wow! what an amazing program!
Thanks,
Tamar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is not our differences that divide us.
It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.
~ Audre Lorde
________________________________
From: Meir Weiss <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 3:24 PM
Subject: http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Amazing+program+turns/5112075/story.html
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Amazing+program+turns/5112075/story.ht
ml
'Amazing' program turns 10
Autistic children; 'They taught him skills and me skills,' mother says
By KAREN SEIDMAN, The GazetteJuly 16, 2011
Retired Canadiens' forward Réjean Houle takes part in the Trampoline
Program's ribboncutting ceremony Friday. "We want to give children a better
quality of life," Houle says.
Photograph by: DAVE SIDAWAY THE GAZETTE, The Gazette
Two years ago, Judy Lashley's son, at age 4, could say only five words and
rarely made eye contact with anyone.
Diagnosed with autism, he wouldn't respond to directions, was known to eat
soap and matches, and engaged in stimming - a repetitive rolling of his
hands.
At her wit's end, Lashley decided she wanted to place him in the Trampoline
Program, a private non-profit program funded in part by the Miriam
Foundation.
Lashley's son is now an affectionate, communicative boy who just completed
kindergarten in a regular school and will start Grade 1 this fall.
"This program is amazing," Lashley said.
"They taught him skills and me skills. If it wasn't for this program, he
wouldn't be in a regular stream at school."
The program celebrated its 10th anniversary on Friday with the inauguration
of its bright new backyard playground, completed thanks to a $10,000
donation from the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony amid dozens of "Go Habs Go" balloons, retired
Canadiens' forward Réjean Houle, a member of the foundation's board, said
the foundation's mission is to help children be active and have fun.
"We want to give children a better quality of life," he said.
Houle even took a ride down the kiddie slide with one of his new little
Trampoline friends.
The program offers intensive intervention to children 18 months to 6 years
with authism spectrum disorders or other developmental disabilities.
It costs about $18,700 a year to participate.
With tears in her eyes, program director Ginette Bernier said five of her
students will have to give up the program next year because of the high
cost.
"I can tell you those parents don't sleep at night," she said.
"It's not fair because if you have an illness you can use Medicare, but not
for this. But the impact of early intervention is amazing - most don't speak
when they start here but they all speak when they leave."
Bernier said her goal is to prepare the children for reality - schools with
lots of children and adults around - so they can cope in the real world.
She accepts children who don't have a diagnosis - obtaining one for autism
can take a long time in Quebec - but clearly have a problem.
One mother who was aghast when her son poured coffee into Bernier's desk
drawer during their interview, thinking he'd never be accepted.
"He's in," Bernier told her, recognizing the boy was in need of help.
"You don't always need a diagnosis to see that a child has needs," she said.
"We evaluate children and accept them if we feel the child can benefit."
About 160 children have passed through the program, which can take 32
children at a time.
A parent, whose 4-year-old daughter attends Trampoline, said when she
started a year ago, she was evaluated as being age 0 in one specific
category.
Now she has the skills of a 2-year-old.
"Certain aspects of her behaviour have improved tremendously," he said.
On the Web: programmetrampoline.blogspot.com/
kseidman@ montrealgazette.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
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