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​My ability to offer the services that I do
is because of my own journey that has brought me to where I am today.​

I am a professional.

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I have been in the same career for over 25 years and with that, I have seen and experienced the complications that arise within the special needs, education and human services fields. This has made me want to do something that genuinely addresses the feelings of helplessness experienced by all of us within these fields, who are trying to do the best we can to deliver support that truly makes a difference.

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I am a parent.

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I have been a parent for almost the same amount of time and with that, I have personally lived, and continue to live, the challenges of raising and accompanying neurodiverse children in a society that wasn't necessarily built on accepting and embracing people as they are. This has made me want to do something that genuinely addresses the feelings of powerlessness in certain situations and in identifying and meeting the needs of our children.

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I am a daughter and a caregiver.

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I have been the caregiver for my father who has Alzheimer's for the last 6 years and with that, I have personally lived, and continue to live, the struggles of navigating systems and services that are not always able to provide adequate support and belonging. This has made me want to do something that genuinely addresses the feelings of hopelessness that being a caregiver can bring, when all we want is for our loved one to feel cared for and included.

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I am a human.

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I have also been focused on caring for myself for almost the same amount of time and with that, I have had to face burnout along with many painful realizations that I am the one who often gets in my own way. This has made me want to do something that genuinely addresses the negative impacts to our own well-being that misunderstanding and ignoring our own needs can have.

 

All of these experiences have led me to develop my unique approach and services.

 

​My intention is to support you in:

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  • getting curious about yourself and your everyday experiences

  • clarying your own needs along with the person/people you are caring for

  • embracing your own human diversity and other's

  • facilitating the process of caring for yourself and others,

  • making decisions that are more aligned to your true desires

  • increasing the effectiveness of the supports that you are providing or receiving.

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In practice, this looks like:

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  • guidance and accompaniment rooted in your everyday reality

  • openness to trying new things

  • continuous research and exploration of various resources and ideas

  • focus on finding solutions that will contibrute to long term success in addition to alleviating the immediate challenges

  • no minimums or maximums to the amount of hours of service that you receive

  • use of methods that are not based in compliance and pre-conceived notions, but in understanding, curiosity and respect

  • focus on functional ability (real life skills,) personal gain, and actual independence, rather than performance or perfection

  • and more.....

Laurie Mitchell, DSW, SET

MY EDUCATION

Developmental Services Worker 

(Georgian College, Orillia, Ontario)

Developmental Services Workers (DSWs) are trained professionals who support children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities in all aspects of life across the lifespan. They promote inclusion, self-determination, community engagement, advocacy and citizenship, while respecting each individual’s right to direct their own life.

DSWs are trained in practical skills such as sign language, medication administration, health care skills, teaching strategies, counselling supports, and use of assistive devices and technology. Their training also covers a wide range of areas, including intellectual, physical, and mental disabilities, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

DSWs work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams to foster independence,

well-being, and belonging.

Special Education Techniques

(Vanier College, Montréal, Québec)

The Special Education Techniques program at Vanier College

was formerly known as the Special Care Counsellor program.​

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According to the Quebec Association of Special Care Counsellors Code of Conduct,

 

“1.1 SPECIAL CARE COUNSELLOR (S.C.C) is defined as follows: A professional who intervenes with individuals or groups of individuals of any age who experience or are likely to experience various adjustment problems in the field of mental health, social services and education. The S.C.C. evaluates and accompanies the client through situations of daily living, educational, helping relationships, and through intervention techniques. The S.C.C. pursues objectives of social integration and personal development in the fields of prevention, education and rehabilitation. 

1.2. Their role consists of observing and evaluating the needs, abilities, lifestyles and behaviours of persons with psychosocial adjustment problems. The S.C.C. may also proceed with the screening, assessment, detection and identification of undiagnosed disorders. They must also assess the suicide risk and dangerousness exhibited by a person in crisis. They note the data in the record and write progress reports, using the method designated by their organization.

1.3. The S.C.C. has the obligation to establish an intervention plan for each client assigned to them, within the context of a planned intervention process.”

​My personal holistic approach includes techniques and strategies based in my understanding of

various theories and models including but not limited to;

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In my 27 years of experience, I have seen that there is not one single solution to any situation; instead, it is the combination of knowledge about our own experience and the understanding of our basic humanity that leads us to the solution that is right for us.

A woman is seen smiling while she is hugging a boy. We see the back of the boy`s head.
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