Autism and Related Disorders in New Brunswick: For Conor the North Riverfront Trail Has Been a BIG Help in Dealing with COVID Shutdown Anxiety

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

For Conor the North Riverfront Trail Has Been a BIG Help in Dealing with COVID Shutdown Anxiety

Conor Happy on the North Riverfront Trail (NRT) Fredericton April 21 2020

Conor Happy on the North Riverfront Trail (NRT) Fredericton May 14 2020

Conor Happy on the North Riverfront Trail (NRT) Fredericton May 23 2020

Conor Happy on the North Riverfront Trail (NRT) Fredericton June 5 2020

Conor has ALWAYS loved the Fredericton trails, especially the North Riverfront Trail. He never needed to be coaxed into walking on the trail and he has walked, walked briskly, run, jumped and flew. I have usually been able to get pictures because he is ahead of me. I try to stay close and call to him to wait for Dad if he gets too far ahead.

When the COVID shutdown hit and he could not work at the Willie O'Ree we walked the trails especially the NRT but also Killarney. We didn't wait for direction from ANYONE. We walked 1-2 walks a day, sometimes as many as 4 times. There was no congestion. While there have been some moments of anxiety for Conor they have not been even remotely what they would have been without the trail walking. Not taking anything for granted but for now we will continue with a proven means of helping Conor stay Happy.

Below are some pictures of Conor over the years loving his time on the North Riverfront Trail, Fredericton:

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NB Needs an Adult Autism Center and Network

"Paul McDonnell, September, 2010 "Our greatest need at present is to develop services for adolescents and adults. What is needed is a range of residential and non-residential services and these services need to be staffed with behaviourally trained supervisors and therapists. In the past we have had the sad spectacle of individuals with autism being sent off to institutional settings such as the Campbellton psychiatric hospital, hospital wards, prisons, and even out of the country at enormous expense and without any gains to the individual, the family or the community. We need an enhanced group home system throughout the province in which homes would be linked directly to a major centre that could provide ongoing training, leadership and supervision. That major centre could also provide services for those who are mildly affected as well as permanent residential care and treatment for the most severely affected. Such a secure centre would not be based on a traditional "hospital" model but should, itself, be integrated into the community in a dynamic manner, possibly as part of a private residential development.The focus must be on education, positive living experiences, and individualized curricula. The key to success is properly trained professionals and staff."