› According to the Canadian Association for Community Living’s 2007 National Report Card on Inclusion, only 33 per cent of Canadians support inclusive education of children with intellectual disabilities.

› A 2004 survey funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging found there are about 1.4 million child caregivers aged eight to 18 in the U.S. About 10 per cent care for a sibling who has a disability or illness.

› “It appears highly likely that children with disabilities comprise one of the most socially excluded groups in all societies today. It has been estimated that 85 per cent of the world’s disabled children under 15 years of age live in developing countries...the vast majority of these children receive no education, are absent in school data sets, and invisible on the national policy agenda.”

Educating Children with Disabilities in Developing Countries:
The Role of Data Sets, Robson, Colin and Evans, Peter, 2003

› Unicef estimates that there are 200 million children with disabilities — 10 per cent of the world’s children.

› Eight out of 10 students with an intellectual disability are bullied, according to a 2007 study of 507 youth aged eight to 19 from 46 schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The study was conducted by Mencap, which represents 1.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in the United Kingdom. Visit Mencap, to download Bullying wrecks lives.

› Canadian surveys suggest that 63 per cent of the homes of children with disabilities lack the necessary ramps, elevators, automatic doors and accessible doorways. Canadian Council on Social Development, 2006.

This Lovely Life: A Memoir of Premature Motherhood
Vicki Forman, 2009

When My Worries Get Too Big! A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety
Kari Dunn Buron, 2006

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
Anne Fadiman, 1998

The Special Needs Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone with Special Needs
Ellen Sabin, 2007 (for ages 9-12)

Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum
Maureen Morrell, Ann Palmer, 2006

Reconstructing Motherhood and Disability in the Age of “Perfect” Babies
Gail Landsman, 2008

Parenting an Adult with Disabilities or Special Needs
Peggy Lou Morgan, 2009

Special Gifts
Arlene Schusteff, 2007

The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal
Jonathan Mooney, 2008

Schuyler’s Monster: A Father’s Journey With His Wordless Daughter
Robert Rummel- Hudson, 2008

Road Map To Holland: How I Found My Way Through My Son’s First Two Years With Down Syndrome
Jennifer Graf Gronenberg, 2008

All books available at chapters.indigo.ca, amazon.ca or by calling Bloorview’s library at 416 425 6220 ext. 3517.

It’s About Ability — a tool that explains the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to children, and how they can use it to advocate for equal treatment.

Respecting Children with Disabilities – and Their Parents,
Erik Parens, The Hastings Center Report: Jan/Feb 2009; 39, 1; page 22*

Cosmetic Surgery in Children with Cognitive Disabilities: Who Benefits? Who Decides?
Douglas J Opel; Benjamin S Wilfond, The Hastings Center Report; Jan/Feb 2009; 39, 1; pg. 19*

*A copy of these articles can be obtained by calling Bloorview’s library 416 425 6220 ext 3517 or visiting your local library.

 

Bestbuddies.ca
Promotes one-to-one friendships between teens and adults with intellectual disabilities and high school and university students.

Cornell University Disability Statistics

deafplanet.com
The first TV show and website in American Sign Language.

5 Minutes for Special Needs.com
Support and inspiration from bloggers who are parents of kids with special needs.

Childhood Disability LINK

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

Children & Clinical Studies
What you need to know about participating in clinical studies, from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.