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Finding inclusive child care in the Durham Region

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Durham Region is home to a number of high-quality, reliable licensed child care programs. With more than 300 licensed child care centres, Montessori programs, nursery schools and six home child care agencies, there are a variety of programs to choose from! This article aims to help Grandview Kids’ families make an informed decision when selecting an inclusive and welcoming child care program for their child.

Here are five tips on finding inclusive child care in the Durham Region

Illustration of three kids laying down on their stomachs with their hands on their cheeks smiling.

1. Find the type of child care that’s right for you

There are different forms of licensed child care available in the Durham Region. These include licensed child care centres and before and after-school programs, Montessori schools, nursery schools and licensed home child care. Each type of child care has its own benefits including a variety of operating hours, qualified registered early childhood educators, part-time or full-time attendance. Programs must adhere to regulations overseen by the Ministry of Education and follow How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years. Licensed programs are monitored annually.

Unlicensed child care also has regulations by the Ministry, including the number of children allowed in a provider’s home. Unlicensed child care Is not monitored as closely as licensed programs. Learn more by visiting the Ministry of Education’s types of child care webpage.

2. See if you qualify for child care fee subsidy

The Durham Region Children’s Services Division, Child Care Fee Subsidy Program helps families, who live in the Durham Region, with the daily cost of licensed child care. To be eligible, parents/caregivers need to be working, going to school, have a special or social need (yourself as the parent or your child) or be receiving Ontario Works. The Children’s Services Division has created an online Fee Subsidy Calculator, which uses your annual household income to estimate how much child care would cost when receiving fee subsidy. Learn more about Child Care Fee Subsidy and its application process; there is currently no wait time for eligible families. Families can receive care based on the date that care is required.

Illustration of a mom sitting cross-legged on the floor while her child colours beside her.

3. Search for licensed child care in your area

Using the Child Care Directory or the Children’s Program Locator interactive map, you can search for licensed homechild care agencies, child care centres and before-and-after school programs in your neighbourhood. The Children’s Services Division has created a video tutorial to help you find child care in your area. The Directory and Program Locator will provide information on the provider’s website, age groups offered, hours of operation, if child care fee subsidy is accepted, and if the building is accessible.

4. Speak with educators about supports available for children with special needs

In the Durham Region, licensed child care programs have the opportunity to enter into an agreement with the Children’s Services Division, which provides the provider to access funds from the Ministry of Education. This is called a Purchase of Service Agreement. Each provider must uphold quality standards known as the Durham Region Operating Criteria, including having an inclusivity statement. As such, providers with a Purchase of Service Agreement are connected to a network of Special Needs Resourcing (SNR) agencies. This network includes:

Each licensed child care program will work with caregivers and children with special needs to formulate an Individual Support Plan (ISP). This plan will help your child transition into care, receive supports to help them fully participate in the activities offered in the program, and enjoy their time with peers and educators.

Unlicensed child care providers are not able to apply for a Purchase of Service Agreement. This means, unlicensed providers are not monitored by the Durham Region Operating Criteria and do not have the same access to SNR agencies.

Illustration of a father colouring with his daughter.

5. Ask questions

Choosing a child care program can be a difficult decision. Here are some questions that you can ask the supervisors/directors when choosing the best child care for your child:

  • Is your home licensed with the Ministry of Education?
  • Is your centre required to follow Durham Region Operating Criteria for quality assurance?
  • What are the qualifications and training of the educators?
  • What does a typical day look like?
  • Do the educators have experience working with children with special needs?
  • Does your home or centre have access to SNR services?
  • How do you include children with special needs in your programming?
  • Are educators trained in first aid or emergencies?
  • How can I help support my child’s needs while at child care?

For a comprehensive list of questions, check out the Ministry of Education’s common questions to ask a child care provider online tip sheet.

For Support to find child care placements, families can contact:

Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth, Durham Region, Access Coordinators – Sue or Kristen at 905 427-8862 extension 504.

