The Alexander Society for Special Needs was incorporated as a non-profit society on November 17, 2000, and received Charitable Status on November 14, 2001.   The Society is based in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada and has a six-member Board of Directors.

        The objects of the Society are: to provide arts-based educational programs to children and teens with special needs, to provide resources for people working with special needs populations, to organize workshops and special guest speakers, to produce materials such as videos and workbooks, and to promote the inclusion of people with special needs into their communities.

After-school programs: one for children aged 5 - 11 and one for Teens aged 12 - 20. All abilities are welcomed! (See "Programs" for more details on philosophy and content of programs.)Volunteers play a very important role in providing one-on-one suppport for students who need assistance. The programs run for ten weeks in the fall and winter, for eight weeks in the spring and for one week summer. Our work is financed through fundraising. Please see the "Supporters" page for more information.

In-school programs: These are eight week sessions for the students, preceeded by an inservice for Educational Assistants and Resource Teachers, and followed by an evaluation with those same participants. These programs are financially supported by the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board.

Workshops/Inservices: Facilitators are available to travel to other communities to help teach leaders how to set up and run similar programs.
 

The Facilitators of the Creative Arts Programs:

Kathleen Purdy
Kathleen is an Educator and Founding Director of the Alexander Society for Special Needs, and the mother of a severely challenged son. After teaching school for several years, she went on to study Modern Dance in Toronto where she taught, choreographed and performed extensively.  Her work with children in Creative Movement and Theatre was a great training ground for the Creative Arts programs she now runs for children and teens who have special needs.    In 1999 she organized the first Teaching with Arts workshop for children, their Educational Assistants and teachers to demonstrate the value of the arts in working with children who are challenged.  Following the success of those workshops, she initiated the first Creative Arts Play Group for children with special needs - an after-school, eight-week integrated arts program.  Since then she has continued as coordinator and one of the facilitators of the on-going after-school and in-school programs for children and teens. In the fall of 2007 Kathleen began an exciting progam of studies through the Toronto Waldorf School - Healing Education and Remedial Training. This is a three-year part-time program requiring attendance at the school one weekend a month. This program further deepens our understanding of children who have learning challenges and broadens our knowledge of how to work with them.

Maggie Keppie
Maggie has been working as a practicing artist and arts educator for over 30 years, teaching in public and independent schools, as well as in programs for people of all ages .  She has worked mainly in the areas of music, movement and dance, especially folk traditions, and also has experience in drawing, painting, poetry and fiber arts.  She has a special interst in Waldorf Education with its focus on Art.  She taught in a Walforf school for six years after earning her PhD. from Dalhousie University for her work in Art Education. Currently Maggie  is the music facilitator for the Creative Arts programs of the Alexander Society and teaches Scottish Country Dancing for children and adults in Wolfville.

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