Choose to See What You Want to See

 This week, I want to start with two statements and a question. First statement: I’m a person with a physical disability. Due to my physical disability, I’m ventilator-dependent. Also, I have 24/7 care, including any time I go out. My voice is often hard to understand, but I try to

Scott Helman on singing, songwriting and “Hang Ups”

 On the heels of his European tour with Vance Joy and a headlining club tour of the Northeast United States, Juno-nominated Canadian singer-songwriter, Scott Helman, recently announced the dates for his upcoming headlining tour of Canada and Ottawa is one of them! Best known for his break-out hit “Bungalow” and

Resolving the Root Causes of ADHD

 The incidence of Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is on the rise in Canada. Why is this? It is not just genetics or bad luck. Environmental factors, like diet, do play a role, despite what conventional medicine might say. In this article, we will discuss how environmental factors do

J & J’s Gibberish: ADHD — It IS a Real Thing — Part 1

 One mother's weekly journey in raising her special needs children.  It was with great fascination that I have been learning about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  I have to be honest here and say that I had been extremely cynical about the whole ADHD thing.  For starters, and I mean

J & J’s Gibberish: Cops and Autistics Part II – MEA CULPA

 One mother's weekly journey in raising her special needs children.  OK, so sometimes things are not exactly as they seem.  Last week I reported on a service to register your autistic kid so in the event he or she takes off and gets into a sticky situation, a cop can

Why the Modern City Worker Should Have a Nootropics Pack in their Bag

 The life of today’s city dweller is synonymous with the busy bee: work, work and more work. You just have to get a bit smarter to find an escape moment for precious ‘me-times.’ Everyone is on the go and you can practically ‘touch’ the buzz all around you as you

J and J’s Gibberish: The Journey Begins

 Feature image by Jennifer Hartley Here we are. Day one. Welcome to J and J Jibberish (short form for Jacob and Jen’s Jibberish), a new Ottawa Life weekly blog that will focus on life in Ottawa (and beyond) with kids with special needs. Survival skills, tips, services, and lots of

Personalized Medicine for Child Health is a Distraction

 Genetics will save the day – at least that’s the message you see pretty much everywhere in the media, and sometimes even in the academic literature.  Newspaper articles herald “breakthroughs” in finding genetic biomarkers for autism. Magazine headlines trumpet finding a biomarker for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We read in

Some of the Most Complex Needs of My Patients Stem from Poverty and not Disease Alone

 Why Canadian children need a champion. A young girl is referred to a pediatrician's office for inability to pay attention in the classroom. The child’s teacher is concerned she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and possibly, a learning disability. I am a second year medical student working in the

Enjoy Some Digital Family Time Together

 No negative behaviour associated with kids’ use of video games in households with strong parent-child bond We live in a digital age. Technology has become an integral part of how we see, learn about and interact with the world. From computers at the office, to televisions at home, to smartphones

Wanderlust: A Breath Of Fresh Air

 Photo courtesy of Stephen McVeigh When we are in the midst of sweet summertime, who can bear to stay inside all day? At Wanderlust Mont-Tremblant, there will be no shortage of time spent outdoors! From the outdoor yoga classes to the sunrise and sunset hikes, you’ll be soaking up the

Postpartum Depression is a Family Affair

 It can affect dads and other children too At long last, people are talking about postpartum depression. Dismissed for years as no more than a touch of the baby blues or else unheard of entirely, postpartum depression – or PPD, as it is often known – has become an open

OLM’S Top 25 People in the Capital 2012

 Ottawa Life Magazine’s 2012 listing of who we think are the movers and shakers in the nation’s capital. These people make Ottawa a great city to live in. Dr. Jeff Sherman, Deborah Wyatt and Jennifer Wyatt of TIPES (Thinking in Pictures Education Services) are truly heroic for the work they

Outdoor Work Experience: The West End’s Most Unique Summer Day Camp

 A rising percentage of young Canadians are being diagnosed with developmental disorders ranging from Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to Tourette’s syndrome and Down’s syndrome. One would expect to see a concomitant increase in the number of public and private programs designed to treat Canadians with developmental disorders