Authors

This blog was written in partnership with The Regional Municipality of Durham, Children’s Services Division. The Children’s Services Division is responsible for planning, funding and managing the early learning and child care sector in the Durham Region. For more information, please visit the Children’s Services Division website.

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Written by Grandview Kids CEO, Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann

Grandview Kids is grieving with Muslim staff, colleagues, clients and families.

In the wake of the horrific hate-filled murders in London, Ontario, Grandview stands beside and with Muslims across Canada in denouncing the hatred and racism directly.

Hopes, prayers, and tears will not address anti-Muslim racism.

I have pondered what I can possibly do as one person to make a difference. I have decided that I can continue to choose love over hate. I commit to denouncing racism when confronted by it, calling out racist jokes or comments, not looking the other way, noticing hatred and calling it out, standing with and for equity deserving communities.

No one is born hating. It is learned. It is radicalized. How does a 20-year-old become so filled with hatred? Certainly not overnight. I cannot imagine that there are not people who saw this hatred being fuelled and looked away. I will not look away.

I had the pleasure of serving on the PCMCH Board with Javeed Sukhera MD Ph.D., who is a Paediatric Psychiatrist out of London, Ontario. He is Muslim. He has educated me. Today he asks us not to look away from the hatred that lives within our midst. Do not give it oxygen; starve it with love and suffocate it with compassion. 

Madiha was pursuing her Ph.D. in Geo-environmental Engineering at Western University. Through her writings, she aimed to promote a positive image of the Muslim community, particularly in North America and inspire and motivate the Muslim Youth. Her son now lies in a hospital bed, facing a future without his family. May her writings pave the way for him to see her dream realized: love and compassion.

– Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Grandview Kids CEO

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Written by Grandview Kids Student Occupational Therapist, Rosetti

Is your family looking to purchase an accessible vehicle?

There are a lot of options out there, and deciding on one can be very overwhelming. This post is a great starting point in helping your decision-making process and is written to help you and your family narrow down your options.

Illustration of a kid boy in a wheelchair using a lift on a vehicle.

Rear or side entry?

The size of your family may be the deciding factor. Side entry vans can seat 5 passengers and the wheelchair user, whereas a rear entry van can seat 4 passengers and the wheelchair user.

Rear entry vans are easier to access in parking lots, driveways and garages since it does not require any space on the side of the vehicle to enter. Side entry vans are easier to access at curbs and street parking.

When entering a side entry van, the wheelchair requires more maneuvering to turn and face the front of the vehicle. With a rear entry van, the wheelchair requires less maneuvering as the wheelchair user enters straight in and exits straight out of the vehicle.

A side-entry van is closer to the ground, making navigating speed bumps and rough terrain more challenging. In contrast, rear entry vans are higher off the ground and make navigating speed bumps and rough terrain easier.

Rear entry vans do not have trunk space but can accommodate 2 wheelchairs.

Side entry vans have a trunk space and can accommodate a hitch.

Fold-Up vs In-Floor Ramps

Once you have decided between rear and side entry, it is time to consider what type of ramp to install. Rear entry vans can only accommodate a fold-up ramp.

There are manual and power options with both styles of ramps. It should be noted that with the power option, there is a manual override option should there be any technical difficulties or malfunctions.

The fold-up ramp is typically a bi-fold style. It unfolds and is lowered onto the floor. When it needs to be stored, it folds up and blocks the doorway but leaves the window visible. If you choose to access the door, you must unfold the ramp.

In floor ramps do not block the doorway as the ramp is stored within the floor of the vehicle.

Funding

Purchasing a vehicle, whether it be new or used, is a large enough purchase. Van conversions are a large expense, but there are funding options available for many families.

March of Dimes’ Home and Vehicle Modification Program offers up to $15,000 for van conversions. This amount cannot be applied to the purchase of the vehicle itself. It is important to note that conversions must be newly installed on a new or up to 3 year old vehicle. A used vehicle must have less than 60,000 km.

