activities · 9
what they do
direct service · 5
- Offering Bursary Assistance Targeted Educational ScholarshipsProvides bursary assistance to students and families to ensure access to its educational programming regardless of financial barriers.
- Offering Electives and Extracurricular Activities Student Enrichment & Extracurricular ProgramsOffers electives, extracurricular activities, and clubs in addition to the basic curriculum for its students.
- Operating a Designated Special Education Private School Special Education for Learning DifferencesOperates a private school in Calgary for students in grades 3 to 12 with diagnosed learning disabilities, including dyslexia, providing quality educational programs, accommodations, and supports such as educational assistants, assistive technology, and Individualized Program Plans (IPPs).
- Providing Community-Based Educational and Psychological Support Special Education for Learning DifferencesOffers educational interventions and support for individuals with learning disabilities in reading, writing, and/or math, including dyslexia, and provides treatment-informed support for individuals with ADHD, addressing co-existing conditions, through its Estelle Siebens Community Services.
- Providing Student Transportation ServicesProvides bussing services for students within Calgary city limits and Cochrane.
advocacy · 1
- Advocacy and Public Education on Learning Disabilities Disability Inclusion & Advocacy TrainingEngages in research, public education, in-service training, advocacy, and community service related to learning disabilities.
capacity building · 3
- Expanding Professional Development for Educators Educator Professional Development ProgramsIncreases professional development opportunities for educators across Canada.
- Integrating Community Programs Parent & Family Training for Special NeedsAbsorbed the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta – Calgary Chapter in 2013, integrating the Let’s Be Social program and Camp Amicus into its offerings.
- Producing an Annual Report to the Community Annual Impact & Transparency ReportingProduces an annual Report to the Community detailing activities in its school programs and Community Services.
strategies · 6
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Evidence-based and best practices in special education evidence-based practicesThe organization commits to using evidence-based and best practices in education and psychology, ensuring staff are expertly trained and receive regular professional development to remain at the forefront of the Learning Disabilities and ADHD field.
- Fostering self-determination self-determination theoryThe organization applies Self-Determination Theory to help students maximize their potential by focusing on fostering understanding, confidence, and autonomy.
- Integrated education and community services integrated education and community servicesThe organization operates a full-time school program for students with learning disabilities and extends support to the external community through dedicated community services, including parental involvement and education.
- Network collaboration for broader impact network collaborationThe organization operates the Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network, a collaborative initiative involving multiple organizations, to support its approach to addressing Learning Disabilities and ADHD.
- Neurodevelopmental approach to learning disabilities and ADHD neurodevelopmental_approachThe organization uses a neurodevelopmental framework to understand learning disabilities, focusing on impairments in perception, cognition, memory, and learning processes, and applies this model to ADHD by emphasizing self-regulation challenges in thinking, emotion, and behavior.
- Student-centered, individualized special education student-centered special educationThe organization focuses on helping students with learning disabilities reach their full potential by individualizing the learning environment, fostering understanding, building confidence, and maximizing individual potential based on their unique learning styles and developmental stages. This approach is rooted in the belief that all students with learning disabilities have exceptional potential.
named programs · 7
what they call their work
Bursary Program
Provides financial assistance to families to ensure that finances are not a barrier to accessing the school and community services programs.
Camp Amicus
A program absorbed from the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta – Calgary Chapter.
Estelle Siebens Community Services
Offers psychological and educational support to individuals and families in the community, whether or not they attend the school program.
LD & ADHD Network (Calgary Region)
A collaborative initiative providing evidence-based local information for parents, adults, and educators regarding Learning Disabilities and ADHD.
Let’s Be Social program
A program absorbed from the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta – Calgary Chapter, focusing on socialization.
School Program
Full-time school program for students in Grade 3 - 12 with Learning Disabilities (such as Dyslexia), teaching the Alberta Education curriculum with accommodations and supports.
Summer School
Offers academic programming during the summer for students.
relationships · 17
who they work with
- Alberta Education Government — Responsible for regulatory oversight under the Private Schools Regulation and Education Grants Regulation.
- Alberta Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta (AISCA) Partner — Executive Director Simon Williams is a Past-President of the Board of Directors.
- Blackfoot Confederacy Government — Recognizes the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy in its land acknowledgement.
- CADDAC Partner — Cites CADDAC as a source for general ADHD information and treatment response data.
- Calgary Foundation Funder — Supported website redesign and online course development through a donation.
- Calgary Rotary Club Funder — Provided support to help the new school get started.
- Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC) Partner — Executive Director Karen MacMillan is on the Board of Directors.
- Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta (LDAA) Partner — Executive Director Karen MacMillan is a Past President of the Board of Directors.
- Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta – Calgary Chapter Partner — Absorbed into Foothills Academy in 2013, bringing its programs.
- Learning Disabilities Association of Canada Network — References the official LDAC definition of learning disabilities in diagnostic framework.
- Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) Partner — Executive Director Simon Williams is on the Board of Directors, and Executive Director Karen MacMillan is on the Professional Advisory Committee.
- Métis Nation of Alberta Government — Recognizes the presence of the Métis Nation of Alberta in its land acknowledgement.
- Nickle Family Foundation Funder — Provided support to help the new school get started.
- St. Pius Elementary school Partner — Provided rented space for Foothills Academy's initial operations in 1979.
- Stoney Nakoda Government — Recognizes the traditional territory of the Stoney Nakoda in its land acknowledgement.
- Tsuut’ina First Nation Government — Recognizes the traditional territory of the Tsuut’ina First Nation in its land acknowledgement.
- University of Calgary Partner — Executive Director Karen MacMillan is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at the Werklund School of Education.