Video available in French only
Remedial teacher, writer, researcher, trainer certified by Emploi Québec and public speaker Marie-France Maisonneuve has developed extensive expertise in the area of learning and attention disorders. Today, she heads up the Clinique d’apprentissage spécialisée (CAS). This business offers assessment and re-education services that promote learning among children, adolescents and adults. Developing and applying the research, simplifying the latest scientific information, promoting parental commitment and social awareness are central to the day-to-day concerns of the team. “We sometimes forget that Canada’s population has 3.4 million people with learning disabilities,” points out Ms. Maisonneuve.
Awareness programs
After getting her bachelor’s degree in remedial teaching in 1993, Ms. Maisonneuve started up her clinic, Les Services Orthopédagogiques Marie-France Maisonneuve. She subsequently spent two years in Germany, where she taught French as a second language to children. “I soon realized that some children had more difficulty learning a second language, and that in some cases this might be because of a learning disability,” she recounts. “So I set up a clinic for learning disabilities right there in the school, where I ran awareness workshops for the teachers.”
Back in the Outaouais, she got a job as a remedial teacher in a local school. She repeated the experience by developing awareness activities for the teachers and parents of the students who had learning disabilities. “Once the adults are trained in this regard, they can work directly with the students and help them prevent their learning difficulties,” explains Ms. Maisonneuve.
Ms. Maisonneuve continues to run her remedial learning clinic, and over the years has refined her knowledge in the area by taking part in a number of leading edge programs. Little by little, her clients multiplied, to the point where she left her job in the public education system to dedicate herself fully to her private practice.
More and more clients
In 2003, the clinic moved to a building on rue Main in Gatineau. More than 40 remedial teachers, neuro-psychologists, clinical psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and high school math teachers dedicated to learning were brought together under one roof.
The support provided by professionals at the Clinique d’apprentissage spécialisée helped provide exhaustive guidance and follow-up for students facing learning and attention disorders. These students had different diagnoses and intervention requirements. “The presence of a team of qualified and recognized professionals meant a service that was adapted to their needs. The proximity of the professionals at the Clinique d’apprentissage spécialisée is a great advantage, making it possible to provide multi-disciplinary diagnoses and intervention plans that are better suited to the needs of each student,” explains Ms. Maisonneuve.
The business has continued to grow and to expand its client base. Since 2009, even officials in the National Capital Region and other adults have access to the clinic’s services. Adults with learning and attention disorders often have difficulty organizing their work and managing their time. On a day-to-day basis, this means often forgetting things, having difficulty meeting deadlines and work conflicts. “Our services benefit employers and employees, whether by reducing absenteeism or burnout, or through organizational improvements, staff productivity or more harmonious labour relations,” addsMs. Maisonneuve.
In 2008 and 2009, the Clinique d’apprentissage spécialisée won the Excelor award from the Chambre de commerce de Gatineau in the human resources and student retention categories, respectively. These awards are designed to reward the organization that was most outstanding in the development, training and guidance provided by its professionals in fostering student retention in the Outaouais.
In 2010, a new branch of the Clinique opened in the Aylmer sector of Gatineau to better serve this sector, as well as eastern Ottawa and the Pontiac. The business received a loan from Développement économique – CLD Gatineau to develop this new market.
Still in an effort to improve knowledge about learning and attention disorders, the Clinique d’apprentissage spécialisée is working on research projects in collaboration with the University of Ottawa and the Children`s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. In addition, Marie-France Maisonneuve is preparing to publish two books about dyslexia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder for the general public.
Pratical information
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What made you decide to start up this business?
I have always wanted to offer individualized re-education for every student. I also wanted to invest in the best teaching equipment available to offer the most advanced service. The private sector is where I have been able to do that.
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Why Gatineau?
I have always worked in Gatineau, and this is where I developed my professional network. Not to mention the fact that the Outaouais is the region with the second highest drop-out rate in Quebec. I wanted to do what I could to prevent learning disorders in this region.
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In your opinion, what advantages does Gatineau have over Ottawa?
The presence of an organization like Développement économique – CLD Gatineau helps given the assistance it offers with market development.
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What are the advantages of working for yourself?
Being my own boss enables me to define the mission of my business and to introduce the resources and actions needed to achieve our objectives.
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What surprised you the most about the business world?
The tremendous amount of collaboration among local business people. Those with the most experience sometimes act as mentors to the new entrepreneurs. I notice that there is a lot of mutual assistance, and there is no problem asking business people for advice.
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To what do you attribute your business success?
My team of specialists is keeping on top of the latest studies on learning and attention disorders. As well, I am surrounded by a team of people who are passionate and committed. We also attribute our success to the unique nature of our services and the continuous training we offer out team members in order to meet the growing needs of the population in terms of learning.
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What were your toughest challenges, and how did you overcome them?
One of the main challenges lies in recruiting professionals who are highly specialized in the area of learning and attention disorders. This type of expertise is unique, hence relatively rare and difficult to find. Thanks to our involvement with different regional and provincial professional networks and our reputation in this area, we receive excellent applications from every part of Quebec.
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What does it take to succeed in business today?
At the beginning, you need to have a passion for the cause, a good sense of the needs in the community, and sufficient resources at your disposal.
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What advice would you give someone who is thinking of starting up a business?
You not only have to be passionate, but you also have to spend time on strategic planning for the business. The project has to be viable for at least 15 to 20 years.
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How did Développement économique – CLD Gatineau contribute (DE – CLDG)?
In 2003, DE-CLDG referred me to the Fonds régional d’investissement jeunesse, which enabled me to get a start-up subsidy. Based on the eight years I had spent developing the business, the CLD gave me a loan to help me develop new markets.
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