Adrian Polidano

Many of us fondly remember riding a bicycle as a child. If you’ve kept up with it over the years, then you know all the positive aspects it brings to your life—a chance to get outside and explore nature, your neighbourhood, and your freedom! Bike riding has led me to meet new friends, motivated me to explore new places within my own neighbourhood, and provided my family with many shared outdoor adventures.

As a physiotherapist at Grandview Kids, I am focused on helping kids to be the best version of themselves, and I hope that as they gain new gross motor skills, they build confidence and develop healthy habits that will last them a lifetime. Biking is one of my favourite ways to help kids get moving, increase strength, and build independence. While I see bike riding as a therapy tool to help motor skill development, challenge motor planning, improve range of motion, and challenge cardiovascular endurance, kids see it as play. They love to ring the bell, show their bike off to their friends, and race a peer. Through the use of adaptive bikes, kids of all abilities are able to experience the joy that comes with riding alongside family and friends while becoming stronger and working towards their physiotherapy goals.

Grandview Kids Recreation Therapists agree with me that bike riding has many benefits. They provide Grandview Kids with a variety of opportunities to explore their bike skills. They currently have a fun-filled day organized on Saturday, May 4, where they will be offering support and information on bike safety, bike sizing and features, bike adaptations, and adaptive bikes.

Blog post was written by Allison H., a Grandview Kids Physiotherapist.

Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)  to raise awareness about transgender people. It is a day to celebrate the lives of transgender people, empowering them to live authentically, while still acknowledging that due to discrimination, not every trans person can be (or wants to be) visible.

Although much has been accomplished since the beginning of the new millennium, including the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005, and the protection of gender expression and identity in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code in 2017, challenges and discrimination persist.

In the last five years, we have seen a rise in dangerous rhetoric attacking the trans community, as well as a spike in policy decisions that limit access to gender-affirming care for trans children and youth. As a paediatric service provider, this worries Grandview Kids.

Our sector’s leading organizations recently wrote to Ontario’s Premier and Minister of Health, sharing our stance that, “gender-affirming healthcare for children and youth must remain as decisions between the patient/client, their parents/caregivers, and their clinicians – without intrusion by government.”

Policies aimed at fostering inclusion and representation and honouring the human rights of 2SLGBTQ+ children and youth in all settings are not only critical to their overall health and wellbeing, they are life saving. We all must continue to work together to combat discrimination and violence toward trans children, youth and adults, further advocating for the protection and promotion of the human rights of trans and gender-diverse people in Canada. The human rights of all people are universal and indivisible, regardless of their sexual orientation and their gender identity and expression.

In 2018, approximately 75,000 people in Canada were transgender or non-binary, representing 0.24% of the Canadian population aged 15 and older. In 2018, lesbian, gay, bisexual and other sexual minority people in Canada were twice as likely as heterosexual people to report experiencing unwanted sexual behaviours in public (57% versus 22%) or at work (44% versus 22%), as well as online harassment (37% versus 15%), over the previous 12 months. Transgender people in Canada were more likely to report their mental health as poor or fair than their cisgender counterparts, more likely to have seriously contemplated suicide in their lifetimes, and more likely to have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder.

These statistics demonstrate the challenges, and are likely an under-reported sample, considering many people are not open about their gender or sexual orientation for many reasons, including fear of scrutiny or discrimination.

Join us in addressing these challenges and barriers by becoming a Trans Ally this International Day of Trans Visibility. PFLAG, the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families, assembled some excellent tools and resources to help you get started.

Resources

Written by Peer Navigator and Grandview Kids parent, Danielle P.

When all three of my children were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it changed my life in a way I did not expect. My older two children hit every milestone early until they experienced a severe significant regression. They stopped talking, playing, looking at me and responding to their names. They started making repetitive movements that I now know are stims. A year after their diagnosis, my youngest child started exhibiting similar symptoms. I felt like a failure, and I missed who my babies were before they regressed.

