We’ve rolled out new programs to better serve clients and families, such as the School-Based Rehabilitation Tiered OT Intervention Model, Adolescent Transition Program and Extensive Needs Service. We’ve expanded strategic partnerships to enable greater community collaboration and connection. We’ve advanced research in the field of disability studies. We’ve sought out and listened to client and caregiver feedback to improve programs and services.

We recognize and are grateful for Team Grandview’s incredible adaptability, skills and passion to make these initiatives happen, all driven by our shared vision of every child and youth living at their full potential.

As we look ahead, our work will be anchored by a new Strategic Plan. From the beginning, we committed to ensuring the “family voice” drove strategic priority-setting. Throughout our months-long strategic planning exercise, we have equally balanced the perspectives of clients and families with those of Grandview Kids’ decision-makers (our Board and Senior Leadership Team) and Team Grandview. As a provincial leader in Family Engagement, this was important to us. We firmly believe the people we serve should inform the work we set out to do over the next three years. I look forward to sharing the new Strategic Plan with you this Spring.

As we continue to evolve our newsletter, let’s keep the conversation going. Share your questions with us, which will be answered by our Senior Leadership Team. Or, if there are topics you want covered in upcoming issues, we want to know. Submitting your ideas is easy and only takes a minute in this online survey.

I wish you a wonderful start to Spring, with time for reflection, renewal and rest. 

Sincerely, 

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Throughout March, we celebrate National Cerebral Palsy (CP) Awareness Month to recognize and support the many individuals who live with CP. CP is a permanent, physical disability impacting a person’s mobility and muscle strength. 

Read Gavin's journey >

Epilepsy Awareness Month

March is national epilepsy awareness month in Canada. It encourages people to understand the disorder and support the fight against the misconceptions, discrimination and isolation facing those who live with epilepsy.

Read Jacki's story >

World Down Syndrome Day

On March 21, we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by showcasing the abilities, contributions and experiences of people with Down syndrome.

Meet 5-year-old Clara! She enjoys listening to music, working with puzzles, building things and is a skilled reader. Clara also has Down Syndrome, but her diagnosis does not define her. In fact, with extra care and understanding, she will show you how smart and determined she can be!

Read Clara's story >

Program Spotlight: Social Work

March 4 to 10 is Social Work Week in Ontario, and across Canada, March is National Social Work Month. This March, we invite you to learn more about how #SocialWorkOpensDoors for people across Ontario, and join us in celebrating this essential work.

The 2024 theme, #SocialWorkOpensDoors, speaks to the many ways that Social Workers help to create new and empowering pathways and opportunities for the people they support. From providing direct mental health services, to helping people navigate complex systems and challenges, and connecting people with the right supports, Social Workers make a difference when it's needed most.

Social Work is a profession aimed at helping individuals, families and communities to build capacity and promote wellbeing. They can help to identify sources of stress or problems, strengthen coping skills and find effective solutions. Social workers are unique among helping professionals because they look at people's problems within the context of their families, workplace and communities and consider the connection between personal problems and larger social issues (Ontario Association of Social Workers, 2024).

Receiving and navigating through a disability diagnosis for your child is complicated, confusing, and often evokes many difficult emotions, thoughts and worries about the future. Parents and caregivers are left to search for support in a convoluted system with little direction, while caring for their child and/or family and managing their own wellbeing. This is an overwhelming time in a family’s life and Social Workers at Grandview Kids play a unique role in the care team.

Social Workers can help your family understand your child’s diagnosis, assist in developing coping strategies and connect your family with programs, or services in the community. Social Workers aim to include and promote the best interests of the entire family that may be impacted by a disability.  

Read more about our Social Work Program > 

Upcoming program offerings

Spring Recreation Programs

LEGO® Club

Program dates: Every Wednesday from April 3 to May 22 for children/youth ages 9 to 16

LEGO® Club is a fun, structured social skill opportunity designed for children and youth with developmental disabilities, including Autism, who enjoy creating with standard LEGO® bricks. 

A variety of LEGO® products and other media will be utilized to foster social communication skills and promote turn-taking and collaboration in a fun and social environment. 

Benefits of this program include: 

• Advocating for oneself, such as asking for help.
• Conversation initiation with others.
• Learning to take accountability for one's actions.
• Developing creativity and curiosity.

Visit Grandview Kids' My Community Hub page to review program details and register.

Fun, Friends and Fitness 

Dates: Every Monday from April 8 to June 3 (except Monday, May 20) for children/youth ages 7 to 16 

This program is for children and youth with developmental needs, including Autism. Try basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey and racket sports in a safe and fun environment. Staffed by our Physical Literacy Coordinator and Recreation Therapy Assistants, this program promotes physical activity, physical literacy and socialization through group participation.

Through Fun, Fitness and Friends, your child will develop improved: 

• fundamental motor skills
• object control skills
• balance
• coordination

Visit Grandview Kids' My Community Hub page to review program details and register.

Family Engagement

Hosted by the Family Engagement Team, join us for a fun night of video games, e-sports and networking, focused on promoting youth independence and fostering community connections. Resources about post-secondary education and employment support will be provided.

Youths must be 15+ to attend, with physical, communication or developmental needs. Support staff are not provided.

No fee, except for on-site parking.

Family feedback:

“Recently, my daughter and I had a wonderful opportunity to attend the Dream Board Event hosted by Grandview's Adolescent Transition Program/Family Engagement Team. My daughter was so excited to attend this event and to create a board for herself that reflected what she wants for her future. I also was looking forward to making a board myself with goals I see for her future.