Holland Bloorview’s Family Support fund offers up to $1,500 for children under the age of 19 and have had a clinical appointment with Holland Bloorview within 2 years of the date on the application. 

Easter Seals offers up to $3000 annually. The amount funded varies based on the cost of the item and the availability of Easter Seals funds.

Families can claim the purchase of a modified vehicle on their annual tax return as a medical expense. The provincial limit is $7,456. Similarly, GST/HST that was paid or is owed on the modifications of a converted van can be reimbursed.

Other funding options:

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Written by Aurora, OTA/PTA student

Due to the pandemic, student placements are hard to come by and I am very fortunate that I can have an in-person placement this year. Being a student in the pandemic has been very different with learning. Grandview Kids is full of so many learning opportunities to teach skills related to different professions. There are some differences in types of therapy tools that can be used as things must be sanitized properly so they are safe to use in sessions. This just means that there is an added element of extra creativity to make every session fun and full of learning for each child.

Photo of placement student, Aurora, donned in Personal Protective Equipment, which includes a blue dispoable face mask and a face shield.
OTA/PTA student, Aurora, donned in PPE

I have been at Grandview Kids for my placement since the beginning of January. I have been able to gain so much experience during my time with Grandview Kids. Even with personal protective equipment (PPE) and the safety added for everyone, I have been able to get a great learning experience with Grandview Kids.

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James came to Grandview Kids when he was just over a year old. Here, he met his Physiotherapist, Winnie, to improve his physical skills. In his early physiotherapy sessions, James and his mother, Hayley, practiced skills he had never worked on before. The movements were new and challenging to James. While experiencing difficulties, he would cry to let his mother know that he was outside his realm of comfort. Hearing her son vocalizing his discomfort was hard for Hayley.

After continuing to practice and seeing James’ progress, Hayley recognized the importance of not giving in. She wanted to see her son succeed. This shift in progress was the ‘turning point’ for Hayley. Moving forward, Hayley wanted to be the strong figure she knew her son needed to reach his full potential. This is a lesson Hayley wants to share with other families who may be in the same situation. She tells her story below and hopes to inspire others with her experience and James’ progress, thanks to the incredible support of his Physiotherapist, Winnie.

Things I wish I knew then, that I know now

Written by Grandview Kids parent, Hayley

From the very beginning, James had struggles, and as a mother, my instincts were to keep my baby safe, free from harm and discomfort. I began to anticipate James’ every need because he was struggling day-to-day for reasons out of my control. I did everything in my power to control whatever I could to provide him with some comfort and relief. When I met with Winnie at Grandview Kids for our first assessment, James was around 13-months-old. At this time, he was not able to sit up on his own, let alone roll over. James spent the majority of the appointment comfort nursing as I explained his first year of life.

It was apparent that James needed a significant amount of support, and that’s when our journey with Winnie began. When I think back to this time, and to where I am now, all the things I have seasoned through and how much growth James and I have had, I wish I could go back to our very first session and tell myself to be strong ‘like a rock’ and push. I wish I could tell myself that we both would get through this, and come up on the other side.

Three things I wish I knew then, that I know now

1. In the beginning, there will be crying… a lot of crying.

For our littles, this is all new to them. Physiotherapy is hard; kids don’t want to do these hard things, and crying is how they let us know. Once I realized that: a) this was not in any way hurting him, it was him telling me, “it’s hard, Mom;” and b) if I did not toughen up and be strong for him, he was going to make NO progress. It was my job as his mom to push him when he needed the push, or I was holding him back from reaching his full potential and having a better quality of life. Every time I would stop a session to comfort James, I would teach him that if he would cry, Mommy would just put an end to it. These habits are hard ones to break and can be a big downfall as you continue with care. Two years into speech therapy, and I am still trying to correct habits like this. I can assure you that as time goes on, the crying will be less and less, and then one day your child will enter a session willingly.

