Resources

There are a wide variety of resources available to individuals, families, and our community - both through partner agencies as well as other programs and organizations in the Durham Region. Below is a listing of some of those locations, with linkages to websites, where applicable:

Books and Videos

Family Leadership

Navigating the System: An Advocacy Handbook for Parents of Children with Intellectual Disabilities - Saskatchewan

	this advocacy handbook is "about finding solutions, and figuring out how to work with systems that are complicated, restrictive, under-funded and confusing." Chapter 1 of the handbook is dedicated to information and tips about respite. Tips for talking to a respite worker, etc. are tips that can be used by families across the country. Free to Parents.
	https://www.sacl.org/docs/Navigating%20the%20System.pdf

Planning

A Good Life , Al Etmanski

	Every parent whose child lives with a disability struggles with the same question: "Who will look after my child after I am gone?" If you are thinking about... Wills and Estate planning... Supported decision-making... Developing a Circle of Support... Alternatives to legal guardianship...
	http://www.plan.ca

Connections - A guide to transition planning for parents of children with a developmental disability , Rae Roebuck & Judy Coultes-MacLeod

	Connections: A Guide to Transition Planning has been developed to help you - the parent of a child with a developmental disability in the Central East Region - as your child makes the transition from school life to adulthood. This guide has been written to provide you with information on transition planning and to identify some of the issues you need to think about. It will also provide you with information on accessing services in each of the Central East Region that may be useful to you as you begin to plan for your child's life beyond school. To download a free copy of this guide: Visit the website identified. Select Helpful Resources; Select Publications
	http://www.dsto.com

Education

Health Information

KidHealth Website

	Some of the features include articles, interactive activities for children on dealing with feelings, health issues, my body, growing up, people, places and things that help. Recipes are also shared. KidsHealth has separate areas for kids, teens, and parents - each with its own design, age-appropriate content, and tone.
	http://kidshealth.org

SickKids Learning Institute - About Kids health , Deborah Murray

	AboutKidsHealth provides the latest child health news, in-depth information on complex medical conditions, and materials on a range of everyday topics from child development to safety. Learning happens in all sorts of places online! SickKids Learning Institute is proud to provide stimulating, interactive, and engaging opportunities for families, children, and youth to learn about health, growth, and development.
	http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca

Learning Opportunities

Kerry's Place - East Region

	Canada’s largest service provider to families with children, adolescents, and adults, with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since 1974 Kerry’s Place has been creating, and providing evidence-based supports and services across the province of Ontario that enhance the quality of life of those with ASD.
	https://www.kerrysplace.org/support-and-services/east-region/	Contact : Head Office: 34 Berczy Street Aurora, ON L4G1W9 1-833-775-3779,- info@kerrysplace.org

The Southern Ontario Training Group

	The Southern Ontario Training Group (SOTG) is a small group of people whose members have been working together since 1986. The group's mission is to ensure that the theory of Social Role Valorization is taught systematically throughout Southern Ontario. Members believe that Social Role Valorization (SRV) is essential, especially in our current social climate. It helps to raise consciousness about personal and societal values in relation to people who are devalued and offers a framework for the development of strategies to address social devaluation. Besides teaching SRV theory, the group actively carries out a systematic leadership development process aimed at increasing the training capacity by developing new leaders and trainers and supporting citizens who are willing to take a stand on behalf of people who are devalued. SOTG works in collaboration with Dr Wolf Wolfensberger and the North American SRV Training, Development and Safeguarding Council.
	http://www.srv-sotg.ca	Contact : ask_sotg@gmail.com

Traditional

Durham Catholic District School Board Special Education: Information for Parents

	Each school board is required, every two years, to prepare and approve a report on the special education programs and special education services provided by the board, and to submit it to the Ministry. One of the purposes of a school board's special education plan is to inform the Ministry of Education and the public about special education programs and services that are provided by the board in accordance with legislation and ministry policy on special education. To access this information for the Catholic board, visit the website below and select Parents, then select Student Services and Special Education
	http://www.dcdsb.ca

