February 28th – March 3rd 2022, the Department of Mental Health & Substance Dependence in partnership with the Ministry of Education held an intense training workshop for parents of children with autism and related disabilities ( including ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome). Participants were exposed to the first five modules of a 15 module course in Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA).
The goal of the training was to empower parents of children with special needs and equip them with skills to become effective interventionists in their home. Facilitating the training was Dr. Theo Gossou, a former special education teacher and a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst, and Ms. Sheryl Patterson, a master-level special education teacher and a Board-Certified Inclusive Education Specialist.
Parents who attended the training spoke about how thrilled they were to have benefited from the initiative and how comforting it felt to be in a room with other parents who could empathise with their unique challenges.
Director of the Department of Mental Health, Dr. Alicia Malcolm noted that “This training was very much needed because many parents have been feeling extremely overwhelmed, stressed and even helpless at times in how to address the needs of their special needs child. This training not only offered skills, it also provided emotional support and encouragement for parents”.
The training is set to continue in April 2022 as participants complete the remaining modules in the ABA course. Additionally, parents of special needs children can also look forward to ongoing psychosocial support and peer group support.
For more information about this training initiative contact the Department of Mental Health & Substance Dependence on 649-338-3613 or email
