August 2024

Save the Date!

Find Your Path Conference

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Genesis Center, Calgary

October is Learning Disabilities and ADHD Awareness Month! Boost your understanding and personal support toolkit at our one-day conference this fall. Find Your Path: Strategies for Success is all about practical take-aways on executive functioning, mental health, ADHD medication, math strategies, advocacy and more!

Watch for a special mid-month mailout in August to register, purchase tickets and learn more about our sessions!

"Join CanLearn Society for an unforgettable evening with local food, drinks, and fantastic prizes! More importantly, this event is a celebration of the transformative power of literacy and learning, and an opportunity to ensure that our essential services remain available to all who need them."

Every ticket purchased supports our mission and is matched up to 50% through Rogers Birdies for Kids until August 31."

Date: September 6, 2024, 6 - 9 pm

Location: Lougheed House, Calgary

Dress Code: Sapphire blue or Great Gatsby themed attire

Overpowering Emotions Podcast

Do you feel helpless or guilty when your child has a major meltdown? Or it's happening so often that you're frazzled?

This podcast series by Dr. Caroline Buzanko of Koru Family Psychology "is for all mental health professionals, educators, parents, and anyone who wants to help children and teens become masters over anxiety and other big feels while strengthening their courage and resilience."

This University of Calgary study is recruiting children ages 10-16 with and without ADHD, and will be using MRI and non-invasive brain stimulation to better understand their brains. If you would like your child or teen to be part of this study or would like more information, please email brainkids@ucalgary.ca or use the button below.

Families Matter is part of the Family Resource Network which is an initiative funded by the government of Alberta to provide FREE parenting and supports to families with children aged 0 - 18.

They offer a wide range of programs to help parents and children develop healthy relationships, and "strengthen families by creating learning opportunities that build confidence, competence and connection through life’s transitions."

Non-ADHD Partner Support Groups

There are joys and challenges in every relationship and those which include a partner with ADHD are no different. But it's also helpful to know how to support that partner while still building and enjoying a healthy relationship.

Liliana Turecki of Liliana Turecki ADHD Coaching and Melissa Orlov of ADHD Marriage are respected and experienced ADHD coaches offering group support sessions for Non-ADHD partners this fall. Join others on this journey to develop strategies, gain valuable insights and share in a safe, supportive space. Check out their websites for dates and costs.

The ADHD Association of Greater Edmonton

is excited to be able to offer a full-day conference!

"Get ready to dive into the latest research, strategies, and tools for managing ADHD. Whether you’re a parent, educator, healthcare professional, or in any way affected by ADHD, this conference is packed with valuable insights and practical tips."

The start of the school year can be exciting and frightening in equal measure. New faces, personalities, responsibilities and expectations can be overwhelming for any student let alone those with the additional challenges of a LD or ADHD. Fears, whether defined or nebulous, can cause increased anxiety and sometimes even school refusal.

Here is a short list of resources and strategies to help prepare you and your students for the inevitable. A best practice is to introduce a selection of age-appropriate strategies to the whole class right at the beginning of term as a proactive measure. You can then reference and rely on them throughout the year and students will feel more comfortable using a familiar technique in times of stress.

Tip: Have nutritious snacks on hand, if possible. Being stressed uses more of the brain's resources!

Coping Strategies for Supporting Students by Anxiety Canada

Managing Anxiety from Learn Alberta

Mental Health Literacy offers an Alberta school-ready curriculum for Grades 4 - 6, and 7 - 12, and for post-secondary students as well as teacher training.

The Anxious Generation is both a book by Johnathan Haidt, and a comprehensive website of resources including specific ones for educators.

Two new books on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) are available to inform your best practices and grace your professional resource bookshelf. If you are often overwhelmed by the implementation of IPPs in your classrooms, learn about universal accommodation strategies that will benefit all of the students in your class, leaving you time to dedicate very specific supports for your more complex learners.

A lot has changed in the last 10 years in technology, society and education. If you were already a fan of UDL, or are just considering how to incorporate it into your classroom, read this new edition.

"An update of Anne Meyer and David Rose’s foundational text, Universal Design for Learning: Theory & Practice – is now available!

This new edition provides an accessible introduction to the scientific foundations of the framework and the many ways UDL can help shape inclusive learning design."

This book offers "educators an insightful, practical resource that shows how to integrate Universal Design for Learning in the ELA classroom to build rich, collaborative, engaging literacy environments.

By focusing on the established domains of literacy, including reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language and vocabulary development, this book shows K-12 teachers how to engage students of diverse needs and backgrounds and explore the connections between social emotional learning, character education, and deeper understanding of literacy."

How to make business trips better for neurodivergent travelers

By BDC Travel

"Under the best circumstances, traveling for work can be stressful. For neurodivergent business travelers, the added sights, sounds, crowds, delays, or routine changes can make trips even harder. Understanding and finding ways to support neurodivergent travelers helps build and strengthen inclusive environments. Below are some considerations for introducing awareness, education and accommodations into a managed travel program."

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.