Studio 3 Canada

09/11/2025

We are exhibiting at the Autism Europe Congress in Dublin, if you are attending please come and say Hi and have a chat to one of our team (Stand 08)

08/23/2025

The phrase “challenging behaviour” was invented nearly 40 years ago, in 1987, in a King’s Fund Centre report. Only two editors were named. The true authors were never made public. No disabled voices were credited.

And yet this "UK-made phrase", never recognized in the DSM or ICD was adopted into policy, training, and guidance worldwide.

Over time, it became a label pinned on children and adults. A tool to stigmatize. A justification for restraint, seclusion, and exclusion.

So the question isn’t just where did this phrase come from? It’s:
👉 Who created it?
👉 Who benefited from it?
👉 And why has it been allowed to shape decades of harm?

Since 2019, ICARS has been uncovering this history — mapping the UK entities, individuals, and networks behind the spread of this language, recovering out-of-print reports, analysing historic restraint training and ‘reduction’ manuals, and tracing how it shaped today’s culture of restraint and seclusion in education.

Our research shows how a phrase with no science behind it, no collaboration with the disability community, and no disabled expertise has become embedded in policy and practice — propping up the very systems tied to the Restraint Industrial Complex.

07/15/2025

“Just make a calm-down space in your room!” they say, as if emotional regulation can be solved with a bean bag chair, a glitter jar, and a cute sign that says “breathe.” But here’s what so many people miss: when I’m dysregulated when my nervous system is in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn...

04/16/2025

We still have two spots available for tomorrow’s online course.

April 17, 2025 - 9 am - 3:30 pm Mountain Time Featuring Jill Wur The one day, 6 hour Low Arousal Training focuses primarily on practical, non-confrontational approaches to supporting individuals who experience significant stress and present behaviours that may be difficult to manage. Training encour...

04/16/2025

10/31/2024

We are potentially going to run a Spring Train the Trainer in Winnipeg, MB. Currently, we have 10 spots open. Let us know if you would like to reserve a spot.

2025 Training Dates of All 3 Required Phases Phase 1 - March 10 - 14th Phase 2 - April 28 - May 2nd Phase 3 - June 2 - 6th Location (TBA) - Winnipeg, MB

10/29/2024

We have 7 spots available for our winter Vancouver, BC Train the Trainer Course.

Winter Training Dates of All 3 Required Phases Phase 1: January 20-24, 2025 Phase 2: February 24-28, 2025 Phase 3: April 7-11, 2025 Location (TBA) - Surrey, BC

10/29/2024

This is very important information to help us understand the difference between what is a compliance based approach vs. an interoception-based approach.

New poster! If you want a FREE printable PDF version of the poster featured here, comment “interoceptionbased” below and get download instructions right to your messages inbox.

Recently, we shared a post about the key differences between compliance-based and interoception-based approaches. The response was incredible and we had requests to format it into a 1-pager. So, here it is.

Please feel free to share it widely, hang it on your wall, use it to start important conversations about the systems shifts that lie ahead. We are in this together.

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Image Description: a green and blue tile with information about the new poster

10/19/2024

10/17/2024

Back in 1996, Martha Leary and David Hill began doing research on the types of challenges that autistic individuals have in regards to communication, challenging behaviors, and in the inability to control one’s movements. They called these challenges movement differences. Their definition:

Movement difference is a difference, interference, or shift in efficient and effective use of movement. A disruption in the organization and regulation of perception, action, posture, language, speech and emotions.

Back in 1996, Martha Leary and David Hill began doing research on the types of challenges that autistic individuals have in regards to communication, challenging behaviors, and in the inability to control one’s movements. They called these challenges movement differences. Their definition: Movemen...

10/17/2024

There are only 8 places left for the November 21st online training. Book soon if you wish to take the Low Arousal Introductory Course.

November 21, 2024 - 9 am - 3:30 pm Mountain Daylight Time Featuring Jill Wur The one day, 6 hour Low Arousal Training focuses primarily on practical, non-confrontational approaches to supporting individuals who experience significant stress and present behaviours that may be difficult to manage. Tra...