Insomnia is a symptom and cause of psychological distress. It also impedes therapeutic work. So how can we help those impacted by insomnia?

For parents/caregivers, community and therapists supporting children/youth, of all ages, with disabilities.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

Support Groups through Inclusion Center are safe spaces for people to share their experiences, ask questions, offer input and connect with others who are dealing with similar issues. Everything said in our group is confidential.

While we have a preplanned time and date to begin this group, we will change the day and time according to the needs of the group. If you can not make it to this scheduled event, please write us and let us know what day and time would work for you.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

Support Groups through Inclusion Center are safe spaces for people to share their experiences, ask questions, offer input and connect with others who are dealing with similar issues. Everything said in our group is confidential.

While we have a preplanned time and date to begin this group, we will change the day and time according to the needs of the group. If you can not make it to this scheduled event, please write us and let us know what day and time would work for you.

People with illness or disability have unique sleep issues. Come to the group to share your stories, helpful hints and ideas. Let's help each other have regular sleep!

This discussion and support group is open to any person who has a disability or health issue and has a need or interest in sleeping better.

Support Groups through Inclusion Center are safe spaces for people to share their experiences, ask questions, offer input and connect with others who are dealing with similar issues. Everything said in our group is confidential.

While we have a preplanned time and date to begin this group, we will change the day and time according to the needs of the group. If you can not make it to this scheduled event, please write us and let us know what day and time would work for you.

Come and find out more from The Sleep Charity on how parents/carers in North Yorkshire can support children with SEND, who have sleep difficulties.

Through 3 separate talks, this seminar series will focus on sleep and sickle cell disease.

Our goal is to help raise awareness about the common sleep problems associated with sickle cell disease so that patients, parents, and their families will be able to recognize these issues earlier in life, actively discuss their concerns with their providers in an informed manner, and advocate for necessary treatments and services.

 

Objectives:

1. To understand possible brain pathways through which sleep impacts pain, mood, and overall wellbeing

2. To understand how experiencing discrimination might act on these pathways to further impact sleep, pain, and overall wellbeing

3. To become familiar with non-medication-based sleep treatment options for adults living with SCD

Sleep Expert, Joelle Hill will share the 3 most common reasons for sleep issues or insomnia and how to help your autistic child some peaceful rest in this New Equinox Masterclass!

Here's what you will learn:

• What impacts sleep and causes sleep issues
• The 2 drivers for sleep
• How environment impacts sleep
• How parents can support their child in getting the rest they need

 

Here’s what you need to know about attending this exclusive masterclass

 

When: July 20 at 11am EDT

Where: A link to Zoom will be sent in reminder emails the day of the event

Replay: A replay will be available to you ONLY if you register for this event AND for a limited time.

 

About Joelle

Certified child sleep consultant and certified in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy - Insomnia for adults. Joelle comes from working in the field of infant and child development including mental health for the past 20 years working with families in their homes, childcare and school in family centred supports with goals driven by the families using evidenced based practices with the heart of the functioning of the family and relationships a priority.

Joelle has presented workshops on Autism and Sleep with Autism Ontario, the Ontario Association of Infant and Child Development and several Ontario Community Living agencies. Joelle is also the parent to two young adults.

A workshop for Berkshire parents/carers who have children and young people with additional needs who struggle with their sleep due to anxiety.

Our specialist Sleep Practitioners have all been trained by the Southampton NHS Sleep Service and have professional backgrounds in learning disability nursing, social work and teaching. Most importantly, they are also parent/carers of children and teenagers with additional needs.

Topics covered:

• Why do we need sleep?
• What happens when you don’t get enough sleep?
• Common sleep problems
• What is anxiety?
• Some types of anxiety
• How to manage your child’s anxiety
• Mindfulness exercise
• Breathing exercise
• Reading suggestions and resources
• Opportunity to ask questions

Unfortunately, problems associated with sleep are a common issue among individuals in the general population, with even higher rates reported among those diagnosed with a mental illness and/or chemical health disorder. As such, it is imperative for these impacted individuals to receive appropriate supports and services from mental health and substance use treatment professionals who understand the complexities of sleep dysfunction. Designed for professionals working in mental health and substance abuse treatment settings, this training provides attendees with a working understanding of the causes, consequences, and interventions associated with sleep disturbances and disorders among client-based populations. Special emphasis is placed on implications for screening, intake, and treatment and discharge planning throughout this training. Empirically based research findings and case study examples will be highlighted throughout this training.

