Spectrum Educational Services

Unfortunately November 14 was a typo on the Linking Together brochure. The group was held November 12. If you set aside the third Wednesday, November 19, for Linking Together, you now have a free evening. There will be no group in December. We meet again on January 21, 2015. The group is still welcoming new members. So far this year we have enjoyed  Wendy Johnson explain what criteria are used to formally diagnose Autism. Todd Samuelson and Nicole Stein from  CHHS shared ways to communicate your child's needs with school as well as different options for completing high school. Ruth Isaac demonstrated sensory strategies and gave a tour of a children's gym downtown.

September 18 marks the beginning of a new year of Linking Together: Parents and Community. This year we are introducing registration for individual sessions. While participants are welcome and encouraged to sign up for each session, we know that for some schedules regular attendance isn't possible. Since space is limited to 12 participants per session we encourage early registration to ensure your spot. The group is open to family members, including grandparents, caring for a child on, or likely on, the Autism Spectrum Disorder. That means even if you are waiting for a diagnosis or other Autism supports, the group is immediately accessible. The Medicine Hat News highlighted the success of Linking Together's first year  here . Whether you are new to the world of Autism or a veteran ASD parent ongoing access to information is vital as needs and supports change as children grow. Linking Together provides timely resources through hands on presentations by professionals

S pecial guest   Lisa Waites  brings music therapy to Linking Together participants today. Her thoughts as she prepared: I just finished assembling my materials for the "Linking Together" workshop that I'm giving twice tomorrow (12:30-2:30pm and 6:30-8:30pm), and now I'm too excited about it to go to sleep. It feels like Christmas Eve, for goodness sake! This isn't going to be a typical lecture format, and I can't wait to share some highly technical music therapy mumbo-jumbo in an accessible, creative fusion of methodological scaffolding, theoretical insights, and practical musico-behavioural applications. The combination of practical, hands on strategies combined with the expertise of local professionals makes Linking Together a valuable resource and support for parents raising their Autistic children.