Qi Creative Inc.

07/25/2024

🇨🇦 🌎 In Canada and around the world, numerous organizations and charities are dedicated to supporting people with disabilities. From comprehensive services to specialized support, these organizations play a crucial role in enhancing lives. ✨🤗

This Disability Pride Month, we're spotlighting top disability organizations and charities to explore how they can make a meaningful difference for you or your loved ones: https://loom.ly/6EgfJB0

07/18/2024

It’s summer break, which means it's Throwback time! 🌞✨ If you haven’t checked out our podcast yet, now’s the perfect time to enjoy some gems from the past! 🎙️▶️

In Episode 5, we had the pleasure of chatting with Coach Lisa about amazing books! ❣️📘

One highlight is "The Magical Yet" by Angela DiTerlizzi. This awesome book helps shift the language from "I can't" to "I can't, YET!" Featuring a fun and magical sprite, it's perfect for teaching resiliency, problem-solving, and persistence. 🧚‍♀️💖😍

Bonus: Draw and decorate your magical sprite after reading this book! (Just be careful with all that glitter!) 🌟✨

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! 🎙️💥

07/17/2024

🌍 The internet connects us with people around the world who share similar life experiences. Many incredible disability bloggers help educate and inform us about their journeys. 🌟

For Disability Pride Month, we're highlighting some great disability bloggers, including academics, professionals, parents, and more—each an amazing advocate for their community.

Check them out here: https://loom.ly/Y8i2a8Q

Woosh! 🎉

07/17/2024

Just a heads up, is taking a summer break! ☀️🍉
But don't worry, you can catch up on all our episodes so far on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! 🎙️👏 For a full list of episodes, visit https://loom.ly/1Ywr0pE

Got ideas for topics you'd love to hear about? Share them with us through our contact form on the website! 💬📢

07/16/2024

“Being able to create spaces that help us work better, learn better, and facilitate our well-being is a no-brainer. We all have sensory sensitivities and preferences, and if we design with diverse neurological experiences in mind, we will design better for everyone.”

💡Discover more about Bushra Hashim, an architectural designer, accessibility consultant, and sessional instructor from the University of Calgary. Learn about her lived experiences as neurodivergent, with examples and solutions for Inclusive Design: https://loom.ly/zevhlX4 🌟

Woosh! 🎉

Designing for Neurodiversity...

07/11/2024

🌟 💜 Every day, disability rights leaders are actively sharing their advocacy, resources, and wisdom. From podcasts and books to memoirs and government offices, they challenge perceptions and inspire change around disabled identities and lives.

Continuing our celebration of Disability Pride Month, here are 8 Disability Rights Leaders You Should Know: https://loom.ly/lr8Zquk 🌟💪🌈

07/10/2024

🌟 Linda reflects on her time with The Young Master Club, sharing joyful experiences with her grandson and many foster kids in the "Mini Masters" sessions. The club's fun, learning, and inclusivity keep her coming back for more!

Want to learn more about the Young Master Club? Visit QiAdventureClub.com. Registration for the 2024/2025 season opens in September 2024, with sessions starting in October 2024.

🎙️✨ Catch all the episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! ✨👏

Woosh! 🎉

🌈🎉👧👦

07/09/2024

🌟 Your worth is NOT defined by how productive you are. 🌟

Whether you're relaxing, pursuing hobbies, or spending time with loved ones, every moment counts. Embrace the joy and celebrate what makes you unique! 🌈✨🧡

Take a breath, enjoy the journey, and remember—you're AWESOME just as you are. 💫

Woosh! 🎉

07/08/2024

📬 Are you in the loop? Qi Creative publishes a monthly newsletter packed with inspiring stories from our coaches and clients, exciting new adventures, podcast episodes, and more! 🚀✨

Click the link, add your email, and you're good to go! Subscribe Here: https://loom.ly/YXEeIOY

Woosh! 🎉

07/06/2024

We're Hiring! and

Join our Awesome Team! 🙌

✨💖 Qi Creative attracts innovators, visionaries, and leaders who are inspired to create and share their awesome with children, families, and schools, of all abilities.

❣️ 🎉 Are you a visionary who dares to dream outside-the-box to improve the lives of children, youth, and families living with special needs?

💥 🎶 Have you always wanted to utilize your own personal talents, passions, and interests to make a difference in peoples’ lives across Alberta through world-class coaching, training, and services?

