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
- Virtual workshops and events for families (March - June 2022): Includes new events for parent support network, family workshops and family navigation hub.
- Vaccination opportunities for children and youth (March 11 and March 25): Offered through Toronto Public Health and Holland Bloorview. For children and youth aged 5+ (born in 2016 or earlier) with disabilities and/or complex care needs as well as their siblings and family members. The clinics are child and family-friendly, sensory-friendly and fully accessible and take place from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Coriat Atrium.
- Life after high school: Thinking about your next steps for supported employment and continued learning (March 24)
HIghlighted resources
- 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.
- Project Inclusion: A learning resource for Ontario educators built around the voices and experiences of students with disabilities, their families, and school board staff. The website offers five learning modules on disability, accessibility and inclusion for staff working with students in kindergarten to Grade 12. (Holland Bloorview & the Ontario Ministry of Education)
- BLOOM February 2022
Family Workshop Series (recorded)
Mental health and wellness with Protibha Gupta
Holland Bloorview family supports
- 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.
- HB Podcasts Podcasts on a variety of themes and topics to support and connect with children, youth and families living with disabilities.
- The Harmony OnTrack Virtual Music Therapy Clinic offers virtual music therapy services for parents and caregivers within the Holland Bloorview community at no cost. For more information, please email SLEclinic@wlu.ca
- HB Info Line helps children, youth and families learn about and get connected to the many programs and services at Holland Bloorview.
- HB Alumni Network An alumni network for clients (13+), families and caregivers to connect, share experiences and help us improve care and services.
- Parent Voices@Holland Bloorview Facebook
- BLOOM@BLOOMHollandbloorview Facebook;
- ASD Dads drop-in on Friday nightTo learn more about the group, e-mail Peter Welsh at ASD.Fathers.meetup@gmail.com
Recreation & Respite (all ages)
- Holland Bloorview: Missed our virtual recreation fair on January 29? View exhibitors videos to find out more about their services and contact them with your questions.
- Ontario Camp Association (OCA): Camps for Children, Teens, and Adults with Special Needs. OCA has a camp search to find a camp that meets the needs of your camper.
- Camp Awakening (children and youth): March break and summer 2022 camps
- Kayla Children’s Centre (children): Summer Camp 2022
- Recreational Respite (youth): Youth Culture: Skills development and career discovery workshops (ages 15 - 30)
- Meta (young adults): March virtual classes calendar
- March of Dimes (adults): Virtual Exercise Program a group-based program for adults with physical disabilities who have some independent mobility. This program focuses on using the whole body; incorporating mobility, strength, aerobics, and mindfulness into each class. You can participate either standing or seated.
Taxes | Finance
Bright Futures Ability Network (Special Needs Planning Group & Ability Private Client Group)
- Workshop: 2021 Tax Tips - Workshop (March 30)
- Workshop: Financial Planning: ODSP, Henson Trust and RDSP (April 13)
Canadian Revenue Agency
Get ready for the 2021 tax year: If you need a quick answer to a question, there is an online chat function on the CRA homepage
- You can also view filing your income tax and benefit return on paper page for specific information.
- You can go to Get ready to do your taxes.
Woodgreen
Provides free tax clinics, budgeting workshops, debt management and other resources to improve financial literacy
Transitions | Future Planning
Developmental Services Ontario (DSO)
- Creating Your Individualized Housing Plan (March 28, April 5, April 12): The three (3) session workshop series is designed to help you begin creating an individualized housing and support plan for you or a family member with a developmental disability. It is recommended you attend all three sessions as the content of each session is connected.
- Exploring Affordable Rental Options (March 22) Join DSO Housing Navigators for a free virtual presentation on various types of affordable and rent geared to income options available to individuals with low to moderate income
- Planning Network or P4P has planning for the future resources, including webcasts,
- Person Directed Planners are facilitators that can help families plan for the future and create a plan together. P4P has a web page on where to find a facilitator. They are also offered through the DSO if the child is connected later on when they are 18+.
- Safe and Secure Futures Networks are groups created through to talk about future planning with other parents- they meet every once in a while and have a group for Toronto East and Toronto West (Extend-A-Family)
- Webinar (recorded): Brendon Pooran RDSP, Wills and Estates (Holland Bloorview)
Transit education | Wheeltrans
Toronto Transit Commission and Magnusmode
- Step-by-step guides that will help people with neurodiverse disabilities navigate the TTC. The guides include visual cues, audio and text-based instructions to help users familiarize themselves with the TTC.
- The app is free to download in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The TTC MagnusCards are located within the ‘Travel’ section of the MagnusCards App, identified by an aeroplane icon.
Need help learning how to use Wheeltrans in different languages?
- Wheeltrans Customer Service will assist families needing help with booking, in different languages. They can be reached at wtcs@ttc.ca or 416-393-4111. When customers call into any of Wheeltran’s departments they can request to have an interpreter on the line in the language of their choice. The representative will put the customer on hold while they contact the interpreter service.
- Wheeltrans self- booking system: Open in Google, click on the button for eng/fr, click on the three dots and then “Choose another language”.
- How to book your trip on Wheel Trans There is a “Google Select Language” button at the top right corner of the webpage.
- Video: how to book a regular trip, an occasional trip, cancelling trips and trip interruptions : Look at the bottom right of the video. Click “Settings” (circle with bumpy edges). Click on “subtitles/cc”. Select “subtitles English auto-generate”. Click “subtitles” again. You will now see “Auto-translate” and can select the language of your choice.
Mental Health and Wellness | Caregiver Support
Asperger’s Society of Ontario (ASO) Family Support Network
Learn with Fern - Supporting a loved one with ASD (March 8, April 26, May 31)
Geneva Centre
Trauma and Burnout in Autism: A Conversation (March 22)
Includes recognizing the early signs of mental health concerns for autistic people, recognizing features of autistic burnout & discussion about interactions between mental health and autistic burnout.
Surrey Place
University Health Network (UHN)
A Guide to Finding Individual Therapy for Children and Youth: a resource to help you understand what are the different therapies and how to find a therapist for yourself or your child.
Homecare Hub
Sources shared living and caregiving options for families.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) & Ann Douglas
Parenting Survival Guide with tips and resources: In Ontario as many as 1 in 5 children and youth will experience some form of mental health problem. This guide offers tips and helpful information.
Wellness Together Canada
Mental health and substance abuse support platform: provides free access to tools, apps & programs to support your wellness.
For more events for caregivers as well as children, youth and young adults, please consider checking: Autism Ontario;Children’s Treatment Network; Connectability.ca; Community Access Learning Centre; 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
