Neurodiversity is a concept that recognizes and celebrates the natural variation in human neurological functioning. It encompasses the idea that neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others, are normal variations of the human brain rather than deficits or disorders. Neurodiversity acknowledges that individuals with diverse neurological profiles have unique strengths, perspectives, and ways of experiencing the world. Embracing neurodiversity involves promoting acceptance, understanding, and support for individuals across the neurodiversity spectrum.

 Neurodiverse affirming practice refers to approaches, strategies, and attitudes that support and validate neurodiverse individuals. It involves creating environments, interactions, and interventions that acknowledge and respect the diverse neurological profiles of individuals. Neurodiverse affirming practices aim to foster inclusivity, empowerment, and self-advocacy among neurodivergent individuals by affirming their identities, strengths, and experiences. These practices promote accessibility, accommodation, and understanding while challenging societal stigma, discrimination, and ableism. Importantly, neurodiverse affirming practice ensures that there is no pathologization of neurodiverse conditions; the neurodiverse person is not seen as the problem, but rather, their unique perspective is embraced and valued.

The essence of play-based intervention is teaching children experientially. It uses interactive games and toys to prioritize engagement. Not only does this approach highlight a child's own thoughts and feelings, but it also cultivates joint attention by sensitively drawing them to the emotions and perspectives of their play partners.

While we appreciate a 48-hour notice for cancellations, we recognize that life with children can be unforeseeable. Charges for missed sessions will be evaluated individually. Please note cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice might result in charges for the booked session.

Play-based intervention harnesses children's natural inclination towards play. Recognizing that children predominantly learn through positive and supportive interactions, we utilize specific games and toys to highlight and nurture their unique communication and engagement styles. While methods like Applied Behavior Analysis often aim for compliance using reward and punishment systems, our approach does not set compliance as its goal. We deeply respect an individual's neurodiverse identity, striving instead to foster rapport and genuine connection, celebrating engagement in all its varied forms.

No, we don't offer Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy. Instead, we are wholly dedicated to play-based intervention, which we passionately believe in and focus on exclusively.

The question of the PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile within the autism spectrum is intricate and occasionally debated. As it stands, PDA is viewed as a potential component of the spectrum, differing from traditional ASD presentations. Central to the prevailing understanding of PDA is that it's primarily driven by anxiety. This necessitates specific therapeutic methods, which may often contrast with conventional behavioural management techniques. While research on interventions for PDA continues, it's evident that certain strategies prove more effective than others in addressing this particular profile.

Skills to Play proudly serves a diverse clientele. We specialize in supporting individuals with PDA profiles, largely driven by the dedicated research of our founder, Chelsea McFadzen. That said, our team possesses a wide range of expertise, and we're eager to extend our skills to benefit all who seek our services.

Flexible Session Locations Tailored to Your Needs

Choose from a range of session locations based on what's best for your family:

Home: Experience sessions in the comfort of your own home. A familiar environment allows children to act naturally, leading to more effective interventions.

School/Daycare: Connect with your child in their learning environment. This choice offers insights into their school interactions and bridges communication between parents, teachers, and our team.

Community: Real-world settings help children develop practical life skills in genuine scenarios.

Park: Blend therapy with play in the open air. Parks offer the perfect backdrop for working on motor skills, social interactions, and sensory needs.

Clinic: Our clinics, strategically located in the Fraser Valley, including Mission, Aldergrove, and soon in Chilliwack by November 2023, offer a controlled, distraction-free environment equipped with specialized therapeutic tools.

The choice of session location is entirely yours. Let's find the perfect setting for your family's unique needs.

Our Fee Structure:

Behaviour Consulting: $150/hr

Behaviour Intervention: $60/hr

Note: At Skills to Play, we prioritize fair treatment for our Behaviour Interventionists (BIs). Should travel to your location incur extra expenses for the BIs, a supplementary fee may be introduced. Rest assured, any such adjustments would be transparently discussed with the entire team before commencing services.

We're here for you every day of the week. Whenever you need support, simply contact us through email or phone. We promise a prompt response to address your needs.

Yes, our Skills to Play consultants are listed on the RASP. As a registered service provider with the British Columbia government, Skills to Play Programs Inc. is authorized to directly bill the government for our services to families in accordance with our service agreement terms.

Over the years, Skills to Play has built strong relationships within the industry. We've connected with outstanding professionals whose values mirror ours. We're always eager to recommend our clients to these trusted collaborators, who we're honoured to call our allies.

Skills to Play is headquartered in the Fraser Valley. We offer in-person services in Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Langley, and Surrey. Additionally, we extend telehealth services to families throughout British Columbia.

Absolutely! We have a team of dedicated interventionists. When you partner with Skills to Play, we ensure a perfect match with one of our BIs, tailored to your family's unique needs.

Indeed, we do! At Skills to Play, we ensure that our interventionists are compensated. By authorizing us to directly bill your funding, we'll seamlessly include your interventionist's payment, taking care of all the details for you.

The ministry permits Behaviour Consultants like us to recommend therapeutic equipment for purchase, which can later be reimbursed. You can allocate up to 20% of your annual funding for this purpose. That’s up to $4400 for children under six and $1200 for those over 6. There are nuances to this process, and we encourage you to discuss them with your consultant. We're here to clarify any questions you might have.

We're actively welcoming new clients. However, it's important for us to find a BI that perfectly matches your family's needs, which might require some time. Please note after-school slots are highly sought-after and get booked rapidly.

In adverse weather, our top priority is the safety of our families and BIs. If local schools shut down because of weather conditions, we'll likely close our centres and advise our BIs against travelling. Should there be a weather advisory in your region, our team will reach out to reschedule or cancel your session.

We don't offer our behaviour interventionists for separate hire – we come as a package! :) At Skills to Play, we invest significantly in our selection process to ensure our clients benefit from the finest BIs we have to offer.