Looking for toys for Christmas?

Learn about toys for children with special needs at AblePlay This site has a lot of information to help you make the best choices. The toys are categorized according to disability and age group.

Born Learning

Born Learning helps parents create high-quality early learning opportunities using everyday events for young children. The web site provides comprehensive developmental information on children from birth to 5 years of age.

The Spina Bifida Association of America has a fantastic website

go to  http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/


The "SB University" section has health related seminar videos for you to watch.

The "SB Preparations" section was created for parents and clinicians but it also has information for young adults seeking ways to become more independent and lead a fuller, richer life.

Signing up for these sections is easy and free.
 
It is jam packed with reliable information on spina bifida.

ACCPC discussion forum

Do you have a communication disability? Are you 15 years or older?


Augmentative Communication Community Partnership Canada (ACCPC) has launched a new online, discussion forum for you to discuss the barriers you face when accessing the services you need. More importantly, you will begin to explore solutions to these barriers that individuals, businesses and governments can implement. Go to http://www.accpc.ca/ctcf-forum.htm to join the forum.

(The TVCC Resource Centre has a DVD and guide you can borrow to learn more about connecting to your community.)

Affordable and Accessible Amusement Park

Quest (MDA's Research & Health magazine) has an article on  Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas.

Visit their website at http://quest.mda.org/article/finally-affordable-and-accessible-amusement-park

Youth Development Committee

The Government of Ontario wants to hear from you.
They are looking for youth with different backgrounds and experience to take part in the Youth Development Committee.
Youth between the ages of 18 and 25 can apply to be part of this group. They'll pay for your time and cover the costs of travelling to meetings.
Apply by November 21, 2010
There is also an opportunity for youth aged 12-25 to join a voluntary Youth Network.
visit http://www.youthconnect.ca/ to learn more.

Learn How to Walk from a Dude in a Wheelchair

Our Community Relations dept. recently shared the following video of Jeff Preston with our staff.
Have a look, it is well worth the 5 minutes.

http://www.ignitelondon.ca/video/learn-how-to-walk-from-a-dude-in-a-wheelchair-for-reals-this-time

Gavin Blair "A firm believer that physical activity is overrated, Jeff has been using an electric wheelchair to avoid it since Grade 4. Best known as a trouble maker, Jeff is a local disability advocate, wanna-be politician, and writer of Cripz: A Webcomic."

Kids Car Safety article

The online version of Today's Parent magazine has a great article on car safety. Once you close their very annoying ad, you'll find some good advice.


• Bigger vehicles aren’t always safer
• Car junk can become projectiles
• It’s good to be the monkey in the middle
• Airbags can do more harm than good to little ones
• Kids are as distracting as cellphones
• All-weather tires are a compromise
• Cars don’t have to be moving to be lethal
• The not-so-common-sense car seat
• DIY emergency kit

related reading
• 9 Car Seat Mistakes
• Tips to Fix Car Seat Battles
• Road Trip Activity Guide

Among the Giants

"Among the Giants" is a short documentary film focusing on the Adaptive Design Association (ADA) Inc., a nonprofit organization that builds customized equipment and furniture (mainly from cardboard) for people with disabilities.

Nominate your caregiver for a "Heroes in the Home" award

Nominate any caregiver for the excellent care they provide to you in SouthWestern Ontario -- a family member, friend, community volunteer, support worker, nurse, therapist, etc.

visit  http://www.thehealthline.ca/libraryContent.aspx?id=226

Adapted Clothing

Summer vacation is over and the kids are headed back to school. If you are looking for adapted clothing, you may want to visit:

 http://www.izadaptive.com/ for women

 http://www.minimiracles.ca/ for kids

If you know of any other companies online, let me know.
I'd like to add them to our list of links.

