Boiduk
EINS Newsletter Editor
PO Box 997
Amherst, Nova Scotia B4H 4E1
Phone 667-8244 Fax 667-0585
Email ceip@atcon.com
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