Kaitlin Alvey MS,OTR/L, TheraTree Clinical Manager and Occupational Therapist, leads this hybrid in-person and virtual workshop.

Deadline to register: Thursday, April 15th, 2021

If you are making the blanket for someone specific you will need to know their weight as weighted blankets need to be 5 - 10% of the person weight.

Virtual attendees will be responsible for obtaining their own supplies (see below).

In-Person attendees will need to follow our clinic's COVID procedures. Supplies for in-person attendees will be provided. Extra sewing machines are needed if you have one.

A weighted blanket is similar to a regular blanket, but has small weighted material inside it. The blanket is a little heavy and applies a firm consistent pressure to the body that is underneath of it. Weighted blankets come in all sorts of sizes and textures.

Weighted blankets provide proprioceptive and tactile input. This input provides an organizing effect to the central nervous system and stimulate the release of neurotransmitters. This can be very calming and relaxing in general. It’s also why weighted blankets can also be used to relax at any time, not just for sleep.

Virtual Supply List:

• Material for the outer blanket such as lightweight fleece or close weave polycotton such as bedding (duvets are great for this project).
• Sewing machine (not a mini sewing machine)
• Basic sewing kit, including scissors, pins and thread. The thread will show on your blanket on the stitching you use to create the pockets which distribute the weight evenly through your blanket so choose a colour that matches or contrasts your material colour
• Aquarium Gravel or Plastic pellets to create the weight for your blanket. These are recommended for blankets and can be washed if needed.
• Simple food scale for measuring weight.

Signs Your Child May Respond to a Weighted Blanket:

• Loves sleeping or laying under piles of blankets or heavy comforters.
• Enjoys crawling into tight spaces or behind furniture
• Has difficulty (even after a lot of physical activity) relaxing and sitting still
• Likes wearing heavy sweatshirts and sweaters

Diagnoses and Symptoms:

• Autism
• Sensory Processing Disorder
• • ADD/ADHD
• Anxiety
• Sleep difficulties

Kaitlin Alvey, TheraTree Clinical Manager

Kaitlin Alvey earned her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Kentucky University. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Science from Eastern Kentucky University in 2015. Kaitlin completed additional certification for working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) through an Interdisciplinary Autism Certificate program. She has presented posters discussing social skills groups for individuals with autism at the OCALICON Autism Conference and the AOTA student conclave in 2016. She has had the opportunity to present to various housing staffs, at Eastern Kentucky University, about disability awareness in the residence halls and including students with disabilities in the housing environment. During her graduate assistantship, she was able to create a pilot mentoring program to promote the success of students with disabilities in higher education. She had the opportunity to present the program at the Milestones Autism Conference in 2017 and also in 2016 with her co-leader at the EKU Research Day. Kaitlin hopes to continue with creating and implementing new programs to promote the success and self-determination for individuals with disabilities. She has special interests in the areas of safety training, mental health, and autism spectrum disorder. She intends to complete research and pursue a doctorate. In her free time, Kailtin loves to run, craft, bake, decorate, and read. She also refinishes furniture and shops at antique malls with her family.

Get a better night's sleep

A growing number of insomnia sufferers are looking for a better night’s sleep under a weighted blanket. These trendy blankets are filled with pellets, balls, or chains, which give them their heft. Fans of the blankets say the pressure feels like a firm hug, giving new meaning to the word “comforter.”

A blanket that hugs you all night long sounds awfully nice. And some experts say it's plausible that weighted blankets could help fend off sleeplessness. “Given that insomnia is frustrating, it can lead to anxiety-related to sleep (or lack thereof) even in individuals who are not typically anxious,” says Courtney Golding, Ph.D., a sleep psychologist at Spectrum Health Sleep Medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Some individuals may need a little extra soothing at bedtime—exactly the kind of soothing that a weighted blanket is designed to provide. Golding says that “steady sensory input and pressure can reduce the body’s physiological arousal level, leading to a reduction in feelings of anxiety and tension.” Still, Golding says there are more questions than answers about the benefits of weighted blankets for people with sleep issues. 

Read more about the potential sleep benefits of weighted blankets.