James learning to stand with his mother, Hayley, right behind supporting him. (Click on to watch)

2. If you do not practice what is taught in the session, progress will be slow and stagnant.

Once a week, or every two, is not enough to learn these huge skills, but repetition enables this. It’s so hard for special needs parents to stay on top of it all, but time needs to be set aside for progress to happen. I could shake my old self about this one; I still have some guilt hanging around.

James experiencing success and showing off his little smile. (Click to watch)

3. Sometimes, progress is minimal.

It is a slow, slow process, and then sometimes there will be a leap. Whatever the case, try and keep a level head. And, if you can truthfully say, with an honest heart, you are doing everything you can in that moment, then find comfort in knowing it will come. I’m so proud of James (and myself!) for how far we’ve come.

James walking his dog – he’s come so far! (Click to watch)

If you have a story about your Grandview Kids experience you’d like to share, email communications@grandviewkids.ca to be featured.

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Written by Grandview Kids Physiotherapist, Corrie

How playing outdoors makes for a more physically literate child

As any parent can attest, it often feels like as soon as children learn to move, their instinct is to move away from us and explore the world for themselves.

A child’s need to explore their surroundings intensifies as soon as they get outside. With so many new textures, obstacles, and areas to discover, the outdoors is truly a wonderland for young children.  As parents, we often cringe when we see our tiny bundles playing outside and our heads (and hearts) can get overloaded with the risks that they seem quite happy to take. 

It is important to remember that as much as we’d like to protect our little ones from ever getting hurt, exploring their world and taking risks is what helps develop much-needed gross motor skills that they will use their entire life. 

Playing outside is the best place to work on skills requiring balance and coordination and these skills help toddlers interact with the world around them and learn complex physical activities. Running, jumping, kicking, throwing, catching and climbing are all skills that toddlers are just starting to learn, and are the building blocks for becoming physically literate.

Physical literacy is described as the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities.

According to experts at Physical and Health Education Canada, Children who are physically literate move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy development of the whole person.

Research has shown that being physically active as an adult depends on a person’s ability to feel confident in an activity setting. Research has also shown that without the development of physical literacy, many children and youth withdraw from physical activity and sport and turn to more inactive and/or unhealthy choices during their leisure time.

There are 12 fundamental movement skills that are considered building blocks for physical literacy. They are: running, hopping, skipping, rolling, standing on one foot, jumping, kicking, dribbling, throwing, catching and swinging with arms (i.e., a bat, a stick, etc).

Children usually learn to walk indoors on smooth, level floors, which may even be carpeted.  When they start to move on their own two feet outside, they are challenged by uneven ground, funny textures and hills and holes that they might not see.  Taking a nature hike is an excellent way to teach children about the beauty of the outdoors while challenging their small legs to overcome the obstacles along the path. Think of it as a natural obstacle course.  Stepping over small sticks and tree roots helps teach children how to stand on one foot.  Ducking under low branches teaches squatting and strengthens leg muscles.  Mud puddles are always a fun way to teach jumping – either jumping over or jumping in! Even small trips or dips can help children learn how to catch their balance and prevent a fall.

Another great outdoor space is the playground. Consider walking along the sidewalk curb to get there – a great way to work on balance as the child must narrow their base of support and walk with feet in front of each other. Climbing structures strengthen both arms and legs, and swings and slides improve balance, coordination and endurance. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to see children working together at the playground to help one another succeed, which builds teamwork and an empathetic mindset.

All of these skills will help to build a toddler’s confidence, so make sure that your child is getting lots of literacy time – outdoors.

For more information on physical literacy visit www.phecanada.ca

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Everyone registered in the Ontario Autism Program is eligible to access Autism Services at Grandview Children’s Centre.To register with the Ministry's Ontario Autism Program (OAP) - Visit Ontario Autism Program.
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