A voice for special needs

Behaviour Intervention graduate Hetty Hazenberg now works with children with autism in the North Vancouver School District.

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Working as an administrator for a large insurance company was never a life-long dream for Hetty Hazenberg. Having always wanted to work with children, she started to volunteer at her local recreation centre working with a child with autism.

"Once I started, something woke up inside me. I wanted to be a voice for those who could not speak," says Hazenberg.

Desiring a solid foundation in the field, she attended an information session for the Behaviour Intervention (BI) Citation at Douglas, the only program of its kind in BC. The citiation prepares graduates to work under the supervision of a behavioural consultant implementing one-on-one teaching strategies with a young child who has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

"I signed up for the program right away. I didn't give it a second thought," says Hazenberg.

The program provided Hazenberg with the skills she was looking for, along with knowledge of the resources available in the Lower Mainland. Most of all, she was inspired by instructors who "were great advocates for special needs children, Rosemary Love in particular."

"She always puts special needs children first. Some may not talk, but they still have feelings and hear everything," says Hazenberg. She found that Love and other instructors shared her own philosophy.

"One my favourite movies is The Music Within. One of the characters says 'We aren't the problem. We bring feelings out in people that they aren't comfortable with."

Hazenberg is now employed with the North Vancouver School District, working one-on-one with kindergarten and grade-six children. She has also become a yoga instructor for special needs children.

"I believe in a body-mind-soul approach," she says.

With ASD affecting approximately one in 167 children in BC, there is an urgent need for Behavioural Interventions. Those with relevant experience or education in the field may be eligible for up to 75 percent of their credential through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.

Graduates can choose to continue their education by transferring 15 of their 18 credits to the Classroom and Community Support (CCS) Diploma. The CCS Program offers a Behavioural Intervention specialty.

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