2000’s History – Reach Child & Youth Development
October 2000: Delta Association for Child Development opens an Infant Development Program playgroup in North Delta.
Teachers and Parents of Delta Association for Child Development support private members bill proposed by a group of parents and grandparents to reduce waitlists for children with special needs. The bill must be supported by 10% of BC’s registered voters in each of BC 74 ridings. There are currently long waitlists for speech, occupational and physiotherapy services, 50 on the waitlist for the infant development program alone.
Archived press clippings:
- Centre joins fight against wait lists
March, 2001: The Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) Program opens at Delta Association for Child Development. In March, 2001 the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) finalized the first three in a series of contracts that established early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) services to young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the province. The contracts were issued to the Delta Association for Child Development (serving Delta, Ladner, and South Surrey), the Thompson Okanagan Autism Project (serving Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, and surrounding communities), and the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children (serving the Greater Victoria area). Each of the three sites provides services to 25 children between the ages of 2-6 who have been identified as having either autism, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), or Asperger’s syndrome, for a total of 75 children. EIBI is a specialized, interdisciplinary, intensive treatment and intervention program, based on best practices, for children under the age of six diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. It involves providing one-to-one therapy and support services as soon as possible after a child is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder – ideally between two and four years of age.
Archived press clippings:
March 2001: With the opening of the EIBI home support program, LEAP preschool closes with preschool services transferring to The Delta Child Development preschool.Delta Association for Child Development opens the Positive Behavioural Support Program.
March 2001: DACD opens the Group Respite program to serve families on the wait list for the general Respite program. Twenty-one children with special needs are being served in total. In addition, up to 7 children with typical development (usually siblings) are served through this program. As well as giving parents of children with special needs some much-needed respite, the Group Respite program’s main focus is to promote children’s special skills development, facilitate the building of friendships, promote positive self-esteem and community awareness, and decrease possible isolation.
April 2002: Delta Association for Child Development helps sponsor the Infofair: a special information fair offering information on resources and services to people with special needs. Info fair is offered every couple of years, and takes place again in 2003, 2004 and 2007 with Delta Association For Child Development as a sponsor. Other sponsors throughout the years include: Co-sponsors are Act Community Training BC, Cerebral Palsy Association of BC, Special Olymipics BC, Learning Disabilities Association Surrey BC, and Community Living BC.
Archived press clippings:
- 2003 Infofair scheduled for families
- 2004 Infofair brings all information for people with special needs under one roof
May, 2002: Delta Association for Child Development Individualized Funding program opens: in May, 2002, MCFD initiated an interim early intensive intervention (IEII) funding option that provides $20,000 of individualized funding to families of children with ASD up to age 6. Within this option, families make their own decisions about the types of services appropriate for their children and can use the funds to purchase behavior consultation, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and other approved services for early intervention.
Delta Association for Child Development’s South Delta Family Place opens with the Success by 6 and Make Children First provincial funding grants. The program offers a parent and child drop-in program in 3 Delta locations: Monday morning drop-in for Teen parents in downtown Ladner; Tuesday morning drop-in program ain Ladner; and the Friday morning drop-in program at Jarvis Elementary School in North Delta. The program follows the family resource program model focusing on building family capacity by providing leadership, support, consultation, and resources. In 2005 the Family Place program is transferred to the Boys and Girls Club Community Service for Richmond/Delta in order for Delta Association For Child Development to focus service and facility capacity specifically on children with special needs and their families.
September 2003: The Delta Association For Child Development Positive Behavioural Support program opens the Kids Friendship Club program, offering social skills development and peer networking amongst children with autism and other special needs and their families.
April 2004: The Delta Association For Child Development Infant Development Program presents Developmental Screening Fairs in North and South Delta. Partnered with other community service providers such as public health and dental, the screening fair invites families with children less than 3 years of age to bring in their children to ask questions and be screened for early childhood risk factors.
Parent Network Support program launches. The program provides resources, workshops and meetings as a way for parents with special needs to come together to guide and learn from each other. The program also provides a weekly e-newsletter sharing information and items of interest to families who have children with special needs.
Archived press clippings:
May 2, 2004: Delta Association for Child Development is successfully awarded the CARF 3-Year Accreditation for Community Services: Child and Youth Services, and Community Services: Respite Services. This accreditation outcome represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the standards established by CARF. CARF, (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities), is an independent, non-profit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.
