Students with Special Needs: Links and Resources

Students with Special Needs:
Links and Resources

Links shared by members of our Students with Special Needs Subcommittee

Carly's Voice Autistic Girl Expresses Unimaginable Intelligence 9:53 Link to video http://carlysvoice.com/ Ellen talks to Jenny McCarthy about Carly 0:35 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csMibm68QkE&feature=related Ellen reads Carly's donation letter to Ellen's Make It Right Foundation 1:36 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxEYM_AwQ_A&feature=related Ellen reads a letter to Tammy for Carly 1:32 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aPav0aU8U8&feature=related Ellen's Message to Carly on her Birthday.mov 0:19 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWoQ4Y9SdOw&feature=related Larry King reads a letter from Carly 0:44 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWEGndUbVdw&feature=related
Special Grads Living with special needs doesn’t mean you can’t realize your potential in life. Southern Ontario’s Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and a special group of coaches making sure everyone has a graduation party that comes with on-the-job experience.	Click here to link to video.
Make a Difference Movie The story of the positive impact between student-teacher	teachermovie
Inspirational quotes from Dr. Haim Ginott	Haim Ginott
Description by parent about the reality '...of raising a child with a disability'	Resource package
I'm Tyler A movie about abilities	imtyler.org/
Olivia A movie about how words do make a difference	youtube
Supported employment video from Community Living Windsor (ONT.) on an integrated workforce	youtube
Articles, information and newsletter regarding people with Asperger Syndrome, written by individual(s) with Asperger's Syndrome	coultervideo

Link to videos and documents supporting learning needs of individuals with special needs.

Link to this article providing insight and suggestions into employment opportunities for student's with autism spectrum disorder and Asperger's syndrome.

Links:

Adaptive Technology Resource Centre Faculty of Information University of Toronto	'The overarching goal of the ATRC is to help ensure that emerging information technology and practices are designed inclusively from the very beginning. We define inclusive design as design that enables and supports the participation of individuals and groups representing the full range of human diversity. We see disability as a mismatch between the needs of the individual and the service, education, tools or environment provided and accessibility as the adaptability of the system to the needs of each individual. Our research, development, education and service are all grounded in this principle.'
Wheelchairjunkie.com	'WheelchairJunkie.com is about mobility, not manufacturers, so the voices expressed here represent only users. It’s just a user-helping-user thing, and no matter which brand wheels are under your rear, we’re here to help.'
CharterAbility	'CharterAbility’s goal is to open the door to recreational boating for people who have been deprived of the opportunity by virtue of their physical limitations or personal circumstances – and, thereby, enhance the quality of their lives.'
D.O.O.R 2 Adulthood	'Disability Ontario Online Resource aims to improve the process of transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities and their families by providing information about services, resources and events related to transition, and the opportunity to network and share ideas.'
Ontario Adult Autism	...launched in March 2000 with a special focus on adult autism issues, especially in Ontario, Canada.'
Persons with Disabilities Online	'This site provides access to services and information for persons with disabilities, family members, caregivers and all Canadians.'
Variety Ability Systems Inc.	'For more than 60 years, Variety – The Children’s Charity in Ontario has worked with young people with disabilities and those who face developmental barriers to achieve their life potential.'
Scarborough Centre for Employment Accessibility.	Our Employment Centre is a good first step when looking for work. Being unemployed can be frustrating, challenging, and difficult to sort out where to go and what to do next. At our Employment Resource Centre we can help. At our walk-in wheel chair accessible Centre, we provide assistance to people with disabilities (PWD) to prepare for employment or self employment, as well as develop the skills necessary to maintain that new employment.
www.LDAO.ca	The Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario offers assistance with understanding definitions, assessing and other information about Learning disabilities.
The Humber Institute Of Technology And Advanced Learning And The University Of Guelph-Humber	Includes Pathways to Post-secondary Transition Guide 2009-2010 program Community Integration through Co-operative Education
Sheridan College	Disability Services for students

Resources:

