About Us

Since our programs happen only monthly or for short periods of time, you may see this page changing. No, people are not being fired or anything dramatic. Many of our wonderful leaders have full time Jobs or get opportunities for greater work and we need to find replacements. We love all the leaders at Spectrum Insights and want them to be happy and follow their dreams. As we grow I hope to be able to offer more hours and keep these fantastic people working for us. I am so proud to have such talented people on board!
-John Anderson - Program Director

All of our staff have a recent background check and updated first aid.

The Directors Updated First Aid and VSC is below. To see the first aid status you can click the link and add the Last Name and Validation #
100361128
Anderson
https://myrc.redcross.ca/ValidateCertificate/

Julie Bode

"Julie recently graduated with honours from the Educational Support Program at Centennial College. She is a mother to three young adults. Her oldest son attended the Moving Forward summer camp in 2016. Julie has enjoyed working with children of all ages and has worked at a middle school with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board for the past three years. She volunteers in a GLP class helping students on the autism spectrum. She enjoys strength training, swimming and obstacle course races in her spare time. She also loves crafting including knitting and crochet. Julie has had the opportunity to work at one of the Just for Girls social events in the past and is excited to be joining the Spectrum Insights team this fall running the Just for Girls social group."

Alex Woodcock

Introducing Alex!
Alex Woodcock recently graduated from the Child & Youth Worker program at Algonquin and currently taking Autism and Behavioral Sciences part time. Enjoys working with youth on the Autism Spectrum and adds a special insight as alex is also diagnosed with Aspergers.

When not working with Special needs youth, Alex is a lifeguard with 7 years experience, a swim instructor and teaches Aquafit in Ottawa.
Alex is the parental unit of two lovely fur baby cats, Sally & Tiggy, likes Broadway shows, cats, beta fish and fascinated by public transportation. Did we mention she likes cats? Alex brings enthusiasm and dated meme references to the table and hopes to build positive relationships with the youth she works with.
Alex is excited to add they're skills and creativity to the Spectrum Insights team! (also cat jokes, so many cat jokes)

John Anderson Program Director
I have been a caregiver since 1996, the last 7 helping children, teens and young adults on the autism spectrum learn life and social skills. During that time I found there were life skills that I was not able to teach during a personal coaching session in a classroom but could only be taught in the real world. I began to take my clients on social outings to better learn life skills, but found that there was still a social component missing. Under the advice of Jennifer Cowan, Director of the Astolot Education Centre, and the encouragement of parents, I started a summer camp for my clients in 2012. The Focus was Life skills and Social skills, the goal was to teach them how to be more independent and how to interact socially in the world and with each other. The groups were small, only 5 participants, so I was better able to give each student individual attention and coaching. It was a success so I began to open it up to students outside of of my client base in 2013.

My current vision is to reach out to more teens, as I find many of them reach an age where there are fewer and fewer programs available for them. As they near adulthood, they out grow school or not able to attend due to their personal limitations. Many parents of my clients express concerns over what to do w/ their ASD children. This is where the camp is filling a niche that my parents were looking for. It gives the teens a social group and they are among peers again. So as much as I am teaching life skills, this camp is giving them social opportunities and building the
lasting bonds of friendship.

If you have any questions about our programs please contact our Director John Anderson
using the form below.