"One of the best things about LEARNINGO is how much the staff love my son." - Parent of a LEARNINGO program participant.
This month, we are celebrating the efforts of Recreation Nova Scotia member LEARNINGO, a non-profit dedicated to creating opportunities for people with autism and diverse needs. LEARNINGO helps individuals build education, recreation, and independent living skills to ensure community inclusion. The organization has three types of programming: collaborative schooling, peer-to-peer learning, and professional training opportunities. Our story will focus on LEARNINGO's PLT program – Peers Learning Together.
LEARNINGO's PLT program addresses a lack of structured support, trained staff and individual accommodations. These issues create barriers for people with autism and diverse support needs to access recreational programs. LEARNINGO created this program in 2016 to bridge this gap and offer a safe, engaging and supportive space for participants to build skills in a way that meets their needs. The Peers Learning Together program combines learning opportunities with recreational programming for participants to develop lifelong skills while enjoying community and belonging.
The PLT program leaves a lasting impact on participants in various ways. Through hands-on recreation, participants can gain skills like improved social confidence, emotional regulation, motor coordination and independence. Attendees can make friends and new community connections. The program also helps reduce barriers to recreation by having trained and experienced staff, accommodations that are individual to each person, and activities that ensure all participants can fully engage.
The program has a significant impact on the families of participants. LEARNINGO's Executive Director Emily Robar says that families gain reliable support: "[PLT] gives parents and caregivers peace of mind in knowing their child is in a nurturing environment designed for success." Emily shared some positive feedback LEARNINGO has received from families: "One of the best things about LEARNINGO is how much the staff love my son. They are some of the only people other than immediate family members who see his many skills, sense of humour, and wonderful personality traits that aren't immediately obvious to most. When he is at the program, I am at complete ease knowing he is not just safe, but adored."
Emily says that although the PLT program has seen lots of success and positive feedback, it isn't without its challenges. Access and affordability for families is an ongoing challenge, as well as hiring and retaining skilled staff who understand behavior support, sensory needs, and individualized accommodations. Facility use is also a challenge for the program, as specialized space is needed, which requires staff to set up and tear down equipment each time. There is also a high demand for the PLT program, which has created a waitlist for participation. Emily says they haven't let these challenges hold back the program: "Expanding PLT requires additional funding, staffing, and space. Despite these challenges, PLT remains a vital and in-demand program, continually evolving to meet the community's needs."
One method of addressing these challenges has been accessing partnerships and funding. LEARNINGO has created a facility partnership with HRM Recreation, which provides space for programs at the Sackville Sports Stadium and Captain William Spry Community Centre. The program receives funding from two national programs. "We receive annual funding from Canadian Tire Jumpstart, which helps ensure accessibility and purchase new and exciting equipment that enhances our program offerings. Additionally, ParticipACTION Community Challenges provide funding, allowing us to organize special field trips," says Emily.
In addition to providing valuable programming to people with diverse needs, LEARNINGO is also committed to learning more. Emily says organizers are interested in ways to refine and improve PLT: "We've had a placement student research the parents' perceptions of the program, which has provided valuable insights into its impact and areas for growth. We invite others to explore this research to better understand how PLT is making a difference in the lives of families."
To learn more about the impact of the Peers Learning Together program and other LEARNINGO offerings, visit learning.org/caregiver-perspectives/