WHO is RPM Connections?

I began learning RPM when my son Fox was 7 years old back in May 2014.  I had decided to homeschool him the previous year and was looking for an education method that was geared towards non-verbal autistic students that also included academics and not just life skills. I travelled to Texas with my son to do a 4 day camp at HALO with Soma Mukhopadhyay so Fox and I could both learn how to do RPM at home. Ever since then RPM has completely transformed our lives. It not only improved Fox's quality of life but the quality of life of our whole family. I am now able to teach him age-appropriate academics, enjoy his hilarious sense of humor and experience his growing love of poetry and science. RPM is something I am passionate about and I want to help others achieve success with it. I believe in lifelong learning and will continue to grow my skills while working with my students.

My experience:

• Working 1-on-1 with RPM students since Sept 2016.
• Completed the Soma RPM 4-Day Introductory Course at HALO in Austin, TX in June 2016 
• Attended the HALO RPM Conference - "The Diversity of RPM" in Mar 2017 in Austin, TX.
• Attended RPM Webinar: Working with Verbal Students with Jackie Dorshorst, December 2017 
• Attended the HALO RPM Conference - "The Diversity of RPM II" in Mar 2019 in Austin, TX.
• Currently serving as a Parent Advisor for Canada to HALO (https://www.halo-soma.org/) beginning in February 2020
• Attended RPM Webinar: Discussion on Strategies to Deal with Behaviours Using RPM Techniques with Soma Mukhopadhyay, April 2020
• Attended RPM Webinar: Motor Planning and Skill Development for Independence with Soma Mukhopadhyay,  May 2020
• Completed the Soma RPM Advanced Training, August 2020
• Attended RPM Webinar: Developing Communication Skills with Soma Mukhopadhyay, January 2021
• Attended RPM Webinar: Progression of Motor Movement with Soma Mukhopadhyay, February 2021
• Attended RPM Webinar: Evolving Purposeful Speech Using RPM with Soma Mukhopadhyay, Nov 2021
• Attended RPM Webinar: How to help students overcome behaviour and OCD challenges using RPM principles with Soma Mukhopadhyay April 2022
• Attended RPM Webinar: Math with RPM with Lenae Crandall October 2022
• Attended RPM Webinar: Developing Purposeful Kinesthetic Skills with Soma Mukhopadhyay October 2022
• Attended RPM Webinar: Steps Towards Developing Meaningful Communication with Soma Mukhopadhyay December 2022
• Promoted from a Level 2 to a Level 3 RPM Practitioner in June 2023
• Attended Halo/Soma RPM Connections Course Jan 3 & 4, 2024
• Presenter at the 2024 HALO RPM Conference in Long Island, New York: "Making RPM Connections: Developing Hobbies And Activities With Our Students"

Our RPM journey began in August 2015 when we travelled to Austin Texas to see Soma. Due to his verbal limitations, my son Griffin had always struggled at school to demonstrate any knowledge or learning. This caused the school to teach him below his grade level and repeat the same work school year after school year. I was constantly searching for a way that could help Griffin learn age appropriate academics and demonstrate his knowledge – RPM was our answer!

It has been amazing to watch his confidence grow and his knowledge and learning expand both at home and at school. All kids deserve to learn age appropriate academics and feel they have a way to express what they have learned. Image having all of these ideas and knowledge in your head with no way to express it! I am passionate about helping kids that learn just a little bit differently – this is why I am passionate about RPM.

My experience:

• Attended the HALO RPM Conference “The Diversity of RPM” Austin, TX March 2017
• Completed the Soma 4-Day Introductory Course at HALO, Austin, TX April 2018
• Working 1:1 with RPM students since August 2018
• Attended the HALO RPM Conference - "The Diversity of RPM II" in Mar 2019 in Austin, TX.
• Attended RPM Webinar: Discussion on Strategies to Deal with Behaviours Using RPM Techniques with Soma Mukhopadhyay, April 2020
• Attended RPM Webinar:  2 Day Lesson Planning Workshop, April 2020
• Attended RPM Webinar: Motor Planning and Skill Development for Independence with Soma Mukhopadhyay,  May 2020
• Completed the Soma RPM Advanced Training, August 2020
• Attended RPM Webinar: Evolving Purposeful Speech Using RPM with Soma Mukhopadhyay, Nov 2021
• Attended RPM Webinar: How to help students overcome behaviour and OCD challenges using RPM principles with Soma Mukhopadhyay April 2022
• Attended RPM Webinar: Developing Purposeful Kinesthetic Skills with Soma Mukhopadhyay October 2022
• Promoted from a Level 2 to a Level 3 RPM Practitioner in June 2023
• Presenter at the 2024 HALO RPM Conference in Long Island, New York: "Making RPM Connections: Developing Hobbies And Activities With Our Students"
• Attended Halo/Soma RPM Connections Course May 28 & 29, 2024