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Outreach Services
Staying included is our goal
PREP Outreach Facilitators are "on call" to Calgary and area schools to support the teaching team with proactive sharing of materials, techniques and strategies. On-site observations and identification of student needs facilitates a collaborative problem solving method that is key to each student's successful learning in the inclusive classroom.
How are the Outreach Facilitator visits booked?
- The principal or resource teacher would phone Barb McHarg, Acting Community Outreach Coordinator at (403) 282-5011 ext 130 or email to barbm@prepprog.org to request a School Request For Outreach Service form. Upon receiving the completed form indicating the amount of hours and visits your school is requesting, an outreach facilitator will contact you with some possible dates.
Who is the Outreach Facilitator there to support?
- The student with Down syndrome: After a request form has been filled and the teaching team has identified an area of concern, the Outreach Facilitator will observe the student in the classroom.
- The teacher and education assistant: Upon conclusion of the classroom observation the Outreach Facilitator will meet with the team and suggest strategies or materials that were successful in the past or that are presently being used in speech sessions. It is helpful if the team can have samples of the students work and what topics are coming up. The Outreach Facilitator can assist the team to brainstorm curriculum adaptations for meaningful student learning and share information regarding the students comprehension ability, reading and math levels and help identify an appropriate language level. The Outreach Facilitator can consult regarding IPP goals or facilitate other potential referrals as needed.
- The class: The Outreach Facilitator is a resource for in-class presentations on Down syndrome. The OF adapts the presentation for different grade levels. After a presentation your students will better understand the disability and be more accepting of differences. The class tends to feel more at ease by getting the facts about what Down syndrome is and the unique needs of their classmate.
How often and how long are the visits?
- The OF will process requests on a first come first serve basis. As you can appreciate, September and October are very busy months as students settle in, but we will accommodate your request as soon as possible.
- Visits in your classroom can last from 45 minutes (if all is going well) to 2.5hrs if there are concerns that need to be observed and addressed. It is helpful if part of the visit is before school, over recess or lunch to be able to discuss concerns and strategies privately.
What can I do to get ready for the visit?
- If possible, try to find a substitute (i.e. principal, resource teacher...) for even a short period of time so you have time for discussion.
- Review the student's file and especially the most recent PREP updates.
- Have your list of questions ready.
- Set aside examples of the student's work.
- Invite other team members to give input or bring up concerns.
What other assistance can the Outreach Facilitator provide?
- The Outreach Facilitator is a liaison to the PREP Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist and Reading/ Math Specialists. Updates are given to the team to look for ways to incorporate school learning with therapy sessions.
- The Outreach Facilitator is a good person to talk to about the tough stuff. Questions and concerns are always welcome and we can help facilitate communication to parents.
- PREP 3 and PREP 4 reports are given to the school three times a year. The Outreach Facilitator is a good resource to help generalize skills in your classroom.
- Guidance in making referrals for therapy or other services.
- Recommend reading materials and books from PREP's excellent resource library.
- Identify students reading, math, language levels.
- Behaviour modification programs.
- PREP Link access.
- Software demonstrations: Mini in-services on the software you have in your classroom.
Our goal is to help schools in developing their capacity to meet diverse needs of students with Down syndrome . With effective teaching strategies, adapted materials and collaborative brainstorming by all parties, your student with Down syndrome can learn to work independently and productively on meaningful work. Many of the students are long time PREP veterans and our background knowledge can save you time and much stress! We look forward to supporting you in your classroom.
Program Fees
Outreach Facilitator Visits are available on a fee for service basis. To inquire about or book a visit, please contact Barb McHarg, Acting Outreach Facilitator, at barbm@prepprog.org or by phone at 282-5011 Ext. 130. School administration must contact PREP to receive a "Request for Service" form.
The fee for Outreach Facilitator is $50/hr plus travel time. Extra fees may apply if a written report is required.
Please note: Due to F.O.I.P (Freedom of Information Policy) guidelines, The PREP Program Outreach staff are not permitted to discuss students who are not currently on their caseload. As part of the referral process, consent forms must be signed by all parties in order to discuss student progress or concerns.
Book a Therapy Visit
PREP welcomes families from out of town for both speech-language and occupational therapy consults for children of all ages. We are delighted to report that we have followed some out of province children from age 2 to
Age 10! It is a rite of spring and summer to welcome back our visitors, as driving is more dependable. That said, visits can be booked year round.
The consults are very popular, as a 1 on 1 consult with PREP's experienced staff
gives parents fresh insights into their child's abilities and a road map to follow
to make even more progress. At the end of each visit parents receive a PREP Consult Report that outlines goals and teaching strategies that are proven to work both at home and school.
Each session is an hour in length and many families chose to maximize their visit and come 2 or 3 days in a row. Other families in closer proximity to Calgary commit to coming monthly or once every 3 months.
Depending on the child's age, visits can be booked in the morning or afternoon.
Parents are encouraged to bring any recent therapy reports for background information for the therapists.
We are pleased to report that many parents have been successful in receiving assistance in making regular visits to The PREP Program. Success stories include:
- Private insurance covering therapy services;
- School boards entering into an agreement with PREP to provide therapy services on a consult basis;
- Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) helping parents with transportation/hotel expenses.
- Other - depending on the home health region or school board or province - parents often receive a pleasant surprise when they ask for assistance!
Rates: minimum $60/hour to a maximum of $120/hour
Please select this link to see fee schedule (updated January 2010) - PDF File
For more information or to book a visit toThe PREP Program in Calgary please contact:
Barb McHarg, PREP Links
Community Outreach Coordinator
barbm@prepprog.org
403 282-5011 extension 130
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