Skip to main content
Alert

Holiday closures: our outpatient programs will be closed from Dec. 25, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025. Regular services resume January 2, 2024. Day program will be closed from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27, 2024 inclusive, and will be closed on Jan. 1, 2025. Orthotics and prosthetics will be available for urgent care.

#009900
A young person with light skin tone and dark long hair. She is sitting outside in front of a tree and green grass.
Story

Holland Bloorview: A home to me

Anyone who knows me knows that I credit Holland Bloorview for a large part of my successes in my life. It’s been a constant for as long as I can remember. I grew up here. I do not know where I would be without Holland Bloorview and the people here.

I was born with Cerebral Palsy and started coming to Holland Bloorview around three years old. After becoming a client, I attended the Bloorview School Authority (BSA). As I grew up, I continued attending appointments and taking part in other programs. All these programs and the people at Holland Bloorview have had a profound effect on me.

A place of acceptance and belonging

The BSA gave me an opportunity to grow and learn in a place where I was accepted. As a student, I did not feel different than other children around me. I remember of some of the teachers that I had. This is a large reason why I was comfortable with my disability from an early age. I was surrounded by people who were like me. I was not treated differently than other children.

Making memories and friends

Saturday mornings at Holland Bloorview are some of my fondest memories. I started my day early at swimming lessons. The lessons allowed me to work on my range of motion and help to relax my muscles. But the one thing that I remember the most is that the water was warm and relaxing. To this day, I can still swim, but I always prefer pools with warmer water. Maybe, I was spoiled for too many years.

After swimming lessons, I rushed to the gym to join the Fit N’ Flex class, a group physical activity and therapy program. Fit N’ Flex allowed me to build physical strength and skills through several different activities and stretches. As it was a group program, I was able to make some friends that I still have to this day.

Opportunities to grow in a place I know

Around 16 years old, when teens typically start thinking about their career path, I began participating in the hospital’s employment pathways programs, Youth@Work and Ready to Work. There was a part of me that knew I was going to be able to work, but I did not know how to begin or where to start building those experience and skills. During my time as a Youth@Work participant, I completed two placements: one within Holland Bloorview and one in the community. A few years later, I was a part of the Ready to Work program for two years where I completed two summer placements. These programs taught me that I can work efficiently and provided me with a space to make mistakes, ask questions in a place where I feel comfortable to take opportunities and grow while still being in a place that I know.

Leading the way

I’ve been a Holland Bloorview youth leader for a number of years, and I’ve taken part in several different youth leader projects. Youth leaders are current and former clients that use their experience as a client and a person with a disability to help support the running of the hospital’s programs and services. As a youth leader, I can relate to other clients and share my experience to help develop and improve programs and services for current and new clients of the hospital. As a youth leader, I was a contributor to one of my favourite projects to date, “As I Live and Breathe,” a collection of short stories. This project allowed me to express myself and reach people in a different way. The youth engagement programs have allowed me to improve and build skills like communication and advocating.

I have been a part of the Holland Bloorview community for about 23 years as a client, a volunteer and now in my various roles, including lived experience mentor. I don’t know where I would be without the people here and Holland Bloorview’s programs. They allowed me to learn, grow and build skills that I need to excel. Now, I work at the hospital and I’m a part of other people’s journey just as the programs and the people here have been a part of my life.

About Sam:

Samantha Alfaro graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Media Studies. She is a staff at Holland Bloorview. She has taken part in many creative projects as a Holland Bloorview youth leader.  Most recently, she is a contributor to the collection, “As I Live and Breathe,” where she wrote, “Why Don’t You Ask Me My Name.”

Call to action Text
Create world of possibilities for kids and youth with disabilities.
Donate today.