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balancesscs.bsky.social
Balance Support & Self Care Studios
@balancesscs.bsky.social
96 followers 70 following 400 posts
Balance Support & Self Care Studios is a Hamilton-based not-for-profit supporting Ontario parents/caregivers of individuals with diverse needs

https://linktr.ee/BalanceSSCS
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balancesscs.bsky.social
Balance Support & Self Care Studios @balancesscs.bsky.social · Dec 9
Please read:

Our statement regarding Minister Paul Calandra's response to Ontario’s latest EQAO scores

Hyperlinked version is here: canva.com/design/DAG64...

#OntEd #ONpoli #autism #education #HamOnt
Image of Balance SSCS's response to the latest EQAO results and news that Minister Paul Calandra will be appointing an advisory panel to review them
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
thinkingautism.com
"Just like the first woman in a lab […] meant representation for future women in science, an autistic Barbie where there had been no autistic dolls before can mean a lot to Barbie-interested autistic people." @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the latest TPGA newsletter:

buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
Autistic Barbie met with joy, controversy
Do all autistic people interested in Barbie look like this doll or wear headphones or use an AAC device? No. But it is an important social statement on a global stage.
buttondown.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
cbcnews-mirror.bsky.social
Uber called out by service dog users who are fed up with ride rejections | CBC News
Under Canadian laws, drivers must accommodate service animals. But CBC’s Go Public interviewed several customers in Ontario who say they’ve been denied rides by Uber drivers within the past few months, because of their service dogs.
www.cbc.ca
January 19, 2026 at 9:08 AM
balancesscs.bsky.social
@sac-oac.bsky.social was in Ottawa today with CAOT calling attention to serious administrative barriers with Jordan’s Principle & Inuit Child First Initiative

www.sac-oac.ca/caot-sac-cal...

#CdnPoli #autism #disability #neurodiversity #JordansPrinciple #OT #OccupationalTherapy #Indigenous
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language & Audiology Canada Call for Action as Delays Under Jordan’s Principle and the Inuit Child First Initiative Deny First Nations and Inuit...
January 19, 2026 – OTTAWA, ON – The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT) and Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) are calling on the federal government to take immediate and sustain...
www.sac-oac.ca
January 19, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
quoimedia.bsky.social
What my sister Ellen taught me about the dignity and importance of being seen

Read this moving first-person essay from our client, Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, about personhood and dignity in disability and illness

#palliativecare #patientcare #cdnpoli #medicine #cerebralpalsy
Opinion: What my sister Ellen taught me about dignity and the importance of being seen
As a physician and professor specializing in end-of-life care, I teach the Platinum Rule: Do unto others as they would want done unto themselves
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
thinkingautism.com
"Autistic people are not necessarily bad at communicating: they just have different cognitive and communication styles. This goes both ways: non-autistic people are not great at guessing what autistic people are thinking and feeling."

ausm.org/wp-content/u...

#neurodiversity #DoubleEmpathy #autism
ausm.org
January 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
balancesscs.bsky.social
DYK if your child is registered in the #OAP you can access FREE Foundational Family Services?

These are meant to give you more info about your child's neurotype & how to support them

READ more here tinyurl.com/3b8whdew

#HamOnt #autism #OntarioAutism #OntarioAutismProgram
Square Canva image with blue background and abstract design elements in the corners Inside of a blue circle white text reads "Did you know? Families registered in the Ontario Autism Program can access FREE workshops, consultations & groups?". The Balance SSCS logo is at the bottom left corner
November 5, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
balancesscs.bsky.social
Inclusive education is NOT a "nice to have."

It's a RIGHT to have.

#BackToSchool #InclusiveEducation #OntEd #ONpoli #autism #disability #neurodiversity #inclusion @inclusioncanada.bsky.social

Credit: Inclusive Education Canada
On a purple background, text reads "Inclusive education is NOT a 'nice to have.' It's a RIGHT to have." In the lower right corner is the Inclusive Education Canada logo
September 12, 2025 at 9:28 PM
balancesscs.bsky.social
#Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the #Tamil community. It is a celebration to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and the various farm animals that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest.

Happy Pongal to everyone celebrating!

#HamOnt #HappyPongal #pongal2026
Illustration of a traditional Pongal pot under sugarcane leaves. Festive design with "Happy Pongal!" text below, conveying celebration and warmth. Balance SSCS logo is in lower left corner
January 16, 2026 at 9:16 PM
balancesscs.bsky.social
Why autism advocates are celebrating Barbie's first-ever autistic doll

cbc.ca/news/enterta...

#autism #AutismAcceptance #HAmOnt @autisticadvocacy.org
Why autism advocates are celebrating Barbie's first-ever autistic doll | CBC News
In an attempt to help 'more children to see themselves represented in Barbie,' toy creator Mattel Inc. is releasing their first-ever autistic Barbie doll.
cbc.ca
January 16, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
clontario.bsky.social
In this week’s edition of Update Friday, Save the date for the Inclusion Symposium, Member success stories, and more! Read the full edition: bit.ly/45VRE46

Sign up to our newsletter: bit.ly/Subscribe-To-UF
January 16, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
metisnationon.bsky.social
The Early Learning and Child Care team invites you register for the Autism Allies workshop series, a 10-week program designed to provide parents with practical tools and strategies to support children with autism.

