Autism Saskatchewan

17/07/2024

I had a great week making visuals and resources for a center that is working very hard to introduce AAC. Using visuals is new to them and this will give them a great head start!

*image of girl posted with parental permission

*there are a few more things I made that I was not able to take an image of

*the communication book template was made by our amazing Director of Communication Access, Alex!

*more info about each item in the descriptions of the images



-Kiara

09/07/2024

*Inclusion Program Grant Quick Guide*

Are you an early learning manager or director (in Saskatchewan) that could benefit from an Inclusion Program Checklist?

Are you a parent who is curious about what the qualifications are and process of your child receiving support in a regulated child care facility?

If so, this may be for you!

Online document with access to links:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR-oA6Z0eERfj-1yuZuV2Uqcgm7yUESCLZoTY4_4bZXebCng_y75nUdgi4Dp9KZ3PE5ny6noYu5rd-Q/pub

26/06/2024

I was going to make something VERY similar... Now I don't have to! Thank you to Cari for this awesome work!

26/06/2024

Absolutely 💚🧠

🤯 Learn more about how you can grow your skills by attending one of our live events here: https://bit.ly/3yTMRT7

Or start one of our many online courses here: https://bit.ly/3yMVeA9

26/06/2024

Reminder that today at 6:30 pm is our Introduction to Autism Workshop for Early Learning Professionals and Parents/Caregivers.

For info and to RSVP please go to the events that are linked to the top of the page.

Edit**
I did record the presentation today for those who are not able to attend the live sessions.

The presentation is only 45 minutes if you watch it on your own time.

For group presentations it will take about 1.5 hours due to discussions, questions or comments.

Email [email protected] for the presentation link.

21/06/2024

🧠📖Get access to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- Fifth Edition- Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)

Where?

As an online PDF from mredcircleoftrust.com, link at the bottom!

Why?

To educate yourself and to advocate for yourself or others.

How to use it?

Scroll down to page 41 where it says “DSM-5-TR Classification”

This is a list of what diagnoses the book covers. Find the one your are interested in and click the blue page numbers to the right to be directly taken to that page.

Link:
https://www.mredscircleoftrust.com/storage/app/media/DSM%205%20TR.pdf

17/06/2024

This QUALITY & INCLUSIVE EARLY LEARNING CHECKLIST
is developed using extensive knowledge and experience working in different early learning environments and from observing and communicating with parents/guardians/early learning educators and managers.

As a PARENT:
-Do you wonder what questions to ask when visiting a new center?
-Do you wonder what a quality, inclusive center looks like?

As an EDUCATOR:
-Could you use a ready-made checklist for professional development and growth?
-Do you want to work towards developing an inclusive classroom?

As an early learning MANAGER/DIRECTOR:
-Could you use this ready-made checklist to help observations run more smoothly?
-Could you use this rating scale checklist to see your center's progress and growth?

Inbox us for the FREE PDF

14/06/2024

I have created a FREE PDA Profile that has a simple layout and can easily be shared with family, friends and educators.

This can be useful when you do not have the “spoons” to explain what may be happening.

Below, you will see a blank PDA Profile template, “What is a Trigger?” resource and my personal profile along with a young members profile to show what they can look like!

Please reach out if you would like help creating a profile.

Link to our “What is PDA” resource:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGEsFAnup4/sxPyVbbme424xo23UcxLYg/view?utm_content=DAGEsFAnup4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

-Kiara

29/05/2024

ABS Approach to Behaviour:

Behavior and Support Documentation for School or Early Learning!

-are you an educator who has NO time to document triggers, behavior and support?

-are you an educator who would like access to a simple and easy document that helps TRACK what is happening?

-are you a parent or guardian who would like your school or early learning center to DOCUMENT when your child shows challenging behaviour?

-has your child ever been sent home from school or early learning with NO forms or observations regarding what happened?

If so, this is FOR YOU!

Send us an email or Facebook message for the FREE PDF.

*Autism Saskatchewan uses a harm reduction approach, YES there may be other forms of documentation that are “ideal” or “better” but this is for those who are new to affirming approaches and struggle with time/notes.

-Kiara Epp

24/05/2024

Weave Chat AAC is a free AAC application available on iOS, Android, and Kindle. It is category-based & completely customizable.
We often get asked "how can you keep the app free?" We are able to keep it free because it is run by myself (an SLP) and my co-founder (an engineer). The costs to maintain the app are minimal and because we both have day jobs there are no salaries to pay. We believe to our core that communication should be accessible to everyone so this app will always be free.

24/05/2024

💚🧠Presenting:

Toilet Training Tips and Tricks that follow a neurodiversity-affirming philosophy!

Let us know in the comments if:

-these slides were helpful to you
-you will be sharing this information with your school or care center (public view link in comments)
-if you have other ideas that aren’t listed (we want to hear them!)

Yours truly,

Kiara Epp, CEO

17/05/2024

Have you ever given a child a compliment and they seem to *really* dislike that you did that? You’re not alone! THEY are not alone!

