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Giving Thomas a voice that's cool |
 Frustrated by technology that didn't support the rich communication he wanted for his son, a New York advertising exec dreams of a voice device that's as sleek as a video console, speaks like a kid, with all the right inflections, and has a built-in camera. Then he brings it to market. More |
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No man's land |
 Los Angeles writer Elizabeth Aquino recalls the moment when she recognized that neurologists and science had no practical answers for treating her daughter's severe seizures. More |
| 'Walker, my teacher' |
 In The Boy in the Moon, Toronto journalist Ian Brown describes the relentless physical care, sleep deprivation and inability to understand his son Walker - or soothe his pain - that can bring parents to their knees. But he also describes the contradictions - the expansive moments of grace and love. More
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| Access study looks to kids as experts |
 Participating in everyday activities helps children develop skills, interests and friendships that promote health and wellbeing. But children who use wheelchairs or walkers face barriers. This three-year study led by Bloorview scientists asks Ontario children to rate the accessibility and inclusiveness of their homes, communities and schools. More |
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How could my son's birth be 'wrong?' |
 When you learn your newborn has a disability or health problem, the words a doctor uses to share the news can build you up or tear you down. More |
| Fox or wolf? |
 I can't imagine how crazy-making it must be for my son to communicate. He can't speak. He uses sign language, but it's hard for him to manipulate his fingers...And then there's the 'Dodo factor' of his parents to contend with, when he's signing something perfectly, but for some bizarre reason we can't make it out. More
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"Owen doesn't have a single friend"
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 Can children with severe disabilities and limited communication have
friends? As parents, it goes without saying that we want our children
to have friends, but Jennifer Johannesen has found this isn't in the
realm of reality for her son Owen, 11. More
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| Friendless forever? |
 As much as I'd like to argue that really our kids with significant disabilities do have friends, or have the same opportunities as our other kids to have friends, the reality is that they do not. More
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Q & A
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Q "Now
that my daughter is eight-years-old and still in diapers, I find it
extremely difficult to change her in public. She is too big and long
for a baby change table and difficult to stand and change in a stall! I
have to change her in the back of our mini-van. Anyone have any tips?"
A
Once my son hit a certain age, we also faced this problem. Fortunately
he was wearing pull-ups/briefs at the time so we would change him as if
he had dirty or wet underwear. We would just tear off the old pair
while he was standing, he would quickly sit or rest on the toilet, and
then we'd pull the new pair on. If there was any clean-up to do, I
could just reach over his back while he leaned forward on the toilet.
Unfortunately he had to take off his shoes and pants each time and we
welcomed summer when his shorts would usually allow him to leave his
shoes on!
A bigger difficulty came when he got too big to come
into the ladies room with me! The creation of a "family bathroom" has
been a great thing and since he's been 9 or 10, he's been managing on
his own.
Hope this helps.
Kathleen Armstrong
New Q
My
son with Down syndrome started to get reflux at three months and now at
five months, refuses the bottle. We've tried Zantac and Prevacid, but
nothing seems to work. They work for a while and then he goes back to
not wanting the bottle. He doesn't have problems with sucking or
breathing. Does anyone with a baby with reflux have practical ideas on
how to get them to eat? Heather
E-mail lkinross@bloorview.ca and we'll print some of your responses.
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Articles in BLOOM are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Community and web resources listed in BLOOM do not necessarily signify endorsement by Bloorview Kids Rehab. Where appropriate, please consult your physician.
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