Parents across Ontario have been stuck safe at home with their children for 4 weeks now. At best, we face an additional 4 weeks of increasingly being kept mostly inside together. As time goes on, anxieties can increase, tensions can flare, and both parents and children may become a little more stir crazy and irritable. You may be asking yourself “How can I survive This pandemic alone with my children!!?!?”
To help parents who are struggling answer this question, we have put together a virtual panel “Surviving A Pandemic Alone With Your Kids” on Tuesday April 14th, 2020 at 1pm with some great professionals who practice in the mental health field.
Our Panelists Are:
Melanie Penner, MD MSc FRCP(C) is a developmental paediatrician at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, a clinician investigator at the autism research centre in the Bloorview Research Institute, and the Bloorview Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Developmental Paediatrics. Her research interests are in expanding and enhancing the care provided to children with autism spectrum disorder and their families in the community.
Dori Zener, MSW, RSW, Individual, Couple and Family Therapist, has been working with families affected by autism, learning disabilities, ADHD and intellectual disabilities for over fifteen years. Her clinical practice Dori Zener & Associates champions Neurodiversity and autism acceptance. As an Individual, Couple and Family Therapist, Dori uses evidence-based therapy techniques to help each client achieve their goals and enhance their lives. She works with individuals across the lifespan, and has expertise supporting autistic girls and women. Dori presents regularly at conferences on the topic of autism and mental health.
Dori is the founder and co-facilitator of Asperfemme Toronto, a free support group for adult women with official/self-diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Members meet monthly to validate, inform and support each other, and to foster friendships and social contacts.
Janet Greener, through her business, Beechwood Brainery Inc, provides mental health support to adolescents in the public and private school systems. She is also the Director of Education for the Ontario Personal Supports Worker’s Association, where she fill the gaps in education for unregulated personal support workers. She offer her Through the Lens of Neurodiversity seminar to frontline workers and first responders. Her business and seminars are developed with major influence and full approval of neurodiverse individuals – Nothing about them without them! She thrives on being flexible and collaborative, since we all grow better, together.
Please share this with all who are needing support, encouragement and some practical tips to help survive this chaotic and scary time.
To register, please fill out this form, and you will be send the details on how to attend this panel. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday April 14, 2020 at 1pm.
Registration is now closed. The Panel is being recorded and will be available at a later date.
Since covid 19 my son’s program has ceased, libraries closed etc. I have requested reallocation of support funding for my son because of covid 19 so he can continue to have access to online resources. Av been told I have to wait to see if its approved. It should be up to families direction based on the individual’s needs. Everyone else is being accommodated accept once again individuals with disabilities. I have heard no mention of this at all. Families have a right to be involved so please support me on this.
There is a lot of work being done by advocates, like myself, to push the ministries to be flexible with funding options at this time. Its a complex issue, but I can tell you that many things are being considered, especially as we move from a short time period for this self-isolation, to a longer period of time. We are working on it…