Most requested article for August

I provide journal articles for our staff at TVCC. This month, the abstract of the article that was requested the most is:

Using Social Stories and Visual Schedules to Improve Socially Appropriate Behaviors in Children With Autism
Naomi Schneider and Howard Goldstein
Autism the International Journal of Research and Practice v14#4 2010
The current study investigated the effects of Social Stories written according to Gray’s specifications on on-task behavior in inclusive classroom settings in three children with autism. Using a multiple-baseline design across participants, modest improvements in on-task behavior were associated with implementation of an auditory-visual Social Story intervention. In follow-up analysis, the Social Story was replaced with a visual schedule component to augment the effects of Social Stories when there was room for improvement for one participant. Further improvement in on-task behavior indicates that strategies such as visual schedules may be an effective way to augment the effects of Social Stories. An effect size estimate calculated using Parker et al.’s percentage of all nonoverlapping data points procedure revealed a large effect (d = 1.33) associated with Social Stories alone, which increased (d = 1.7) when the visual schedule intervention applied to one participant was added to the analysis. Although Social Stories produced improvements in on-task behavior in children with autism, additional components, such as visual schedules, may be useful for optimizing performance.

Decreased latex sensitization in kids with SB

The journal Allergy has an article titled
"Effects of Latex Avoidance on latex sensitization, atopy and allergic diseases in patients with spina bifida" 2010 July 23

The conclusion of this article states:
"Latex avoidance in children with spina bifida prevents latex sensitization and latex allergy. Additionally, it also seems to prevent sensitization to other allergens and allergic diseases which might be explained by the prevention of sensitization spreading."

Interesting articles in the magazine "Rehab & Community Care Medicine"

Although this magazine is aimed at health care professionals, you may find these articles helpful. The fulltext copies are in the online summer issue at http://www.rehabmagazine.ca/.

1. "The necessity of standing: there is no alternative", written by Amy Meyer, PT, ATP, pediatric and standing specialist.
2. "Equipment modifications made to support a new mother" by Cheryl Sheffield, OT, ATP and Debbie Scott-Kent, OT. The new mother is Elana, a married 35-year-old woman who requires a power wheelchair for mobility. This article explores adaptive equipment to help with parenting tasks.

Adapted Golf Workshop

Adapted Golf Workshop is being held Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, Woodstock Meadows (Driving Range) 745314 Oxford Rd. #17, RR#7, Woodstock ON


This interactive workshop is a chance to learn about and try out some of the adapted golf equipment that is available through the ARE-U-Ready loan program. There will be people on hand to help. phone 519-539-8161 ext 249 or email areuready@ceswoodstock.org

Dr.Phelan, parenting guru, has a new blog

Dr.Phelan is the author of all the 1-2-3 Magic Parenting books. Have a look at his new blog.

Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC)

I came across an article in the summer issue of Exceptional Family magazine. This book club looks like an interesting idea that could be adapted for our clients. The closest club to us is in Fort Erie, Ontario.

"What A Novel Idea
Unlike other book clubs, the Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) provides adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to read and learn to read, talk about books, and make friends in a fun, community setting. Next Chapter Book Clubs across North America and in Germany meet weekly in local bookstores and cafés to read aloud and discuss books of their choosing. NCBC members range from those who read well to those who cannot read independently." 
learn more at their website

filmpossible

Bloorview Kids Rehab presents "filmpossible" - a contest bringing visibility to disability. Learn More

The NLM Family Foundation announces the launch of Autism Around the Globe

Here is what NLM has to say about http://www.autismaroundtheglobe.org/:
Autism around the Globe is an interactive web-based project which focuses on raising public awareness of how autism affects those in different parts of the world. The goals of our project are to:
* raise global public awareness of autism,
* increase understanding of how cultural variations affect how autism is viewed and experienced,
* provide information about autism and a directory of international autism resources,
* develop supportive networks of families and professionals in autism communities around the world, and
* encourage international research collaboration in autism-related fields.

As a major feature of this website, we share compelling personal stories from contributors around the world whose lives have in some way been affected by autism. We feature multiple perspectives, highlighting the thoughts and experiences of parents, siblings, and individuals with autism themselves as well as educators, researchers, social workers, therapists, and other professionals.

We welcome submissions of personal accounts of autism from anywhere in the world. If you are or know of an individual with autism, parent, caregiver, family member, or professional involved in your local autism community who might be interested in submitting a short story for inclusion on our web site, please visit
http://www.autismaroundtheglobe.org/submit_story.asp for information on how to participate.

The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada newsletter

Download the newsletter Spring/Summer issue 2010 from the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada's website. Two of the articles you may find especially interesting are:

1) NEW: Changes to Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs) in Budget 2010

2) Brand-name Drugs vs Generics: The Choice is Yours... But Beware of What You Buy

Download a free copy of a checklist for childcare settings

Lemon the Duck - new book

Lemon the Duck written by Laura Backman is a true life story. It even has it's own website at http://www.lemontheduck.com/

The story goes...

