A 2 Hour Program Schedule for An Autistic Young Adult

In Ontario, regular students are entitled to attend publicly funded schools until eighteen years old. For students with special needs they are given three additional years which means that they can stay in school until they are twenty-one years old. 

However, once when these students reach twenty-one years old, they face a bleak and empty future.  Incapable of work or independent living, these young adults have nowhere to go and stay home all day. Although the Ontario Government does provide some funding to these special needs adults, many of theses programs have been closed during the COVID 19 pandemic.

 Recently, I was asked by parents if I could provide a much needed program to their autistic young adult child. Having known and considered the needs of this particular individual for some time, I designed  a 2 hour program consisting of a variety of activities to help her develop the different skills. 

I was pleased that the morning went well and my autistic young friend did enjoy the activities and had a good time! Below was the two hour program I designed. 

Schedule for a 2 Hour Program

10:00 a.m.             Music - singing to relax and get ready for activities

10: 20                    Math & Language  - Geometric Shape Puzzle, teach vocabulary on shapes, colour        & number                        

10: 35                    Motor Skills -  Pick Up Beads game

10:50                     Life skills – Prepare a milkshake for a snack

11:10                     Physical Fitness – Walk and collect leaves outdoors

11:20                     Art & Craft – Learn to dry leaves, draw a face & glue leaves as hair on the drawn face

11:50                     Recap of activities

11:55                     Life Skills - Put away games and clean up

12:00                     Lunch – Walk to neighbourhood plaza and buy lunch

R.T.

Toronto

Preparing for My First Zoom Workshop for Parents!

 I have been attending zoom meetings since March, 2020 when the lockdown started.

Without dressing up to go out and getting stuck in traffic congestion, I enjoy my multiple weekly zoom meetings. However, I have not have to present one in a zoom meeting until today.

It was exciting preparing for this new experience. I was a little nervous and spent almost two days to get ready prior to my presentation. The following was what I did preparing for my presentation for my zoom meeting:

1. Prepare a good and interesting presentation on a topic relevant to my audience 

2. Prepare a PPT for my presentation with pictures and key words

3. Pick a location with nice background for the zoom meeting. I moved my computer around the different part of the living room until I was happy with the background.

4. Practise Practise and Practise - With help from my husband, I practiced my presentation in a zoom meeting with him.

There were a few technical challenges which I had to overcome such as getting a full screen view and learning how to share a screen allowing me to share my PPT with my audience. We practised two or three times on the first day until I got familiar with Zoom.

The following day, I called the host of the Zoom meeting and practised with her and going over my prestation slides

5. Setting Up the equipment ahead of time 

On the day of the presentation, I set up two computers on our dining room table a few hours prior to the zoom meeting. I had the extra computer as a back up. I tested both computers and send my PPT to my email address so that I could access my PPT from both computers should I need to. Then I tested everything again to make sure there was no technical problem.

I also set up a big mirror in front of me so that I would know how I look throughout the entire presentation and make adjustment to my outfit etc.

6. Dressing up for the event - An hour before my presentation, I picked an appropriate nice outfit and dressed up for the event.  Instead of lounge wear, it was fun putting on make up and looking nice for a change!

 When everything was ready and done, I was confident and ready to take the world by storm! The zoom presentation went without a hitch! We had an excellent turnout and  the feedback from my audience was positive and complimentary!

Mission accomplished!  

R.T. 

Toronto

4. 

Receiving Excellent Medical Care at the St. John's Rehabilitation Centre

 We have heard many horror stories about people getting sick in the U.S. with no medical insurance and end up spending a fortunate and bankrupting themselves in order to get medical care for themselves or loved ones.

 However, we are fortunate living in Canada, a country with free universal health care. One of my extended family members has recently had a car accident. T. has broken both legs and his arm in this auto accident. He went through some emergency surgeries to reconnect his broken bones and was hospitalized for a month in a hospital.

After his surgeries, T. was transferred to the St. John Rehabilitation Centre to continue his recovery. journey. During this COVID pandemic time, there are tighter rules for visiting patients at hospitals. In many hospitals, each patient is allowed only one visitor. 

Fortunate for us, T. is allowed two visitors each week. So, T.'s sister and I visit him each week.

T. has a busy schedule at the Rehab centre. Each day he has been scheduled physio therapy at 10:30am and Occupational Therapy at 2:30pm, six days a week. 

On top of that, he is served three good meals a day. At the beginning, T. received a sandwich plate for lunch but this is something he doesn't eat at home, therefore, he did not eat them at lunch. After we talked to the nursing staff, the hospital made some changes in T.'s daily menu and  now serves him a hot lunch each day instead. Wow! How considerate is the nursing care team!

When I visit T. I usually take him around the hospital. 

There is a chapel where patients can go in to pray or mediate and take part in its weekly service and activities. 

But unfortunately, due to COVID, both the Sunday Service and social activities have been cancelled.

The other day when I visited T. he showed me what the Sister from the Chaplain Office brought him - some reading materials, comforting messages and activities designed to encourage and uplift the patients.

The St. John Rehab Centre has a patient lounge where T. can watch movies or TV with other patients.  He has made a number of friends while staying at the Rehab Centre.

The Centre also  has a beautiful outdoor garden where patients are able to enjoy some fresh air with their visitors or other patients.

With three good nutritious meals daily, a caring and attentive nursing and medical team, T. is getting stronger, better and has gained five pounds since he has been admitted to the Rehab Centre. 

We are so grateful to be living in Canada, enjoying high quality and free health care!

We are extremely thankful for our government's unwavering belief in providing good quality and free medical care to all Canadians, regardless of their income and status!  I wish our neighbour to the south would learn a thing or two from Canada!

