On May 16, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital hosted students from Northlea Elementary Middle School and Bloorview School Authority for the ReelEducation Launch Day. ReelEducation is a new program developed by ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto that provides teachers with lesson materials about inclusivity, accessibility and equity. This is the third year Holland Bloorview has partnered with ReelAbilities and we are proud of our shared efforts to build disability awareness and celebrate diversity with our local community.
At the ReelEducation Launch Day students participated in fun games and activities to support their learning on how to create an accessible environment for their friends and classmates. Activities included a breakdancing demonstration where students learned dance moves for people of all abilities and a drama activity where students acted as architects and created accessibility features for a new building. Students also played a video game developed in Holland Bloorview’s research institute that helps young people accomplish their therapeutic goals through play.
Children played a therapy video game called Botley’s Bootle Blast, which tracks and guides player’s movements to help reach their physical and occupational therapy goals.
After the activities students enjoyed a screening of two films: Partially Compensated and Perfectly Normal for Me. These films follow the lives and stories of people with different abilities and show the importance of creating spaces where everyone belongs. After, students had a discussion with youth leaders from Holland Bloorview about the films and how they can be champions for inclusivity at their school and in their community.
ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto, presented by the Miles Nadal JCC, is taking place from May 29 to June 4, 2018. The ReelEducation program also provides field trip opportunities for schools in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to attend screenings and participate in a post-film Q&A.
Holland Bloorview is committed to leading and modeling social change, a key priority of our No Boundaries strategic plan. We advance this goal in many ways, including our Dear Everybody anti-stigma campaign and our partnerships with organizations that are also driving forward social justice for people with disabilities.
For more information about the ReelAbilities Film Festival or to reserve your seats visit: http://reelabilities.org/toronto/
