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Congratulations are also in order for the Research and Innovation Team’s latest publication tied to the IDEA Study, which explores the experiences of racialized parents accessing paediatric rehabilitation. These achievements show the power of teamwork, sharing stories and listening to families to help make care more inclusive. You will see more about these incredible achievements below.
In recognition of Prematurity Awareness Month, I’m pleased to share the journey of our Ambassador, Violet. Her experience reminds us of how important it is to speak up and make sure our voices are heard. This month, we also honour Farheen, a former Grandview Kids client, on National Grief and Bereavement Day. Her legacy is a heartfelt reminder that everyone experiences grief differently and that kindness, understanding and support can make a difference
| | Grandview Kid, Violet, and her mom, Lilly | | |
At Grandview Kids, we believe everyone should have access to helpful resources and support. That’s why, in this edition of Gather, we highlight our good-for-all “Resources for Parents and Caregivers” webpage. Wherever you are on your Grandview Kids journey, these resources are helpful and available anytime. This page offers practical tips to help support children and youth in daily life outside of our therapy spaces. Created and reviewed by our clinicians, these resources do not require a diagnosis or referral to access. Learn more in the “Program Spotlight” section.
Throughout November, we have even more ways for families to connect. Our monthly Adolescent Transition Program Dance, Caregiver Café and Siblings by Siblings events are back. I’m also happy to share that relaxed visits are returning to The Village at Black Creek later this month. See the “Upcoming programs, workshops and events” and “Community Corner” sections below for more details.
As we head into the final months of the year, I’m reflecting on how grateful I am for the teamwork, care and dedication that make our Grandview Kids community so special. Thank you for being part of it. I look forward to another month of connection, learning and celebration.
| | Violet’s voice is valuable: Prematurity Awareness Month | | |
Watch as Grandview Kids mom Lilly and her daughter, Violet, share Violet’s journey after being born prematurely in recognition of Prematurity Awareness Month. Violet’s story reminds us of the importance of speaking up, sharing our experiences and making sure our voices are heard.

Read more on our blog >
| | Farheen’s legacy: A mother’s journey through grief | | |
November 17 marks National Grief and Bereavement Day, a time to recognize the impact of grief and the importance of making meaningful support available to everyone.
On our blog, Grandview Kids mom Shama honours her daughter, Farheen, a former Grandview Kids client, by reflecting on the impact she had on the world and sharing her family’s experience with grief.
Farheen’s legacy reminds us that everyone experiences grief differently and that kindness, understanding and support can make a meaningful difference.
Read more on our blog >
| | Grandview Kids receives 11 MarCom Awards! | |
Grandview Kids’ Communications and Family Engagement teams have been awarded 11 MarCom Awards for 2026, including three platinum and four gold awards! MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals globally.
Our small, mighty four-person Communications Team works hard to provide Grandview Kids clients, families and team members with meaningful communications. Their close collaboration with our nationally recognized Family Engagement Team (FET) makes this award-winning work possible and reflects their passion for elevating Grandview Kids’ brand, identity and impact in our community.
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| | Project Spotlight: Download resources created and reviewed by our clinicians | | Did you know? The Grandview Kids website has a page full of resources created and reviewed by Grandview Kids clinicians! This page is called “Resources for Parents and Caregivers.” We created it to help parents and caregivers practice important skills to support their child or youth’s development at home. The path to access this page on our website is Resources > Resources for Parents and Caregivers (see the screenshot below). | | On this page, you will find resources for these categories: | | |
On this page, select a category to view the resources supporting your child or youth’s goals. Each resource category page organizes content into up to four types: handouts, videos, presentations and website links.

