Tips for Families to Create a Network of Support

MARCH 26, 2021

Creating a strong network of support with family, friends, or community members means having people you can count on as you care for your child with a disability. Having those you can reach out to can make you feel more connected and supported when making big decisions and may also reduce feelings of isolation. Read on to learn more about things you can do to expand your circle of support within your community.

Common questions asked when creating a network of support

Who can I include in my circle when creating a network of support?

It is up to you to decide who you feel comfortable with when building an inner circle of support. This may include family members, friends, teachers, therapists, and neighbours. Be open to reaching out to various community members who can support you or provide meaningful opportunities for your child (e.g. peer social skills groups, volunteering etc.)

What are some ways that I can engage with my community?

Speak to your child’s service provider about local programs that build on their strengths and interests
Connect with agencies who support individuals with your child’s diagnosis
Connect with local community: places of worship, community centers, volunteer opportunities
Start or join parent support groups (e.g. Facebook or other social media platforms)

How can I find more support at Surrey Place?

Connect with centralized intake for ages (0-18)
- 1-833-575-KIDS (5437)
- https://www.surreyplace.ca/registration/
Connect with DSO Toronto Region for ages (18+)
- 1-855-372-3858
- www.dsotoronto.ca

Request to meet with a clinician or service coordinator to meet the specific needs of your child
Take a look at our Wellness services to access a wide range of wellness events that provide support across the life span and are offered through various means (e.g. groups, clinics, drop-in or phone.) Register for these on the Surrey Place website
Check out our online Resource Library which is filled with various tools and tip sheets (e.g. Surrey Place Family Connections Group, Helpful Tips for Parents Managing Services)

What is respite and where can I access these services?

Respite is a family support service that provides temporary relief from the demands involved in caring for a family member with special needs. It allows your child the opportunity to participate in community activities or recreational programs. respiteservices.com is a great place to start to find resources, information and options related to respite care available within the City of Toronto.

What are some important resources, financial supports and programs that can be part of my network of support?

References

Dingwall, Charlotte; Kemp, Kristi; Fowke, Barbara. Creating a Good Life in Community, A Guide on Person-Directed Planning. Funded by Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, 2006.

Whiting, Mark. Impact, meaning and need for help and support: The experience of parents caring for children with disabilities, life-limiting/life-threatening illness or technology dependence. Journal of Child Health Care. 17(1) 92–108.

Startle in response to loud noises?	YES NO
Turn to where a sound is coming from?	YES NO
Make different cries for different needs (hungry, tired)?	YES NO
Watch your face as you talk?	YES NO
Smile/laugh in response to your smiles and laughs?	YES NO
Imitate coughs or other sounds such as ah, eh, buh	YES NO

Respond to their name?	YES NO
Respond to the telephone ringing or a knock at the door?	YES NO
Understand being told no?	YES NO
Get what they want through using gestures (reaching to be picked up)?	YES NO
Play social games with you (Peek-a-Boo)?	YES NO
Enjoy being around people?	YES NO
Babble and repeat sounds such as babababa or duhduhduh?	YES NO

Follow simple one-step directions (sit down)?	YES NO
Look across the room to a toy when adult points at it?	YES NO
Consistently use three to five words?	YES NO
Use gestures to communicate (waves hi/bye, shakes head for no)?	YES NO
Get your attention using sounds, gestures and pointing while looking at your eyes?	YES NO
Bring you toys to show you?	YES NO
Perform for social attention and praise?	YES NO
Combine lots of sounds together as though talking (abada baduh abee)?	YES NO
Show an interest in simple picture books?	YES NO

Understand the meaning of in and out, off and on?	YES NO
Point to more than 2 body parts when asked?	YES NO
Use at least 20 words consistently?	YES NO
Respond with words or gestures to simple questions (Where's teddy? What's that?)?	YES NO
Demonstrate some pretend play with toys (gives teddy bear a drink, pretends a bowl is a hat)?	YES NO
Make at least four different consonant sounds (p ,b, m, n, d, g, w, h)?	YES NO
Enjoy being read to and sharing simple books with you?	YES NO
Point to pictures using one finger?	YES NO

Follow two-step directions (Go find your teddy bear and show it to Grandma.)?	YES NO
Use 100 to 150 words?	YES NO
Use at least two pronouns (you, me, mine)?	YES NO
Consistently combine two to four words in short phrases (Daddy hat. Truck go down.)?	YES NO
Enjoy being around other children?	YES NO
Begin to offer toys to other children and imitate other children's actions and words?	YES NO
Use words that are understood by others 50 to 60 per cent of the time?	YES NO
Form words or sounds easily and without effort?	YES NO
Hold books the right way up and turn the pages?	YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys?	YES NO
Scribble with crayons?	YES NO

About Us

Get in Touch

By 2 months

By 6 months

By 9 months

By 12 months

By 18 months

By 2 years

By 30 months

By 3 years

By 4 years

Understand the concepts of size (big/little) and quantity (a little/a lot, more)?	YES NO
Use some adult grammar (two cookies, bird flying, I jumped)?	YES NO
Use over 350 words?	YES NO
Use action words such as run, spill, fall?	YES NO
Participate in some turn-taking activities with peers, using both words and toys?	YES NO
Demonstrate concern when another child is hurt or sad?	YES NO
Combine several actions in play (puts blocks in the train and drives the train, drops the blocks off.)?	YES NO
Put sounds at the beginning of most words?	YES NO
Use words with two or more syllables or beats (ba-na-na, com-pu-ter, a-pple)?	YES NO
Recognize familiar logos and signs involving print (Stop sign)?	YES NO
Remember and understand familiar stories?	YES NO

Understand who, what, where and why questions?	YES NO
Create long sentences using five to eight words?	YES NO
Talk about past events (trip to grandparents house, day at child care)?	YES NO
Tell simple stories?	YES NO
Show affection for favourite playmates?	YES NO
Engage in multi-step pretend play (pretending to cook a meal, repair a car)?	YES NO
Talk in a way that most people outside of the family understand what she/he is saying most of the time?	YES NO
Have an understanding of the function of print (menus, lists, signs)?	YES NO
Show interest in, and awareness of, rhyming words?	YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys?	YES NO
Scribble with crayons?	YES NO

Follow directions involving three or more steps (First get some paper, then draw a picture and give it to Mommy)?	YES NO
Use adult type grammar?	YES NO
Tell stories with a beginning, middle and end?	YES NO
Talk to try and solve problems with adults and with other children?	YES NO
Show increasingly complex imaginary play?	YES NO
Talk in a way that is understood by strangers almost all the time?	YES NO
Generate simple rhymes (cat-bat)?	YES NO
Match some letters with their sounds (letter b says buh, letter t says tuh)?	YES NO