R.T.

Toronto,Canada

Singing for the First Time in Public at Lake Wilcox Park Since the COVID Pandemic

I have missed singing, especially singing in groups with my church friends! 

I have been attending church Sunday Services every week since I was ten years old. 

Sunday worship is a part of me, an integral part of my life.  

Since the COVID 19 pandemic started, we have not been to church as group gathering of more than 50 people has been banned in Canada.

As Ontario started to open up slowly, restrictions have been eased a little allowing small group gathering outdoors. 

Our  couples' cell group took advantage of that opportunity and we met once in September at Lake Wilcox Park.

We enjoyed the meeting so much that we planned another outdoor gathering in October before the cold Canadian weather comes upon us soon. 

How fitting it was for us to meet on Thanksgiving Monday by the lake to sing and thank God for His love and mercy? 

We met at Lake Wilcox for the second time on Thanksgiving Monday.

It was so good to meet our cell group members whom we had not seen for a long while. 

There was a reunion meeting planned at our house in March but it was cancelled due to COVID 19 restrictions.

At this meeting,  Stephanie and Tony led us singing Give Thanks and Above All. As we sang, tears swelled up in my eyes. 

O, how sweet was the sound of praise and thank you to God who has kept our families and loved ones free from the virus! 

Sisi shared the story of Abraham and Sarah and the mistakes they made when dealing with their faith in God. 

It was a good reminder that as a couple we would need to be united and come together in prayer when facing with difficulties and uncertainties in life.

After the singing and sharing part of the meeting, we had time for chitchats, catching up with each other. 

We were thankful and enjoyed our reunion meeting tremendously at Lake Wilcox Park!

We look forward to meeting our church friends again at this tranquil waterfront park in warmer days in 2021!

R.T.
Lake Wilcox Park

Oak Ridge Moraine, Ontario

p.s. The above pictures were all taken during our meetings in Sept. & Oct. at Lake Wilcox Park

Visiting Applewood Farm and a Thanksgiving Dinner Following Ontario Government's COVID 19 Recommendation

My mother is 94 years old; she loves going out especially with her grown children. Having been restricted in her own apartment for the past nine months, she has experienced much loneliness and isolation. 

This weekend was one of rare warm days of the fall season. We took advantage of the warm weather and took her out to the Applewood Farm to enjoy the fine weather.

We were not disappointed at all.  The Applewood Farm welcome many families with young children and there were many things for them to do.

Visitors were welcome to pick their own apples and choose their pumpkins.

There were wagon rides.

A playground and hay stacks for children to climb and roam around.

There were a few farm tractors on display and kids were climbing all over them.

A few small farm animals for petting.

 

There was a market stall for people who wished to buy instead of picking their own apples.

 We were so proud of our fellow Canadians who took our health and government's recommendations seriously by wearing masks in public places.

The Thanksgiving weekend is a big holiday in Canada. It is celebrated by millions of Canadians.  We visit friends and families, invite people into our homes and celebrate the good things we have in our lives. A lot of these dinners are big family get togethers. 

Unfortunately, due to the rising cases of COVID 19 cases, the Ontario government has recently issued restrictions for many business such as banning indoor dining, closing gyms and casinos. It also recommended that this Thanksgiving dinners be restricted to a small number with people living in the same household.

Prior to this announcement, we have already purchased our big turkey, a good quantity of fruits, vegetables, desserts and other grocery items needed for our annual family Thanksgiving dinner party. 

But heeding to the Ontario government's COVID 19 Pandemic recommendations and health guidelines, we changed our plan and decided we would only invited my mother who is alone living in a senior apartment to come and celebrate this important occasion with us.

Mom was happy that she was not stuck alone eating Thanksgiving dinner by herself. 

However, we could not invite the other family members we normally invite. Our family broke our own record enjoying the Thanksgiving dinner with three people only! The 2020 Thanksgiving dinner would be one which we would not forget!

We are thankful to God that we are all healthy and being protected under His protective wings!

R.T.

Applewood Farm,  Stoufville, Ontario 

Our First Visit to Belville, Ontario

 

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We went to visit our friends who have recently moved from Toronto to Belville, Ontario.

We had an overnight stay at our friends' brand new home and our friends took us around town.

There are many big box stores within an easy 5 minute driving distance to our friends' house. 

These include: Lowes, Rona, Staples, grocery stores, dollar stores, Starbucks, Tim Hortons and restaurants etc.

My most favourite store we visited in Belville was the Taste of Country Store. 

It is located close to where our friends' house.

I love visiting and shopping at country stores!

This country store offers a great selection of store made frozen dinners, family size packages of frozen fruits, veggies, freshly baked pastries and desserts. 

The country store also has a year round Christmas store!

It is stocked with items such as blankets, throws, ornaments, decorative pillows, serving wares and gifts.

There was a nice kitchen offering some delicious soup and sandwiches before.

But due to the COVID19 pandemic, it was closed.

Too bad for us this time as we were unable to try these delicious country food.

But we did start our Christmas shopping early at the store.

Another place we enjoyed visiting was the Zwick's Centennial Park by the lake.

It is a beautiful waterfront park close to the city.

It is free, open to the public and easily accessible. 

We had driven by the city of Belville many times on our way to Ottawa before.

Yet, we had never stopped by to enjoy what this beautiful small city has to offer.

Thanks to our friends who introduced us to some fantastic places in Belville on our visit this time to the city.

Killing two birds with one stone is always good.

We did just that visiting Belville this time and had a great time visiting our best friends.

We also got to know the beautiful city of Belville a little better!

We look forward to exploring Belville

 and hiking on its trails in our future visit to this beautiful growing city!

R.T.

Belville, Ontario