This is the first of a new content series amplifying teaching and learning at Holland Bloorview

At Holland Bloorview, social workers and social work students are helping to transform lives and daring to shape the future of pediatric disability health care for kids.

Social workers Halla Fahmi, Kathy Gravel, and Kyla Atteslander have guided Master of Social Work students Noah Wright and Anika Bisnauth (University of Toronto) through hands‑on, interprofessional placements that build the skills, confidence and compassion needed to support children and youth with disabilities and their families. 

From transition‑to‑adulthood planning to interdisciplinary clinical care, these experiences are training the next generation of diversely skilled, adaptive leaders in pediatric disability care.

Transitioning to adulthood

Through their placements, Wright and Bisnauth are gaining hands‑on experience supporting youth with disabilities and their families as they transition to adulthood—co‑facilitating virtual workshops with family and youth leaders, contributing to clinical consultations and creating practical resources for families. Bisnauth also partnered with community organizations and family leaders to co‑lead a webinar on puberty, while Wright facilitated an Interprofessional Education Transitions Theatre workshop, offering learners a unique immersive perspective in the transition journey for youth with disabilities and families.

“Mentoring students is a powerful form of accountability grounded in the values, guidelines and ethics of social work practice. Supporting learners sharpens my own practice and creates shared moments of reflection,” says Fahmi. “Students bring fresh perspectives, questions, and innovation. I am grateful for each student’s unique contributions and the ways they have help strengthen our work.”

“My placement at Holland Bloorview showed me how reflective practice, collaboration and lived experience strengthen care. Working alongside families, youth leaders, and interdisciplinary teams helped me see how social work meaningfully supports children, youth and families,” says Wright, who wrapped up his placement earlier this month.

Interdisciplinary teamwork in action

Beyond the Bridging to Adulthood program, the students are learning alongside interdisciplinary clinical teams across the hospital. 

Bisnauth worked with Gravel in the inpatient and outpatient brain injury programs, building skills in trauma‑informed counselling and family support. Under the direction of Gravel, the student supported children with brain injuries and their families through trauma-informed counselling and taught them coping and relaxation strategies. She also learned about different therapeutic modalities such as solution-focused therapy and participated in team consultations.

“Anika brings curiosity, compassion, and trauma-informed skills to her work, supporting clients and families living with acquired brain injury to strengthen coping and adjustment across inpatient and outpatient care. Her independence, flexibility, and openness to challenge made our work together a true mutual learning experience and a meaningful contribution to our shared purpose in social work,” says the social worker.

“Through this placement, I learned the value of working in multidisciplinary teams and how different professionals come together to support clients,” says Bisnauth, who also finished her placement on April 2^nd. “It strengthened my ability to take a person‑centred approach, meeting clients and families where they are at and empowering them throughout their care journey, while also building my leadership skills, confidence, and ability to contribute meaningfully to clinical practice.”

Wright supported Atteslander in the concussion service, participating in interdisciplinary care discussions and seeing firsthand how social work strengthens team‑based care.

“Mentoring a student for the first time in my role as a social worker has been a truly meaningful experience. I value the opportunity to share what I’ve learned through my training while also learning alongside Noah through the perspectives and insights he brings to foster innovation and excellence in pediatric care,” says Atteslander. “Working collaboratively with interprofessional teams to support Noah’s placement has further enriched this experience for me.”

Learn more about student training opportunities at Holland Bloorview.

by Suelan Toye