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We wish for...
Better teacher training. We'd like Alberta teachers to have knowledge of and experience with identifying and teaching students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD.
We'd also like them to be explicitly trained in science-based approaches to teaching reading skills (PS: this is equally critical for English language learners.)
Subsidized LD Assessments for Children
We'd like Learning Disability assessments for children to be funded, creating equity with physician-diagnosed ADHD, to ensure early identification, reduce wait times and increase access to intervention.
Training in ADHD for Medical Professionals
We'd like training in ADHD to be universally implemented for physicians, and professionals working in mental health, to reduce misdiagnosis and wait times for assessments, and increase access to treatment and supports.
Awareness of the Duty to Accommodate for Employers
We'd like employers to be more aware that they are required to provide accommodations for employees with Learning Disabilities and ADHD under the Alberta Human Rights Act to increase employment access and workplace equity.
Wishing is the just first step...the next one is making our wishes come true. How are we doing that?
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Writing a white paper, to be published in February 2024, that details why our wishes matter for Albertans and realistic solutions for making them a reality.
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Scheduling meetings with ministers and their officials to present our case.
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Offering you a chance to participate in our 'Tell Your Story' initiative. Let government know about your struggles with LD or ADHD, and how it could have been different.
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Holidays are meant to be times for recharging and reconnecting. But for many they are just times of extra stress leading to burnout.
In this article, our Network Supports for Adults Team describes what burnout looks like for adults with literacy challenges, adults with ADHD and post-secondary students. Most importantly, they detail how to recover from burnout and prevent it from happening again.
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Finding Your Holiday Spirit Through Self-Care
"The holiday season is filled to the brim with activities and time together. There’s lots of excitement, not to mention lots of organizing and things to do. Your planning often is about taking care of others and insuring everyone’s happiness. This year we need to practice packing some extra self-care."
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When it’s Tough to Make Friends:
Self-Regulation Strategies that Work
CanLearn Society is excited to offer a FREE webinar focused on how to support your child as they navigate friendships. This workshop is perfect for parents, guardians and other adults involved in children’s support groups.
"Come and learn about some foundational social-emotional strategies and how kids can use these strategies while they are making friends and working through all the ups and downs of peer relationships. We will also be discussing ways that caregivers can help their kids use these strategies in their daily lives."
Dec. 12 from 6 - 7:30 pm MST
Presented by Dr. Heather Baker & Neva Capin
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No More Calculators for Grade 6 Math PAT
If your child has been using a calculator in their Math class because of challenges with learning math, be aware that this accommodation will NOT be available to them anymore on the 2024 Gr. 6 Math Provincial Achievement Test (PAT), even if it is on their IPP/IEP/LSP.
The Grade 6 Math PAT consists of Part A, operations to assess number sense, and Part B, a longer problem solving section. Calculators were never available for Part A; replacing the calculator accommodation for Part B is a now a 12x12 multiplication table. A wide variety of other manipulatives to support problem solving are still allowed for Part B.
If your child is currently using a calculator in class and to complete homework, contact the school to collaboratively decide on a plan of action to keep math learning accessible, engaging and supported through the use of a calculator, but also to practice using a 12 x 12 multiplication table and other ways of completing calculations.
If you need advice on working with the school, adjusting your child's IPP/IEP/LSP or more information about the PATs, contact the Network [email protected].
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REFOCUS Parenting Course: Reinforcing Executive Functioning with Optimism, Compassion, Understanding, and Support
This subsidized CADDAC parenting program is starting again in January for 10 sessions. To accommodate as many schedules as possible, multiple workshop times are available in the morning, afternoon or evening.
"In this interactive course, parents and caregivers will learn about executive function, how executive function affects children and teens, and, they will learn tools and strategies to help their children increase these skills.
Topics include:
Inhibition, Emotional Regulation, Motivation, Attention, Shifting, Working Memory, Planning, Organization, and self-monitoring."
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How to Set Boundaries with Family:
A Joy-Preserving Guide
While this article focuses on a family with ADHD, the strategies are equally valid if your child has a learning disability, anxiety or another invisible condition that makes life more challenging.
