A Back to School Success!

We would like to celebrate the success of a little boy who was having trouble getting on the bus last school year. Parents and this little guy have been working hard to help him stay regulated before getting on the bus. Now he willingly gets on the bus and sits in his seat. Fantastic!

“just because I can’t talk does not mean I do not know”

We all communicate in many different ways. In fact, it is estimated that over 90% of our communication is nonverbal. For children who are nonverbal or have limited verbal communication, this means there are so many other ways they can get their needs met and their messages across to those around them. This could be through voice generating devices, picture communication, gestures, signs, writing, facial expressions and more!

We’d like to share a success from a KU family that highlights the power of finding effective, nonverbal ways to communicate. Over the past couple of months, an 8-year old girl who typically uses visuals and Touch Chat to communicate, has started to answer questions on a chalkboard and has now started to type. It began with her mother asking simple questions such as “How are you feeling today” and she would reply (in writing on the chalkboard) “I feel happy”. Most recently she has been practicing typing to express herself and mom decided to have her fill out an “All About Me” page. One question was “A fun thing to know about is…” and she replied “that just because I can’t talk does not mean I do not know”.  Such powerful message and beautiful reminder for those interacting with individuals who may communicate in different ways. 

Talking to your Kids about Mental Health

Conversations around mental health and supporting one another have always been important. These conversations in 2020 are perhaps more prevalent than ever. Talking about mental health from an early age can build resiliency. However, it can be difficult to determine where to start with these conversations and supports. Sam, one of our Family Support Coaches and a Social Worker has put together some helpful tips for supporting parents and caregivers in talking to your children about mental health. You can check it out here.

KU services

We continue to closely monitor the recommendations from health professionals, and our professional colleges. As before, recommendations continue to suggest virtual services wherever possible, with the same PPE and other requirements for any in-person contact. We are grateful that we can continue to serve you virtually. We will continue to evaluate our policy every 2 weeks and update whenever there are changes moving forward.