The evening was full of smiles and sharing stories between families and youth. At the end of the night, my daughter expressed she had a great time and found making the board fun and loved setting goals for herself. At the end of the evening, the youth were given the choice if they would like to share their board with the group and she jumped at the chance. When she was presenting, I learned things I was not aware she hoped to one day do or try. It was so great to hear, and now I can find ways to help her try to meet those goals.



She loved chatting and hearing other people experiences and was so happy coming home. She wants to help and attend any events hosted by Grandview Adolescent Transition Program that she can. The takeaway for me from this event was she felt heard, she matters, and she has a plan for her future.”

From the Archives

Over the last few months, our Archivist and Ability Acceptance Presenter, Mitchell Daniels, has been busy cataloging the Grandview Kids Archives. The collection contains a wide selection of documents, photographs, newspaper clippings and larger artifacts. It is always fascinating when we make new discoveries within the collection, and when we receive new items to add.

We have a large newspaper collection. Newspapers are an amazing resource for heritage professionals. Not only do they preserve the information about events and newsworthy activities, but they also preserve details about greater society through the ages. Local newspapers have often highlighted the amazing partnerships Grandview Kids has benefitted from over the years. This includes McDonald's Canada, Eatons, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Blue Jays, Black Creek Pioneer Village, General Electric, Durham Region Police Service, and municipal Fire Services… to name a few.   

With the opening of our new headquarters this Fall, we look forward to continuing to celebrate our history through new exhibits. And, stay tuned for the debut of our new digital archive collection in the weeks ahead. 

Community Corner

The Town of Ajax is looking for engaged individuals who want to get involved and make a difference in Ajax as members of its Accessibility Advisory Committee. Advisory Committee Members provide advice and recommendations on matters that affect our entire community.

About the Accessibility Advisory Committee

Accessibility Advisory Committee (2 vacancies) - Accessibility is more than just curb cuts and ramps! Share your ideas and help break down barriers & cultivate inclusion as a member of the Ajax Accessibility Advisory Committee.

What can you expect as a Town of Ajax Committee or Board Member?

• comprehensive orientation
• An inclusive and collaborative community engagement and consultation experience
• the opportunity to work with Town Staff and members of your community
• participation in monthly/bi-monthly evening meetings
• the sense of satisfaction in knowing you are making a valuable contribution to the Town and community
• Committee and Board Members will be provided honoraria, pursuant to Town of Ajax Committees & Boards Policy 047

Applicant Eligibility Requirements:

• a minimum of 16 years of age or older
• a Town of Ajax resident
• committed to attending monthly evening meetings (typically a Wednesday evening at Ajax Town Hall, 65 Harwood Avenue South)
• willing to participate fully in consultation discussions in support of the Committee/Board
• Please note: The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requires a minimum of 50% of the Accessibility Advisory Committee membership to be comprised of persons with disabilities.

How to Apply

Eligible individuals who are interested in this opportunity are invited to complete the online application form. The deadline to apply is March 18, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. Applicants will be contacted if they are selected to participate in the screening stage, which may include an in-person/virtual interview.  Accessibility accommodation is available on request.

Should you have any questions, please visit www.ajax.ca/committees or contact Sarah.Moore@ajax.ca.

Reminder: Apply for an EKO Scholarship

Empowered Kids Ontario represents Ontario’s child development and rehabilitation agencies. The Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) Scholarship was established to support promising young people to achieve their educational and career goals. There are six awards of $2,500, including an award dedicated to First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth. 

Applicants must have received or currently receive services from an EKO General Member organization and must be entering or enrolled in accredited post-secondary or graduate programs at colleges, universities, Indigenous institutes or accredited career training programs/vocational institutes in fall 2024. In-person, online and hybrid programs are eligible.  

Dates of significance

In March, we acknowledge several dates of significance, including Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, International Wheelchair Day, International Women's Day and more. Visit our website to read more about each holiday, written by members of our Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

Acknowledging holidays and celebrations in February

In March, we acknowledge Ramadan, Holi, St. Patrick's Day, Nowruz, Easter and others. Read more about each holiday/celebration on our blog, written by members of our IDEA Committee.

Grandview Kids Foundation

March 2: COBS Bread Annual Doughnation Day!

Exciting news! COBS Bread Oshawa North and Whitby (Folkstone) have selected the Grandview Kids Foundation as their featured charity for their Doughnation Day campaign! On March 2, they will generously donate $2 for every six-pack of hot cross buns sold to Grandview Kids Foundation. Join us in indulging your sweet tooth while making a difference.

Annual Golf Fore Grandview Kids Charity Golf Classic

Grandview Kids Foundation is thrilled to declare that registration for the 28th Annual Golf Fore Grandview Kids Charity Golf Classic is now open! Secure your spot before March 27 to take advantage of our exclusive early bird offer, featuring a foursome package priced at just $999. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to tee off for a great cause! To learn more about the event or sponsorship opportunities, email our Community Engagement and Donor Relations Officer, Lisa Pargetter!

We have a brand new monthly e-newsletter

Grandview Kids Foundation has a new monthly e-newsletter, Believe by Grandview Kids Foundation. This carefully curated newsletter is dedicated to maintaining a strong connection with our remarkable community members and devoted donors. Believe has been meticulously designed to provide you with timely updates on upcoming events, showcase the generosity of our donors, present heartwarming family impact stories, and deliver exciting news that will undoubtedly captivate your interest.

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Content in Gather is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor. Views expressed in posts and resources listed do not signify endorsement by Grandview Kids.