Register by Jan 15th here: ow.ly/QZFv50XS6J4
Close-up of a child’s arm wearing a puzzle piece bracelet, held gently by an adult’s hand, promoting Autism Allies workshop dates.
January 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
balancesscs.bsky.social
Navigating services for your autistic child can be confusing & overwhelming. That's why we work hard to answer questions, provide info & guide families. We're ok with others doing the same

But please make sure you're giving out the CORRECT info. It just makes things confusing

#HamOnt #autism
Image is a screen capture from a website called End the Wait Ontario Text reads "What is the Ontario Autism Program? Understanding the OAP structure and how it works. The Short Version The Ontario Autism Program (OAP) provides government funding for autism therapy services. It offers two main pathways: Childhood Budgets (direct funding for families) and Core Clinical Services (agency-delivered therapy). Most families wait 5+ years to receive any funding."
January 15, 2026 at 11:53 PM
balancesscs.bsky.social
School can be very overwhelming for autistic/ND students

They're not avoiding school out of defiance but b/c they don't feel safe

It's not that they're choosing not to go. It's that they can't

We need spaces that are trauma-informed, neuro-affirming, flexible & responsive

#OntEd #autism
January 15, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
ymhc.ngo
Reducing class sizes is a systemic measure that directly affects both learning and well-being. Smaller classes make it easier for educators to build relationships, notice early changes in attendance or mood, and adapt instruction for diverse learners.
January 13, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
disabilityscoop.bsky.social
The first generation of senior citizens living with IDD means added demand for #GroupHomes and other residential facilities as their families, who often care for them, also age. #disabilities #aging
As People With Disabilities Live Longer, Facilities Rework Services
The first generation of senior citizens living with IDD means added demand for group homes and other residential facilities as their families, who often care for them, also age.
www.disabilityscoop.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:07 AM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
cbcnews-mirror.bsky.social
Why autism advocates are celebrating Barbie's first-ever autistic doll | CBC News
In an attempt to help 'more children to see themselves represented in Barbie,' toy creator Mattel Inc. is releasing their first-ever autistic Barbie doll.
www.cbc.ca
January 13, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
autisticadvocacy.org
We’re proud to partner with Mattel to help create the first-ever autistic Barbie! Autism looks lots of different ways - we're glad to have the chance to represent some of them, and to highlight some of those that are underrepresented in toys.
Barbie® Introduces the First Autistic Barbie Doll, Championing Representation for Children through Play
Mattel, Inc. unveiled today its first-ever autistic Barbie doll created with guidance from the autistic community to represent common ways autistic people may experience, process, and communicate…
corporate.mattel.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:31 PM
balancesscs.bsky.social
"Nearly 21 years ago, MPPs across all parties at Queen’s Park pledged to make Ontario completely accessible to people with disabilities by the beginning of 2025. But with that date now well past, advocates say the process has been a failure..."

#ONpoli #disability #accessibility #HamOnt
January 11, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
inclusioncanada.bsky.social
As we begin the new year & Parliamentary period, we have our eyes on a few federal priorities. Last year we met with many Parliamentarians pressing for change in several areas. Over the next week, we'll outline each of these priorities.

Read the document: www.inclusioncanada.ca/resource?vie...
Screenshot of front page of document, with text reading "Five Federal Priorities for Inclusion" and a picture of three people sitting at a desk
January 9, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
aset-ontario.bsky.social
The countdown is on to the #ASET2026 conference in Niagara Falls April 16th & 17th 2026! Calling all educators who are passionate about #SpecialEducation #Accessibility #AssistiveTechnology #AIinEducation. For more information, go to site.aset-ontario.ca Early bird rates still apply!
ASET
Celebrating 20+ Years of Innovation & Inclusion Join us this year at #ASET2026 as we continue the journey!
site.aset-ontario.ca
January 9, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
thinkingautism.com
Our Heated Rivalry fans probably already picked up on this but:
Yes, Shane Hollander, the Canadian hockey star played by Hudson Williams in the popular romance streaming series, is autistic. (Even though they never say so outright.)

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #autism #neurodiversity #autistic
Heated Rivalry's Shane is autistic. If you didn't notice, that's the point | CBC News
Rachel Reid, the Canadian author behind the Game Changer book series that inspired the show, has previously confirmed on Reddit that Shane is "probably autistic" — though she didn't set out to write h...
www.cbc.ca
January 9, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
clontario.bsky.social
When people are labelled and set apart as needing 'special' care, they are stigmatized and devalued (even if that devaluation is unintentional). In the ongoing project of community living, moving away from specialized and segregated systems is paramount.
communitylivingontario.ca/when-it-come...
When it Comes to Disability, Specialization Often Leads to Stigmatization - Community Living Ontario
A recent article from ICES and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) reported that people with developmental disabilities make up 22% of the 1,466 people who have spent more than a year in...
communitylivingontario.ca
January 9, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
thinkingautism.com
Parenting our kids can require a lot of learning, for instance: An autistic kid may refuse to clean their room not out of defiance, but because they can’t comprehend taking on large multi-step processes without a checklist &/or significant support. More tips:

thinkingautismguide.com/2025/09/afte...
After an Autism Diagnosis: 13 Necessary Next Steps For Parents — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM
If your child has recently been diagnosed with autism, please take my hard-won advice: Learn from my mistakes, so you don't repeat them.
thinkingautismguide.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:46 AM
balancesscs.bsky.social
Schools often respond to "challenging" student behaviour by developing a behaviour plan

Problem is that most behavior programs are OUTDATED. They rely on rewards, punishments & quick fixes. They don’t reflect the brain or the complexity of what makes us human

#OntEd #autism #neurodiversity 1/2
January 3, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by Balance Support & Self Care Studios
empoweredkidson.bsky.social
#FunFactFridays
- World Braille Day is held on January 4, the birth date of Louis Braille
- He developed the system by age 15
- He wanted to give blind people independence and equal access to knowledge.

Take a moment to honour this incredible invention this Sunday!
Graphic for World Braille Day, January 4, 2026, featuring a pair of hands reading a Braille book, flanked by regular books and a pair of glasses. The logo of Empowered Kids Ontario is also displayed, along with the hashtag #FunFactFridays.
January 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM