Centre for Independent Living in Toronto

... a Resource and Support Network

The Parenting with a Disability Network (PDN) is a peer support and information-sharing network for parents and prospective parents with a disability. The aim of PDN is to develop consumer friendly approaches to parenting with a disability by providing opportunities for networking, peer support, information-sharing and education.

PDN offers:

Peer support opportunities
One-to-one support
Resources on parenting with a disability
Workshops and seminars
Research and development of new models of support for parents with a disability

To learn more, click on one of the menu items on the left hand side.

Kimberly, PDN Coordinator, is away from the office on Medical Leave until further notice. For all PDN inquiries, please contact Nancy Barry directly at peers@cilt.ca or by telephone at 416-599-2458 ext.227; TTY: 416-599-5077.

PDN publications:

Parenting with a Disability Bulletin (published quarterly)
The Parenting Book for Persons with a Disability: from planning your family to raising adolescents (1999)
Nurturing Assistance: A Guide to Providing Physical Assistance for Parents with Disabilities (2002)

Click here for other Online Resources for Parenting with a Disability.

New Parenting Publication

The Parenting With a Disability Network (PDN) is pleased to bring you our latest parenting publication “SCHOOL YEAR CHRONICLES: A Personal Collection of Your Child’s School Year Memories”, an exciting and innovative way of capturing your child’s special childhood school moments and achievements; while providing tips for you, as parents with disabilities, on parenting issues including how to educate your child about your disability, how to breastfeed when you are a mother with a disability and facing postpartum blues. We hope that you and your child will enjoy this collection as much as we enjoyed compiling it for you. It can be purchased through the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto, for only $20.00 a copy ($15.00 without binder). So please, tell your friends, family, peers and colleagues about the “SCHOOL YEAR CHRONICLES: A Personal Collection of Your Child’s School Year Memories”, and give them the opportunity to enjoy their children’s school year memories as well.

Are you a woman with a physical impairment or disability? Have you become a mother within the last eight years?

If so, I would like to talk with you! My name is Melissa Simas and I am a Master’s of Social Work student at Ryerson University who lives with a physical disability.

I am doing a small research study about the mothering experiences of mothers with physical disabilities. If you would like to participate in this study please call 416-899-7178 and we will set up an interview time. The Interview will last approximately 90 minutes and will take place at Ryerson University or we can arrange a more accessible location for you. TTC tokens and light refreshments will be provided.

Your participation in this study is voluntary and the interview data will be shared only with my professor after all identifying information has been removed.

For more information about the Parenting Network at CILT, please visit the contact information page.

This Program is funded by the United Way of Greater Toronto.