The information provided in this newsletter is for reference only. It is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement of organizations, news sources, policies or political parties, or as a comprehensive resource list. Past newsletters and COVID-19 specific tipsheets can be accessed here.
Holland Bloorview
Events | Workshops | New Resources
- Virtual Toronto Trivia Night - May 26: Autism Ontario, in partnership with Holland Bloorview is excited to invite children with ASD and their siblings ages 5-17 to a virtual Kahoot trivia night.
- Summer swimming: virtual registration for kids with disabilities is on Monday June 13: You must register for the swim school registration lottery here. Deadline to register for the lottery is May 29.
- Virtual Sibling Support Program *special event* - June 8: Please contact Victoria Rombos at siblingsupport@hollandbloorview.ca for more information.
- Guardianship, Privacy and Consent Workshop - June 9: Attendees will learn about legal guardianship and what that means for privacy and consent when someone with a disability reaches adulthood.
- Parent Support Network: Let's Talk About Toileting Strategies - June 14: Presentation by Holland Bloorview Occupational Therapist Liz Cambridge. Hosted by a family support specialist and family leader. We will also have time for Q & A with families.
- “Spring Try-It Series” offers 6 activity sessions that will introduce participants to sport and recreation activities. *For Holland Bloorview clients only*. Please register by age group: Ages 5 - 11 (Junior group); Ages 12 - 18 (Senior group) Sessions will be facilitated by community partners and will be supported by Holland Bloorview staff and volunteers. For more information, contact Kristen English at 416-425-6220 ext. 3541 or kenglish@hollandbloorview.ca.
- Transition Pop-Up Events: Register for group events that help clients and/or families prepare for the transition to-adulthood. The events are about different topics. They are co-hosted by Holland Bloorview and an adult agency, for gradual introductions to new service providers.
- Family Resource Centre: Virtual workshops and events for families (March - July 2022): Includes new events for parent support network, family workshops and family navigation hub.
- Autism Summit - December 10-14, 2022 (FREE): Five-day online Autism Summit designed for occupational therapists and occupational therapy students. Please note that other healthcare professionals, autistic self-advocates, families and other autism allies are most welcome to attend but keep in mind that the content of this Summit will be specifically designed to meet occupational therapists' learning needs.
- BLOOM May 2022
Bloorview Research Institute
Research study: Kids, Virtual care and the COVID-19 pandemic: Learning from our experiences [Client Youth and Parent/Caregiver] | Holland Bloorview: Are you a client youth or parent/caregiver of a client who has received virtual care? Are you interested in sharing your virtual care experiences?
- We are looking for: Holland Bloorview clients (up to 21 years old) OR Parents/caregivers of clients who have received any type of virtual care (ex. assessment, consultation or intervention service) at Holland Bloorview or satellite/community school sites since March 2020.
- If you are interested in participating in this study or have additional questions, please contact Sharmigaa Ragunathan at trail@hollandbloorview.ca / 416-425-6220 ext. 3635. Contacting us does not obligate you to participate in the study.
Holland Bloorview resources
- ASD FEED-Ed is an education platform designed for the purpose of educating children, youth, parents, caregivers and healthcare professionals about feeding in autistic children.
- ‘All About Me' Infographic (recorded) can help you advocate and make it easier to explain what it is you or your child need. A series of learning modules and resources have been created to help you and/or your child create your infographic. Free ‘All About Me’ template available from Piktochart.
- Post-secondary education & career virtual workshop series. Register and/or watch recorded sessions (Scroll to bottom "Workshop Series").
- HB Podcasts Podcasts on a variety of themes and topics to support and connect with children, youth and families living with disabilities.
- HB Info Line helps children, youth and families learn about and get connected to the many programs and services at Holland Bloorview.
- Parent Voices@Holland Bloorview Facebook & BLOOM@BLOOMHollandbloorview Facebook
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for People with Developmental Disabilities & Testing
Holland Bloorview and Toronto Public Health (TPH)
Family-friendly, sensory-friendly and fully accessible vaccination clinic (May 26, 11 am - 6 pm)
- For children aged 5+ (born in 2016 or earlier) with disabilities and/or complex care needs as well as their siblings and family members.
- Doses one through four available.
- Please register here to attend!
- A reminder that staff walk-ins are welcome for third and fourth doses. Seedose eligibility criteria from Toronto Public Health.
Surrey Place
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Doses Available! By appointment only, no walk-ins.For current Surrey Place clients - Contact your clinician. For all others: Email covid@surreyplace.ca or Call 416-925-5141 x 4444.
- Saturday, May 28 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) 2 Surrey Pl. Toronto, M5S2C2
- Sunday, June 26 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) 10 Milner Business Ct., Suite 102, Scarborough, M1B 3C6
Eligibility Criteria:
- Individual with a developmental disability OR their caregiver OR sibling
- At least five years old at the time of the appointment
- Toronto resident living in an M postal code
- Received their previous doses in Ontario
- Clients and caregivers are eligible for the fourth (second booster) dose if they meet government eligibility criteria.
COVID-19 testing and vaccine information
SickKids COVID-19 Testing Centre online booking system: For children with medical complexities (CMC) who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 PCR test. Caregivers/providers will now use the online booking link to book the COVID-19 PCR test appointment at the SickKids COVID Testing Centre located at 555 University Ave (SickKids).
parent homework.ca: Medical experts from top hospitals including Sick Kids, Kids Health Alliance and Holland Bloorview answer top COVID-19 questions asked by parents about children’s vaccine (Parent Homework).