By 2018, I found myself divorced with a 1-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, all diagnosed with ASD. I chose to lean into my grief and decided to observe my feelings without judgment. I cried. I journalled. I got therapy. I found respite workers and made self-care a priority. It was lonely until I surrounded myself with different friends and parents who also had children with disabilities. I started following disabled content creators online. I started being more open with my vulnerabilities. Slowly, I noticed that having three children with ASD was not actually as awful as I originally thought. As I allowed my world to expand, I realized a few important things about why their diagnoses felt so devastating in the beginning.

I’m ashamed to say that I pitied people with disabilities. I didn’t want my kids to be associated with “those type of people”. I wanted my kids to be “normal” because I thought that any deviation was bad. For the first time in my life, I noticed and addressed my own ableism. Once I let go of that way of thinking, I was able to explore this beautiful new community we belong to.

I had to let go of the expectations I had of my children. Some parents hope their children will excel in sports, pursue higher education, or have a specific career. As parents of kids with disabilities, we have the privilege of letting go of our expectations much sooner than other parents might. Among many other expectations, I wanted my kids to talk, look at me and be potty trained. I had to let go of those expectations and be open to the life my children were capable of and wanted for themselves. I had to learn to accept that my children for who they are.

My children are now school-aged, and I have a new partner who is very involved. My older two children still don’t speak but they are learning to use AAC devices. Pullups are still a part of our lives, but they may not be forever. My kids’ friendships may look different from the types of friends I had growing up, but we have found our people. We presume competence while providing support. We allow THEM to tell us who they are and what they want to do with their lives. I thought my life was over when my kids were diagnosed, and in some ways, it was. That life had to end for a new life to be discovered.

In April, we acknowledge Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, Deaf History Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, International Asexuality Day, Green Shirt Day, World Health Day, National Siblings Day, World Day for Safety and Health at Work and National Immunization Awareness Week. Read more about each date of significance below, written by members of our Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month

April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, an important initiative by the Amputee Coalition to highlight the experiences of individuals living with limb loss or differences. Represented by the colour orange, this month is dedicated to educating the public about limb loss due to amputation and limb difference, which includes congenital limb anomalies. Various medical conditions, such as diabetes, meningitis, and cancer, can lead to the necessity for limb amputation. Congenital limb loss is relatively rare, with an estimated global incidence of 1 in 2,000 newborns experiencing some type of limb reduction anomaly attributed to factors including genetics, environmental influences, or unknown causes.

Limb loss encompasses a broad spectrum of challenges, as the functionalities of the upper and lower limbs differ significantly. While prosthetics might appear to be a one-size-fits-all solution for the uninitiated, the reality is far more complex. The effectiveness of a prosthetic largely depends on the level of amputation; the presence of knees and elbows is particularly advantageous. This is because prosthetic knees and elbows can be challenging for amputees to maneuver, underscoring the nuanced nature of prosthetic adaptation and use. A common misconception is that prosthetics restore ‘normalcy,’ enabling the wearer to function like anyone else. However, in reality, prosthetics are sophisticated devices that demand extensive training and practice for effective use. As a result, not all amputees choose to use prosthetics, instead find their own unique methods to navigate daily life comfortably.

Deaf History Month

This April, we celebrate Deaf History Month, which provides us with the opportunity to celebrate those who are hard of hearing or who are recognized as being deaf and educational institutions that were either founded by hearing-impaired individuals or built to assist this community.

On March 13, 1996, two librarians at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Washington D.C. held a training session to teach their colleagues sign language. This training session would eventually lead to the creation of Deaf Awareness Week in 1997, and in 2006, the American Library Association and National Association of the Deaf formally established Deaf History Month, which initially ran from March 13 – April 15. In 2022, the US Congress formally moved Deaf History Month to take place entirely in April and was renamed National Deaf Heritage Month.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual assault awareness month is observed in April to emphasize ongoing awareness and prevention throughout the year. Anyone can be a victim of sexual violence at some point during their life regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, ability, disability, socioeconomic status and relationship status. Although there is a higher proportion of children and adolescents (why it matters to Grandview: that’s who we serve) among victims of sexual violence, sexual violence can happen to anyone. Similarly, even though victims are usually women, men are also victims of sexual violence. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at greater risk of being subjected to sexual violence than are cisgender heterosexuals.