🧩 🌈 If you are looking for challenging, rewarding, and inspiring work, and would make an awesome addition to Qi Creative, please apply with your cover letter and resume to communications [at] qicreative [dot] com

07/05/2024

📢 In Episode 11 Linda shares a favourite poem by Vincent Moore that deeply resonates with her. 🌟 She's always on a journey, mindful of the impact we have on each other's lives, no matter how long or short we "ride the train together." Linda has fostered 175 kids over 36 years and is now completing the adoption of her 10th child. ❤️

Tune in for her inspiring story and reflections! 🎙️✨ is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! ✨👏

Woosh! 🎉

07/04/2024

🌈 July is Disability Pride Month! 🌈
Let's celebrate by learning about the Disability Pride flag:

🖤 The Black Field: Symbolizes mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence, and represents rebellion and protest.

💙💚💛🧡❤️ The Five Colours: Reflect the diversity of needs and experiences, including invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, physical disabilities, neurodivergence, psychiatric disabilities, and sensory disabilities.

📏 The Parallel Stripes: Signify solidarity within the Disability Community, embracing all its differences.

🔺 The Diagonal Band: Represents "cutting across" barriers that separate disabled people; symbolizing creativity and light breaking through the darkness.

For more information, check out this throwback from the Qi Creative Blog! https://loom.ly/HLAZLKU

07/03/2024

🌞 Kick off your summer with a scavenger hunt! 🕵️‍♂️🔍 Scavenger hunts are a free and fun way to get your family outside, exploring their senses and surroundings. You can look for specific items like bugs, stones, or leaves, or keep it open-ended with prompts like "something green," "something cold," or "something bumpy."

Happy hunting! 🌿🐞🍃 Get your download sheet here: https://loom.ly/hKLwdKQ

06/30/2024

In Episode 11 of , Linda shares two tips for new foster parents:

✨ It's okay to have cornflakes for supper sometimes! 🥣
❣️ Don't take behaviours personally. Foster kids may have strong reactions, but their anger often isn't about you—you're just the nearest person to receive it. 💡

Discover Qi Talks: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! ✨👏 Don't miss out—listen and learn with us. 🎙️🌈

Woosh! 🎉

06/26/2024

We love sensory bins at Qi Creative!
Here are some quick tips to create your own:

➡️ Choose a bin size: storage tub or shoebox (just not a real one for wet bins!). 📦
➡️ Dry bases: rice, sand, kinetic sand, toy beads, lentils. 🍚🏖️🔮
Wet bases: water, playdough paste, hydrated orbeez. 💧🌈
➡️ Water bins are perfect for a warm summer day! ☀️💦
➡️ Bored kids? Revive old Lego, cars, and figurines in a sensory bin. 🚗🧸
➡️ Keep small objects away from younger kids. 🚫👶
➡️ Add cookie cutters and measuring cups for extra fun! 🍪📏

06/25/2024

- SAVE THE DATE! 📅 Episode 011 drops on June 30th, featuring an inspiring chat with Linda Mills, who has fostered over 170 kids in her incredible career! 👩‍👧‍👦✨ She shares valuable advice for new foster parents and speaks to her own journey as a foster parent and as a 71 year old participant in the Young Master Club for Taekwondo! 🥋❤️

Woosh! 🎉

Tune in for more awesome Qi Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! ✨🤩

06/23/2024

We had an amazing celebration BBQ for our dedicated Qi coaches and their loved ones on Friday evening! 🌭🍔 It was a special thank you for all their hard work throughout the year (especially with so much to wrap up at the end of the school year!). To top it off, we had a blast watching Game 6 and cheering on the Oilers while enjoying the outdoors! 🏒📺

Woosh! 🎉

06/13/2024

According to Statistics Canada (2022), about 1 million people in Canada identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, making up 4% of the population aged 15 and older.

Check out our Qi Blog to discover 9 Disabled 2SLGBTQIA+ Trailblazers. These media figures are creating space, sparking conversations, and highlighting the intersections of q***r and disabled representation in their countries and communities. 🏳️‍🌈 ✨

https://loom.ly/ycXBYWA

06/12/2024

🥒 🌮 Our Qi OT Coaches love the SOS Approach to Feeding, and the Fun with Food Card Deck helps parents and therapists guide kids to enjoy a varied diet through playful, stress-free activities. With 99 fun tasks, it guides kids through steps like seeing, smelling, touching, and tasting new foods with games, songs, and art! 🌟 🎵

Check out "Fun with Food Card Deck: 99 Playful Activities to Help Picky Eaters and Problem Feeders Explore New Foods," published Sept 2023 by Dr. Kay Toomey online or at your favourite bookstore.

