April 2026

Change is all around us and while we can't anticipate everything that might come at us, there are a number of transitions from one stage of life to another that we all recognize as foundational milestones.

• The large hormonal impacts of puberty, pregnancy and menopause.
• Starting on a career path and where disclosure of neurodivergence might come in.
• Parenting your child through friendships and heartbreaks.
• Is it retirement or redirection?
• Returning to learning as an adult.
• For educators, shifting classroom practice to the Science of Learning, and more!

Let's be as prepared as we can for what we can anticipate, navigate and dream about.

Join us at the Embracing Change: Supporting ADHD and LD Across Life Transitions conference.

Tickets go on sale in May!

OCT 17 SAVE THE DATE

What the clinic walk-through is about

This walk-through focuses on improving the Primary Care Centre’s physical spaces and environment — not evaluating individual staff or healthcare services.

Calgary West Central PCN wants to understand:

• What looks and feels welcoming and easy to use
• What feels confusing, difficult or uncomfortable
• What could be improved for people with different backgrounds and life experiences

Participants will be asked to look at the space from different perspectives, including:

• Accessibility (moving around the space, signage, lighting, noise, and other needs)
• Inclusion (feeling respected and represented)
• Cultural safety (feeling safe and valued in one’s identity and culture)
• Overall experience in the clinic environment

You do not need to be a patient of the Primary Care Centre to take part!

"Deciding to start a child or adolescent on medication can be a daunting process, and often there are many questions surrounding this decision.

Join Dr. Dan Ross, Calgary pediatrician with more than 25 years of experience with ADHD, to explore how ADHD medications work in the brain, some of the similarities and differences from one type of medication to another, how different medications are delivered, how we choose medications, and what side effects we need to be aware of, both for treatment and non-treatment. There are ever-increasing numbers of medications to choose from, and not every one will be suited to every child.

"Kids learn BEST when they are ACTIVE, and able to PRACTICE the skills in realistic SOCIAL environments.

The WOW Program engages kids through movement and activating their intricate sensory systems to help them build awareness and develop skills for physical and emotional regulation for lifelong success."



Next 6-week program starts April 9 - May 14, 2026

"Our groups specialize in children with ADHD, ASD, LD and Tourette's but all are welcome!"

The Social Skills program and Campabilities are eligible for FSCD funding.

Social Skills Program

Ages 8-12 years - morning group

Ages 13-17 years - afternoon group

starting April 12, 2026 - June 7, 2026

Roblox Social Group 7+

April 18, 2026 - May 30, 2026

Campabilities

Ages 8-12 years

July 13 - 17, 2026

August 10 - 14, 2026

Ages 13-17 years

July 20 - 24, 2026

August 17 - 21, 2026

"Screens are everywhere – in our homes, schools, and pockets. Many parents and educators are asking the same question: How do we help children find balance in a digital world?



Join us for a conversation inspired by Katherine Johnson Martinko’s book Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance, which offers practical guidance for helping children spend less time on screens and more time reading, playing, and exploring the world around them."

Check put this short on 3 Social Media tips for parents.

"This family-friendly event brings children and families together to celebrate literacy in a unique outdoor setting. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the horses, take part in a guided literacy activity, and connect reading with a positive and memorable experience.

The $25 entrance fee helps cover the operational costs of running the event, and all additional donations will go directly toward providing Raising Readers Literacy Kits for deserving families who may not otherwise have access to literacy resources."



Sage Mustang Ranch

Just NE of Balzac and Cross Iron Mills Mall

Coaching Group for Couples Living with ADHD

"This coaching group is meant to educate BOTH partners about ADHD and how it shows up in your relationship. Being able to distinguish what is an ADHD behavior versus your partner's personality traits can really help your couple shift from conflict to comprehension.

The program is 8 weeks long to allow time for couples to implement strategies learned and see change in their relationship all within a safe, judgement free and accountable environment."

ResearchEd Calgary - Tickets already available!

This is going to be a stellar event! Here is a sneak peek at the lineup.



"Keynote Speaker: Natalie Wexler - Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning

Featured Speakers:

• Anna Stokke - How Students Learn Math: How Students Learn Math: Foundations, Fluency, and Effective Instruction
• John Mighton – How to create equitable classrooms using JUMP Math
• Peter Bowers – Structured Word Inquiry: Understanding oral and written language from the sub-lexical to the supra-lexical

Presenters:

·      Heather McKay - Leading Evidence-Based Writing Instruction in Schools

·      Chris Mattatall - The Goldilocks Dilemma: Do Instructional-level Texts Help or Harm Reading Achievement?

·      Dave Brown - Ending the Polarization Cycle: Exploring Contentious Issues in Schools

·      Kristy Dunn - Teaching Irregular Words in Tier 2/3 Intervention: Using Set for Variability and Morphology to Support Early Readers

·      Melinda Cameron - Cognitive Load Theory and the Struggling Reader

·      Dean Kokonas - Better Math Assessment: Designing Systems that Support Learning

·      Adam Palmer - Spaced Practice and Retrieval in Middle School Mathematics

·      Tara Seib - Data Informed Teaching in Mathematics

·      Carla French - Cognitive Load Theory in the Mathematics Classroom: Bridging Learning Science and Practice

·      Jim Christopher - The Failure of inclusion (and how we can make it work for neurodiverse learners)"

Teacher-Led or Student-Centered? What the Research Says About Equity

Explicit instruction is research-supported best-practice for students with disabilities. Does it extend to other equity issues as wel?

"Student-centered learning is often associated with greater equity in the classroom. But does it actually reduce achievement gaps? A new study by Zhu et al. (2026)1 suggests the answer may be more complicated than many educators assume.

To investigate this question, Zhu and colleagues analyzed how different teaching approaches related to equity in real classrooms. They distinguished between two broad categories of instruction: (i) teacher-led instruction (e.g., explicit, direct teaching); and (ii) student-centered learning (e.g., discovery, inquiry-based, problem-based approaches)."

LIVE STREAM: April 13, 2026 from 9:30am – 5:00pm (MST)

"A neuro-affirmative approach shifts the paradigm away from a deficit model to a strength-based approach that values neurodivergent profiles, supports individuals in their efforts to regulate emotions and take steps to reach their own social goals.

The first part of the workshop discusses the pitfalls of a traditional escalating disciplinary model and the need to understand why students are having challenging moments. The focus is on both soothing moments of dysregulation, de-escalating meltdowns, and problem-solving repeat problems. In the second half of the workshop, the presentation details strategies to help clients develop ways to reach their own social goals and connect meaningfully with others."

LIVE STREAM: April 13, 2026 from 9:30am – 5:00pm (MST) 

"This training provides a comprehensive, brain-based overview of how children develop core academic skills in mathematics, reading, and written expression. Drawing on current neuropsychological research, the workshop emphasizes practical, evidence-based strategies that educators and clinicians can use to support learners with diverse needs.

By the end of this training, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the neuropsychological foundations of learning and leave with actionable tools to assess, identify, and support students struggling with mathematics, reading, and writing."

The Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network is a collaborative initiative of a broad group of organizations, which is operated through Foothills Academy and supported by an Anonymous Donor at the Calgary Foundation.