Donna Kirk — Page 5

Donna Meets Larry

July 23, 2013

Last week my friend Chris and I were seated for lunch in a restaurant that was not even half full. It was noon. Perhaps the summer trade is not vigorous. But we had to flag down a passing staff to ask for our waiter. We were told Stan, our server, would arrive momentarily. Ten minutes […]

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Just Get Them Talking…..

July 5, 2013

Saturday July 6, 2013 is third anniversary of Matthew’s death. It seems impossible that we haven’t seen him in so long. It still seems impossible that we lost him. When a child dies, everyone wants to keep his memory alive. My own compelling need during his life and after it ended was to write a […]

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The Language of Developmental Disability

May 24, 2013

History is often shocking and sad. Historically, the words used to describe people with developmental disabilities have been not only shocking and sad, but false. Those words dictated the segregated and unfulfilling lives many citizens experienced for too long. But the past has led us forward. We have evolved, and now use suitable words to […]

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The Power of Life

May 5, 2013

Intimate Strangers Eight women were seated in Sandy’s living room. She always hosted the book club meetings. The only person I knew was Liz, my friend of more than thirty years. “I feel like we’re friends, Donna,” said a woman I’d met just ten minutes before, who sat down beside me. “I loved your book,” […]

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Signs of Matthew

April 7, 2013

A few weeks ago, I spoke to the graduating class of Social Service Workers at Sheridan College (Davis Campus). I congratulated the students for their choice of profession. Without advocates like them, Matthew’s life, and the lives of countless others with a developmental disability, would never have been as rich or as full. In my experience, the social service worker […]

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Developmentally Handicapped Family Member: Do Not Resuscitate Orders

March 17, 2013

Matthew swallowed a rubber glove in 1993 when he lived at Oaklands Regional Centre, a residence in Oakville for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The glove lodged in his intestine and infected the bowel and surrounding area. Matthew became dangerously ill and was admitted to hospital. Although he used universal signs to communicate, Matthew […]

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Your child has a developmental handicap and perhaps mental illness. Do you wish he was “normal”?

March 3, 2013

I’ve often heard the question “Do you wish your child was normal?” being asked of parents whose children have varying degrees of disability. I’ve never heard any parent answer yes. They love their children for who they are and wouldn’t change a thing. For years, I heartily agreed with this answer. Then, I decided I could be more honest, […]

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Mentall Illness in Children and Youth: Oakville Navigator Programme

February 23, 2013

I know first-hand what it is like to have a family member suffer with mental illness. According to statistics, I am not alone. One in five Ontarians has a mental illness. When our son Matthew first started showing signs of mental instability at age sixteen, my husband and I stumbled around until we finally found […]

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Death of a Child – The Worst Agony

February 2, 2013

Esther Now that Bin Laden is dead, I wonder what Esther thinks. I met her one bright morning in March 2011, on Manasota Beach in Venice, Florida. My daughter Kelley was further along the beach that day, absorbed in her search for shark’s teeth. Even though she’s 39 years old, I couldn’t help looking up […]

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