World AIDS Day

What’s your community organizing for World AIDS Day – feel free to share it here!

http://www.catie.ca/en/world-aids-day/events?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=socmed&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=041214

Re-define Positive – New Video

I just wanted to share this video that was passed along to me recently – it is a terrific starting point for those wanting to explain HIV to elementary school-aged children:

http://www.redefinepositive.com/download.html

TAINTED…it was meant to give them life

Hi all,

I wanted to share information on a fantastic play that is coming to Ottawa on October 29th (7:30pm) that is based on the Canadian tainted blood scandal. As the website states, Tainted is “Inspired by the true stories of families who endured the worst public health disaster in our history, Tainted is a harrowing, unforgettable story.”

This will be a rehearsed reading of the play, and tickets must be obtained at the NAC box office in advance. There is no cost to attend the performance.

For more information, please see: http://nac-cna.ca/en/community/event/10199

Hope to see you there!

MY HIV Child is Playing With Your Child

A great blog post written by Jenn Mosher – my favourite line comes at the end:

“My HIV-positive kid is playing with your kid, and you have no idea which one she is. And that’s okay.

HIV isn’t scary, but ignorance and stigma are.”

http://www.scarymommy.com/my-hiv-child/

Adopting a Child Living with HIV – Information Evening Ottawa

  Learn more about:

– Basic Facts about HIV – treatment, transmission and risk factors

– Parenting a Child Living with HIV

– The adoption process – country/programs, the Citizenship and Immigration Process (CIC) process, how to include HIV in your home study

– Resources and Support in Ontario

– Anti-retroviral treatments including information regarding provincial drug plans, private insurance, etc.  

Presented by: Karyn Bakelaar, HIV+ Kids Program Manager

Guest Speaker: Dr. Jason Brophy, MD MSc DTM FRCPC, Staff Physician, Division of Infectious Diseases with CHEO

When: Wednesday, October 1st, 2014, 6:30 – 8:30PM

Where: Suite 221, Clyde Avenue, Ottawa

For more information and to register, please see: http://www.childrensbridge.com, or contact Karyn at karyn.bakelaar@childrensbridge.com 

Importance of Early Intervention for Children Living with HIV

CABA ECD brochure web

20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) – Australia

The 20th International AIDS Conference got underway in Melbourne, Australia on the evening of Sunday, July 20th on a somber note as presenters paid respects to the lives of 6 conference attendees who perished en-route in the Malaysia airlines flight MH17 tragedy.

The evening continued with moving speeches by UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibe (full speech can be found at: http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/speech/2014/07/20140720_SP_EXD_AIDS2014opening_en.pdf), and Michael Kirby, who is a well-known human rights advocate and former Australian High Court justice (highlights of his speech have been published by The Body Pro and can be found at: http://www.thebodypro.com/content/74767/7-amazing-things-michael-kirby-said-about-hiv-at-t.html).

The Body Pro will be continuing it’s coverage of the 2014 International AIDS Conference which can be accessed at this link: http://www.thebodypro.com/content/74778/cacophony-or-consensus-snapshots-of-a-complicated-.html

The Conference Website also offers online coverage, webinars, a mobile app and other multi-media access at: http://www.aids2014.org/Default.aspx?pageId=720

HIV Orphans – news article from Australia with some new resources

This article was recently published in an Australian newspaper; it contains some excellent information regarding the adoption of HIV+ children and highlights a new advocacy group working to ensure these children’s rights are guaranteed. Here is a link to the news article:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/hiv-orphans-the-tragedy-20140720-3c9ix.html

SuperKidsGlobal – excellent new resource for families considering adopting a child living with HIV: http://superkidsglobal.com/

Wavin’ Flag – Grannies for Drugs Version

Take a minute to watch this video (link on left hand side of the page), and then click on the link (left hand side of the page) to hear K’naan speak and sign the petition to help make Bill C-393 a reality: http://www.aidslaw.ca/EN/camr/index.htm

Australia law makers challenge discriminatory practices against HIV adoption

Legal groups in Australia are working to make adopting children with HIV and other special needs less discriminatory by removing unnecessary legal barriers that are daunting to most adoptive families. The full article on this can be found at: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/01/16/hiv-adoption-rules-marred-discrimination