17/05/2024

💚🧠Intro to PDA
——
Do your children (or children you work with) get triggered when given a demand?

Does it seem like your child (or children you work with) needs full autonomy otherwise a meltdown may occur?

Has your child been diagnosed with ODD?

If so, these slides are for you!

Further Reading Links in Comments.

Created by:
Kiara Epp, diagnosed Autistic, ADHD, OCD and ODD, self diagnosed as having a strong PDA profile.

26/04/2024

Please read this post.

Harm reduction saves lives… truly.

This is the space we occupy as well and it’s what we were made for.

We understand that it takes patience, time and support to unlearn things.

We understand it takes patience, time and support to learn new techniques and apply them to real life.

We understand not everyone has the capacity to do what is always “best” or “ideal”.

Instead… we encourage those who want to learn and be supported to be kind to themselves. None of us are perfect but all of us are trying.

Being neuroaffirming comes naturally to some , others have never heard the term.

Therefore we do not shame… we support… guide and model.

We are here to listen and we are here for YOUR journey.

Sometimes I feel like I’m living in a different world than other advocates I come across.

Like, I understand what’s “best” or “ideal.”

But I operate in the realm of harm reduction.

I spend my time talking with parents who are struggling.

After years of their child being in school…

After years of working with doctors and therapists…

Many of them have never heard of AAC.

Their children’s goals are all compliance-based, and they don’t have the tools to get them changed.

And while they would love to pull their babies out, homeschooling isn’t an option.


I spend my time working with the schools.

The educators I work with have never been exposed to ND affirming… anything.

They want what’s best for their kids, but they don’t have the skills to implement emotionally protective inclusive practices.

Many teachers are learning on their own time, but they don’t have the support to make radical changes in their classrooms.

-

This is the space I occupy.

It’s not perfect.

But this is where I belong. 💜

~Meghan

[image description: Skeleton (Jay’s 3 foot plastic friend) is lying on a boogie board on the beach while her human friends are enjoying their time playing in the water.]

23/04/2024

These are amazing. Very similar to the visuals I made for our summer program last year!

However the web is different and shows the connection in a way that my grid visuals did not! What a great idea…. I will be using this idea for our programs! -Kiara

19/04/2024

FREE Introduction to Autism in the Early Learning Environment workshop!

Dear Early Learning Centres,

We are pleased to announce that Saskatchewan has a newly launching non-profit cooperative called Autism Saskatchewan Cooperative.

We are a group of autistic and neurodivergent people and parents who have come together as a collective to advocate and create neuroaffirming programs in Saskatchewan.

While we are still in the incorporation process, we would like to offer a FREE workshop titled Introduction to Autism in the Early Learning Environment.

Spaces are limited!

To read more about us, we have a detailed business plan in our pinned posts.

The first FIVE centres to email WILL receive a FREE introductory workshop, the others will be added to a list that we will go through as we have availability.

We look forward to hearing from you!

*in-person workshops are currently available in Saskatoon, Martensville, Warman or Ponteix. Swift Current Area.

*a virtual workshop will be available soon (get added to the list!)

Email: [email protected]

21/03/2024

Follow us on TikTok, and meet our team! 💚

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

11/03/2024

Hello everyone!

We need YOUR input regarding Support Groups and Special Interest groups for us to host.

The more people that vote… the better!

We will use this information to help us decide what groups to focus on first and how to branch off based on community need.

Comments are encouraged and welcome however filling out the form is a great way for us to keep track of answers and needs in an organized way.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, it WILL make a difference!

Edit* I have received feedback about the form, I didn’t realize you could only choose one option for some questions, it is now fixed! I also added an extra option “other” to the special interest category.

Link to the questions:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1z2FWHvtDy-8VelgVdA5043cyrth3oVa9WA7dUYoPxOw/edit?usp=drivesdk

08/03/2024

*Copy and Pasted w Permission- This is not our post, we are just sharing the info here

Hello Families,
My Husband and myself (Greg and Kristen Howdle) will be coaching a Special Olympics Saskatoon 12-week physical literacy program for children with intellectual disabilities age 2 to 12, this spring.
Here is more about the Active Start & FUNdamentals Program:

When?
Sundays starting May 5 ending July 21, 2024.
Times are TBD and will be announced as soon as we have the field booking confirmation. They will be one of these 2 options for each group.

9:00-9:40am or 10:00-10:40am
(Active Start: 2 year old to 6 year old)

9:50-10:25am or 10:50-11:25
(FUNdamentals: 7 year old to 12 year old)

Where?
We will put out the full 12 week schedule prior to the First week so you know where we will be each week. The locations we will be using are Umea Vast 5 and Newsham. Both are fully fenced soccer fields and there are bathrooms nearby both fields.

Cost? $75.00

Parent/caregiver active participation required. Siblings are also welcome to join for free!
To register, please follow this link on the portal
https://portal.specialolympics.ca/registration
Here is an instruction guide on how to use the portal and create a family admin account.

https://drive.google.com/.../1pt4jzyiCdAYAz_bDSCKS.../view for Active Start/FUNdamentals program.

