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14 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 17, 2001 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" By Rik Davie Port Perry Star Brandon Watson is a bright and energetic seven- year-old with some impres- sive gifts... and some chal- lenges to address. He suffers from a perva- sive development disorder (PDD) that has given him a talent for math, yet leaves him with problems with even minor communication skills. They are basic com- munication skills that could be addressed with therapy the Durham District School Board cannot fund, and won't allow his parents to pay for. Mary Ann Watson has + fought for her son's educa- tion with the same level of energy that parents of most special needs kids must have, especially in the cur- rent climate of education cutbacks and restructured funding. What Brandon needs - and the board cannot give him - is time with a speech and communication thera- pist. "It's hard for Brandon to interact, and social skills are a real chore for him," Mrs. Watson said. "His math skills are very good, and some- times | think the problem is that he's borderline in some areas (for funding) and so the help just isn't there." Mrs. Watson and her hus- band Garnet, who live in Port Perry, are more fortu- nate than some parents of special needs. They have the kind of medical insur- ance that will pay for a ther- 'apist to work with Brandon. But they're not being allowed to. Durham District School Board policy does not allow for "individual parents to privately purchase in-school or in-class student assis- tance, including personal support workers or in-school professional services." Board superintendent Gail Elliott said the proce- dure is based both on legal - By Joan Hood RD, CDE Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends too much food. Is this true or false? This is definetly false. For those consumers that believe the food guide recommends too much food, education about the serving sizes and numbers of servings would be helpful. Take a closer look at the serving sizes - they're not as big as you think!!! Examples of | serving of Grain Products are: * 1/2 bagel, which is about the size of a hockey puck * 172 cup pasta or rice, which is about the size of a light bulb Examples of | serving of Vegetables and fruit are: * | medium sized piece of ble or fruit, which is about the size of a tennis ball * 1 cup of salad, which is about the size of your fist Examples of 1 serving of Milk and Milk Products are: * 1 oz or 50 grams of cheese, which is about the size of two fingers * 175 grams or 3/4 cup of yogurt, which is the single size available in grocery stores Examples of | serving of Meat and Altemates are: * 3 oz or 90-100 grams of cooked meat, which is about the size of a cassette tapeora deck of cards * 2tbsp.'s of peanut butter, which is about the size of a ping pong ball Individual needs and preferences determine many personal food choices. Different peo- ple have different needs. The key is to match your food choices to your lifestyle and indi- vidual requirements. Choose enough food to achieve a healthy body size. The numbers of servings that you need to eat from each food group depends on your age, gender, activity level and lifestyle stage (ie. adolescence, pregnancy, breastfeeding). Generally growing teenagers and adults who enjoy regular physical activity need to eat the higher number of servings from each of the food groups. As a foundation for healthy eating, the Food Guide applies to all healthy Canadians over the age of four. For more information send questions to Box 5283 Port Perry or call 985-6946. *By Nutrition at Work, a group of Port Perry Dietitians providing individual and group counselling. This message sponsored by CTAAR [21 = of Wied =I OVERRIDGE FIREPLACE WAREHOUSE ) Casimir St., Port Perry 1-800-638-4751 tlxpert Sales, Service and Installations since 1982 'NAPOLEON - Jel oR: 021 Bringing You Ivpert and internal board concems. "There is a concem by our legal department about liability when third parties use board facilities, for what- ever reason," Ms Elliott said. "As well, we have just redi- rected principals to make sure the policy is being served so that we do not run into (staff working for par- ents)." Mrs. Watson said she wants the policy changed. "He (Brandon) was get- ting some therapy before and his progress was remarkable, but he needs this on an ongoing basis. Sometime in January we opted to pay for the service ourselves, but now they (the board) have pulled the plug." Ms Elliott said that the board has to stick by its pol- icy of not allowing parents to pay for programs that aren't supplied within the board's budget. "Some parents who have the money have been pay- ing for third parties to work with students," she said. "If that person should happen to be an employee of the board, well, that could be viewed as a conflict. Also, we have to keep in mind that if this is during regular school hours, it takes time from the regular curriculum." Meanwhile, funding restraints continue to threaten programs for spe- - cial needs children in the For Super Deals & Gre ~ Come see on or Brian Nori Williamson (905) 852-3382 | Ef CHEVROLET UXordge pop OLDSMOBILE Family battles board for son's s public school system. Mrs. Watson is aware of this, and vows to keep up her efforts to secure the kind of therapy she feels will help her son progress, and Richards f Mary Ann and Garnet Watson with son 12800263-2000 peech therapy a 3 . W AYERS; flourish. And she feels there's nothing wrong with parents paying for those programs, if they can. "If we have parents who Brandon and daughter Alana. can pay for extra help because we have the insurance or other means, then that should free up funding for those who can- not," she said. he : 400 Taunton: Road East, Whitby, Room 2007. Social time and refreshments fol- fil _ low the presentation (lug-a- PONTIAC GA CADILLAC GMC TRUCK 852-3331 852.3357 198774862-3367 mug). Everyone welcome. For further information, 'call 433-7875. at Service