#TeamGrandview Article

Written by Grandview Kids Speech-Language Pathologist, Rikki

Maintaining vocal health is important for everyone, especially in busy, active households. Whether your child or youth is learning to communicate or just loves chatting and singing, caring for their voices can make a big difference. Here are five simple tips to help you practice vocal hygiene at home.

1. Stay hydrated!

Encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Try to limit caffeinated beverages, as they can dehydrate the vocal cords.

2. Incorporate voice breaks

Resting the voice is essential for preventing vocal fatigue. Encourage your child to engage in quiet activities that don’t require speaking.

3. Reduce background noise

Talking over background noise, like the TV or music, can lead to vocal strain. Turn off or lower the volume when speaking with your child.

4. Practice good posture

Proper posture allows for better airflow and more efficient voice production. Encourage your child to sit up straight when speaking.

5. Speak from an appropriate distance

Practice speaking with your child from a reasonable distance rather than from different rooms or floors of the house.

Written by IDEA Study Research Assistant, Kaylan

The IDEA Study is a research study that Grandview Kids and Ontario Tech University have partnered on. It investigates the intersection of race and disability and how this intersection affects access to paediatric rehabilitation and developmental services. To help identify this study, a logo has been created, and it can be found on all material related to the IDEA Study. Read on to learn more about the IDEA Study logo!

Starting with the inner circle of the logo, this has the words “IDEA Study” in the centre. This comes from the fact that the research team is approaching this study through the lens of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility. If put together, these words form the acronym “IDEA” which is how our study is known outside of its official name, “Building knowledge and understanding of the intersection of race and disability in accessing paediatric rehabilitation services.”

Inclusivity or inclusion involves appreciating, recognizing and using the skills and talents of individuals of all backgrounds.³ Diversity involves including the numerous identities, races, communities, backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, beliefs and cultures of the people, including those from underserved communities.³ Equity involves systematically and consistently treating all individuals fairly, justly and impartially.³ Accessibility includes that programs and services, facilities and information and communication technology are constructed, designed, developed and maintained such that they can be used independently and fully by individuals with disabilities.³

The outer circle of the logo includes symbols that represent disability. The goal of using these symbols of disability was to represent the Grandview Kids community. Grandview Kids serves children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs, and their families. As such, the symbols in the logo include a sunflower, which represents non-visible disability; the forward movement symbol of a person using a wheelchair which represents physical disability; a rainbow infinity symbol representing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which is a developmental disability; and the universal access symbol for sign language interpretation which represents communicative disability. While not all disabilities are represented within this logo, these were chosen for their design aspects and their collective broad representation of the Grandview Kids community.

We hope that this explanation has clarified why the IDEA Study logo was created and what it symbolizes. For more information, please visit https://grandviewkids.ca/research/ideastudy/.

References

About the author

Kaylan is a current Ontario Tech undergraduate student working on the IDEA Study as a Research Assistant. She is also a former Grandview Kids client who is passionate about helping other children and youth with disabilities. She believes that being a part of the IDEA Study is a way to give back to the Grandview Kids community that helped her live the life she does today and to help other children and youth with disabilities like her.

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.

World Teachers’ Day is held annually on October 5 to celebrate all teachers around the globe. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions. World Teacher Day celebrates how teachers are transforming education but also to reflect on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and to rethink the way ahead for the profession globally.

Being a teacher provides the unique opportunity to make a transformative and lasting impact on the lives of others, contributing to shaping sustainable futures and offering personal fulfilment.

Meghan P., a Special Education Teacher and Literacy Coach at Campbell Children’s School (CCS), talks about her experience as a teacher at CCS:

“Teaching at Campbell Children’s School has given me the opportunity to work closely with a team of experts, and it’s a place of constant change and growth! The students and staff are remarkably caring and hardworking, which has profoundly influenced the way I live my life and perceive the world around me.

Meghan P is a white woman wearing a black shirt. She is standing in front of green trees. Meghan is a Special Education Teacher and Literacy Coach at Campbell Children’s School (CCS). — Meghan P., a Special Education Teacher and Literacy Coach at Campbell Children’s School (CCS).

CCS has actively promoted and supported my journey, from my early days as an Early Childhood Educator to becoming a Classroom Teacher and eventually a Literacy Coach. I have come to understand that I play a pivotal role in my student’s journey, and I am committed to providing them with the same level of support and motivation that this school has generously offered me.

