What if you could help change the future of care for thousands of kids with disabilities, right here in Canada? Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital already is. And now, they’re daring you to join the largest fundraising campaign for pediatric disability in Canadian history.
The Together We Dare campaign is raising $100 million to launch the Centre for Excellence in Childhood Disability — a first-of-its-kind initiative that will transform care, research and inclusion across the country.
It's the next step in Holland Bloorview’s 125-year legacy of supporting children with disabilities and complex medical needs. Today, it's Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital and home to the internationally recognized Bloorview Research Institute, which is redefining what care can look like in Canada and beyond.
But while Holland Bloorview is doing big things, the overall state of disability care in Canada reveals how much more still needs to be done.
Holland Bloorview is a world leader in care and research for kids with complex medical needs. Courtesy of Holland Bloorview
Despite the urgent need, kids with disabilities receive just 1% of philanthropic healthcare investment in Canada. It's concerning when you consider that over 850,000 children and youth in this country live with a disability, part of the 10% of the global population who do.
And the system is under pressure:
- Only 145 developmental pediatricians serve all of Canada, and 23% are set to retire within the next five years.
- A 2024 report found that more than 75% of young adults with disabilities faced barriers to accessing care.
- On average, it takes approximately 17 years for research to be incorporated into clinical practice.
- And 23% of children with disabilities say their healthcare providers aren’t familiar with their condition.
Addressing these issues now is critical if they're not to escalate in the coming years, which is why Holland Bloorview is already taking steps to do things differently.
They're investing in research, education and system change so more kids can receive better care, faster. From reducing wait times to training more professionals, creating inclusive spaces and centring the lived experience of clients and families, Holland Bloorview is laying the groundwork for a new standard of pediatric disability care.
Holland Bloorview is engaging the latest technologies to expand care options. Courtesy of Holland Bloorview
Their work extends beyond the hospital walls as well. They're scaling proven programs across Canada, expanding access to care through technology, and addressing the non-medical factors — such as income, race, geography and education — that impact long-term health outcomes for kids with disabilities.
And they're daring you to stand with them as they lead the charge toward a more equitable, inclusive and stigma-free world. Donate today and support the Together We Dare campaign at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
And the best part? Give today and your gift will make three times the impact thanks to matching donations from The Slaight Family Foundation and Holland Bloorview’s Board of Directors.
To learn more about Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, visit their website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.