HC/HBKR Youth Webinar Series

Hydrocephalus Canada and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital are excited to share some helpful information and resources with you! Our Youth Webinar Series will focus on topics that young people with hydrocephalus and/or spina bifida often have questions about.

Webinar #1

Presentation by Melissa Thorne, Co-Moderator, HB Alumni Network & Youth Facilitator
“If You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers”
October 20 at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Melissa Thorne

Who should attend

Youth from the hydrocephalus and spina bifida communities, ages 14-21. Parents are welcome to attend this webinar in support of their minor children.

What to expect

In this webinar, Melissa Thorne will share her insights as the Youth Facilitator at Holland Bloorview in the Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Injury Clinic and Youth Engagement department, as well as a person with sbh. Having lived at Holland Bloorview as an inpatient for a year after having multiple orthopedic surgeries in grade 10, Melissa will share her story, her background and explain how she helps kids address challenges like ‘growing up ready’. We will also have a guest speaker! Melissa will follow her presentation with a question and answer session.

Webinar #2

Presentation by Steph Di Martino, Life Skills Coach and Melissa Thorne, Co-Moderator, HB Alumni Network & Youth Facilitator
“Social Skills and Friendship”
October 27 at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Steph Di Martino

Melissa Thorne

Who should attend

Youth from the hydrocephalus and spina bifida communities, ages 14-21. Parents are welcome to attend this webinar in support of their minor children.

What to expect

In this webinar, Steph Di Martino will share her insights as a Life Skills Coach in the Transitions, Recreation and Like Skills Team at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab. As a Life Skills Coach, Steph helps to provide experience-based activities to support learning using discussion, role play, problem-solving and peer mentoring with an experiential/immersive approach. Steph and Melissa will explore strategies to build conversation skills, talk about where to meet people your age, how to build connections, what to look for in a friend and help you become aware of what you bring to the table of friendship. Steph and Melissa will follow their presentation with a question and answer session.

Webinar #3

Presentation by Kristen English, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Melissa Thorne, Co-Moderator, HB Alumni Network & Youth Facilitator
“Community Interaction and Recreation”
November 3 at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Kristen English

Melissa Thorne

Who should attend

Youth from the hydrocephalus and spina bifida communities, ages 12-21. Parents are welcome to attend this webinar in support of their minor children.

What to expect

In this webinar, Kristen English will share her insights as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist in the Transitions, Recreation and Like Skills Team at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab. Kristen provides adapted sport and recreation opportunities to children and youth with disabilities including wheelchair basketball, All Abilities Soccer and the Access Boom Sailing program. She is also a Master of Health Evaluation candidate at the University of Waterloo. You can expect Kristen and Melissa to address how to find meaning in recreation and leisure participation, explore sports and recreation in your community as well as look at equipment that can be adapted to your needs. Kristen and Melissa will follow their presentation with a question and answer session.

Webinar #4

Presentation by Kristen English, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Melissa Thorne, Co-Moderator, HB Alumni Network & Youth Facilitator
“Life Skills and Independence – Transition to Adulthood”
November 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Steph Di Martino

Melissa Thorne

Who should attend

Youth from the hydrocephalus and spina bifida communities, ages 14-21. Parents are welcome to attend this webinar in support of their minor children.

What to expect

In this webinar, Steph Di Martino will share her insights as a Life Skills Coach at Holland Bloorview. As a Life Skills Coach, Steph helps to provide experience-based activities to support learning using discussion, role play, problem-solving and peer mentoring with an experiential/immersive approach. You can expect Steph and Melissa to talk about tips and tricks for navigating the adult world, how to grow up ready and get involved in your own health care, learning responsibilities in the home (cooking, laundry, making plans, cleaning) as well as time management and organization. Steph and Melissa will follow their presentation with a question and answer session.

Webinar #5

Presentation by all speakers from our Youth Webinar Series, including: Melissa Thorne, Co-Moderator, HB Alumni Network & Youth Facilitator, Steph Di Martino, Life Skills Coach and Kristen English, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
“Still Have Questions? We Have Answers!”
November 17 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Kristen English

Steph Di Martino

Melissa Thorne

Who should attend

Youth from the hydrocephalus and spina bifida communities, ages 14-21. Parents are welcome to attend this webinar in support of their minor children.

What to expect

In this webinar, Melissa, Steph and Kristen from Holland Bloorview will provide participants with a recap and overview of the key points of each webinar in our Youth Webinar Series. Participants will also be given the opportunity to participate in a breakout room with a clinician. Melissa, Steph and Kristen will follow their presentation with a general question and answer session.
Have questions you want to ask any of our presenters? Need more information?
Send your questions in advance of any or all webinars. Please submit your questions to awalters@hydrocephalus.ca or info@hydrocephalus.ca
This webinar series generously sponsored by Sick Kids Foundation