Our newest addition to the site, we will see how it goes. A daily thought, place to share and be heard. If you have an idea for a better word of the day, let us know!
Today’s is Sunday’s Secret. It can be anything you want to share, my answer will be posted below too.
Trying Something New- Daily Sharing
Let’s give this a try. A daily thought, you can think about it, or just reply with whatever comes to mind.. there is no right or wrong.
Today’s is a song or a line from a song that you are relating to today!
Have an idea of a better acronym for the day? Tell us!
I will post my reply every day.
I hope you all join me!
Read more on Trying Something New- Daily Sharing…
Back to School Boot Camp at Friendations
Back to School Boot Camp August 31st – September 4th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
After a fun-filled summer, help your child smoothly transition back to school.
Join us for a week of social and academic activities.
Daily Schedule
Read more on Back to School Boot Camp at Friendations…
Friendations;Helping children build the social-emotional foundation for life.
Friendations offers social coaching for children from preschool (age 3) through 5th grade. Clients typically include children who struggle with social skills, peer interactions, conversation, appropriate behavior and emotional regulation.
What is social coaching? The easiest way to understand social coaching is to think of it as tutoring for social skills with additional support as the child practices the new skills. It would be like a math tutor who could teach the skills and then go to school to make sure your child does well on their test.
During social coaching, children receive support from a coach at whatever setting presents the greatest need. Common settings where we coach children include homes, preschool and child care centers, community locations and extra-curricular activities. Guided play dates are another method we use to coach children on appropriate social behaviors, peer interactions and conversation skills. Families are included in social coaching through session reviews, progress reports, trainings and coaching.
Clients work with a coach 1:1 to learn and practice skills before moving on to play dates and other social settings. Coaches working with children in preschools or other social settings will employ private pull out sessions to build up skills. Following an intake observation and assessment with the social worker, a program will be developed for each client based on family input and the needs identified during the assessment. Goals for children vary depending on the needs of the child but will be based on The 4 C’s: compliance with adults, conversations skills, control of self, and cooperation with peers.
Read more on Friendations;Helping children build the social-emotional foundation for life….
Bon Secours Recognizes 25 Students with Autism and/or Intellectual Disabilities for Completing Project SEARCH Internships School-to-work program helps students develop work skills
Bon Secours Virginia Health System will recognize 25 Virginia high school seniors with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and/or intellectual disabilities for their completion of Project SEARCH, a national school-to-work program at four Bon Secours facilities across Central Virginia and in Portsmouth. Project SEARCH provides hands-on training to students with disabilities through internships at health care facilities and other businesses, with a goal of gaining employment upon completion. Bon Secours Virginia is the only Project SEARCH program also participating in clinical research.
Bon Secours Virginia’s four Project SEARCH sites are funded through a grant awarded to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rehabilitation Research and Training Center from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Bon Secours’ Project SEARCH partners include local public education systems, VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, and Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). The partners provide additional funding as well as support and services to the students in the program.
“Bon Secours has supported Project SEARCH for six years. We launched the program at St. Mary’s Hospital and have expanded it to include four of our hospitals statewide. We are honored to be part of Project SEARCH and to assist students as they achieve academic, interpersonal and professional success,” said Toni Ardabell, CEO, Bon Secours Richmond Health System. “I often hear from employees that their experiences with Project SEARCH students have changed employees’ lives, and in many cases, learning occurs for both the student and the employee.”
At celebration events held in June, Bon Secours will award diplomas to the students for completing nine-month Project SEARCH internships at St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian on June 2, St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond on June 5, Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth on June 9, and Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville on June 10.
Also in June, Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center will receive the Employer of the Year Award from the Virginia Division on Career Development and Transition (VADCDT) at the “I’m Determined” Youth Summit in Harrisonburg. This award will be given to St. Francis in recognition of their commitment to hiring young adults with disabilities in Virginia.
“It is a pleasure to help these student interns with autism and intellectual disabilities develop the skills they will need to gain employment after graduation. We look forward to continuing the program and welcoming many more Project SEARCH interns to our Bon Secours facilities next year,” said Ardabell.
