Workshops and Events

BLOOM speakers

People who think deeply about disability and parenting share their stories at BLOOM speaker nights. For more information, call Louise Kinross at 416-424-3866.

Family Education Workshops

Family education workshops provide information and support to parents of children with disabilities. Topics include parenting, education, recreation, respite and how to access funding. All workshops are currently held virtually. Please see the postings below for topics and details on the workshops available this year. 

For more information, contact Family Support Specialist Melissa Ngo at 416-425-6220, ext. 6348 or email mngo@hollandbloorview.ca. 

Parent Support Network 

Parent Support Network (PSN) is a monthly support and discussion event available to families, currently taking place virtually over Zoom Healthcare. This event is offered at different times of day to allow for families with different schedules to attend. Parent Support Network aims to create a space where families can build relationships through sharing experiences, information, challenges and successes. Discussion is facilitated by a Family Support Specialist and a Family Leader. Parent Support Network is:

• Created by families, for families
• Unique peer-to-peer support network
• At times includes guest speakers who are childhood disability experts
• Open to all caregivers of children living with disability

Upcoming Parent Support Network Events include: 

Mental Health Supports for Parent/Caregivers - Tuesday Sept. 26, 6:00pm-7:30pm

‘Mindfulness in Uncertain Times: Navigating Waters of Change’ – 8-week course with Family Leader Protibha Gupta
Tuesdays from Oct. 3 - Nov. 28th - 5:00-6:00pm

Disability & 2SLGBTQ+ Identity - Tuesday Dec.12, 10:00am-11:30am

All events are currently virtual. For more information about the events or about Parent Support Network please contact Family Support Specialist Stephanie Moynagh at smoynagh@hollandbloorview.ca or at 416-425-6220 ext. 6146 

All workshops and events are also posted on our events calendar. To be added to our newsletter email list which lets you know of our upcoming workshops and events, please send an email to: resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca.

Receive email alerts for Family Events

Please email a Family Support Specialist at resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca to be added to the email distribution list to be alerted for Family Workshops, Parent Support Network, Paperwork Parties, Solution-Focused Coaching, and the Sibling Support Program.

Registration Information

• All family events are currently held virtually over Zoom Healthcare.
• Family events listed in this brochure are free of charge.
• Each family event requires an individual registration as flyers get released.
• Anyone can attend these family events; however parents and caregivers who have children with disabilities have priority for registration.
• Please see family event descriptions online for details.
• When events are able to be held in-person at Holland Bloorview, supervised on-site childcare is available for a limited number of children who are 30 months old and over. Children under 30 months must be accompanied in the playroom by a caregiver over the age of 18 at all times.  Please see the section "Child care at the Ronald McDonald Playroom" below for details.

Family Events Brochure for September-December 2023

The following Family Workshops are upcoming:

Family workshops coming in October 2023.

Paperwork Parties are workshops that aim to support families in completing funding applications. The workshop includes a presentation followed by the option to join a breakout room hosted by Holland Bloorview staff and Family Leaders, who will offer support, tips and strategies on filling out common funding applications. Breakout rooms are based on different funding sources including: Special Services at Home (SSAH), Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD), Ontario Autism Program (OAP), Assistive Devices Program (ADP), Holland Bloorview's Family Support Fund and other funds and supports such as the TTC Assistance Card, Easter Seals Funding and Grants, Access2Entertainment Card and more.

Families are encouraged to watch our recorded Part 1 - Funding Overview 

For more information, contact Family Support Specialist Melissa Ngo at 416-425-6220, ext. 6348 or email mngo@hollandbloorview.ca. 

The Solution-Focused Communication for Families workshops are a series designed to help parents enhance their communication skills by highlighting their family strengths and resources. For more information, contact Elaine Cook at ecook@hollandbloorview.ca. or go to Humanistic and solution-focused workshops. 

You are invited to a Holland Bloorview Information Session!

We are offering our new outpatient families a free information session so that you can learn about helpful resources and be prepared for your first appointment. At this information session, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs), including:

• What can I do while my child is on the waitlist?
• What other services in the community can I access?
• What other services at Holland Bloorview can I access?
• How can I get ready for our first appointment at Holland Bloorview?
• How can I meet other parents or family members who might be in the same position as me?
• What are some tips from other parents or families who have been to appointments at Holland Bloorview?
• What are some tips from clinicians?
• What tools are available to help organize all of my child’s information?

This information session will feature an optional tour of Holland Bloorview at the end. Attendees will receive a resource booklet with the answers to the questions above.

Please note:

Families can access this orientation by invitation only as this is a pilot program. Eligibility to attend this orientation:

• If you have a child who is accepted and on the waitlist for Holland Bloorview's main site Neuromotor Clinic or Communication, Learning and Behaviour Clinic AND
•  You received an invitation letter from us in the mail, along with your acceptance letter

This is not your first clinical appointment, but an information session on how to prepare for it. It is one hour long, and the optional tour is an additional 15-30 minutes. Sessions are offered twice per month. If you have any questions or require additional or special supports, please contact a Family Support Specialist at 416-425-6220 x6348 or resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca.

Sign up for a spot!

Attendees must register for a spot to confirm registration. To register, please email resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca. 

Holland Bloorview’s Sibling Support Program will give siblings, ages 7-18, the opportunity to relax, unwind, meet peers who might share lived experiences. It will provide a safe space to talk about what it’s like to be a sibling of someone with a disability. The program is open to any child who has a sibling with a disability, complex medical needs and/or dual diagnosis. 

For more information about the Sibling Support Program, contact: Victoria Rombos at siblingsupport@hollandbloorview.ca 

Child Care Information

When events are able to be held in-person at Holland Bloorview, supervised on-site childcare is available for a limited number of children who are 30 months old and over.  Children under 30 months must be accompanied in the playroom by a caregiver over the age of 18 at all times.

Playroom registration opens 2 weeks and 2 days before the date of each event, and closes 48 hours before each event.

Playroom spaces are confirmed only after an intake call is completed over the phone. (Intake is required for every event and unregistered children cannot be accommodated).

Please call 416-425-6220 ext. 3438 to discuss your child’s needs and register for a Playroom spot.

The Family Navigation Hub is a new program that aims to support families with information and resources related to the social needs that contribute to our health and wellbeing such as access to healthy food, accessible child care, income security, stable housing, transportation and community connections.

The Family Navigation Hub hosts monthly virtual CommunityCONNECT series for parent/caregivers of children with disabilities on topics related to social needs such as those listed above. These events feature speakers from community organizations and programs which aim to connect families with relevant resources to support social health and wellbeing.

Upcoming CommunityCONNECT Sessions: 

Disability Funding Q&A - Wednesday Sept. 27 - 10:30am-12:00pm

Food Justice & Community Kitchen Series With FoodShare Toronto
A 5-part series on Tuesdays Oct. 17, 24, Nov. 7, 21, 28 - Time TBD

Budgeting & Benefits – Financial Literacy with Woodgreen - Wednesday Dec. 6
11:00am-12:30pm

All events are currently virtual. For more information about our events, or if you are looking for resources related to social needs such as those listed above, please feel free to contact Family Support Specialist Stephanie Moynagh at smoynagh@hollandbloorview.ca or at 416-425-6220 ext. 6146.