building for
children together capital building campaign
help children with special needs be a part of the community, not apart from the community.
Believing in Potential for over 50 years
It all started in 1956 in Ladner’s Fisherman’s Hall. A group of parents started a small school so that their children with special needs wouldn’t have to be bussed out to segregated schools in Surrey. Since then, Reach has grown into an organization with over 100 staff and serving close to 1,000 children and youth, and their families, each year in Delta, Surrey and Langley. Reach has had many achievements to be proud of: • Chosen among only three regional agencies in the province to provide Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) services for children with autism. • Inclusive preschools are unique in B.C., providing complimentary services such as speech, occupational and physiotherapies, supported child development, and individual educational plans for children with special needs. • Programs providing innovative service design for children and youth with special needs who are on waitlists for services, ensuring important windows of opportunities for learning and development are not missed.
Reach has received accreditation for three consecutive 3-year terms. The international accrediting body CARF stated in its report that “Reach is at the forefront of best practices in British Columbia, especially in the areas of services for children with autism spectrum disorders.” Reach is funded by the Ministry for Child and Family Development, The Corporation of Delta, B.C. Gaming Commission, and corporate and community funders.
Our vision is that all children with special needs become part of the community. Building this new centre and moving into a community-based setting is critical for Reach to continue to help make this vision a reality and provide the best possible direct service to children and families.
A building for everyone This exciting project is a partnership between the Corporation of Delta, Reach Child and Youth Development Society and the Ladner Tsawwassen Kinsmen Club. The Corporation of Delta has provided the land, which is valued in excess of $1 million. Reach and the Kinsmen Club will raise the funds to build the new centre. Based on the building area, features and systems the current estimated cost is $4 million. The proposed two story new building will have an approximate area of 20,000 square feet with an opportunity for future expansion. The new centre will provide: • The new home base for Reach Child and Youth Development Society and include therapy and counseling rooms, youth program areas, specialized lending libraries and an inclusive preschool with an accessible playground open to the whole community.
The new Reach Centre will be located at 5050 47th avenue, situated in the heart of the Ladner, with access to transit and walking and biking routes. It will neighbour the Ladner Pioneer Library, Memorial Park, Delta Secondary School, Ladner Community Centre and the Boys and Girls Club of Delta/Richmond creating a network of supports working together for children and families.
• An expanded events room for municipal, business and community use. • A club meeting space for the Kinsmen Club. • Space for other organizations in the community supporting children and youth with special needs. The new centre will be: • A place of learning and belonging for families who have children with special needs. • A stepping-stone for children and youth to access other community resources.
new Reach Centre
• A demonstration site and a centre of expertise for promoting inclusion and best practices in early intervention and behavior support.
The building of the new centre provides a unique opportunity to develop an enhanced resource that will address the needs of the community and of children and youth now and into the future.
current Reach facility
Meet Carson and Carter Carson and Carter have autism. For them the sound of people talking, a visit of a stranger to the house, or the taste or texture of food was overwhelming. Because of these symptoms they were not eating enough, were not able to go anywhere that might be noisy or crowded, and the family had to be limited in the number of people that came over to the house to visit. Carson and Carter’s social language was also affected by autism. “Carson had about 100 to 150 words when he was 18 months old. But none of the words he had were mom or dad,” said Hazel, Carson’s mother. “He knew the words for every shape – you could hold up a ball and he’d tell you it was a sphereBut he didn’t know who I was to him.” Carson and Carter began attending Reach
Therapies and Preschool programs. They also began attending the Reach ABA, Applied Behavioural Analysis program for children with autism, a program that uses natural teaching methods to strengthen functional skills, or skills that children need in everyday life. Through the combined efforts of these programs and the hard work of their parents, Carson and Carter’s symptoms of autism have been reduced and are now being managed to allow them to cope better with their everyday lives. They are much more comfortable with people and sounds, and are eating more and a wider variety of foods. Social language skills have also been strengthened. As Hazel says, “Now they are able to call me mommy.” They are both more able to use language in social situations and are building skills in these areas that will impact on their personal life in the future. Autism is a neurological disorder which causes developmental disability. It is estimated that one in every 165 Canadian children born today has an ASD. Boys are 4 times more likely to have autism than girls. Disabilities caused by ASD might be very mild in one person and quite severe in another.
