Giulietta developed gross motor skills while building strength, confidence, and enjoyment of sports and exercise. By 6 months of age, it was clear that Giulietta, like Benji, also had gross developmental delays with evident low muscle tone. Given Benji's poor experience with traditional PT modalities until he started MEDEK®, Giulietta began MEDEK® at 6 months of age, helping her learn to sit, stand, and eventually walk by the time she was 3 years old. Like Benji, Giulietta ha

Discovering MEDEK: Benji’s Path to Motor Development Benji started receiving intensive traditional physical therapy around one year old. The goals were motor milestones like sitting, crawling, and standing. Traditional physical therapy with daily practice did not achieve any milestones. At approximately 18 months, we discovered Método Dinámico de Estimulación Kinésica (MEDEK), a dynamic method of kinetic stimulation. MEDEK is a physical therapy approach that uses gravity and

Benji using his PECS binder at one of his favourite spots, Starbucks, a place he’s loved visiting since he was young. Understanding ABA: A Common Approach for Children with Autism Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) was recommended by SLPs as a learning technique commonly employed for children with autism spectrum disorder. It’s a therapeutic approach based on the science of learning and behavior, often used to help autistic children develop skills and reduce challenging behavior

This is what Benji’s current Proloquo layout looks like as he practices communication with support. Early Speech and Feeding Challenges: Benji’s Journey Speech therapy for Benji began at 9 months due to swallowing and feeding issues. He had an abnormal swallow reflex, and we worked with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) to determine feeding strategies and reduce risk of choking. Benji also exhibited a strong oral aversion, refusing anything near his mouth and making adequa

Benji began occupational therapy at 6 months old to address severe low muscle tone that prevented him from holding his head up independently. He required external head support and physical assistance to maintain upright posture in his stroller. He had no fine motor control and could not grasp objects or tolerate being in a prone position while keeping his head up. Early Therapy Goals: Benji’s First Steps in Motor Development Initial therapy goals focused on maintaining postur

A Circle of Care is a powerful way to support someone with unique needs, but building one takes thought, collaboration, and planning. A step-by-step guide to help you create a strong Circle of Care 1. Identify the Person at the Center Start by focusing on the individual who will benefit from the Circle of Care. Their needs, goals, values, and preferences should guide every decision. Ask yourself: What are their strengths and challenges? What do they enjoy doing? What areas of

When it comes to supporting individuals with unique needs, having a strong, coordinated support system can make all the difference. This is where the concept of a Circle of Care comes in. But what exactly does it mean, and why is it so important? The Basics A Circle of Care is a team of people who come together to support an individual, often someone with a disability, chronic health condition, or special needs, in a coordinated and person-centered way. It’s about bringing to

Benji and Giulietta attended Montessori Jewish Day School (MJDS) in North York, Ontario, until age 16. Their educational journey was supported by dedicated 1:1 care educators who were instrumental in their development within the school system. This personalized arrangement provided complete oversight of their programming, establishing MJDS as a strong foundation for both academic learning and social development. Inclusive Learning Environment MJDS’s educational model set a p

This guide outlines how we built a purposeful, balanced life for Benji and Giulietta, one rooted in vision, connection, growth, and empowerment. Each step reflects a lived process: lessons learned, strategies refined, and goals that continue to evolve. Step One: Clarifying Our Vision It began with a simple question: What does growth look like for Benji and Giulietta? Once we understood that, everything else fell into place. Our choices, goals, and supports started aligning ar

Benji is a valued and proud member of the IKEA North York team, where he works in the cookware, décor, and rug department. His main role is part of the Back to Shelf (BTS) team, where he returns misplaced items to their proper locations around the store. Growing Confidence and Skills Since joining IKEA, Benji has made remarkable progress. He recently celebrated his three-year anniversary on June 6, 2025, marking three years of hard work, learning, and growth. Over time, Benji

Every Friday, Benji takes part in a social program at Windreach Farm, where he engages with peers his age in a variety of hands-on activities that promote skill development, independence, and community connection. His responsibilities at the farm are diverse and meaningful. He contributes to maintaining the property through cleaning, raking, and weeding, keeping the farm environment safe and welcoming for everyone. Benji also works in the greenhouse and garden, planting seeds

Building strength, confidence, and smiles! Stretching Routine: Shoulder Stretch Have Benji stand with his feet shoulder-width apart. Assist him in extending his right/left arm straight out in front of him. Use alternate hand to encourage Benji to hold arm in place. Hold for 10–20 seconds for each arm. Hamstring Stretch Have Benji sit on the floor with legs straight out in front. Encourage him to touch his toes and hold. If difficult, place an object in front as a target. Hold

Benji uses this ‘Need/Found’ picture card to indicate what he’s looking for or has found, helping him communicate independently. Building Independence Each day, Benji practices gathering the items he will need for outings, from his backpack to any materials or personal items he uses regularly. With the support of picture cards, he communicates what he needs and asks for help when necessary. This daily routine gives him the opportunity to organize his belongings independently

Benji will develop independence in completing household tasks by using visual supports, such as picture cards, checklists, and step-by-step guides. These tools provide clear, consistent cues that help him understand each task, remember the steps involved, and complete them successfully. Building Independence Through Household Tasks Helping Benji develop independence starts with identifying the household tasks that matter most to him. By choosing chores he wants to work on, li

A visit to a coffee shop offers a great opportunity for experiential learning for Benji. This environment allows Benji to practice social and communication skills. Using PECS enhances the experience by supporting communication and providing a structured way for Benji to engage with his surroundings. Everyday outings offer powerful opportunities for learning, and coffee shop visits have become a meaningful way for Benji to practice real-world communication, decision-making, an

Our focus is to support Benji in expressing his needs during mealtimes by teaching him to use PECS cards for “more” and “all done.” This foundational communication skill empowers him to participate more independently and confidently during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pairing Cards with Actions When working with Benji during mealtimes, we consistently pair gestures with the corresponding PECS cards to help him make the connection between the cards and their meanings. When Be

Giulietta is thriving as a valued member of the PC Express (PCX) department at Loblaws, where she helps fulfill online orders for customers. She works two hours a day on Mondays and Fridays, a schedule that allows her to combine her passion for food with meaningful work while developing independence and life skills. Journey to Employment Benji and Giulietta have long been familiar faces at Loblaws in North York, first as customers. Their early visits provided opportunities to

To support Giulietta’s communication development, we use structured modelling sessions where a support worker demonstrates how to use the iPad to communicate. These sessions give Giulietta the chance to observe, learn, and practice responding in meaningful ways. Basic Communication Modelling During everyday interactions, we model simple, functional communication without speaking out loud. We either use a separate iPad to communicate with Giulietta or use her iPad to show and

Giulietta is working on expanding her vocabulary on the iPad to include small words, connecting words, and vocabulary related to daily activities. This allows her to create more meaningful sentences across all areas of her life, at home, during social interactions, or in community settings. Identifying Vocabulary Needs A key first step is helping Giulietta recognize the vocabulary that is most meaningful to her. We guide her in locating and identifying these words on her iPad

Giulietta uses her iPad to express her thoughts, needs, and interests, and our goal is to help her use it more independently. By practicing in everyday situations, she can move beyond single words to full sentences, build confidence, and communicate more clearly with the people around her. Becoming Familiar with the iPad Layout Through Practice and Memory Games We start by helping Giulietta become familiar with the layout on her iPad, exploring the different folders she can u