None of the above risk factors should be used to blame the victims for the sexual violence they experience. The person who commits an act of violence is always responsible.

Grandview Kids respects everyone’s safety and has policies to prevent sexual violence and procedures to follow if sexual violence occurs. Some ways that we can create awareness and prevent sexual assault are:

Improving skills around asking for consent and respecting the answer
Challenging jokes that demean others and unfair stereotypes
Maintaining and modelling healthy and respectful relationships
Encouraging children, adolescents and adults to respect others’ boundaries and bodies

For more information and resources, visit the sexual violence helpline website.

April 6: International Asexuality Day

Asexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by a lack of sexual attraction to others, but it’s important to understand that it’s not the same as celibacy or abstinence. International Asexuality Day (IAD), observed annually on April 6, aims to recognize and validate the experiences of asexual (also referred to as “Aces”), demisexual and greysexual individuals worldwide. Asexuality encompasses a diverse spectrum, where individuals may experience varying levels of sexual attraction or desire. Celebrating IAD means acknowledging the existence and validity of asexual identities and providing support and acceptance for ace individuals. It’s an opportunity to educate ourselves, celebrate ace individuals and advocate for accurate representation in media and society. By promoting understanding and visibility, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.

April 7: Green Shirt Day

Green Shirt Day, observed on April 7, commemorates the legacy of Logan Boulet, a young Humboldt Broncos hockey player who tragically lost his life in a bus crash in 2018. Following the accident, Logan’s decision to become an organ donor inspired a movement promoting organ donation awareness and registration across Canada and beyond. On Green Shirt Day, people wear green shirts to honour Logan’s selfless act and to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. It serves as a reminder of the power of one individual’s choice to make a positive impact on the lives of others, echoing Logan’s message of hope, generosity, and community spirit.

In Canada, there are several resources available for individuals interested in learning more about organ donation:

Transplant Ontario: Responsible for coordinating organ donations in Ontario. Website: Trillium Gift of Life Network

Government Health Websites:

Government of Canada – Organ and Tissue Donation: Provides information and resources about organ and tissue donation in Canada. Website: Organ and Tissue Donation
Health Canada – Organ and Tissue Donation: Offers information about organ and tissue donation policies and initiatives. Website: Health Canada – Organ and Tissue Donation

April 7: World Health Day

The theme of World Health Day in 2024 is ‘My health, my right’. Around the globe, access to health rights is threatened. Production of fossil fuels decreases air quality; conflicts are causing pain and hunger, and diseases still loom large as causes of distress.

The World Health Organization has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a human right in their constitution, yet countries are not passing laws to ensure their populations receive easy access to the healthcare that they are entitled to. This year’s theme was chosen to advocate for the rights of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality healthcare, education and information, as well as clean drinking water, clean air and good nutrition.

April 10: National Siblings Day

Story shared and written by Grandview client, Shayaan O.

Our siblings are our family, and they are a huge part of our lives – that’s why we celebrate them on National Siblings Day every April 10! The holiday is also known as ‘World Siblings Day.’ Siblings are our best friends and sometimes our worst enemies. Our siblings encourage us to be our best, embarrass us, and be our biggest motivators and competitors.

On National Siblings Day, I want to share a glimpse into my life as a Grandview Kid, born with multiple physical disabilities, mainly being born without both arms. My life has been filled with various challenges, some easy to overcome and others requiring more effort. Most of the time, my older brother, who is my only sibling and seven years older than me, has been my support.

When I was born, my missing arms were a surprise to my parents, and they struggled with accepting the reality. I grew up hearing how my brother took great care of me and my parents during this time and how he was a source of positivity. A few days after my birth, my mom was crying, looking at my arms. At that moment, my brother comforted her by counting all the things I was blessed with, “Look, mama, he has eyes, ears, a nose, mouth, legs…” encouraging her to see what I had and not focus on parts that were missing. He showed her that I was still a complete person as I was.

