Life’s Palette Blog

Life’s Palette is a space for sharing my personal stories and reflections.

I have also included journal articles and media pieces that I have contributed to.

All my writings are about my life, my caregiving journey, connections to others and the struggles faced in this chaotic world.

Helen Knoll Ries 2022-05-24 Helen Knoll Ries 2022-05-24

Beyond Grassroots

From anger, despair, loneliness and grief to a socially innovative national movement under the wings of the CCCE. We made it.

Helen Knoll Ries 2020-10-30 Helen Knoll Ries 2020-10-30

Journal Article: Exploring the experiences of siblings of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Helen Knoll Ries 2020-04-06 Helen Knoll Ries 2020-04-06

Journal Article: Support needs of Canadian adult siblings of brothers and sisters with intellectual/developmental disabilities

Helen Knoll Ries 2018-03-01 Helen Knoll Ries 2018-03-01

White Paper: Understanding the Sibling Experience

Helen Knoll Ries 2017-10-19 Helen Knoll Ries 2017-10-19

Constructive Engagement: Coalition for Change to the Disability Gifts and Assets Limits

In 2017 Innoweave supported my leadership of the Coalition for Change to the Disability Gifts and Assets Limits.

Helen Knoll Ries 2016-06-09 Helen Knoll Ries 2016-06-09

Confessions of a super sister

I am a Super Sister. I am not the only one. There are lots of us out there. Super Brothers, too. As a Super Sister I have taken on this caregiving role with my whole heart and then some. It comes from a place of deep love.

Photograph by Helen Ries

Helen Knoll Ries 2015-12-29 Helen Knoll Ries 2015-12-29

My 2015 Failure Report: A year of being a caregiver

When I wrote this blog back in 2015, I had no idea the impact it would have on my life. I posted it on Facebook and it just flew. Before I knew it, it had been share hundreds of times and I was invited to an interview with Anna Maria Tremonti on CBC’s “the Current”. Much of my work in the past nearly ten years started here.