Meet Myles McKee Myles has grown up with Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of autism. Throughout his childhood Myles’ parents Brad and Anita worked hard at providing Myles with the supports he needed to manage his symptoms of autism. But when he entered his teens he continued to struggle with grooming, social skills and emotional regulation. This greatly affected his social life at a time when having friends and being accepted is so important In Reach’s Positive Behavioural Support program Myles learned about grooming and interacting with teens his own age. He learned ways that he could regulate his emotions and deal with negative situations in a positive way. To this day Myles’ continues to use the tools he learned at Reach with the support of his parents. Myles is now a young adult with a job and has started several of his own home businesses. He is also a motivational speaker for parents and teachers who have children with autism, offering his presentation “Myles of Courage: A Story of Autism” to educators, parents and youth. “The first years of my life were very stressful.” Myles says, “Flip to now and the world is a much better place.”
Asperger Syndrome (or AS) is an autism spectrum disorder and is a neurological condition. Main symptoms include difficulties in communication and social interaction. The incidence of AS is not well established, but experts estimate that two out of every 10,000 children have the disorder. As with many others on the autism spectrum, those with Asperger’s Syndrome often find the adolescent years to be trying ones with difficulty relating to peers and the complex and ever-changing adolescent social rules. But with support and guidance that is tailored to the individuals needs, people with Asperger’s can learn to cope with their symptoms and find ways to adapt to changing environments.
A need for a new centre
No one ever expects to have a child who has challenges like Autism, Down’s syndrome, or ADHD. It’s hard. It’s overwhelming. Parents need help for their child. But what if you wanted to help your child and couldn’t because you couldn’t get to a program, or because the program was full, or not offered at all. We want to make sure that never happens. Today, Reach has outgrown its current facility on 72nd Street in Ladner adjacent to Boundary Bay Airport. This location is geographically separated from the community and it has limited access as it is not on a bus route. Now more than ever, children need services that are community based, easy to access and responsive to their needs throughout childhood. Facts about the needs of children in our community:
• Fifteen percent of children have special needs*
• One in every 110 children has autism • In Delta alone there are potentially 3,486 children effected by special needs** • Ladner West is amongst British Columbia’s highest percentile of developmentally vulnerable children *** Building this new child development centre in the heart of the community will:
• Enable more children with special needs to receive the critical services they need. • Make access to services easier for families. • Link families to other community services more efficiently and effectively. • Provide greater space and resources to the community as a whole. *From the Delta Early Child Development Committee A Profile of Young Children Under 5 in Delta. ** Demographic Analysis Section BC Stats *** From The U.B.C. Human Early Learning Partnership (H.E.L.P.) Early Development Instrument (EDI)
Reach Foundation Board of Directors The Reach Child and Youth Development Charitable Foundation was formed in 2010 with the mandate to oversee and raise money for the capital building fund targeted to the project to build a new child development centre for Reach Child and Youth Development Society.
If you would like to join the Reach Foundation, or Finance or Fundraising Events Committees contact Executive Director Renie D’Aquila at 604-946-6622 ext. 301 or at renied@reachdevelopment.org
Irene Forcier, RSW - Chair Irene is Registered Social Worker since 1976 and member of the College of Social Worker’s of B.C. She has a distinguished background in leadership and community service. Irene volunteered with Deltassist in 1972, and in 1977 became Executive Director leading in the next 20 years through exciting growth and expansion. Since and during that time Irene has committed her personal time to various community agencies and committees, and served on many Boards as Director and President. In addition to the Reach Foundation Board, Irene is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Ladner and the Delta Community Foundation “We shouldn’t rely on our past service if we want others to become involved in service. We have to contribute by example and be actively involved with our family, friends and community”.