My brother was also my shield against the curious stares and pointed fingers of strangers. He would intervene, either by voicing his disapproval or physically positioning himself as a barrier between me and their insensitive stares. I have learned many things from my brother, but the most important thing I have learned is to stand up for myself and for others. He has shown me the importance of being there for each other. Despite the occasional sibling disagreements, we have a strong bond to this day, and we both stand up for each other when need be.

Shayaan hugging his brother. — Shayaan and his brother hugging.

April 28: World Day for Safety and Health at Work

It is an annual international day to promote and raise awareness about the importance of preventing occupational accidents and diseases. The day aims to encourage governments, employers, employees, and stakeholders to collaborate and take action to reduce workplace accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases.

In Canada, April 28 is also recognized as The National Day of Mourning. It is not only a day to remember and honour those lives lost or injured due to a workplace tragedy but also a day to collectively renew our commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace and prevent further injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

At Grandview Kids, we are committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all staff, physicians, volunteers, students, contractors, clients and their families, visitors, and other members of the public working at or visiting our facility. We believe that all injuries are preventable and that excellence in health and safety is the key to our long-term success.

Grandview Kids’ responsibilities:

Ultimately responsible for the health and safety of all staff, contractors, and volunteers.
Protect anyone who works at, visits, receives treatment at or conducts business at any of our locations.
Take every reasonable precaution for the prevention of work-related injuries, occupational illnesses and workplace violence and harassment.

April 22-30: National Immunization Awareness Week

National Immunization Awareness Week is held annually in the last week of April to highlight and recognize the importance of immunization. This year, NIAW will be held from April 22 to 30. Many children may be missing or behind schedule for important vaccines because they were unable to attend their regularly scheduled doctor’s visits during the height of the pandemic.

The first known vaccine was developed in 1796 by Edward Jenner. He successfully used the inoculation of cowpox in an eight-year-old boy to show how it made the boy immune to smallpox. What followed, in 1798, was the development of the first-ever smallpox vaccine. Over the next two centuries, widespread use of the smallpox vaccination eventually led to the eradication of the disease in 1979.

In April, we acknowledge Eid-al-Fitr, Vaisakhi, Tamil New Year and Pesach/Passover. Read more about each holiday/celebration below, written by members of our Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

April 10 or 11: Eid al-Fitr

Often known simply as Eid, it marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. It is a time of joy, gratitude and community. The day begins with a special communal prayer, signifying unity and offering thanks. Following the prayer, it’s traditional for Muslims to visit friends and family, share meals, and give generously to those in need, embodying the spirit of community and compassion.

Eid al-Fitr is not just a time for celebration, but also a moment for reflection, forgiveness and renewal. Importantly, after Ramadan, Muslims strive to live by the virtues they’ve cultivated during the holy month, such as abstaining from negative habits and practicing the good values and teachings of Islam. This period of reflection and commitment helps reinforce a lifestyle centred around kindness, patience, and generosity.

We at Grandview recognize the importance of this day for our Muslim staff and extend our best wishes for a joyful Eid celebration. To those celebrating, Eid Mubarak. May this Eid bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to you and your loved ones. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the diverse tapestries of traditions and cultures that enrich our workplace.

April 13 or 14: Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi is a significant day in the Sikh calendar. Vaisakhi is a spring festival which occurs on April 13 or 14 every year. It is a day to celebrate 1699, which is the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh chose the festival as the moment to establish the Khalsa – that’s the collective name given to Sikhs who’ve been baptized. To celebrate Vaisakhi, Sikhs will visit places of worship called Gurdwaras. These will also be specially decorated for the occasion. Many people enjoy parades and special processions through the streets. Farmers in the Punjab will also use Vaisakhi as an opportunity to give thanks for a plentiful harvest and pray for a good one in the year to come.

