Jess Horsing Around at the Autism Forum
DUNCAN - On November 17th, families and caregivers throughout the Cowichan Valley joined together for the first ever Autism Forum at the Clements Centre in Duncan. The forum was co-organized by the Clements Centre Society and the Ministry of Children & Family Development. Guests at the event were able to collect information from many local service providers, including support groups, therapists, educators, financial service providers and there were also presentations from the Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association as well as Island Kung Fu.
For many families who have a member diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum, there is often a feeling of solitude and a constant struggle to find out what can be done to support their journey through the experience of Autism. “It was great to see so many people take advantage of what was on offer at this forum”, commented Kate MacLeod, Behavioural Consultant with the Clements Centre and Co-organizer of the Forum. “This was an excellent opportunity to bring together the many families across the Cowichan Valley who are experiencing autism, so they could share their stories and to give them as much exposure as possible to all of the wonderful resources that are out there in our community.”
Ms. MacLeod feels that, judging by the number of people who attended the forum, the quality of the presentations throughout the evening, and the positive feedback the organizers received, this could become an annual event.
October 18, 2011
BC Purple Knitted Hats Campaign
Nellie displays the 29 hats she knit for the BC Purple Knitted Hats Campaign.
DUNCAN – Nellie Hyzeldoorn and Laura Clement from the Clements Community Living Services Program at the Clements Centre have spent the past two weeks knitting feverishly for the BC Purple Knitted Hats Campaign that is sweeping across the province.
The campaign is to help raise awareness about a program called the Period of Purple Crying, which was created to educate parents and caregivers about the normalcy and stages of crying in young infants, as well as the dangers of reacting to this crying in frustration.
Laura also knit some hats for the campaign!
The Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC program, at BC Children’s Hospital, hopes to collect over 2000 purple hats to be given to new parents in hospitals across BC, along with a booklet and DVD from the PURPLE program, during the week of November 22nd in celebration of National Child Day which is on November 20th.
As a child, Nellie learned the fine art of knitting from her grandmother. Now her fingers fly as she effortlessly crafts her 29th purple hat of the campaign. While some of the wool has been donated, Nellie has purchased much of the raw materials herself. She and Laura have produced a mound of hats that will be sent over to BC Children’s Hospital this week, in their fight to help extinguish the tragedy, heartbreak and loss of shaken baby syndrome.
