Disability Programs Specialized Services Disability Programs Specialized Services

This episode originally aired on the Swinging Upside Down podcast on October 24, 2020.







October is ADHD Awareness Month, so to start things off, the podcast is revisiting a conversation between DPSS team leader and OT Cynthia Miller-Lautman and her husband Michael.  Michael was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, he and Cynthia talk about growing up without a diagnosis, getting diagnosed and learning to face the challenges of adulthood with ADHD.

Weighted blankets, vests and stuffed animals have become incredibly popular in recent years. They can be incredible helpful for anyone who struggles with sensory regulation. You can buy weighted sensory products online and in many stores, but they should still be used with caution.



In 2008, a child with autism died while rolled in weighted blanket and left unsupervised. Since then, the provincial government of Québec has published a set guidelines and regulations regarding the use of weighted blankets at home and in school or healthcare settings.




Download the Government Guidelines (French Only)




In this episode, Cynthia Miller-Lautman (Occupational Therapist) goes through these guidelines and talks about how to use weighted products safely. You can also download the poster below to share with you colleagues and family, or print it and post it where it will be most helpful.








Download The Poster (PDF)

Have you ever wondered why someone behaves the way they do? Have you ever wondered what those behaviours are trying to communicate? Applied Behaviour Analysis helps us understand what those behaviours are trying to tell us and guides us towards what to do next. Watch this video to learn how this approach can be added to your toolbox.

In this episode, DPSS team member Trevor Friesen introduces us to Applied Behaviour Analysis (or ABA), and talks about some strategies for getting to the root cause of problem behaviours. Trevor also gives some suggestions about how to think about solutions for diffic

As part of the DPSS training week in March 2021, Aimee-Elizabeth Parsons and Trevor Friesen did a session entitled "What is ADHD?". That session was based on Episode 3, which you can watch here. In this episode, Aimee and Trevor tackle some of the questions that they were asked during and after their session.

This is Part 3 of our series on Language Disorders and Development. In this episode, Cynthia and Dana answer some questions from viewers.