Through Project SEARCH, facilitated by a research team at Virginia Commonwealth University, students were assigned to a Bon Secours hospital in their county during their senior year of high school. Each student rotated throughout various departments in the hospital, completing three unpaid internships. Teachers, teaching assistants and job coaches provided them with direct instruction during the rotations, collaborating with hospital department supervisors. Working with hospital supervisors and staff, the students received hands-on skills training, including stocking supplies, filing, copying, assembling paperwork packets, making deliveries, cleaning, sanitizing equipment, turning over patient rooms, providing patient care and customer service and putting together supplies for the nursing units. Each student set a goal of gaining employment by the end of the school year.
The Bon Secours Project SEARCH sites have gained national and international attention. In 2014, a New Jersey Supreme Court justice visited the interns at St. Mary’s Hospital. The Project SEARCH sites at Bon Secours have also hosted visitors from Saudi Arabia, Washington state and the Virginia General Assembly Autism Subcommittee.
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one in 68 children have been identified with ASD, and it continues to be an important public health concern as challenges are placed on public school systems, families and communities.
Research studies at all four Bon Secours Project SEARCH sites, funded through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), have examined effective methods enabling students with ASD to successfully transition from high school graduation into successful employment.
With 25 students receiving diplomas in June, the health system has awarded diplomas to 102 students with autism and intellectual disabilities since 2009, with nearly 66 percent obtaining employment following graduation.
Ideas For Summer Fun with your Special Needs Child
With the ending of the school year for many and the arrival of days without all the structure, Summer can be a challenging time for children with special needs and their parents. With more leisurely days can also come the need for our children to have some structure and outlets to keep busy. Parents and caregivers with extra time to fill during the day.
Read more on Ideas For Summer Fun with your Special Needs Child…
Are You Planning A Vacation Without the Kids?
Your passports are ready, you have reserved a room with a beautiful ocean view, packed your favorite clothes and painstakingly written out instructions for the person caring for your kids listing all their activities, favorite foods, bedtimes and rules – is there anything you have forgotten?
Read more on Are You Planning A Vacation Without the Kids?…
Treehouse Therapies bringing Summer Camps to RVA
Treehouse Pediatric Therapy is EXCITED for summer! We are pleased to offer summer camps and groups this year! Our summer sessions will offer a variety of options for children with varying needs including social skills, play skills, self-regulation, fine motor, feeding and food exploration, and music. Please see our handout or visit our website for more information and camp descriptions!
Read more on Treehouse Therapies bringing Summer Camps to RVA…
What Does Brain Balance Do?
Tucked into the Shoppes at Westchester in Midlothian VA, is a small storefront that is making big change in the lives of children and their families. The center is Brain Balance and their mission is to create hope and help for children who struggle with attention, behavior, social or academic challenges.
Read more on What Does Brain Balance Do?…
SUMMER CAMPS AT ENGINEERING FOR KIDS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA – Inspiring the next generation of engineers!
“Critical Thinking – The Other National Deficit”
As I was driving north on I-95 this past weekend, I saw those words written on a bumper sticker and they caught my attention. I spent the next 45 minutes of my drive pondering whether critical thinking can really be considered a national deficit. Sadly, I came to no conclusion, but I did get out of the car with a stronger sense that as a parent I need to be doing all I can to foster critical thinking in my two teenagers. As a long time educator, and now a business owner of Engineering For Kids of Central Virginia, I was also energized by the knowledge that our engineering classes and camps do provide unique opportunities for children to develop those critical thinking skills.
BoyswithRobotPictureI sat down this morning and wrote down just a few positive attributes I’ve had the pleasure of observing children develop in our camps and classes:
An active mind – and an active body
Feelings of success and accomplishment
Independence and confidence to try new things
Social skills and teamwork
Communication skills to share ideas and solve complex problems
New friendships while “unplugging” from their devices
Skills that may turn into life-long passions
Open-minded thinking
The ability to view perceived mistakes as the opportunity to make changes and try again
Have a fun and safe summer! Be sure to check our camp options and contact us with any questions.
Sara Butler
Owner and educator