The Resources for Parents and Caregivers page is available to everyone. You can access it on mobile web browsers, too, so you can practice skills with your child on the go. Please feel free to share this webpage with those you think would benefit from accessing it.
Thank you to our clinicians for assembling these high-quality, supportive resources!
| | Upcoming events in November | | |
Chilly Jam: Fun & Dance (Adolescent Transition Program)
Join us for music, dancing, “Makey Makey” and lots of fun and laughter as we come together to celebrate the spooky season. Come dressed as your favourite character or as your wonderful self! This event is for youth aged 15+.
Click here to register >
Date: Monday, November 16, 2026
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: The Jerry Coughlan Building (1461 Harwood Ave N, Ajax, L1T 0R3)
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Goal-Setting Workshop
Join us for a supportive and engaging virtual workshop designed to help caregivers set meaningful goals for their child. Learn practical strategies, hear real-life experiences and gain tools you can use right away to support your child’s growth and development. Join us to connect, reflect and get tools you can use right away.
Click here to register >
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual
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Siblings by Siblings
Led by Peer Navigators who are Grandview siblings, this event offers a fun, supportive space to share, connect and build community, sibling-style. The evening is all about connection, laughter and being surrounded by people who understand the unique experience of growing up as a sibling of a Grandview Kids client.
Click here to register >
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: The Jerry Coughlan Building (1461 Harwood Ave N, Ajax, L1T 0R3)
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Dream Board Workshop (Adolescent Transition Program)
Join us to think about hopes for the future, explore dreams and goals and talk about the steps we can take to make them happen. Family Engagement Team members with lived experience will join us to share their experiences, thoughts and encouragement. This event is for youth ages 15+.
Click here to register >
Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: The Jerry Coughlan Building (1461 Harwood Ave N, Ajax, L1T 0R3)
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These events are only the start!
View the Calendar on our website to see all the events, workshops and purchased services we host each month. This month, we’re hosting seven free events for Grandview Kids clients and caregivers.
Hover over each event to learn more and click a link to register (if applicable). Check this page regularly to stay on top of all our exciting activities at Grandview Kids!
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  | | Development at Grandview Kids | Meet Grandview kid, Mavrick! | | |
He has the sweetest smile and biggest heart, and it runs in the family.
His parents, Cameron and Charlie, organized a BBQ and Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser for the Hydro One Plant Maintenance Department, with all donations going to Grandview Kids. And through Hydro One's Power to Give program, the company doubled every dollar raised!
Those funds will support the children, youth and families Grandview Kids serves, which includes Mavrick and his family.
Mavrick was diagnosed with autism after turning two. Today he comes to Grandview Kids for speech-language pathology (SLP) and physiotherapy, and he has also been to our Feeding and Swallowing Clinic. He absolutely loves SLP. For two years, our team has been in Mavrick’s corner. Along the way, his family found people who understood what their days looked like.
Since their first Caregiver Café event, organized and led by the Family Engagement Team, Cameron and Charlie have been meeting other parents facing similar experiences. Beyond meaningful conversations, they found a community of understanding, support and connection.
The Family Engagement Team’s Siblings by Siblings program also gave Mavrick’s big sister a place to connect with others who understood her experience, helping her build friendships and find her own support circle. “Being able to get together with teenagers who have been through what she is experiencing as the older sibling to an autistic child and have someone to talk to that fully understands the situation has been amazing for her,” Cameron said. "She keeps asking us when the next event is, even two years later.”
That’s why organizing this community fundraiser mattered so much to Mavrick’s family.
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Thank you, Cameron, for enabling your event to support children and youth like Mavrick. Thank you also to the Hydro One Plant Maintenance Team for showing up, and to Hydro One for doubling its impact. Families across our community feel the difference.
Your gift could go twice as far, too.
Many employers will match employee donations to charitable organizations like Grandview Kids. Check with your Human Resources team or workplace giving program to see if yours does. Your contribution to Grandview Kids could double your impact for the children, youth and families who need it.
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When you become a monthly donor to Grandview Kids, no matter the amount, you help children, youth and families, like Mavrick’s, access essential programs and supports close to home. Your ongoing support provides reliable funding that makes a meaningful difference.
Together, we can help more children and youth reach their full potential while ensuring families have access to the support they need, when they need it most.
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The Development Department wants to connect with you! To learn more about our team, visit Grandview Kids' website.
Interested in learning more about donating or fundraising for Grandview Kids? Contact the Development Department by email at development@grandviewkids.ca or by phone at
(905) 728-1673, Option 6.
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Exploring the Lived Experiences of Racialized Parents Accessing Pediatric Rehabilitation Services in Ontario
Congratulations to the IDEA Study Team on their new publication: “Exploring the Lived Experiences of Racialized Parents Accessing Pediatric Rehabilitation Services in Ontario, Canada: Descriptive Case Studies
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Every child, youth and family should feel welcomed, understood and supported when accessing care. We know that some communities experience more barriers to health care than others. For example, racialized communities may experience discrimination or challenges accessing care, and these barriers can be even greater when race and disability intersect.
That’s why Grandview Kids wanted to learn more about the experiences of our own community through the IDEA Study. The study explores how race and disability intersect for racialized parents accessing paediatric rehabilitation services. Findings highlight barriers including ableism, challenges obtaining diagnoses and the need for more diverse providers and culturally responsive supports.
This important work highlights the potential “double burden” experienced by racialized families navigating paediatric rehabilitation and identifies opportunities to create more inclusive and equitable services.
By listening to our community and learning from these experiences, we can identify opportunities to improve how we provide care and better support our team members in delivering culturally safe, respectful and responsive care.

