New Parent Information
As a new parent of a child with Down syndrome
you are probably full of questions and probably a little nervous
and/or anxious.
Rest assured that all the parents in our group felt exactly the same
way in the beginning. Through education comes understanding,
and the WRDSS strives to help with your education and offer their
support .
Please contact our New Parent Program Coordinator, Cherie Blair by
clicking here
Mothers' Connection
As part of our new parent support program, we created the Mothers'
Connection group. This group of mothers with children with
Down syndrome between the ages of birth to 6 years meets each
Wednesday afternoon. Our mothers have found this opportunity
to be an incredibly supportive experience where they can share their
unique hopes, fears and goals for their families. They also share a
lot of very practical information and occasionally have speakers
come in to educate them. During this time their children get
to attend preschool in an inclusive setting. We know that as parents
of a child with Down syndrome, that support from other parents has
been paramount and we would like to ensure that new parents are able
to join our Mothers' Connection as soon as they are ready. If you
are a mom of a child with Down syndrome from birth to 6 years and
you would like more information regarding joining our Mothers' Connection, please contact
Cherie Blair by
clicking here
Community Resources
There are many different community organizations that offer services,
support and funding to help you get organized. Here are just a
few:
INFANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Early intervention program to monitor and enhance development of
infants (under age 2) with developmental challenges.
519-883-2268
KIDSABILITY
Offers physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to
children with various physical and developmental challenges. Social
workers offer emotional support to families.
Kitchener-Waterloo 519-886-8886
Cambridge
519-621-7580
www.kidsability.ca
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES ACCESS CENTRE (DSAC)
Region wide services for families with children with developmental
challenges
519-741-1121
www.dsac-wr.ca
HEALTHY CHILDREN HOTLINE:
Your questions about infant & child issues answered by public health
nurses.
519-883-2245
EXTEND A FAMILY
Assists families throughout the region of Waterloo in obtaining
Special Services at Home (SSAH) and Respite funding and workers. As
well, they offer summer programs and other programs of interest to families with
children with special needs.
519-741-0190
www.eafwr.on.ca
COMMUNITY CARE ACCESS CENTRE (CCAC)
Support at home for infants and children with medical issues and
special needs.
Intake 519-748-2222
ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES
Government financial assistance program for families of children
with special needs. Family income determines eligibility
519-886-4700 ext. 222
MOTHERISK
Information on infectious diseases, chemicals in the workplace,
radiation, and pharmaceuticals for pregnant and nursing mothers.
416-813-6780
BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT SERVICES
Telephone and group support for nursing mothers and their families;
answers to all your breastfeeding questions.
New Mother Support Services:
Grand River Hospital
519-742-3611 ext. 2263
Cambridge Memorial Hospital 519-621-2333 ext.
4355
Breastfeeding Buddies
519-745-4404 ext. 250
La Leche League Canada
1-800-665-4324
Articles of Interest
Welcome to Holland
by Emily Perl Kingsley
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with
a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique
experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like
this...
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation
trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful
plans. The coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You
may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack
your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands.
The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome To Holland".
"Holland?!?" you say, "What do you mean "Holland"??? I signed up for
Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to
Italy".
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland
and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible,
disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's
just a different place.
So you must go and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new
language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never
have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy
than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your
breath, you look around…and you begin to notice that Holland has
windmills...Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they're
all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the
rest of your life, you will say "Yes that's where I was supposed to go.
That's what I had planned".
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the
loss of that dream is a very significant loss.
But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to
Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely
things...about Holland.
© 1987, by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission of the author.
Video Links of Interest
i have a voice
This is an upcoming Traveling Gallery,
promoting Down syndrome awareness. Portrait photography by renown
photographer Thomas Balsamo. A coffee table book is soon to follow
designed by legendary Advertising Agency Bagby & Company. This
film promotes awareness and the organization that brought this project
to life, GiGi's Playhouse, a National Down Syndrome Awareness,
non-for-profit organization.
Please click below to view the video.
National Down Syndrome Society Dream Video
The National Down Syndrome
Society in the US has produced a three and a
half minute video titled "Dreams". This short
video features children and adults with Down
syndrome talking about their hopes and dreams.
To view this inspirational video click one of
the links below.
Windows
Media Player Dialup
Windows
Media Player Broadband
Real Player Dialup
Real Player Broadband
Brittany's Song
Jonathan White is an accomplished gospel singer and also a parent of a
daughter with Down syndrome. In his own words, he says ""When I
first saw Brittany and the doctors told us that she had Down Syndrome, I
was disappointed and angry, I thought God had given us second best. She
would be ok, but different. I didn't want different, I wanted the
typical 'normal' little girl. God saw fit to give us Brittany, and now I
am sure glad that He did. I have found out that different isn't all that
bad. In fact, it's pretty good. God didn't give us second best. He gave
us the best that He had. We thank God everyday for this very special
gift."
Jonathan wrote a song about his daughter, Brittany.
Please click below to view the video.