Although we may appear to be a small school, our impact is significant, and it wouldn’t be possible without all the various components that make up our community. This diverse team of educators, therapists, administrators, parents, students, and more has empowered me to diversify my teaching approach and tap into students’ strengths while helping them develop essential skills. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have found a space that not only allows my career to flourish but also aligns with my core values, which advocate for everyone to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and belong.”

Written by Grandview Kids Speech Language Therapy Assistant (SLTA), Nicole N.

On September 23, we recognize and continue to raise awareness of the use of sign languages around the world, the importance of protecting the linguistics surrounding it, and respect for deaf individuals and their culture. Today there are over 300 different sign languages used globally within the Deaf communities. For this, we celebrate ‘The International Day of Sign Languages.’

Nicole N., pointing to her white t-shirt which has the alphabet in American Sign Language (ASL). — Nicole N., pointing to her white t-shirt which has the alphabet in ASL.

This day is not only significant to deaf individuals but also to those who are allies in the Deaf community. Here at Grandview Kids, I take great pride in being an ally by educating others about the Deaf community, being an advocate for equality of language rights and sharing my knowledge of using American Sign Language (ASL). In 2019, I graduated from George Brown College with the American Sign Language and Deaf Studies Program, which taught about past and current social issues the Deaf community faces, how to communicate through ASL, and provided practical opportunities to connect Deaf individuals within the surrounding community.

In my role as a Speech Language Therapy Assistant at Grandview Kids, I am able to share my ASL skills and experiences with clients, families and colleagues working in the Infant Hearing Program (IHP) and Preschool Speech and Language Program (PSL). This unique language allows for inclusive learning and can include a total communication approach, meaning finding communication methods that work for each individual, which can include ASL signs.

Nicole N., signing the word MORE in ASL.

Nicole N., signing the word COW in ASL. — Nicole N., signing the word MORE in ASL.

Within a session, I can connect with caregivers, families and clients to provide and model specific ASL signs/words to support clients’ communication for requesting, commenting and protesting, as well as provide a language-rich environment that can transfer outside of the sessions to daily opportunities. Supporting clients’ independence and confidence to communicate through ASL, watching vocabulary grow and develop from sign approximations to 1-word signs and move into 2+ word signing combinations is something I am grateful to watch and experience.

ASL will continue to be an ongoing learning journey for me as I grow personally and professionally, which I am proud to share within Grandview Kids!

This past weekend, Ari, our Research Student, had the privilege to represent Grandview Kids at the national Healthy Youth Summit in Toronto hosted by the Canadian Institute of Health Research-Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health. This impactful event took place over one and a half days.

Ari shares her experience below:

“As a youth, I was also invited to the youth dinner the night before, where I was able to meet and connect with youth from all across Canada. It was a nice icebreaker before the main event, as this was my first-ever conference!

Photo of a grey wall with a television that has a screen which says "Welcome to IHDCYH's Healthy Youth Summit. — National Healthy Youth Summit in Toronto hosted by the Canadian Institute of Health Research-Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health

During this interactive event, researchers and youth advocacies from all over the country shared meaningful thoughts and plans on how youth can be better represented in research. Powerful youth speakers spoke about their experiences and shared how stakeholders can help improve our experience in this field.

Photo of a stage with dark blue curtains and 6 white chairs facing the audience. — Set of chairs where the speakers were seated.

We all had a chance to share our own thoughts during the break-out group session, where we spoke about the gaps and opportunities for youth in 6 categories:

Health and Wellness
Leadership and Impact
Innovation, Skills, and Learning
Environment and Climate Action
Truth and Reconciliation
Employment

Breakfast and lunch were provided on both days, and I was delightfully surprised by how good the food was! During meals and breaks, I had the opportunity to connect with other researchers, and I was introduced to ongoing research projects I had never heard of, such as the SickKids CHILD cohort study (13 years in progress)!

I enjoyed hearing about their research and was inspired by all their hard work. As I am relatively new to the research field, it was especially helpful for me as I was able to expand my network and learn about different areas in this field.

Photo of food/breakfast on a table provided for individuals at the conference. — Breakfast provided at the conference.

The key point that I took away from the conference was that “there is no future without supporting our youth.” Creating new opportunities for youth to get involved is essential for teaching them the required skills in order to advance their careers and contribute to the research field. Maintaining a safe and supportive environment where youth are treated as equals is vital. I am grateful to already have these here at Grandview Kids.

Overall, I had an amazing experience and would like to give a huge thank you to Dr. Taryn, who provided me with this opportunity and has continued to support me through my career!”