I like Wonder Baby

I don't usually write about contests, but when I went to the site promoting this iPad giveaway, I was impressed. Wonder Baby is a resource for parents of children with vision impairment and multiple disabilities -- written by a mom -- and funded by the Perkins School for the Blind. The site has articles, resources, a Q and A section, a blog and toy recommendations. There are lots of ways for parents to share advice. Great resources, and you could win an iPad!

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Visit a new parenting resource online!

For the last year I've been seconded to Holland Bloorview's Family Resource Centre to help better integrate BLOOM resources with child disability information in the resource centre.

Holland Bloorview's new online Family Resource Centre brings together parent and professional advice, community resources, Holland Bloorview programs and BLOOM stories organized by topic.

Visit the Family Resource Centre and click on any of these topics under the blue Resource Centre tab at the left:

Parenting

Fun

Growing up

Respite

School

In hospital 

Money

My child has

'My child has...' includes stories and resources about a variety of specific disabilities.

In coming months we plan to set up a parent discussion board where you can share firsthand information and support.

For those who live in the Toronto area, don't forget to drop by the Family Resource Centre on the main floor of Holland Bloorview!

From Monday to Friday, our family support specialists, social worker and parent mentors share resources on a range of child disability topics and Holland Bloorview programs. Just around the corner is the Ronald McDonald playroom, where children aged 2 1/2 and up can have supervised fun while you gather information.

We are hosting an open house on Wednesday November 16 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meet our parent mentors, family support specialists and library staff and learn about funding, fun and respite resources. For more information or to register, message ndyke@hollandbloorview.ca.

If you can't make it to the hospital, Ontario families are encouraged to phone our Warmline with questions at 416-424-3888.

The Family Resource Centre works with families to educate, empower and connect parents.

Parents and staff participated in a working group to develop the online resource centre and Lisa Callahan, our resident website wizard, brought it all to life.

This is the first phase of our online resource centre and we hope to develop the section based on your feedback. So please -- go in, click on the topics and send me your input (lkinross@hollandbloorview.ca) or post it below!

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Back-to-school resources

Hi -- This is a great list of special-education teaching blogs from Special Ed. From A to Zed, a site designed to give students the information they need to pursue a Masters in Special Education:

40 inspiring blogs every special-education teacher should read

And this looked of interest too!

19 educational video games

Louise

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This and that

This is a grainy pic because Ben is a speed demon on his rehab bike and doesn't slow down -- even for photographers.

I was contacted by Catherine Calhoun who volunteer manages the RARE blog for the Children's Rare Disease Network. This is a fabulous resource with lots of firsthand stories from parents.

Parents helping kids and kids helping parents, a meet in the middle was an interesting post about how we can lose sight of what's most important when therapy dominates our lives.

Many of you are already familiar with Enjoying the small things, a blog by Florida mom and photographer Kelle Hampton. Kelle shares life with her two young daughters through stunning photography and words. She just received a national media award for her work at the National Down Syndrome Congress in Orlando.

This is a delightful interview of a mother by her 12-year-old son with Asperger's on Story Corps.

We welcome guest blogs so please send me your ideas (lkinross@hollandbloorview.ca)!

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