"Setting boundaries with relatives who are committed to misunderstanding your child’s ADHD is necessary to protect your family — and your joy. Here, find scripts for setting limits, ideas for approaching family get-togethers, and what to do if relatives cross your boundaries."
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ADHD Throughout the Lifespan:
Navigating Adulthood with ADHD
"This FREE CanLearn Society presentation provides an insight into ADHD throughout the lifespan with a specific focus on adulthood. Emerging research, along with real-life examples, is presented that highlights the unique ways that ADHD can impact an individual’s life.
Attendees will leave with an appreciation of how ADHD presents differently in adulthood and will have a better understanding of how common comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, mood and learning challenges, can significantly impact or affect an individual’s ability to cope with ADHD."
Dec. 18 from 6 - 7:30 pm MST
Presented by Neva Capin and Dr. Heather Baker
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How to Recover After a Social Faux Pas
December is often a very busy holiday season with work parties, family celebrations, religious observances and other festivities which often extend into January, too.
With all of that extra socializing, having to apologize for mistakes because of ADHD or a Learning Disability creates needless pressure. Read these tips on how to turn that around so you can enjoy the extra time with your friends and family.
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6 Reasons Why ADHDers Don’t Like The Holidays
"The holidays are nearly here! But do you enjoy them? If you answered no, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Many adults with ADHD feel the same.
While many people love vacation time away from work, eating good food and spending time with their families, it’s not always the case with ADHDers."
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News For Educators & Professionals | |
The Alberta Conference on Fostering Emotional Well-Being & Bolstering Resilience in Children and Youth
"This conference is tailored to mental health and education professionals at all levels, and any professional that applies behavioural and developmental science to practice."
Do any of these topics interest you?
- Creating Trauma Resilient Classrooms
- Living the Medicine Wheel Teachings
- Optimizing and Supporting the ADHD brain
- Optimizing Self-Regulation and Managing Big Emotions
If not, there are more than a dozen other workshops to choose from!
Dec. 4 - 6, in-person in Calgary or live stream, with 3 excellent keynote speakers.
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OPINION: It is time to pay attention to the science of learning
Are you familiar with: retrieval practice, elaboration, spacing, interleaving, dual coding and metacognition?
"If these concepts are part of your current practice as an educator, nice work. But if you are among the majority of us who have not fully encountered or employed these ideas, I humbly suggest that you have some urgent reading to do.
Just as scientists have made great gains in understanding how students read, they have also made tremendous gains in understanding how students learn."
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Accessibility Builds Engagement
Accommodations Make Tasks Accessible, Not Easier
Teachers often have the view that an accommodation for a student with a disability makes things 'easier', ultimately causing them to lose out on important skills.
However, as Timothy Kretchman beautifully demonstrates, accommodations make learning 'accessible' leading to engagement, confidence and achievement.
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With Christmas just around the corner, teacher appreciation gifts are starting to fill store shelves. They come in many shapes and sizes (and they are truly appreciated) but there is only so much chocolate you can eat and so many Favourite Teacher' mugs you want in your cupboard.
Instead, if the option exists, post a Christmas Wish list. Decodable texts are a great teacher gift, especially if you are in the process of switching over to a Science of Reading approach. The more decodable texts you have, the better the variety and practice for your students.
Best of all, Christmas deals exist. For example, Syllasense offers a sample set of seven decodable texts for just $5! Less expensive than a mug and more useful, too (though not as tasty as chocolate).
Many publishers have Christmas sale specials on so check out the resource list below for decodable text publishers and post your wish list.
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Work parties seem to be getting more complicated to organize: accommodating the diversity of religious celebrations, navigating dietary preferences and allergies, allaying COVID fears when socializing in large groups, managing remote workers, being considerate of everyone's budget constraints and not least, respecting the integrity of the work environment for neurodivergent employees.
These articles offer insights on how neurodivergent employees actually experience office parties but also present simple steps to ensure that all employees can participate, feel included and remember your holiday efforts with a smile.
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Neurodiversity and Christmas | |
How to Organize an Inclusive Office Party | |
A Neuroinclusive Christmas | |
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. | | | | |