Social events | Summer recreation
City of Toronto
CampTO: A fun and creative full-day experience for children 6 to 12 year olds. Includes Adapted Recreation Camps for participants who have a special need and/or a disability. Registration and arrangements can be made through the Adapted Recreation section before registering for any camp.
Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services
Dixon Hall Music School: Now offering adopted music lessons and opened it up to people outside their regular catchment area. E-mail Charlotte.Stewart-Juby@dixonhall.org with any questions.
Community Living Ontario
Action4Inclusion Youth Advisory Committee (May 26):For youth aged 14 - 29. If you are a sibling of a person with a disability and want to connect with other siblings,join us for the fourth session in a series of sibling meet-up sessions to talk about the joys, challenges, and responsibilities of being a sibling.
Variety Village
Community Rugby Day (May 31): Join us to take in a Toronto Arrows open practice,at Birchmount Stadium grass field, a try-it session where fans can give the sport a go and end the day with a BBQ with the team. Registration required for the BBQ.
Inclusion | Diversity
ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto (RAFFTO) : screenings from May 16 - June 10 (online and in-person options). Year round features and documentaries about Deaf and disability cultures. Additionally, ReelEducation provides free resources for educators and administrators to teach students about disability and Deaf culture.
First Annual Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion (CCDI) - May 26-27 (FREE). This new annual milestone event will kick-start National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) celebrations across Canada. Register here.
Parks Accessibility Conference 2022, August 23 - 25, 2022 (FREE): If you are interested in being a speaker and are a member of the disability or unpaid caregiver community, researcher, or work for non- profit and for-profit organizations, please submit your speaker application here.
Statistics Canada transgender population data: Canada is the first country in the world to collect and report numbers of people who identify solely as trans and non-binary. The data now gives the opportunity for governments, businesses and other organizations to cater services to the trans and non-binary communities in Canada.
Caregiver support | Workshops
Partners for Planning
- The Henson Trust: For all ages (May 26)
- Early Financial Planning for Parents of a Young Child with a Disability: For families with a child ages 0-10 (June 7)
University Health Network (UHN)
Health Talk: Tips and Tools for Inclusive Communication (May 26): A online session for patients, families, staff and community members. Learn about: A patient’s experience using a speech-generating device; Talking with someone who communicates differently; Resources at UHN and in the community. For more information: Email: pfep@uhn.ca or call 416 603 6290.
Surrey Place
Child and Parent Resource Institute
Sleep: It is Not All About the ZZZ’s! - June 9: This workshop will provide an overview of sleep disorders in children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders. Principles of treatment and management will be discussed. Case presentations, as well as, a Q & A will enable the audience to integrate learning. *FEE based*.
Mothercraft EarlyON Child and Family Centre
Looking for activities or support for yourself or your child 0 - 6 years?
- To sign up for the monthly program calendar and receive pre-recorded content by email please subscribe here.
- If you have any questions, or would like to talk with a Family Support Worker, please email us at office@mothercraft.org or to schedule a virtual, telephone or in-person 30 minute One-on-One Check-In session please click here.
Financial savings
- The Fair Pass Transit Discount could save you $1.10 per ride and $32.75 per monthly pass. For assistance, and more information on whether you qualify, call the Application & Support Centre at 416-338-8888. Language translation (online) and interpretation services (phone) are available (Toronto Transit Commission)
- fuelService app lets you find out if a gas station has a staff member that can help you fuel up before you go there. The app shows a list of participating locations, you pick the one most convenient for you (fuelService App & Shell).
- Subscribe for Affordable Housing Opportunities E-updates to learn how the City is working to create more affordable housing (City of Toronto).
- Fido: New and existing Fido Mobile customers with accessibility needs are eligible for a $10 monthly discount on all of Fido’s in-market postpaid mobile plans.
- Rogers (scroll down to “Wireless plans and add-ons” section): Offers a $20 monthly discount on all in-market plans, including Rogers InfiniteTM plans which include Data Manager and Roam Like Home.
- Bell: Eligible customers with hearing, vision, speech, cognitive and physical (mobility and dexterity) accessibility needs will receive $20/month off any current Bell Mobility Connect Everything or Unlimited smartphone rate plan. To find out if you qualify for the $20/month discount, please contact the Accessibility Services Centre by calling 1 800 268-9243.
- Tetra is a non-profit charity organization that recruits volunteer engineers and skilled trades people to design and construct unique assistive devices for individuals with disabilities with no cost for labour.
- Fill out a Request for Assistance (RFA) online at tetrasociety.org and it will be directed to the Coordinator of the Tetra Chapter nearest the client for assignment of a volunteer to carry out the project request, in consultation with the client.
- No referral needed on the medical side, you do not submit medical documents and most material costs are also covered.
For more events for caregivers, children, youth and young adults, you may want to explore the following resources : Autism Ontario; Children’s Treatment Network; Connectability.ca; Community Access Learning Centre; Epilepsy Toronto; Family Service Toronto; Kerry’s Place Autism Services; My Community Hub;Meta Centre; Sunflower Developmental Services; Surrey Place - Wellness Services
Holland Bloorview’s Grocery Foundation Family Resource Centre is a place where you can find information and resources on childhood disability that are helpful to you and your family. We have information on: respite, recreation, housing, funding, education, parenting and more. All Holland Bloorview workshops and events are listed on www.hollandbloorview.ca/familyevents Questions? Please e-mail resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca
