On the Horizon – 09/23/2008

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Horizons Developmental Remediation Center

On the Horizon
On the Horizon

Welcome to “On the Horizon”

Issue 30: What is Remediation?

On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.

To keep receiving On the Horizon, please add the email address “nicolebeurkens@horizonsdrc.com” to your safe address list.

In This Issue

Undestanding Remediation

A Note from Nicole: Autumn, Remediation, Book Project Questions

Idea of the Week: Colorful Bubbles

Feature Article: What is Remediation?

The Horizons Team Recommends: Parent Success Cards; CORE Approach Program

Upcoming Events: CORE Approach Parent Chat; Sibshop; CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar

A Note From NicoleNicole Beurkens

Hi Everyone!

Fall is officially here, and our family made the annual trip to the apple orchard this weekend.  The weather was gorgeous, and we had a great time walking through the orchard, picking apples, and enjoying cider and donuts.  We have gone to this same apple orchard for the past 9 years, since our oldest was a baby.  It’s amazing how annual trips like this spotlight the growth and development of our kids from year to year!

For this week’s article I decided to tackle the topic of “remediation.”  It’s a word that we use often around Horizons (it’s even in our clinic name!), but I realize that not everyone has a good grasp on what it means.  In this week’s article I’ve tried to explain remediation in a nutshell, as well as what it means to apply remediation to autism and other neuro-developmental disabilities.  I hope you find it helpful and, as always, feel free to pass it along to others who can benefit from the information.

Some of you have asked about the school book project I mentioned last week.  We’re not ready to give out too many details yet, but I will tell you that we are designing it to be a great beginning resource for school professionals interested developing remediation-focused programming.  Stay tuned and please email me if there are specific things you would like to see addressed in a resource like this.

Looking to the horizon,

Nicole Signature 

Idea of the Week
Bubbles Indoors!

Colorful Bubbles!

Bubbles aren’t just for summertime—you can have fun with bubbles all year long!  Add food coloring to your child’s bubble container and enjoy the colorful bubbles that emerge.  You can also add food coloring to your child’s bath bubbles as well for some colorful fun in the tub!

 

Feature Article
Remediation

What is Remediation?

By: Nicole Beurkens, M.Ed.

The word “remediation” is very important in the work my colleagues and I do with families affected by autism and other neuro-developmental disabilities, but it is a word that is unfamiliar to many people.  I thought I would take a moment this week to talk about what remediation means in general, and specifically in the realm of autism.

Let’s start with some basic dictionary definitions:
Remediate (verb)—To remedy a problem
Remedial (adjective)—Intended to correct or improve one’s skill in a specific field; therapeutic, corrective, restorative
Remediation (noun)—Use of remedial methods to improve skills; the act or process of correcting a deficiency

Dr. Steven Gutstein’s definition of remediation: Correcting a deficit to the point where it no longer constitutes and obstacle

My definition: Work ON something, not just around it

Whether you are a parent or professional, it is critical to understand what remediation is, and the distinction between remediation and compensation.

Continued…

The Horizons Team Recommends

Parent Success Cards 

Parent Success Cards

For RDI® Program families, these cards provide reminders of the main principles of RDI® such as the importance of experience sharing, guiding, slowing down, staying focused on the marathon, finding small moments for remediation, and much more. You will find them an invaluable source of inspiration and guidance as you focus on remediation.

Set of 50 heavyweight full-color cards in a sturdy box with lid – $24.95

Purchase the set or view more samples here

Relationship Development

CORE Approach Program!

Finally – Hope and Real Improvement is Possible for Individuals with Autism and Their Families!

If your child has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum, or with a related neuro-developmental condition, you simply cannot afford not to investigate the RDI® Program. If you are ready for a change; ready to step away from the status-quo; ready to stop doing things that aren’t getting you where you want to be; ready to really understand the core deficits creating obstacles for your child; ready to significantly impact your child and your family for the better – then you are ready for RDI®.

Watch the video and learn more here

Upcoming Events

Please join us!

  • CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar – Special Education Rights
    Horizons Families Only
    Tuesday September 23, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
  • CORE Approach Parent Chat – Spotlighting
    Horizons Families Only
    Tuesday October 7, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
  • CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar – with Elizabeth Hagen
    “Organize with Confidence – Simplify Your Life
    and Make Every Moment Count”

    Horizons Families Only
    Tuesday October 21, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
  • Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
    Open to everyone!
    Saturday November 1, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
  • CORE Approach Parent Chat – Holiday Ideas
    Horizons Families Only
    Tuesday November 4, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
  • CORE Approach Parent Day
    Remediation-Friendly Treatments for Feeding Problems and Sensory Processing Disorders
    Friday November 7, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST
  • Beginning CORE Approach 4-day Parent Seminar – Chicago, IL area
    November 10-13
    Registration and Location Information To Be Announced…

  • CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar with Jennifer Wolf,
    “The Dangers of Media for Children”

    Horizons Families Only
    Tuesday November 18, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
  • Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
    Open to everyone!
    Saturday January 17 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
  • Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
    Open to everyone!
    Saturday March 14 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
  • Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
    Open to everyone!
    Saturday May 9 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
  • Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
    Open to everyone!
    Saturday July 18 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST

See our Event Calendar for more details…

On the Horizon is a weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child¹s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.

Our mailing address is:

Horizons Developmental Remediation Center
3120 68th Street SE
Caledonia, MI  49316

Our telephone:
(616) 698-0306

Our email address:
info@horizonsdrc.com

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