Special Needs Planning
with Spectrum Financial
Back to School 2022
Greetings!

We hope this e-newsletter finds you and your family well. It is so hard to believe that we are in the last week of Summer Holidays. We hope you have been able to enjoy these past few months of sunny, hot days.

We have gathered below some interesting articles and resource that we thought may be of interest.


To stay up to date on a more regular basis, please be sure to like and follow us on our
Special Needs Social Media pages (links at the bottom of this email)
where we share articles, resources, motivational pieces and strategies.

Please continue to stay safe, stay in touch, and stay positive.

Karen, Richard, Janet & Jeni
News & Resources
5% Just Doesn’t Cut It
 
The Ford government recently made good on their promise to raise ODSP payments by 5%; the problem is, that doesn't come close to keeping up with current inflation. The disabled community is relying more on food banks, cutting back on necessities, and selling off personal items just to make ends meet. Citizens are waiting for a proposed Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) to be established to help meet the basic needs of working age people with disabilities.
Back to School For Children
With Disabilities

Back to school can be a difficult transition for any family, but parents and caregivers of children with disabilities must be extra diligent to make this transition as successful as possible.
It takes a team with a cohesive plan, but chances are you are the Expert on your own child. Don't be afraid to voice your opinions, hold their team accountable and introduce tools that you know work for your child.
Click below for more ways to prepare for this school year!
VLRC Celebrates
50 Years of
Mobile Eye Care!
 
Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, formed in 1972 to provide eye health services to residents of Northern Ontario. Since then, this fully equipped eye care clinic has logged 300,000 kilometers, and helped thousands in remote areas to identify eye disease early, and prevent vision loss.
Learn more about this important service, and their tour schedule here.
We Bring You Maximum Value

With the help of an expert like Carol Bezaire CFP, TEP, CLU, Vice-president of tax, estate, and strategic philanthropy, at Mackenzie Investments, we are proud to be able help families save for their disabled loved ones' future years.
Through generous government grants & bonds, contributing to a Registered Disability Savings Plan, can mean thousands of extra dollars towards retirement!
How Do F-Words Fit Into Child Development?
 
Believe it or not, there are many (appropriate) F-words caregivers should focus on for the enrichment and development of children with disabilities. This CanChild program builds upon the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework.
The F-words program is aimed at teachers and families, using a balanced approach to develop activity and participation in ways that are individualized to children's abilities.  
What's For Lunch?
At what point should kids start packing their own lunches? When you have children of different levels of needs, this point is more of an abilities issue than age or grade.

Choosing and packing what they want to eat during their school day is a great way to promote independence. This blog post has some good, *realistic* ideas to help your child get started on picking and packing a good lunch. Who has the time to cut carrot hearts and penguin shaped sandwiches to fit in a tiny bento box with 12 other lilliputian items?? 
Follow Us on Social Media
and Stay Informed