We found a CBC point of view article on the modern approach in schools of teaching in a softer and kinder way to be a good read as we continue through the start of the new school year.

The article tells the story of Evie, a little girl with a rare genetic disorder that presents as moderate autism and makes it difficult for her to co-ordinate her body. The article highlights her mom, journalist Amanda Marcotte\’s, observations of kindness being taught in schools and how that is helping her daughter thrive.

Marcotte applauds the current approach in schools and the lessons it is teaching the community as a whole to be inclusive. This is not only helpful to children with disabilities but to other students and teachers, as it helps to spread the concept of diversity and acceptance of individuals with diverse abilities.

At CVS teaching kindness, inclusiveness and acceptance of individuals is truly at the heart of what we do. We commend school districts who follow the same approach as they will be helping to teach the generations of tomorrow about diversity and importance of inclusiveness in our communities.

We featured John\’s Crazy Socks a few months ago and discussed how John has made a successful business from something he loves (socks) and become an inclusive employer in the process.

The CBC recently published a story about John\’s Crazy Socks too, highlighting how the secret to John\’s Crazy Socks success is happiness. John loves what he does and is using his passion to instil that same energy out to others.

Watch the story below:

This September marks the 4th annual Disability Employment Month in British Columbia and provides an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce, and the employers and communities who support their success.

By raising awareness about the skills that people with disabilities can bring to the workplace and encouraging businesses to build inclusive, diverse workforces, people with disabilities have more opportunity to contribute to the economy, earn an income, and better support themselves and their families.

Throughout September, WorkBC Employment Services Centres, organizations and communities throughout the province will host open houses, job fairs, workshops and appreciation events. Job seekers and employers can contact their local WorkBC Employment Services Centre to learn more about the Disability Employment Month events in their area and the resources and supports available to help people with disabilities obtain employment.

The Times Colonist reported this month that by 2025, B.C. employers will need to fill an estimated one million jobs. With competition for talent so tight, it makes sense to create hiring practices that include the best people. Hiring people with diverse abilities is not only the right thing to do — it’s a smart business decision. The article highlights all the reasons we need to celebrate individuals with diverse abilities and why they are the key to solving the hiring crisis we are facing in this province.

To learn more about Disability Employment Month, please click here.

Community Ventures Society knows first-hand about the contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce. We work with the individuals we serve daily to help them gain employment and improve their skills to be value-added members of the workforce.

This is an excellent article published by the Huffington Post about accessibility on websites. It argues that a lot of emphasis has been placed on making physical retail outlets accessible but there hasn\’t been the same focus on the web.

The article highlights that new legislation in Canada and the U.S. will soon subject businesses that don\’t comply with accessibility standards to fines and penalties. But companies and organizations like the World Wildlife Fund are also discovering another critical reason to make websites user-friendly for all of us — it\’s one of the simplest ways to boost business.

Overall, it highlights how this makes complete sense for individuals with disabilities and for business.

Take some time to read the article & learn more…

BCEdAccess, a parent education advocacy group, recently announced that it is tracking incidents of exclusion at BC schools. The group has created an incident form for the 2018/2019 school year for parents and guardians of students with special needs. Inclusion BC is working with BCEdAccess to ensure students with special needs across BC are guaranteed their right to an education.

Exclusion of students with special needs and/or disabilities is a notable problem in BC K-12 schools. Some aspects of this issue were addressed and documented last year in a survey conducted by BCCPAC. You can view the results of the survey by clicking here.

The survey found that students with special needs and or/disabilities are being excluded from school in a variety of ways. Some of these include:

• Being asked to stay home
• Being sent home
• Being dropped off late and/or picked up early by bussing services
• Being excluded from field trips
• Being excluded from typical learning activities – sent to resource room or sensory/isolation room

To complete an Incident Report Form, please click here.

This past week, Inclusion BC released a message related to going back to school. We wanted to share it with you as we believe it sends a great message out to our community.

Inclusion BC noted that –

\”The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time, full of new promise and new challenges for students, families and educators.

Around our province, committed educational leaders are helping their schools and districts move towards ensuring that all students, including those with special needs, feel welcomed and valued as unique individuals, not just defined by their differences. BC\’s new curriculum and new provincial investments to address chronic staffing gaps present an opportunity to reshape school culture, making schools more inclusive, with new teaching models that better support diverse learners and indeed all students. We will continue working to ensure BC\’s educators are fully supported to achieve that promise.