John (Jack) Davidson – Treasurer Jack is a retired Manager of CIBC with 40 years of service. Since his retirement, Jack has devoted a great deal of his time to volunteering in his community. He is a Life Member of Lions International serving with the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club, and helped to set up a “Donors Choice” program in Humboldt Saskatchewan. Jack has been Director/Treasurer on the Reach Board of Directors since 2000, and sits on the Reach Finance sub-committee. He has contributed countless volunteer hours, and with the benefit of his expertise in financial management has provided the Society with valuable guidance. “I volunteered with the Society as I felt that I could use my experience as a banker. I look forward to continuing to serve the Society especially now that we are looking at new premises”
Kari Thomas – Director Kari is a busy parent of three young children who have all attended programs at Reach. She has lived in South Delta’s Ladner community for over 20 years and, in addition to caring for her children, also keeps busy working at a local salon and running her own home business. Kari joined the Reach Board of Directors in 2007 and has been a valuable voice of parent and community member. Kari now brings her passion for making a difference, and many talents and skills to her role as Reach Foundation Director. “My oldest son is on the Autism Spectrum and without the programs and services we have accessed at Reach I don’t know where we would be. I am so thankful that such a great organization exists and that I can be a part of it and help give back to this community. I am looking forward to continuing to do so as we move forward into the future.”
Joni Wright – Vice Chair Joni is a Human Resources Administration Coordinator with Response Biomedical, a Vancouver based biotech company. Her background is steeped in the hospitality industry as well as community service. She studied culinary arts, her passion, and operated a successful catering business and café in Toronto for many years. She also worked as a dining room instructor at a non-profit Society in Vancouver training at-risk youth. Joni is currently busy studying holistic nutrition with the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and will graduate a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, as well as working towards her Human Services management degree with the University of Phoenix. “I am extremely honoured to be a part of the Reach Organization as a volunteer to be able to share my knowledge with the intention of enriching the lives of others. As a Board Member, I am committed to serving the organization and excited about the future of Reach Society.”
Agnes Douglas - Director Agnes has been in the investment industry for 22 years and is currently a Portfolio Manager/ Investment Advisor at Odlum Brown Limited. Reach is pleased to welcome Agnes in 2010 to the Foundation Board as a Director and Financial Advisor . As a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) with a PMA (Portfolio Manager) Designation and FCSI (Fellowship of the Canadian Securities Institute) Agnes brings expertise and guidance, as well as a passion for making a difference in her community to the Reach Foundation Board. Agnes also sits on the Building for Children Together campaign events committee offering her organizational as well as creative skills and talents. “I have been searching for an organization in my community where I can offer my services and experience in the financial world. The Reach Foundation is that organization. I am honoured to be part of the Foundation and am very excited about the campaign of raising funds for the project at hand: The Reach Kinsmen Centre.”
Barbara Wallick - Director Barb Wallick is a Financial Planner (PFP), Life Insurance Specialist and Investment Advisor and holds an Associate Designation (AICB) through the Institute of Canadian Bankers (CSI Global Educ. Inc.) She has twenty-seven years of experience helping people in the financial industry, most currently Envision Financial in Ladner as their in house Financial Planner. Barb is also a Life Coach Trainer for her own business Fear-Less Coaching & Training where she works with individuals and corporations. Between her busy careers and family Barb has given a tremendous amount to the community, as a member of the Delta Chamber Golf Tournament Committee for three years, fundraiser for Heart and Stroke Foundation, Ladner May Days Parade participant, and now to the Reach Foundation Board. “I have come to realize that providing support and education for children with developmental disabilities is an important part of our education system that is missing. I have natural desire to help and raise funds to build the new facility which is desperately needed in Delta.”
We would love to hear from you. Contact us: Irene Forcier, Chair
Reach Child and Youth Development Foundation 604.946.6622 ext.385 forcier@telus.net
Renie D’Aquila, Executive Director
Reach Child and Youth Development Society 604.946.6622 ext.301 renied@reachdevelopment.org
Visit Reach’s website at www.reachdevelopment.org Visit the capital campaign website at www.reachdevelopment.org/campaign Find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/reachsocietybc Find us on twitter at www.twitter.com/ReachSocietyBC
Reach Child and Youth Development Society #3 - 3800 72nd Street, Delta, B.C. V4K 3N2 604.946.6622 info@reachdevelopment.org