"The Brain That Changes Itself" based on the fascinating book of the same name by Dr. Norman Doidge is available on David Suzuki's "The Nature of Things" on the CBC where it first appeared on November 27, 2008. It was recently presented by Arrowsmith Program at a special showing at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto followed by a question and answer period with Dr. Doidge. We gratefully acknowledge the support and co-operation of 90th Parallel Productions and director Mike Sherrin who co-wrote the film with Dr. Doidge.

This fascinating documentary contains a segment that focuses on the work of Arrowsmith School with students with learning disabilities and places its program in the context of the broader field of neuroplasticity. From an introduction to the film written by Dr. Doidge:

"...the adult human brain, rather than being fixed or "hard-wired", can not only change itself but works by changing itself. It is "neuroplastic": "neuro" for neuron, the nerve cells in the brain, and "plastic" in the sense of adaptable, changeable, malleable. Neuroplasticity is the property of the brain that allows it to change its structure and function in response to what it senses, what it does and even what it thinks and imagines."

For more information about the "The Brain That Changes Itself" and the documentary please visit www.normandoidge.com

To watch it on the web please visit this link. This documentary is only available to viewers in Canada.

The Agenda with Steve Paikin for a podcast of a recent panel discussion on technology and the brain.

THE AGENDA with STEVE PAIKIN on TV ONTARIO
Barbara Young appeared on TVO’s flagship public affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paiken, on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 discussing the topic ‘Your Brain on Technology’ with a panel of experts and commentators in the field.. A podcast is available on the TVO website at

Click here to listen to the Agenda with Steve Palkin
or enter ‘Steve Paikin Barbara Young’ on Google (links from Canada)

Professionally Speaking is the magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers and published a cover story in its September, 2008 issue titled Raising Cognitive Capacity about the development of the Arrowsmith Program and its success in the Toronto Catholic District School Board where it has been available since 1997.

Professionally Speaking the magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers, has published a cover story in its September, 2008 issue titled Raising Cognitive Capacity about the development of the Arrowsmith Program and its success in the Toronto Catholic District School Board where it has been available since 1997.  The Arrowsmith Program is now offered in seven elementary schools in the TCDSB. Please click here to read the full story

Recent magazine articles about Arrowsmith

Dumbed Down by Leanne George in the November 7, 2008 issue of the Canadian weekly Maclean’s Magazine discusses cognitive development including the work of Arrowsmith School and is based in part on an interview with Barbara Young

Parents Seek Controversial Home Grown Program by Andrea Gordon in the December 8, 2008 Toronto Star newspaper reports on a proposal lead by parents to introduce the Arrowsmith Program into the Toronto District School Board.

Special Schools for Special Needs by Laura Ramsay in the Toronto Globe and Mail newspaper on September 22, 2008 about Arrowsmith School and the experiences of the family of one Arrowsmith School student.

The Plastic Brain by Sarah Scott in the July, 2008 issue of Reader’s Digest Canada  discusses neuroplasticity and describes the benefits of the Arrowsmith Program