-
Kayla – planning with “in-own-home” consultant
In this video Kayla’s mom, Theresa, is meeting with Angela, an “in-own-home” consultant who works for the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living, in their Supported Child Development program.*
Angela helps families by providing the support and education that they need; the family determines what the support looks like. This worker is funded through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) under their Family Services mandate.
In this video Angela is putting together a 6-month-plan to help keep Theresa and Kayla on track. She is advising Theresa to make contact again with the MCFD social worker.
Angela suggests that Theresa may want the MCFD social worker to arrange for a life skills worker to help Kayla after school to develop skills such as bus training.** Theresa is thinking that the worker could help with the ongoing bus training to Douglas College which will support the teaching that the volunteer from Stenberg College provided.
*The Simon Fraser Society for Community Living is a non profit community agency. This support does not come from the school system and many teachers will not know nor should be expected to know that this level of help exists. Parents often need to reach out and seek this support. You can do this by approaching your local Supported Child Development program or by contacting your local MCFD office.
**Life skills workers are sometimes difficult to arrange and there are is often a wait time. The parents and youth are responsible for letting the social worker know what specific help is needed.
8 Comments
Fiona Rogan
Oct 10, 2012
Hi Kayla,
It sounds like you are very busy! Are you excited to start at Douglas College? I am there now and I really like it. I am old and haven’t been to school for over 20 years – can you imagine that?! That’s longer than you have been alive!!! But I’m having great fun there. It’s hard work but I have met many new friends.
Has it always been your dream to be a teacher? I love kids too. I have 3 of my own and they are a handful. I hope to work as an SEA in a school-do you know what that is?
I was wondering – do you enjoy school or do you feel ready to leave now? Will you still be able to work at the preschool when you go to Douglas?
Have a great (rainy) weekend!
Fiona
Teresa
Oct 10, 2012
Hi Fiona, thank you for your message. This is Kayla's mom, Teresa, writing on behalf of Kayla. Congratulations on going back to school and pursuing your dream. It may seem like hard work for you but hard work always pays off. So good to hear that you are making many new friends too!
Kayla is enjoying Douglas College and working in a daycare for work experience. It is a new daycare, and at first she had some anxiety issues due to new staff and settings. Things are going well now.
She would also like to be working in a school setting as well. She is excited to go to school and work everyday, and is learning to be more and more independent in the morning times and getting herself off for the day.
During the summer she continued to work (volunteer) for her old daycare 3 times a week for a full day. The kids just loved her there, always excited when she arrived and many hugs for her when she left. It was very nice to see. She wants to go back there soon to see the little faces who adored her so.
Thanks for your comments and stay tuned!
Teresa
Neesha Rao
Oct 10, 2012
Hi Kayla, your awesome! I love your engery and how enthusiastic and positive you are about everything. I bet you put a smile on everyones face. Especially those little kids you work with at the preschool. You have a lot going on for you which I think is amazing. I love being at Douglas College and hopefully I’ll bump into you somewhere in the hallways. I am curious to know how you feel about attending Douglas College, what will you be learning about, and what you hope to accomplish while you are here. I hope you have a wonderful experience. See you around! 🙂
Teresa
Oct 10, 2012
Hi Neesha, thank you so much for your wonderful comments. Kayla was excited and nervous about going to college, but seems to have gotten the routine down quite nicely. She is hoping to learn about what it takes to be a teacher, whether it be in a daycare or school system. So far she is really enjoying working with little kids but would like to also try getting some experience in the "big" school. She is having fun!
Teresa
Brittany
Oct 10, 2012
Hello Kayla!
I just wanted to start off that your enthusiasm is contagious its awesome! I am as well a Douglas College student! I think you will enjoy the college when you come! I can tell that you’re a great fit for working with children with your optimistic views and openness those are great and important qualities for this field! I have some questions if you do not mind going into some details.
I was wondering how you have been improving your morning routines- I myself have troubles waking up and getting ready for school and work! What have you been implementing to increase your independence, example is visual reminders.
I am not from Vancouver oringinaly I am from a small town called Salmon arm have you heard or visited that town? As such i had to learn the transit system and still get hopelessly lost when needing to find new places. Not as often now thank-you to my I-phone google maps rocks! What have you done to learn the transit system?
Thank-you for sharing you aspirations and all of the work you need to go through. You’re an inspiration!
yours truly,
Brittany
Teresa
Oct 10, 2012
Hi Brittany, thank you for your comments! This is Kayla's mom Teresa replying on behalf of Kayla. To answer you questions about the morning routine, we originally had a picture chart but then Kayla figured she was too old for pictures, so then I just wrote the routine out on a piece of paper with her morning meds. Each morning I would list of everything that had to be done....Now Kayla says "I Know Mom" ..."I Know"....we are getting there, but I try hard to let her do it herself with as little reminders as possible.
As for taking the bus, we were very lucky to have volunteers from the Steinberg College volunteer at her High School. The volunteer Kayla had did a great job on showing Kayla many of the bus routes, and especially Douglas. When she started Douglas this fall, I went with her on the bus the first time, then only half way the second time. Then only to the bus stop, then soon I was watching her walk from the window. Now, she can do it all by herself and WANTS to do it all by herself. For me, it was scary very scary, but when I see how well she did I realized I can start to cut the apron string just a little bit more! We still will walk with her on occasion and take the dog for a good walk too.
She still will need much training, and I still have lots of work to do with her on the after-school part, but am confident that she will succeed very soon!
Thank you again,
Teresa
Zack
Oct 10, 2012
Hello Kayla and Teresa.
Yet another Douglas College student here. You are really going to enjoy it immensely. I myself have bouts with anxiety so I can relate to that. I am almost done my third year so If I can do it you certainly can too. I had been out of school for some years as well before deciding that I wanted to work with children who have autism. Through the whole school process you just run into so many great and supportive people that it really makes any pitfalls really easy to avoid. And it seems you already have some great people in your life already so look forward to more of that. I was only planning on doing school for three years but one of my practicum supervisors talked me into going further which tacks on four years more. What kind of things do you do for your anxiety? I changed my diet and have been on different medications. I have found breathing exercises and calming pressure points to work quite well, probably more so than any of the meds I have been on. In any case everyone gets anxious. My advice is to keep your mid occupied and you will have not time to be anxious. I am sure your schooling will be a rewarding and exciting experience.
Teresa, I was wondering what is the extent of the paperwork that you must fill out from a month to month basis and what does that paper work entail? Are you satisfied will all the support that you are receiving and what do you think could be improved upon in regards to the supports and services provided?
Cheers.
Kindree
Nov 11, 2012
Hi Kayla,
You have such a positive and energetic personality 🙂 I’m sure that you will be one of those teachers that makes a huge impact on those you teach. I have a 4 and a half year old son and you have the energy that would keep him attentive in a classroom.
Are you looking forward to going to Douglas College? Have you had any anxiety about being in a new setting? I started college last year and it was a big transition, but I was able to get used to the college system and have built some excellent relationships along the way, what are you looking forward to most about entering into this part of your education?
Congratulations on your Graduation as well! I heard you say in the video that you spent your last year at camp as a camper and will be going back as a leader, that is fantastic. What kind of training, if any, will you need to go through so that you are able to go back as a leader?
Good luck with all your upcoming endevours Kayla, keep shining your light 🙂
-Kindree
Leave a Comment