April 14: Tamil New Year

Tamil New Year, or Puthandu, is the first day of the Tamil calendar. It is celebrated by Tamils living in many parts of the world on the first month of the lunar-solar Hindu calendar. This year, Tamils around the world will usher in the New Year on April 14. In the days leading up to the Tamil New Year, people will clean their homes to declutter with the belief that getting rid of old and insignificant items will remove any negative energy from the previous year. On the day of Tamil New Year, the Sun’s position would be midway across the earth between the southern and northern hemispheres. This symbolizes the balance between people and nature. Considering the auspiciousness of the day, many will start new endeavours on this day.

Many Tamils mark the day by preparing Pongal (a sweet rice dish), preparing a plate full of fruits and flowers, lighting lamps at their home prayer altar, and visiting a temple. While Tamils across the world celebrate Puthandu, many other South Asian communities celebrate their new year on the same day — it is Vishu in Kerala, Bihu in Assam, and Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal.

April 22 to 30: Pesach/Passover

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. The eight-day holiday is celebrated each spring, usually in March or April. It’s a time when Jewish people remember the deliverance of the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago and their subsequent freedom as a people under the leadership of Moses. The Passover story is told in the Torah (the Jewish Bible) in Chapter 12 of the Book of Exodus.

The central ritual, the seder, involves storytelling, song, and the consumption of symbolic foods like matzah and maror. Dietary changes, including the avoidance of leavened foods and, for Ashkenazi Jews, kitniyot (a category of food that includes legumes), are observed. The recitation of psalms and the beginning of the Omer, a 49-day period leading to the holiday of Shavuot, are integral to Passover practices.

Written by Peer Navigator and Grandview Kids parent, Kristen M.

Ace was to be the missing puzzle piece to our beautifully blended family, but little did we know that he would open our eyes and hearts to a community that the puzzle piece (and infinity sign) represents.

Our youngest of five boys was diagnosed with autism in May 2020 at the height of the pandemic. His diagnosis came with both relief and grief. I was relieved that my mother’s intuition was that something was different about Ace-note and that I did not use the word “wrong” … that was intentional because there is absolutely nothing wrong with Ace. In fact, there is so much right with him that we are reminded daily of his extraordinariness!

The grief piece stemmed from our fear of the public’s lack of understanding and awareness of autism and disability culture. I was hit with the stark reality that as a mother of a non-speaking autistic child, I would most likely have to advocate and fight for Ace’s fundamental rights for the rest of his life. The rights that my four older sons are automatically granted…

However, my pity party did not last long. I immersed myself in all things autism and quickly connected with local parents of children with autism within the Grandview Kids community, and they soon became our family sounding board and dearest confidants. Then our circle grew larger when we enlisted the help of pediatricians, speech and language pathologists, behavioural therapists, and occupational therapists, just to name a few.

At that time, I thought I was building an army to fight for my son’s mere existence, but to my surprise, we instead organically grew a warm and welcoming village. A village that looks out for one another and rallies to protect our kids from the often mean outside world that this Mama Bear feared. A village where our children can be their authentic selves and where we caregivers can laugh or cry without judgment depending on what season we are currently navigating.

Navigation is the perfect word to describe my newest chapter of autism acceptance…Last month, I became a new member of Grandview’s growing Family Engagement Team as a Peer Navigator in partnership with Durham Region’s Entry to School (ETS) program.

After four years of therapy, self-directed learning and advocating for my son alone, I now get to work beside families who are at the beginning of their child’s autism journey and let them know that whatever they are feeling is valid and that the entire Family Engagement Team is here to support them, through our varied lived experiences.

I hope that through my unique lens, I am able to guide families to the programs and resources that they seek. Most importantly, in my humble opinion, I hope that I can connect them to the warm and welcoming village of Grandview caregivers who supported me during a very hard season of my parenting journey, a season that not many people in my inner circle were part of or understood.

Our kiddos may age out of the agency, but they will forever be a part of the larger autism community, and I genuinely believe the connections I have made through Grandview will last a lifetime and when it feels like the mean outside world is not accepting my son’s autism fast enough or accommodating his needs, I know where I will turn to for support, and I hope you will know too.

Ace has made me a better mother and advocate, but the Grandview caregiver community has made me a better listener and friend.