Special Needs Quick Tip Sheets

How to Connect Families with Special Needs Support

Your CNC team’s support can play an essential role in connecting newcomer children with special needs and their families to life-changing support and early intervention. Families are often more likely to talk to another professional if they are introduced by someone they know and trust; but haring concerns can still be challenging. Because your team already has the connection and relationship with the families, it’s important to learn about resources, supports and services that are available in your community and to develop connections. Find out how in this tip sheet, which is available in English and French.

Helping children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

You know about the five senses—sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell—but you may not be aware that most of us have two additional sensory systems that help us to control and integrate the information we gather. Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) find it difficult to process and act on information received through these senses. Read more...

How to Talk to Parents When a Child Needs Extra Support

Newcomer families are experiencing the difficult transition of starting life in a new country after leaving friends, family and their support network behind. As one of the first points of contact, your program’s support is vital to all newcomer families, but this can be especially true when a child needs extra support. Some children come to our programs with a diagnosed special need, while others come into our care with unidentified needs that require additional support. And, sometimes, after spending time observing and interacting with a child, we have concerns about their development that we need to discuss with parents. This tip sheet, available in English and French, will offer strategies on how to talk to parents when their child needs support.

Inclusion: What Does It Mean in Care for Newcomer Children?

In Care for Newcomer Children (CNC), inclusion means that children can attend and benefit from the same program regardless of their diverse abilities. Inclusion removes barriers in order to allow all children—regardless of race, background or special needs—to fully participate. It requires full collaboration between administrators, CNC staff, families and specialists to ensure that the needs of all children are met. Find out more in this tip sheet, available in English and French.

Early Identification of Special Needs is Important!

Parenting a child with special needs is challenging for anyone—let alone for newcomer parents who are juggling the demands of settling in to a new country, learning a new language, attending classes and managing life at home. Find out why early identification is so important in this resource, available in English and French.

Building on Every Child’s Abilities

We all have things that we are good at and challenges that we need to work on. Too often, the strengths and abilities of newcomer children are overlooked or overshadowed by their needs. By focusing on the strengths that newcomer children bring to your program you will encourage the development of healthy self-esteem that will be the foundation for their successful transition to life in Canada. This tip sheet is available in English and French.