SUPPORT SERVICES

Nanaimo Child Development Centre(CDC) is a community based, non-profit organization that provides individualized services for children and promotes optimum child development (www.nanaimocdc.com).

Autism Community Training (ACT) is an information and referral service created to support families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in B.C. They provide information officers, an information database, autism manual for BC, parent training live and on-line, bursaries available. (www.actcommunity.ca)

Footholds Therapy Center offers a broad range of assessment and therapeutic services to all people with special needs, irrespective of their developmental stage (www.footholds.ca).

ACE Therapy for Kids – Provide direct occupational therapy services in client’s home, school or other community setting. Other services include assessment, consultation and educational workshops for parents and teachers (www.members.shaw.ca/acetherapy/index.htm).

The F.O.R.C.E. is a society for childrens’ mental health; their mandate is to support and empower families and work collaboratively with professionals and systems in understanding and meeting the mental health needs of families. (www.forcesociety.com).

The Ministry of Children and Family Development, Child, Family and Community Services-CYSN has provided the following information on resources and services available. For more information phone 250-741-3600, toll free 1-800-823-4246:

Family Support Institute (FSI) – Directed by families, the FSI assists families in 3 main ways: 1) Workshops 2) Networking is promoted to enable families to build upon the expertise of each other and to facilitate families meeting together to address common issues, needs and concerns. 3)Up-to-date information on services, current practices, and educational options. www.familysupportbc.com

Nanaimo & Region Disability Resource Cedntre – provides disability-related information to individuals and groups. The Centre houses a large number of pamphlets, brochures, and forms. They provide information on services and resources available to people living with a disability. They also publish an information directory called “Pathways to Independence”. They are located at #2-4166 Departure Bay Rd., Nanaimo, phone 250 758-5547 nrdrc.org

Support Worker Central – Finding compatible support workers to assist you or your family member with a disability can be challenging. Support Worker Central is an online database designed to match individual, families and agencies with support workers in their communities. supportworkercentral.com

The Ministry of Children and Family Development has produced 2 information guides to support the development of person-centred transition plans for youth with special needs:

1. Transition Planning for Youth with Special Needs: A Community Support Guide – provides information based on best practices to assist teachers, social workers and other community partners in supporting successful transition planning.
2. Your Future Now: A Transition Planning and Resource Guide for Youth with Special Needs and Their Families – includes a workbook and resource guide to assist youth and their families with the development of an individualized transition plan.

Moving to Adulthood – is a local document that School District 68 and the Ministry of Children and Family Development have created which is to remind families of youths 14 to 16 yrs. they need to begin thinking about the process.

RESPITE

Carmichael Enterprises – accredited for its Community Living Services and Respite Services programs (carmichaelenterprises.ca).

Transformations Learning Centre provides specialized education services for children, kindergarten to Grade 12, who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neuro-developmental disabilities (transformationslearning.org)

Claro Learning Centre is a learning centre devoted to the education of children and youth (K-12) with special needs using holistic and individualized programs (clarocentres.com).

Nuko is a registered Canadian charity that supports the needs of children and youth with neuro-developmental disabilities, and their families. They have opened the Nanaimo Unique Kids Learning Center and also sponsor a Parent Support Group.(uniquekidsorganization.com).

Did you know Nanaimo Unique Kids Organization (NUKO) has a new early intervention program starting in September!
NUKO’s Early Intervention Program offers the following services:

• Up to 10 hours of 1-to-1 behavioral intervention each week
• Individualized programs written and overseen by a highly qualified behavioral consultation team
• Functional skills training
• Academic skills training
• Group and recreational time
• Life skills training
• Support with transitioning to school settings

Our Consultants:

• Dr. Sara White PhD, BCBA-D
• Laurel Huber, MSc
• Keri Chapdelaine, BA

Check out our webste for registration and more information about NUKO.
nuko.ca

Footholds Therapy Learning Center uses a collaborative approach which places learners and their families first and provides individualized educational services with a high staff ratio. The center is committed to academics while recognizing the validity and uniqueness of an individual’s specific learning style (K-12). (email: footholds@me.com) (footholds.ca)