We are grateful to the children, youth and families who contributed to this work. Their experiences and perspectives are an important part of helping Grandview Kids continue to grow and improve the care we provide.
Watch below as Alissa L., a PhD student supporting the IDEA Study, shares insights from her case study interviews and explores the experiences of racialized parents who participated in the research.
| | Q&A with the PhD student supporting the IDEA Study, Alissa L. | |
Q: What motivated you to explore the experiences of racialized parents accessing paediatric rehabilitation services for their children?
My motivation to explore this topic stems from a deep passion for health equity and a recognition of the gap we have in this research. I wanted to be able to hear from the families themselves about their experiences, to be able to centre their voices and to help shift our systems toward real, actionable change.
Q: What was one of the most important things you learned from the families who participated in the study?
One of the most important things we learned was that racialized families are constantly managing intersecting layers of racism and ableism, both inside and outside of the paediatric rehabilitation system. From navigating judgment to facing barriers when accessing services, there are many complexities that these families are experiencing.
Q: What do you hope health care and rehabilitation providers take away from this research?
We hope that health care and rehabilitation providers recognize the intersecting realities of racism and ableism that racialized families are navigating. We also aim to champion actionable change through awareness of culturally safe care, access to diverse service providers and support groups and transparent communication between families and practitioners.

Q: What's next for you and your research? (Would love for you to set the stage for the upcoming work you'll be doing at Grandview!)
The next steps for this research are to analyze the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) survey results. We are also going to start recruiting for our focus groups to learn more about the lived experiences of Grandview Kids families!
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In November, Ajax Public Library plan many engaging activities, including:
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Play and Learn Kits created in collaboration with Grandview Kids!
Play and Learn Kits help develop fine motor, tactile and awareness skills. Borrow one today with your Ajax Public Library card.
See the complete listing of Ajax Public Library-hosted programs and services here.
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The Village at Black Creek
Relaxed Visits are returning to The Village at Black Creek on Sunday, November 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.! Pick up a “Village Passport” and step into a festive scene at The Village at Black Creek. Explore at your own pace, get hands-on with festive crafts and activities and discover how families celebrated the holidays in the Victorian era. During this event, The Village at Black Creek will have break spaces, reduced sensory triggers and additional signage to create a more relaxed experience.

Grandview Kids families receive 15% off tickets when they pre-register using the discount code RelaxedVisit2026. Click here to pre-register with the discount code.
| | November dates of significance | | Every month, members of Team Grandview’s Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee research and share blog posts about holidays, cultural celebrations, awareness days and other dates of significance that are meaningful to staff, clients, caregivers, partners and the community. | | |
This October, we acknowledge Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, International Inuit Day, Diwali, Remembrance Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and more.

Read more on our blog >
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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.
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