Full access to education and inclusive learning with same-age peers is a right for every BC student, though it\’s a right that has not always been honoured. During the 2017/18 school year, Inclusion BC heard from many families whose children with special needs were denied a full-day at school due to staffing shortages. This partly stemmed from challenges implementing the 2016 Supreme Court of Canada decision reinstating BC teachers\’ 2001 contract. But Inclusion BC has clearly stated that selectively denying access to students with special needs for any reason is discriminatory and unacceptable.

In May 2018, we also published an updated report documenting shocking incidents of restraint and seclusion that continue to occur in schools. The Education Minister and BC Teachers Federation joined us in denouncing such practices and committed to working to eliminate them. We are recommending stricter policies and reporting requirements, along with more staff training on violence-free ways to support student behaviour.

Inclusion BC has also expanded our provincial advocacy team to help families of students with special needs resolve challenges, strengthen home/school partnerships and advocate when necessary for their child\’s rights to access, support and inclusion.

We hope that this year will bring further progress towards building an inclusive public education system that better serves the needs of all BC students, and look forward to working with families, educators and the provincial government on these challenges, opportunities and common goals.\”

Community Ventures Society fully supports Inclusion BC\’s message as we work towards more inclusive schools ultimately to a place where our education system is teaching to diversity.

CBC posted a great article to help kick off the new school year today. Transitioning from summer to school routines can be a big change for kids and parents. However, for children with with anxiety or autism who struggle with transitions it may amplify those feelings. They may be both excited about the school year and anxious about it, especially if it is their first year attending school.

Here are 9 tips to help deal with the new school year ahead and tame those anxious feelings for both student & parent –

1. Your own social story – find or write your own social story about going to school and read it through with your child. A social story can be a great way to introduce them to school expectations and routines.
2. Introduce yourself & your child – write a letter or email to your child\’s teacher to explain your child\’s diagnoses, strengths, weaknesses and interests. An Inclusion and Intervention Plan/Individualized Education Plan (IIP/IEP) meeting will likely not be scheduled right away so this tip is a great way to help your child\’s teacher know what to expect or how to best help your child.
3. Update the school – make sure your child\’s school is aware of your child\’s diagnoses, especially if it is your child\’s first year of school or if it is your child\’s first year in a new school.
4. Sensory tools – if your child has strong sensory preferences, then be sure to include a favourite sensory tool or two (such as a chew necklace or noise-reducing earmuffs) in your child\’s backpack. Think of it like having a calm-down toolkit for on the go! It can be a lifesaver to have those calm-down tools handy on field trips throughout the school year!
5. Open communication – talk to your child about the upcoming school year, explain the routines, discuss all the fun new things he or she will learn, etc. Engaging in an open dialogue with your child can help ease any anxiety they may have and get them excited for the school year.
6. Read – read books about going to school, especially if it\’s your child\’s first year of school, to help prepare them for the school year.
7. Establish an after school routine – so your child knows what is expected of him or her as soon as they return home from school. It can be things such as emptying the backpack, having a snack, doing their homework and/or having some quiet unwinding time. I highly suggest offering your child some time to unwind after school to reduce the likelihood of an after-school meltdown.
8. Establish a bedtime routine – in order to have your child waking up on time every school morning, getting them to bed at a regular time is important. So be sure to establish a consistent bedtime routine for the school year in the days or weeks leading up to the new school year.
9. Pick-up and drop-off – discuss the school drop-off and pickup procedures with your child. Will they be picked up and dropped off by someone? Will they be walking to and from school by themselves, or with a friend or with a parent? Make sure your child knows how they will be getting to and from school safely for the duration of the school year.

To read the full article, click here. We hope you found these tips useful. Most importantly, here\’s to another great school year ahead!

Do you know someone with complex health needs that needs support from an understanding family doctor? The Asante Centre in Maple Ridge and Surrey has just announced that it is offering primary healthcare with specialized family practitioners.

Services are covered through MSP and available in our Surrey or Maple Ridge offices, with virtual care options across BC. Please share this information onwards to help people with developmental diversities access healthcare that’s designed to meet their needs!

Check out the flyer below more information. To make an appointment, call 778.564.7101 or email [email protected].