Hello,
My name is Malcolm Chrystal. I am a practicing kinesiologist, teacher, and caregiver of children with special needs. I am developing a practice providing fitness/exercise sessions for children with special needs, in particular autism.
I have taken your email from the RASP list on Autism Community Training's website and I am sending an email to the BCs, SLPs, PTs and OTs on the list across BC and hope that I find a receptive audience for my message and create a discussion on the importance of exercise for ALL kids.
My practice: I work with individuals and small groups (2-4) and engage them in EXERCISE (not recreation) with the goal of increasing their CARDIOVASCULAR, MUSCULAR, AND PROPRIOCEPTIVE FITNESS. Improvement of these fitness components helps individuals attain marked improvements in gross and fine motor skills, AND quality of life. Having the ability to play with peers on the playground, or playing catch, or perhaps learning to ride a bike can have extraordinary effects on quality of life.
I regard my work as complementary to a client's behaviour plan and NOT as an alternative treatment.
A healthy body, an exercised body, is easier to work with in many situations: table work, eating, falling asleep. Improvements in balance, coordination and hand (and overall) strength can support much of the work being done by OTs,PTs, PE teachers, and parents wishing to teach their children.
It is my hope to see exercise sessions planned and built into current behaviour plans.
I am both looking for new clients (in the lower mainland) and an opportunity to share my message and ideas with Behaviour Consultants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and their BI teams across the province.
If you are interested in learning more about what I am doing I would be more than happy to speak with you about anything related to exercise and fitness for your clients.
Please share with those who you may think will benefit!
Thank you for your time.
Kind Regards,
Malcolm
