How ideas about 'normal' speech silence children

By Louise Kinross I read a fascinating story in Holland Bloorview scientist Barbara Gibson’s new book that looks at how cultural notions of what’s "normal" influence what we value in rehab. The book is called Rehabilitation: A Post-Critical Approach. The story was about a high school student whose most efficient way of communicating was to speak in a way that wasn’t intelligible by others—but which her mother could easily translate. The student...

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'I love everything about him:' Filmmaker on his brother

By Louise Kinross Owen McIntyre, 9 (right), is the winner of this year’s Filmpossible award for his film My Life With My Brother Rhys (who is pictured on the left). Filmpossible recognizes young filmmakers who bring visibility to disability. The award was presented yesterday by Holland Bloorview in partnership with the TIFF Kids International Film Festival. This year's winner was selected by Holland Bloorview's children's advisory council.  BLOOM...

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'What we do goes above and beyond the medical'

By Louise Kinross Three years ago Elyse Poulin (left) began her career as a newly minted nurse on Holland Bloorview’s complex continuing care unit. She works with children and teens with the most complex medical problems and disabilities—many of whom use ventilators or other life-saving equipment—and their families. BLOOM talked with Elyse about the challenges, frustrations and rewards of her work in children’s rehab. BLOOM: Why did you go...

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Flight ban is discriminatory says Toronto mom

By Louise Kinross Yesterday, Kara Melissa Sharp and her family arrived at Toronto's Pearson airport at lunch time for a flight to Hong Kong at 3:30 p.m. Almost 24 hours later, the family is still waiting at the airport. Cathay Pacific won't allow them to board a plane to Hong Kong with a special car seat for their son Sebastian, who has cerebral palsy and seizures. The Convaid seat, which Sebastian used on a WestJet flight...

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The interview I didn't do

By Louise Kinross Yesterday I had a call from someone at CBC’s The Current radio show asking if I’d participate on a panel this morning. They were interviewing author Craig Davidson about his year driving a school bus of students with disabilities—the iconic “short bus.” His memoir on the topic—Precious Cargo—came out last month and we interviewed him. CBC wanted to know if I’d sit on a panel to discuss disability and stigma from a parent’s...

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Mailbag: What you said about stunting a disabled child's growth

You voiced strong opinions on a BLOOM post about a New York Times Magazine story on parents who choose to medically halt the growth of their children with severe disabilities (photo above from The New York Times). The argument for the treatment, done through surgery and hormones, is that a child who remains tiny can be more easily cared for by parents and siblings at home, and included in activities that become impossible as they get...

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'I feel like a castaway:' 10-year-old boy with autism

The National Autism Association posted this poem written by a 10-year-old boy  on its Facebook page. "He was asked to write a poem for school titled 'I Am,' his mother wrote. "He was given the first two words of each sentence. This is what he wrote."...

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Quick Flix: A dad and son drop the language of 'can't'

In the first of our Quick Flix video series, Gerardo Cappelli talks about how parents of kids with disabilities often get stuck on what their child can't do. They may view adapted ways of skiing or doing other things as less valuable than conventional ways. Gerardo and his teenage son Julian talk about how they adapt activities so everyone gets in on the fun. Quick Flix is a BLOOM series of short clips about parenting, disability and health. Get ready to hear from parents, people with disabilities, clinicians, researchers, authors and other...

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This educator's ties to Bloorview span three generations

By Louise Kinross Debbie Sutherland’s connection with Holland Bloorview goes back three generations. Her grandmother Beatrice worked as a cook at the original Home for Incurable Children. Her mother June developed polio as a toddler and had her braces made at the Hugh MacMillan Rehab Centre. Debbie has worked as an educational assistant in the Bloorview school for 11 years. BLOOM talked to Debbie about her work here, her family’s connection...

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Disabled man to see Europe riding on friends' backs

By Louise Kinross Kevan Chandler (above centre) is used to being carried by friends when spaces don't fit his wheelchair. So why would a trip across Europe be any different? Kevan, who has spinal muscular atrophy, plans on hopping over stiles in the British countryside, climbing up 600 steps of rock to an Irish monastery, and checking out the underground cemetery in Paris. On a website for the latter, it specifically says: “The catacombs...

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A girl's best friend

Kadence is a poodle and trained guide dog who provides six-year-old Bella, who has autism, with "laughter, companionship, strength and courage," says her mom Andrea Haefele. Please watch the video below to see all of the ways that Kadence assists Bella every day. The Haefele family is walking in the Purina Walk for Dog Guides this May to raise money so that other families can receive a guide dog free of charge through the Lions Foundation of...

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