If you have any questions, please let us know.
We look forward to the fun,

Kristen & Greg Howdle

05/03/2024

🎥🧠🌾 Autism Saskatchewan- CTV News Saskatoon/Regina

Watch as our CEO Kiara introduces Autism Saskatchewan!

To view our Business Plan click the link below 👇

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF5cisJCb0/SRmqYGMAobIgGYAm3RerZw/view?utm_content=DAF5cisJCb0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

29/02/2024

🎥

Autism Saskatchewan IN THE NEWS!

This morning at ten, our CEO Kiara Epp was interviewed by CTV News here in Saskatoon! Jeremy from the morning show read our entire business plan and was very impressed!

“This was an incredible experience, I was very nervous and double-guessing myself due to my disabilities but I pushed myself, persevered and got it done! Jeremy was very accommodating. I have been on the news before but this was my first time in-studio! I can’t wait for other founding members to experience having their voices heard loud and proud!”

Tune in on Tuesday, March 5th at 7:45 am to see our short but impactful interview that will be aired in Saskatoon and Regina!

Yours Truly,
Autism Saskatchewan

24/02/2024

Hi everyone,

Since our name change we have had an awful lot of fake accounts and bots attempting to spam us.

Should you ever see a comment regarding supplements, CBD, mushrooms, microdosing etc from a person that links a bogus website address with random letters, words, dots and hyphens that just doesn’t look quite right please be careful. They may also link strange social media names for you to search.

Do not search these links or names as you may be scammed or hacked. Should you see any comments before admin does please “tag” us so we can delete and block the account.

You can always reach out to us if you are unsure if something is a scam or not and we will give you the best insight we can!

Example ⬇️

24/02/2024

You on the gram?

Follow our insta.

💚💚💚

5 Followers, 10 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Autsim Saskatchewan (.sk)

24/02/2024

🔗Public Link to Autism Saskatchewan Cooperative Business Plan 2024

For anyone who would like to easily share our business plan, here is the public link that you can share with friends, family, colleagues, business and support group pages.

Sharing our plan and business name will greatly assist us in spreading awareness about our company!

The impact we have could be HUGE with your help!

Link:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF5cisJCb0/SRmqYGMAobIgGYAm3RerZw/view?utm_content=DAF5cisJCb0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

You will need to copy and paste the link as we are not able to shorten it.

Yours truly,

Autism Saskatchewan

Check out this Real Estate Flyer designed by AutismSK.

24/02/2024

📣💚 Meet our Founding Members!

In the next month we will be internally nominating one another for Board of Director positions which we will hold for the first four months after incorporation.

After four months, we will have an Annual General Meeting where ALL members (staff, BOD, community, businesses) will meet to nominate a Board of Directors that will hold office for two years.

Until then, say hello to the founding members that are making this all happen!

We still have room for TWO positions to be a BOD for the first four months. Click the link pinned to the top of our page to apply. Let’s make a difference, together.

26/06/2023

Good morning everyone!

We are looking for DONATIONS for our summer program!

We have a beautiful back yard with lots to do but we could still use these items!

For those who don’t know what “loose parts” are I have provided examples.

Why do we use loose parts in early learning?

Because they are open ended and can be used for anything. What we see as a round piece of wood a child may see as a wheel, a plate or a game piece.

We can make jewelry, art, games, fine motor activities, the possibilities are endless with loose parts!

25/06/2023

" ‘Help! My toddler refuses to eat!’

This is one of the top messages I receive, and it's 99.99999% of the time followed by, "how can I get my child to eat?"

While forcing them to eat, to take just one more bite may seem like the right thing to say at the moment because you want your child to get good nutrition, think again when you find yourself pressuring your child to eat. Instead, here's the #1 strategy for getting your toddler to eat, and it may be the opposite of what you think!

Even though picky eating is a normal part of development, this phase can be super stressful for parents. Your child eats very little, rejects fruits and vegetables or a meal completely, and it’s hard not to worry and wonder if they’re getting the adequate nutrition they need to grow and thrive!

As a result, you may be led to the use of nonresponsive feeding practices, such as forcing and bribing.

Unfortunately, doing so will drive you further away from what you’re trying to achieve, and set off the cycle of endless mealtime battles.

The less pressure you put on your child, the better. Don’t take their refusal to eat personally. It’s easy for us, as parents, to feel guilty and blame ourselves.

We start to question everything. Am I serving the “wrong” food? Is it because my food isn’t tasty? I want to remind you that your child’s refusal has more to do with testing limits, exerting independence, and fear of trying new food (food neophobia peaks between 2-6 years of age) than the food itself.

While it’s hard not to worry during this time when eating just seems all over the place, know that your child’s appetite and eating behaviors will level out over time. “ (via MJ and Hungryman ❤️)

For further tips, visit https://www.mjandhungryman.com/dont-pressure-your-child-to-eat/

23/06/2023

Absolutely

21/06/2023