CaringBridge websites

When you have a child in the hospital with a significant health challenge, it can be difficult to keep all of your family and friends up-to-date. CaringBridge websites (www.caringbridge.org) offer a personal and private space to communicate and show support, saving time and emotional energy when health matters most. The websites are easy to create and use. Authors add health updates and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages of love, hope and compassion in the guestbook.

You can set the security level you are comfortable with.

• Low: Visitors do not need to log in. There is open access for visitors who know the website address.
• Medium: Visitors need to log in to CaringBridge (Recommended). Allows you to see the name and e-mail address of visitors.
• High: Visitors need to log in and must be on an "approved list" (created by you). Allows you to see the name and e-mail address of visitors. Only visitors you approve can access this website.

Looking for parents to participate in a new study

Staff at TVCC are collaborating with researchers in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western on a study that aims to understand how parents of young children with cerebral palsy use health information when living with and caring for their children.


If you are interested in learning more about this study, please contact Monique VanKessel (monique.vankessel@tvcc.on.ca or phone 519 685-8700 ext 53391) or Wendy Worsfold (wendy.worsfold@tvcc.on.ca or phone 519 685-8700 ext 53454).”

Parents with Disabilities

My son and his wife will soon be foster parents. I’m happy for them but my head spins with all the concerns I have. Steve and Lisa both use wheelchairs for mobility. I’ve always felt proud of how independent and capable they are in spite of their physical challenges. Still, I can’t help but worry – all the “what-ifs” are mind-boggling.boggling.
An article in Exceptional Parent magazine helped shine some light on the situation. The following are excerpts from the article.

“According to “Challenges and Strategies of Disabled Parents Findings from a National Survey of Parents with Disabilities” the most challenging aspects of parenting with a disability include:

· physical exertion

· doing everything that needs to get done

· social messages given to children

· keeping up with children

· transportation

· discipline

· maintaining continuity in children’s lives

· limited income

· participation in school events

· communication

And like all parents, parents with disabilities find that raising children can be a true pleasure. According to the same survey, parents with disabilities reported these positive aspects of their unique parenting situation:

· child learns compassion

· child is more open-minded towards others

· more time with kids

· child is more resourceful”

“As with all parents, parents with disabilities require the support of their family and the community in which they reside. Parents with disabilities deserve an immense amount of respect, love, friendship and support from others. Indeed they are Exceptional Parents.”

That last paragraph really hit home! It is time for me to stop the “hand-wringing” and show some support for the to-be-parents.

Benefits of living with a child who has a disability

I was asked "what are the benefits of living with a child who has a disability". I did an information search and this is what I found:

· broadened horizons

· increased family members’ awareness of their inner strength

· enhanced family cohesion

· encouraged connections to community group or religious institutions

· pleasure/satisfaction in providing care for child

· child is a source of joy/happiness

· sense of accomplishment in having done one’s best for the child

· shared love with the child

· child provides a challenge or opportunity to learn and develop

· strengthened family and/or marriage

· giving new or increased sense of purpose in life

· development of new skills, abilities, or new career opportunities

· becoming a better person (more compassionate, less selfish, more tolerant)

· increased personal strength or confidence

· expanded social and community networks

· increase spirituality

· changed perspective on life (e.g. clarified what is important in life, more aware of the future)

· making the most of each day and living life at a slower pace

Important registration dates for sport/recreation

Track 3 Ski http://www.londontrack3.ca/

George Bray Hockey Program - Sep 17th (9am-noon), Sep 21st (6:30-9pm) and 24th (9am-noon) at Glen Carin Arena murrayhoward@execulink.com

London Blizzard Sledge Hockey - September 21 (5:00 - 6:00 at Western Fair Sports Centre/Arena) bernat.s@sympatico.ca

London Wheelchair Basketball - Paul pbowes4189@rogers.com or Tony ant@stonetown.com

Making Waves Swim Program - online http://www.makingwaveslondon.org/

Boccia - London Cannonballs www.londoncannonballs.ca/

Intro to ParaSwim - introtoparaswim@gmail.com

If you have any questions, please email one of the therapeutic recreationists at tr@tvcc.on.ca

Young People Talking to Health Care Providers

I came across an 18-minute video on  "The Institute for Child Health Policy" website. It teaches teens how to communicate effectively with health care providers. Have a look:  http://www.ichp.ufl.edu/videos/twyd

What is a Resource Centre?

E.B.White, children’s author of Charlotte’s Web, once wrote a letter to a librarian. These are his words but I have replaced the word “library” with “resource centre”. I hope you agree.

“A resource centre is many things. It’s a place to go to get in out of the rain. It’s a place to go if you want to sit and think. But particularly it is a place where books live, and where you can get in touch with other people, and other thoughts, through books. A resource centre is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided for there in a book, you may have your questions answered. Books are good company in sad times and happy times, for books are people – people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.”