Family Matters

Family Matters - February 2010

Dear Families, Friends and Advocates of MAPCL,

February is going to be an exceptionally fun and interesting month this year, with a wide variety of free community events scheduled to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad. I have included links to a couple of very good web-sites, with thorough listings and details.

MAPCL is also hosting events this month, including the second MAPCL Parent Support Network meeting and Stage Door’s annual “Big Heart” dance at Heritage Hall. This year, live music will be played by the band, Son Rebelde. For more information on Mainstream events, please visit our event calendar or call (604) 299-4001.

For those families whose children are transitioning to adulthood (planning for ages 16 to 18 years old), I am presently planning a workshop in Richmond. The date and time have yet to be confirmed, but we are aiming for March and will be working in collaboration with the Richmond Association for Community Living.

Autism Community Training is hosting two full day workshops on related topics next month:
Bridges to Adulthood for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Targeting Skills For the Next Environment; and Focusing on the Social Skills of Children with Autism. For more information you can visit the ACT website.

Wishing you a wonderful month, and smooth transitions!

Sincerely,
Monique

Welcome to “Family Matters,” a virtual space for families to learn, share and connect with each other, the organization and local communities. This is one of several new initiatives that we have developed to better support the families and individuals we serve. Family Matters is your space, and we welcome your recommendations for content and feedback any time. We hope that you will use this web-site to access information, resources and to develop your own family support network.

You can post a comment and participate in a discussion through our Community Forum; Discover educational and other events in your community by visiting the Event Calendar; read press releases, media reports and inspirational stories at our News section; and get access information provided by community organizations, publications and web-sites listed on our Resource pages.

Over time, the information sharing and connections made by our families could lead to more formal groups and initiatives aimed at enhancing the lives of our Persons Served. For example, we could work together to facilitate a number of family support networks, an advisory council and/or an advocacy group. The choices are yours to make!

Please contact Monique Nelson, Family Resource Coordinator for more information:

Call (604) 299-4001 ext. 262
email: mnelson@mapcl.org

There is no charge to families or Persons Served for this coordination service.