Cassie working on her reading with Norma-Ann at Ability camp

With Cerebral Palsy and hydrocephalus resulting from an intra- ventricular hemorrhage Cassie has always needed allot of time, practise and training in regards to her school work. Cassie has learning disability but when you find the right strategies Cassie appears to really enjoy her learning and shows a positive attitude. This quality shines through when she is working hard on her school work. Cassie has been identified as exceptional and is working on her own IEP in grade 2 at Fessenden Public school. The school has supported Cassie since JK with an educational assistant, the maximum amount of time allotted with a resource teacher and some exceptionally caring teachers who invest allot of time in making sure Cassie continues to make progress. The school appears to provide Cassie with very well rounded learning experiences. I continue to research other types of school programs with smaller class sizes but at this point Cassie is very settled at Fessenden. Cassie has lots of friends and is really enjoying her class. This positive attitude about school reassures me that we are doing the right thing for her education at this point in time.

I continue to do my part as a mother consulting the principal and keeping everyone informed of our goals for Cassie. They support her appointments at her rehabilitation centre and understand that we continue to work on Cassie's gross and fine motor skills. These extensive appoinments are needed to strengthen Cassie's hemiplegic side, prevent contractures and spatisity, monitor her growth and development and to maintain her high functioning physical status despite her serious brain injury. Cassie will need this type of balance between academics and rehabilitation her entire school career. As children with cerebral palsy grow the extra therapy is needed to maintain the muscles affected by lack of use from brain injury. We have participated in an after school physio therapy clinic, children's food and nutrition program as Cassie was over her idea body weight, spasticity clinic, orthopedic and orthotist appointments and physio and occupational therapy. This participation means Cassie must miss school and Mr. Moase her grade 2 teacher has worked around this exhausting schedule and appears supportive to our family and respects our choices. I commend Fessenden Public school in recognizing the physical, emotional and social needs of the child.

Here at camp one of my new friends Norma-Ann has been working with Cassie on her reading skills. Norma has an education background and is a librarian and she has provided me with more tools I can use for Cassie while working at home. Norma-Ann showed me the Starfall computer program. The pictures are Norma working with Cassie with this program. She has also taught me some other learning strategies to utilize with Cassie such as spelling each word three times and then listening to the word on the computer and repeating the word. Cassie wants to learn and tries really hard. Thank you for the time spent training me as well as Cassie with information that I can easily use at home to keep working with Cassie.

Norma-Ann introduced me to a learning strategist who will be assessing Cassie on Tuesday and I love some of her work on brain training and am excited to see what they offer.