Ms.Lake and her class have tended to an egg-hatching project for the past month and are eager to welcome four little ducklings into the world. But the students soon realize that the soft little one they've named Lemon is different from the other hatchlings. She looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, but she can't stand or walk like a duck. How can Lemon ever be happy if she can't do all the things ducks love to do?

Discover how the students help lift Lemon up with a little creativity and a lot of extra special care, and how this unforgettable duck shows them what love and acceptance are all about.

Today's Parent KidSummer

KidSummer lists fun events and activities the whole family can enjoy! Hosts daily events throughout the GTA and across Southern Ontario from July 1st to August 31st. Today’s Parent KidSummer also heads out to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary mid July into August.

Autism linked to rare gene changes

People with autism may have differences in their genes that are unique to each person, a new international study shows. Learn more at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/story/2010/06/09/autism-genetics.html
CBC National also has a link to the full text article published in the journal "Nature".

Popular Journal articles

Our staff had food on the mind last month. The two most requested articles are:
Food refusal in children: A review of the literature

Research in Developmental Disabilities (May 2010), 31 (3), pg. 625-633
Keith E. Williams; Douglas G. Field; Laura Seiverling
Food refusal is a severe feeding problem in which children refuse to eat all or most foods presented and exhibit problems with growth. This review discusses the definition, etiology, and interventions pertaining to food refusal. The interventions utilized for food refusal typically consist of several treatment components. These treatment components are reviewed and implications for future interventions are discussed.

Communication Boards

One of our client users of BoardMaker has come across some sites you may find helpful.
Have a browse through:
http://www.setbc.org/
http://elearning.autism.net/visuals
http://www.connectability.ca/
Creating an account is easy and well worth the effort to get to the good stuff.

An Accessible Summer

Finally, it feels like summer. Now's the time to plan for that vacation you've been waiting for.

"Off the Beaten Path...Toronto's Accessible Hinterlands" is an article found in the spring issue of  the magazine "Play to Podium for special needs families". It lists the accessible attractions and services in Toronto. Their website  http://www.play2podium.com/ has links to cities around the globe who are publishing access guides to their attractions, lodging, dining, etc., for visitors with a disability.

For access guides to Canadian cities, visit Access Guide Canada

What's Taxable Under the HST and What's Not?

This just came by my desk today. Learn about the new HST at  http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxchange/families.html

New Additions to the Resource Centre

New resources in the Resource Centre
Several children's books written by Suzanne Berton have come in. You can also learn about being a trustee for a Henson Trust Fund with the "Trustee Reference Manual".

You will soon be able to view pictures of many of our resources in the clinic waiting room. A digital picture frame is ready to be installed. Keep a lookout for it when visiting the second floor.

Have you ever used a digital book reader? We now have one available for you. It is a "kindle" and has been loaded up with digital books. Drop by the Resource Centre to borrow it while you wait for your clinician or doctor.

April's most popular journal articles

Our staff seemed to have food on their minds last month. The most requested articles were:


Food refusal in children: A review of the literature
Research in Developmental Disabilities (May 2010), 31 (3), pg. 625-633
Keith E. Williams; Douglas G. Field; Laura Seiverling
Food refusal is a severe feeding problem in which children refuse to eat all or most foods presented and exhibit problems with growth. This review discusses the definition, etiology, and interventions pertaining to food refusal. The interventions utilized for food refusal typically consist of several treatment components. These treatment components are reviewed and implications for future interventions are discussed.

Utilizing a home-based parent training approach in the treatment of food selectivity
Behavioral Interventions (April 2010), 25 (2), pg. 89-107
Adel C. Najdowski; Michele D. Wallace; Kara Reagon; Becky Penrod; Thomas S. Higbee; Jonathan Tarbox

Introduction

Yesterday, "It's Nobody's Fault" came in. The author, Dr.Harold Koplewicz, is an esteemed child and adolescent psychiatrist. This book was the winner of "1996 Parents' Choice Honor" and nominee for a "Books for a Better Life Award". It takes you step-by-step through the process of pinpointing the nature of your child's problem, from getting the right evaluation through the latest information on diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.