Special Education Plan

	Each school board is required, every two years, to prepare and approve a report on the special education programs and special education services provided by the board, and to submit it to the Ministry. One of the purposes of a school board's special education plan is to inform the Ministry of Education and the public about special education programs and services that are provided by the board in accordance with legislation and ministry policy on special education. If you wish to view or download the current plan, visit the website below, select Programs and Learning, then select Inclusive Student Services.
	http://www.ddsb.ca

Family Leadership

Family Alliance Ontario

	Family Alliance Ontario is an alliance of citizens that offers knowledge, tools and networking opportunities to individuals with disabilities and their families to assist them to realize a vision that includes having valued relationships, choice and control in their lives, and enables inclusion through meaningful contribution and participation in their communities.
	http://www.family-alliance.com	Contact : Family Alliance Ontario c/o Durham Family Network 20 - 850 King Street West, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada L1J 8N5 (905) 436-2500 ext. 2310

Inclusion Website

	A resource for anyone interested in learning more about Inclusion.
	http://www.inclusion.com

Individualized Funding Coalition for Ontario

	We are a 'coalition' of: people with disabilities, families, friends, advocates, facilitators, organizations, and agencies working together to move individualized funding forward in Ontario. We support the self-determination of persons with disabilities. We believe that all people should have control over decisions concerning where they live, with whom they live, with whom they associate and how they spend their lives. We believe that the person requiring assistance, supported by family and/or other others, should have access to and control over the funds allocated for his/her supports.
	http://www.individualizedfunding.ca/home.html

Recreation and Leisure

Community Guide

City of Oshawa activeOshawa Guide

	The activeOshawa Guide is available in PDF format also and Registration is available on-line.
	https://www.oshawa.ca/things-to-do/activeOshawa.asp

City of Pickering Leisure Guide

	Now available on-line and in downloadable PDF format
	https://www.pickering.ca/en/living/LeisureGuide.aspx

Clarington Recreation and Leisure Guide

	Now available on-line in downloadable PDF format. See link below.
	https://www.clarington.net/en/be-active/resources/Fall2021_AODA.pdf	Contact : Community Services 40 Temperance Street Bowmanville, ON L1C 3A6 T. 905-623-3379 ext. 2552 F. 905-623-5506

Town of Ajax Activities and Recreation Programs

	Now available on-line
	https://www.ajax.ca/en/play-and-discover/activities-and-recreation-programs.aspx

Town of Whitby Activity Guide

	The Guide and registration is now available on-line
	https://www.whitby.ca/en/play/activity-guide.aspx

Township of Scugog Recreation and Leisure Guide

	Available on line
	https://www.scugog.ca/en/live-and-play/Leisure-Guide.aspx

Township of Uxbridge Community Guide

	You can view, download, and/or print the guide
	https://uxbridge.ca/community_guide	Contact : Amanda Ferraro Director of Community Services and Interim Library CEO (905) 852-0095 ext. 400 aferraro@uxbridge.ca

Supports & Services

Community Living Ontario

	Community Living Ontario is a non-profit, provincial association that advocates for people who have an intellectual disability to be fully included in all aspects of community life. The goal of Community Living Ontario is that all persons live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living in the community, and have the opportunity to participate effectively.
	http://www.communitylivingontario.ca

Durham Down Syndrome Association

	The Durham Down Syndrome Association is a non-profit registered charitable organization which acts as a resource for health, education and professionals to support families and other interested persons working to improve life for those individuals with Down Syndrome within the Region of Durham.
	http://www.ddsa.ca	Contact : mastermail@ddsa.ca (289) 275-3201

Epilepsy Durham Region

	With the sheer number of people living with Epilepsy, and the impact this disease has on an individual and their family, our goal is to ensure that local community support is available to address the catastrophic effects of this disease. Contact email: clientservices@epilepsydurham.com
	https://www.epilepsydurham.com/	Contact : 310 Byron Street South, Suite 3 Whitby, ON L1N 4P8 Phone:(905) 430-3090

Provincial Respite Services Network 2018 Update