For more than 40 years, the Arrowsmith Program has applied neuroscientific research to help students strengthen the weak cognitive capacities underlying a range of learning difficulties, overcome effects of brain injury, and achieve peak performance.

Our goal is to help students become effective, confident and self-directed learners. For children and youth, this includes enabling them to return to school after a three to four year program, and life-changing progress in the everyday life of adult students.

What is the Arrowsmith Program?

The Arrowsmith Program is a suite of individualized exercises to strengthen your brain. Unlike the options you’ve tried already, we strengthen your cognitive function first, so you have the ability to learn.

Developed in Canada, the Arrowsmith Program is offered in-person and online through more than 100 sites throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Spain, the Cayman Islands and Switzerland.

Customizable part-time programs available starting at $160 per week by cognitive area.

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Learning Challenges & Outcomes

We all have cognitive inefficiencies. It’s when they start to pile up, that people begin to experience difficulties, whether from learning challenges, brain injury or stroke. Everyone can benefit from Arrowsmith Program cognitive training exercises, either for peak performance or to meet everyday demands. In particular, our exercises effectively improve cognitive function, affecting the following:

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia
ADHD and Anxiety
Brain Injury and Stroke
Reading Comprehension
Auditory and Visual Processing
Auditory Memory
Non-Verbal Learning

Take a look at possible learning outcomes by cognitive area when using the Arrowsmith Program.

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Meet Founder, Barbara Arrowsmith-Young

The Woman Who Changed Her Brain
TEDxToronto

In The Media

With more than 40 years of proven results and well-researched studies, Barbara Arrowsmith-Young has been featured by Huffington Post, 60 Minutes, BBC, TEDx Talks, Google and many other organizations for her groundbreaking work with neuroplasticity. Her programs have revolutionized neuroscience and changed the lives of thousands around the world.

“He’s so much happier and getting along better in the family.”

–Ck2 Inc. parent, adult student

“The Arrowsmith Program helped me come out of my shell.”

–Ck2 Inc. student, age 13

“I’m so proud of him, and he is proud of himself, which is new.”

-Ck2 Inc. parent, middle school student

Hear more personal experiences with the Arrowsmith Program

Are learning difficulties holding you or your child back?

Complete this 30-minute questionnaire to discover why learning difficulties may be holding you or your child back.

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Meet Our Team

Karen Cameron Friesen

B.Ed, MA (English), ARCT
Executive Director
Lead Arrowsmith Teacher

A passionate educator and fearless advocate for students with disabilities, Karen has taught from preschool through undergraduate levels. Founding a vibrant fine arts and academic collective for homeschooled students, her work with business and education leaders and parenting five amazing kids uniquely inform her leadership with Ck2 Inc.

Lani van Rooyen

Private Certification, NCHM
Arrowsmith At-Home Lead Teacher

Lani enjoyed tutoring and training in the fashion design and hospitality industries. After her toddler was brain injured, she dedicated herself to learning more about the science behind special needs and learning disabilities. Lani is our lead online Arrowsmith teacher, and knows there’s nothing sweeter than supporting families and strengthening brains. She’s full of joy, incredibly insightful, and a gold star teacher in our books.

Julia Hamm

Program Assistant

A creative since birth, Julia loves finding places where her invention and imagination intersect with building relationships. Julia rotates through the roles of Social Media Manager, Educational Assistant, and general Jack of All Trades. Between Ck2 Inc. and five years directing a summer camp in Manitoba's Interlake, she is well practiced in encouraging and empowering young people, as well as finding ways to get them involved in art projects as often as possible.
She can most often be found sewing, knitting, making chain maille, or picking up an entirely new hobby.

FAQs

Our participants are as young as 6 years old, up to adults of any age.
This is not therapy, but this work contributes to the therapeutic process. We use neuroplastic exercises to help rewire your brain so it’s more efficient as you live your life.
Most of our students spend 2-5+ years with us, depending on their needs. You could spend less than that (any progress is still progress!), but you won’t see the improvements to the fullest.
Yes! The Arrowsmith Program has an excellent track record in this area. Many of the students we see experience attentional struggles because of root causes, and often makes it difficult to stay focused or regulate attention. You’ll do targeted exercises to strengthen your brain, then use those functions in your everyday life.
Arrowsmith has followed up on students for up to 30 years after they walk out the program doors, and we’re happy to report that yes, the improvements are maintained. When you’re always using the cognitive area you’ve improved, you’ll hold that gain. It’s like a muscle that you keep exercising, and you keep the results.

RESOURCES

A comprehensive list of research studies and repots on the effectiveness of the Arrowsmith Program in achieving neuroplastic change.
Ck2 Inc.'s full time school age Arrowsmith Program students notify as homeschooling students in MB. As a therapeutic program, part-time students spend up to half their day in Arrowsmith programming and attend school part-time.
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Many Arrowsmith Program students qualify for the Disability Tax Credit.
Ck2 Inc.'s Arrowsmith Program students may be able to claim the Medical Expense Tax Creditwith a letter from a qualifying medical professional; mileage may also be claimed for those living more than 40 kms distant, one direction. Some students submit tuition to private insurance providers; others receive support through self-managed respite.
Ck2 Inc. families may also be eligible for federal and provincial caregiver tax credits.
Barbara Arrowsmith-Young: The Woman Who Changed Her Brain
The genesis of the Arrowsmith Program of cognitive exercises lies in Barbara Arrowsmith-Young’s journey of discovery and innovation to overcome her own severe learning disabilities.