06/11/2024

Episode 10 with Coach Connor reaches "great heights" in free and risky play! 🌳 Coach Connor reminisces about climbing trees during his childhood, while Paula shares her passion for encouraging risky play. She explains how she supports her little ones to go for it, as long as they remember every step matters and they feel secure and confident. 🌟 ❣️

Watch/Listen to this episode and inspire your kids to enjoy confidence-building free and risky play! Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! ✨🤩

Woosh! 🎉

06/10/2024

My Name is Trauma offers a unique approach to learning about trauma that is educational, practical, and imaginative. Trauma can lead to anxiety due to changes in the brain, such as an overdeveloped fear response and increased stress hormones. Get your copy of the book and join the movement of creating healing and resilience through creative learning and play. 🐯 📘

On June 10th, join Anxiety Canada on their Action Anxiety Day (AAD) created to raise awareness, dispel common anxiety myths, and underscore the importance of prioritizing mental health in our society.

means:
✨ 👀 Awareness – Spread the word about anxiety and resources.
💙 🧡 Colours – Wear blue and orange on June 10.
🗨️ 💬 Talking – Share your anxiety stories and encourage others to do the same.

Let’s break the stigma together!

06/06/2024

There are tons of benefits to risky play! In the occupational therapy world, we see activities in terms of self-care, productivity, and leisure. For kids, PLAY is their productivity because it's how they learn about themselves and become active members of society—play really is the WORK of the child! 🤸‍♀️ 😜

Risky play is where kids really practice, learn, and grow, but it's becoming less common these days. So, Coach Connor says: Get your kids out there and let them explore, learn and have fun with risky play! 🌟 🤼

🔈👂 Listen to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! 🎧💎

06/05/2024

💡 🧠 New blog post: 13 Funding Sources for Disabled Canadians ✨ 👍

Every family living with disabilities knows that equipment: wheelchairs and power chairs, hearing aids, tablets and other AAC devices, adaptive seats, sensory tools like headphones and Loop earplugs, ramps and handlebars, and more—can be cost prohibitive, even though they are adaptations many of our clients need to live equitably in their communities.

With that in mind, we've found 13 different organizations and resources (some national, some provincial), from scholarships and employment support, to full or partial funding for specialized equipment.

Read more on the Qi blog: QiCreative.com/blog

Woosh! 🎉

06/01/2024

Did you know Canada is home to around 1,000,000 2SLGBTQIA+ people? This includes several amazing members of our Qi team and village who create awesome in their communities every day. 🌈

Pride Month is here to celebrate the diverse identities of Two-Spirit, Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Q***r, Intersex and additional sexualities and gender-diverse people. Let's recognize the importance of fostering safe and inclusive communities for everyone in Canada and celebrate the fundamental right to be treated equally, with dignity and respect. 🏳️‍🌈✨

05/31/2024

What is free and risky play? 🤔

On Episode 10, we chat with Coach Connor, Occupational Therapist, about why free and risky play is so valuable in developing independence, confidence, and self-esteem 🧠💪🤸‍♂️, as well as why it's so important for kids to push their own boundaries and comfort levels🌟😝.

It is enlightening conversation, especially during a time with phones, devices, and social media are taking so much of our children's attention.

🔈👂 Listen to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! 🎧💎

05/30/2024

💬 🎧 Get ready for our conversation with Coach Connor on 🎉

Episode 10 drops tomorrow, and you don't want to miss this one! Learn more about free and risky play and why it's so important for our kids to explore and push their own boundaries and comfort levels.

Discover Qi Talks: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! ✨👏 Don't miss out—listen and learn with us. 🎙️🌈

Woosh! 🎉

05/29/2024

Success Coaching sessions with our team can look a lot like play! 🎉 We believe in the power of play-based therapy to bring us to a child's level, engage them in enjoyable ways, and allow them to maintain focus for longer periods of time.

Whether we're exploring progress in multiple areas or focusing on one specific area, we are playing different games or using multiple activity approaches to keep our sessions enjoyable and allow us to work together without overwhelming clients or doing things that are too boring or repetitive. We want every session to be a positive and age-appropriate experience for our clients! 😊🌟

05/28/2024

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 The Telus World of Science, in partnership with TD Bank, is giving away 150 FREE passes to CuriosCITY! 🎟️✨

This bright and thrilling gallery, inspired by Edmonton, is perfect for children (ages 6 and under). Highlights include:

🌳 Connected “tree-houses” themed as iconic Edmonton landmarks
🏞️ Crawling through sedimentary layers in the River Valley
✈️ Directing airplane traffic at the YEG Control Tower
🌿 Exploring vegetation in the Muttart Conservatory
💡 Creating lighting displays for the High Level Bridge

To learn more, and keep an eye out for future dates, visit: https://loom.ly/hWlRWMo

12/09/2023

"I wear underwear! You wear underwear! We all wear underwear!" 💩

Coach Lisa likes to use humorous books to help de-stigmatize topics and "Vegetables In Underwear" by Jared Chapman is one of those awesome books that makes learning fun 🥦 ❣️ 🥕!

🎙️ 🎤 - Episode 5 is about books for all abilities and Coach Lisa shares her favourites!

Tune in to learn about some great choices for reading and learning that is fun! 👂📖 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Google Podcasts! 🎙️💥