2004: In 1998 parents with children with autism began litigation against the BC government demanding that they receive funding for early intervention treatment that can cost up to $60,000 per year per child. In 2004 the Supreme Court of Canada overturned 2 BC court rulings that provided funds to families for autism treatments stating that the costs are too high.
Archived press clippings:
- 2004 High court says no to autism funding
- 2004 High coursts ruling speaks a blunt truth Vaughn Palmer Van Sun
2005: The Delta Association for Child Development opens satellite offices in North Delta. The Play and Learn Centre opens at 11425 84th avenue in North Delta and houses the Infant Development Parent and Child Drop-in Program, and outreach offices for the Supported Child Development and Infant Development programs. The Corporation of Delta leases the building to Delta Association for Child Development for $1 a year.
January 28, 2005: The Delta School Readiness Preschool Program (DSRP) which started in 1976 in North Delta transfers to Delta Association for Child Development. The program continues to operate in the same location at 10921 82nd avenue in North Delta with their inclusive preschool setting and teachers.
Archived press clippings:
May 1976 March 2005: The Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club donates $5,000 to Delta Association For Child Development to buy specialized toys and books for its children’s programs and services.
Archived press clippings:
November 2005: Delta Association For Child Development is iDevelopment ise recipients of Safeway’s annual We Care fundraising campaign. This year the campaign raises just under $6,000 for the association.
December 2005: Delta Association For Child Development launches its Gift of Speech fundraising campaign.
Archived press clippings:
- 2005 Campaign is helping give kids get the gift of speech
- 2005 Association undertakes Give a Child The Gift of Speech campaign
- 2006 Gift of Speech for Tsawwassen youngster
Nov 06 2006: New education Bill 33 threatens education for children with special needs. Delta Association For Child Development board members staff and families who have children with special needs speak out against the Bill.
Archived press clippings:
- 2006 Parents worried about Bill 33
- 2006 Parents worried that children could be segregated as a result of Bill 33
- 2006 Letter to the editor : Bill 33 segregates kids.
Parents and Delta Association For Child Development representatives call for the Delta school district to increase class size and support for children with special needs. A
Archived press clippings:
BC Teachers strike and advocate for class size and composition to be written into the school act and want to reverse the removal of “high-incidence” targeted funding which resulted in fewer specialist susupport teachers
Archived press clippings:
May 2, 2007: Delta Association For Child Development is successfully awarded its second consecutive CARF 3-Year Accreditation for Community Services: Child and Youth Services, and Community Services: Respite Services.
September 2007: Delta Association For Child Development opens the Delta Connex program for families in Delta who have children birth through 19 who have a diagnosis of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), or have Complex Developmental Behavioural Conditions (CDBC). Building on families strengths, key workers offer services such as: community connections, parent/peer support groups, help with forms or visits, integrated case management support including care team meetings, and full behavioural support.
Delta Association For Child Development opens the New Parent Orientation Program for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The program is developed in response to parents who want help in navigating through the confusion associated with receiving a recent diagnosis and gain an understanding of the autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, receive information on treatment methods on autism, grasp the ever-changing government services and programs process, and find available resources in their community.
Archived press clippings:
Heart of Variety Fund donates $6,400 for Delta Association For Child Development to open of a Toy Lending Library for families at Delta Association For Child Development ’s North Delta Play and Learn Centre.
Archived press clippings:
Tsawwassen Safeway’s annual We Care Campaign contributes $10,000
Archived press clippings:
Ladner & Tsawwassen McDonald’s McHappy Day contributes $8,009 to help Delta Association For Child Development ’s Therapies waitlist reduction initiative. These donations helped Delta Association For Child Development provide therapies to children who were on waitlists to receive Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy services during the critical early learning years. Ladner & Tsawwassen McDonald’s Restaurant owner Steve Krawchuk selects Delta Association For Child Development to be the McHappy Days community charity for 2008 and 2009 as well.
Archived press clippings:
December 2007: “Three to five percent of children have challenges with speech and language, whether it be because they have autism, Down Syndrome, a cleft palette, hearing loss, low muscle-tone like Teagan, or just difficulties with speech (expression) or language (comprehension). Catching these delays before school age is crucial not only so they can communicate, but also so that they don’t fall far behind their peers and feel insecure and discouraged.” Finding the Words, Delta Optimist, Dec 2007.
