Parent's Corner

Community Living Ontario

Community Living Ontario is a non-profit, provincial association started in 1953, which advocates for people who have an intellectual disability to be fully included in all aspects of community life. Community Living Ontario and the local Community Living associations are also part of the Canadian Association for Community Living. Together we belong to a world-wide advocacy network called Inclusion International.

As a provincial association Community Living Ontario:

·       has over 12,000 members across the province

·       represents 107 local Community Living associations across Ontario

Please visit the

Community Living Ontario website to stay up to date on programs, events and resources available
to families within the province of Ontario.

Resources for Families

Follow the links to explore what's available in Chatham-Kent

Municipality of Chatham-Kent RecConnect
A listing of recreational programs available in Chatham-Kent
Special Populations Programs can be found at RecConnect under Programs
http://rec.city.chatham-kent.on.ca/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=391265817&SDT=39869.4592592593

Chatham-Kent Early Years Centre
http://site.ckoeyc.ca

Chatham-Kent YMCA
www.ckymca.com

Chatham-Kent Community Portal
www.chatham-kent.ca

Chatham-Kent's Calendar of Events
www.eventsck.com

Kids playing.  It's such a common sight that parents often take it for granted.  It's easy to think that playing is "just for fun", but there is so much more to it than that.  Play is a very real way for all children to explore and learn about the world around them. 

To read the article click here 

8 Tips to help your child take charge
By Joanne Milner

1. Encourage your child to keep a binder of notes from medical appointments.  Initially you can model this by keeping your own.  As an appointment approaches, ask your child to write down questions and concerns or communicate them to you.  At the appointment, use the binder questions as a starting point for conversation.  Ask the professional to fill in responses so that your child has a written record of what was discussed and recommended.

2. Teach your child the names of body parts and medical terms related to his or her disability, using picture symbols or signs when necessary.  This will give your child the language to communicate with professionals.

3. To promote your teen's independence at medical clinics, you need to sit in the waiting room!  Encourage your child to choose someone else -- a friend, family member or attendant -- to come as a support.  This will encourage health care professionals to relate directly to your child.

4. Teach your child the boundaries of a therapeutic relationship: professionals may be friendly, like aquaintances, but they are not friends.  Some children with disabilities have trouble relating to peers and may befriend professionals.  Once boundries are crossed, therapeutic relationships can be more harmful than beneficial.

5. Let your child know that technology is designed to promote freedom, not to oppress.  One young woman said she was extremely upset when she was prescribed a wheelchair to get around high school.  She feared it would make classmates see her as more severely disabled.  She learned that equipment doesn't define who you are; your heart, soul and mind do.

6. Allow children to make decisions about equipment.  This will help them see it as a tool to improve life, rather than imposed.

7. Help your child find a team of adult health professionals before he or she leaves the peadiatric system.  Go shopping for these professionals.  It's important that your child find people he or she can relate to.

8. Seek out adults with disabilities who can mentor your child.

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Article was taken from the summer 2007 edition of "Today's Kids in motion"
Joanne Milner is with the Bloorview Kids Rehab in Toronto, ON

Looking for ideas of crafts to do with your children? Click on the link below..

Summer Activities.doc (237568 B)

Local Resources - Disability Related Organizations