Guides learn how centre helps children with disabilities
Using a wheelchair for the first time Monday helped Kennedy Steeves learn more about the services available to help those living with a disability.
“It was fun learning how to spin and move it forwards and backwards,” the Grade 6 student said as about 50 local Girl Guides and Brownies wrapped up an informative evening visit to Five Counties Children’s Centre on Dutton Road.
The girls rotated, in smaller groups, through a series of activities related to some of the specialized services Five Counties provide children in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland and Haliburton counties.
An augmented communication activity demonstrated how technology is used daily to help those who have difficulty communicating verbally to express themselves in words.
Guides and Brownies sat in front of a tiny screen where a computer registered the position of their eyes, so that two dots could move corresponding to their gaze. This allowed them to play a game – such as breaking bottles, using only their eyes.
Across the room, they used a similar communication tool – and iPads – as they were challenged to choose one button that had a certain meaning from 84 displayed on a giant screen.
Occupational therapy was the focus of another activity. Girls used chopsticks to remove items from boxes to challenge their fine motor skills.
An activity focusing on physiotherapy saw them complete a relay in which they couldn’t touch the ground, developing their balance.
Another saw them take part in a wheelchair basketball relay, Five Counties’ executive assistant and communications support Stephenie Bowie explained.
Many of the visiting girls go to school with students with disabilities, Bowie pointed out. “Now they’ll be able to identify and better support those kids.”
Cindy Nolan, contact Guider for 20th Peterborough Brownies, agreed the visit will bring greater awareness and foster better appreciation.
The program has 10 keys, including “community,” she said. “This was a perfect opportunity for us to find out about a different service in the community.”
The Guides program includes a “diversity challenge,” to obtain a special badge, said Marcia Steeves, contact Guider for 20th Peterborough Guides. The group also recently completed cultural and socioeconomic challenges.
“It fits right in with that and learning about what community groups do for our children,” she said.
Nolan pointed out that Monday’s event was also an excellent opportunity to bridge the Brownie and Guides programs. The Brownie program includes girls ages seven to nine (Grade 2 and 3). The Guide pro- gram includes girls ages nine to 11 (Grade 4, 5 and 6).
The Girl Guides of Canada program, the largest organization for women and girls in the country, also includes Sparks (ages five and six), Pathfinders (ages 12-14) and Rangers (ages 15-17+).
Bowie said she hopes the visit is the first of many–that other community groups reach out to Five Counties to learn more about its services for children adolescents and their families.
Established in 1976, the centre provides outpatient and community-based services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language therapy, augmentative communication services, recreation, social work and pediatric medical assessments/follow-up and specialized clinics.
NOTE: The Five Counties Children’s Centre website is www.fivecounties.on.ca ... The Girl Guides website is www. girlguides.ca .