The 2007 Gift of Speech fundraising campaign raises a record amount of funding dollars to Delta Association For Child Development ’s Therapies waitlist reduction initiative and helps Reach therapies programs provide speech therapy to 12 more children who are on waiting lists.
Archived press clippings:
April 15, 2008: The Delta Association for Child Development officially changes its name to Reach Child and Youth Development Society to better reflect the spirit and goals of the organization and the ages of children they serve. The organization also changes its preschool names: Delta Child Development Preschool (Delta Child Development Centre) is changed to Reach Developmental Preschool South Delta and The Delta School Readiness Program (DSRP) is changed to Reach Developmental Preschool North Delta. Delta Association For Child Development invites friends to come and help launch its new name at its backyard event in April 2008. With the launch of the new name and logo Reach introduced their new Donor Wall as a way of recognizing all of the individuals, businesses, and government agencies that provide the funding that keeps Reach programs and services alive. Four colours of leaves on the tree recognize giving levels: green, ruby, silver, and gold. The donor wall is on permanent display in the foyer of Reach Ladner, and stands as a symbol of the legacy these donors have left, and that future donors will leave, in the lives of children and families in their communities.
Archived press clippings:
- 2008 Special needs servcies group changes name
- 2008 reaching Out: Executive Director sees new programs with new name
January 2009: Reach receives $30,000 funding from the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club for two special projects: the TEENS Social Saturdays program providing a social skills development program for 12 children ages 9 to 16 who require but are not receiving other services; and the Myles of Courage series of presentations featuring Myles McKie, an inspirational 17 year old living with autism who discusses growing up with autism and how he has benefited from teachers, peers, his parents and the early intervention services he received.
May 14, 2008: Reach opens the Social Heart Playground at the Reach Play and Learn Centre in North Delta. The new playground will serve as a community play area and will add important opportunities for children with special needs who are accessing programs at Reach. It will also provide an outdoor play area for patrons of the neighboring outdoor pool, plaza and programs operating from the North Delta Recreation Centre. The playground was made possible by shared funding from The Corporation of Delta, and through donations from Ronald McDonald House Charities, B.C. Gaming Commission, and the Rotary Club of North Delta. The Corporation of Delta will maintain the playground on an ongoing basis.
May 2008: Through funding that was provided by the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club Reach sponsors the speaker series “Myles of Courage: A Story of Autism” developed and presented by inspirational 17-year old public speaker Myles McKie, a young man living with autism. Myles visits communities around the South Fraser region talking about what it’s like to have autism, the people who have supported him throughout his childhood, and the tools that are effective in coping with and overcoming the obstacles one faces in growing up with the disorder.
Archived press clippings:
- 2008 Myles of inspiration: Autistic teen instills hope in parents
- 2008 He can see for Myles
- 2008 Autistic teen shares inspirational story
May 2008 Reach continues to provide workshops throughout the year on various topics that are important to parents. Positive parenting workshops are also offered in Punjabi language.
Archived press clippings:
Reach hosting workshop on special needs school plans
October 2008: Reach receives grants to expand its library and counseling services. Reach opens the Just Jammin’ music program for teens with special needs. The program provides a fun and relaxing atmosphere for teens to learn new instruments, sing or ‘just jam’ while making friends and strengthening ocial skills.
December 2008: Reach launches its Reach 4 Children fundraising campaign. The aim of the campaign is to focus on 4 areas of giving: 1. Therapies – to reduce the waitlist of over 60 children needing speech, occupational and/or physiotherapy; 2. Library and Educational Toys; 3. Program Development filling the gaps in service and developing needed programs for youth with special needs to overcome isolation, learn essential life skills, get ready for work and have an opportunity to have fun with peers; and 4. Emergency Family Support to help families through emergency times and provide funds for respite care, groceries, formula, medical equipment and other essential items to allow them to maintain focus on supporting their child.
Archived press clippings:
- 2008 Reach4Children campaign is putting focus on 4 critical areas of need
- 2008 Reach 4 kids with a new campaign
January 2009: Reach celebrates its 50th anniversary: Reach’s 50th anniversary and parent story is featured in the South Delta Leader newspaper.
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January 2009: Reach launches a monthly parenting column, “Reaching Out” in the South Delta Leader newspaper written by different Reach child development experts each month throughout 2009.