From Connections 2009 – Agencies serving people with special needs
The Bodiworks Centre 3115 Glen Erin Drive, Suite #8 Mississauga, On L5L 1J3 Tel. 905-608-9314, ext.221	They offer a Kids Health Initiative Program (for overweight or children with poor fitness). Private agency, charges fees for services and programs.	Website: link
YMCA Mississauga Employment and Community Services 151 City Centre Drive, Suite 800 Mississauga, ON L5B 1M7 Tel. 905-276-9329	They offer an Access to Employment Program for those aged 16 or older who area seeking employment and have a diagnosed disability that presents a barrier to competitive employment. Must be resident in the City of Mississauga and be able to meet all Ontario Disabilities Support Program Employment Support eligibility requirements.	Website: link
Epilepsy Halton Peel 23-71 West Drive Brampton, ON L6T 5E2464 Morden Road Oakville, ON L6K 3W4	They offer information and education, programs and services, counselling, volunteering and Community Events, Employment Services
Nucleus Independent Living 16 Four Seasons Place, Suite 112 Toronto, ON M9B 6E5 Tel. 416-620-0333	They offer supportive housing and attendant outreach for Persons with Physical Disabilities	Website: link
Coalition for Persons with Disabilities 10 Kingsbridge Garden Circle, Unit 403 Mississauga, ON L5R 3K6 Tel. 905-755-9734	They offer Employment ACCESS, a job readiness workshop for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, a work readiness skills program and Practice Firms to assist persons with physical disabilities find or return to work.	Website: link
Mary Centre of the Archdiocese of Toronto Avenue, Suite 120 Toronto, ON M3H 5Y9 Tel. 416-630-5533	They provide residential services to adults with a developmental disability in Scarborough, City of York, Brampton, and Woodbridge. They also provide respite services to caregivers and families in Toronto, York region and Peel. Their community support program offers assistance in finding paid employment or volunteer opportunities as well as life and social skills training.	Website : link
Disability Ontario Online Resource (Door 2 Adulthood) Dawn Lunan, Coordinator 1-800-363-2442, ext. 3287	aims to improve the process of transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities and their families by providing information about services, resources and events related to transition, and the opportunity to network and share ideas.	E-mail : dlunan@
Life Stage Transitions Project Antonia Hammer, Life Stage Transition Coordinator 416-425-3463, ext. 7209 ahammer@marchofdimes.ca	They offer help to youth and young adults with a physical disability to make the transition from adolescent to adult services, providing a service navigator to help youth locate services to meet their changing needs and Peer Advisers to assist in developing strategies for some of the challenges.
The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario (SB&H) 555 Richmond Street West< P.O. Box 103, Suite 1006 Toronto, ON M5V 3B1 Tel. 416-214-1056 Email: provincial@	an online community forum, information and education, and a post-secondary scholarship program.
Peel Behavioural Services 5770 Hurontario Street, Suite 101 Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5 Tel. 905-712-4124	is a team of Behaviour Therapists working with mediators (parents, teachers, workers, etc.) to develop behavioural strategies, serving individuals with developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Passport Mentoring Initiative For more information, call 1-800-278-8025 or e-mail mentoring@	This initiative is aimed at students aged 14 to 21 who have an intellectual disability and who wish to explore ideas for their future and/or learn more about an area of interest. Mentor Coordinators introduce students to mentors who share the same interest or work in a relevant workplace.
Next Step to Active Living Tel. 905-615-4770, ext. 2279	An adult day program for individuals aged 21 and over with acquired physical disabilities, funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in partnership with the City of Mississauga and the Credit Valley Hospital.	Website: link
Rosa’s Centre 221 Deerhurst Drive, Unit 10 Brampton, ON L6T 5L7 Tel. 905-791-7444	Rosa’s Centre offers individualized programs and services to adults with developmental disabilities in Brampton to help them reach personal independence in daily living.	Website: link
Special Services at Home (SSAH) Toll free telephone: 1-877-832-2818, ext. 341 - Ask for the Special Needs Unit.	Their mission is to make it easier for people with disabilities to live at home with their families. It pays for services not available elsewhere in the community. The Service is available to people of all ages with a developmental disability and for children under 18 with a physical disability. Families can apply for funding. Ministry of Community & Social Services & Ministry of Children & Youth Services Special Needs Unit
Sign of the Times	Located in Mississauga, this is a practice firm for persons with disabilities which offers a realistic simulation of a business with all of its administrative functions, carrying out commercial transactions with over 5500 practice firms world-wide.	Website: link
March of Dimes	March of Dimes is a community-based rehabilitation and advocacy organization for people with physical disabilities. They offer many services including Employment Services, Independent Living Services in clients’ homes and Recreation & Integration services. For more information, visit their website.	Website: link

Over the summer months many NEW employers have signed on to the Employer Registry to offer a wide range of experiential learning opportunities for students in the GTA; educators can search for student opportunities by registering on EmployerRegistry.ca.

For GTA students there are nearly 2 000 employers and 3 000 opportunities listed on EmployerRegistry.ca.