Inclusive Groups for Children and Teens in Hamilton, Ontario Friend Den – Interest Form Recreational Respite is happy to power the Friend Den: an inclusive weekly drop-off program with small group ratios. Offered at Always Connected Treatment Centre in Hamilton, the Friend Den is ideal for children and teens who are on the autism spectrum, […]
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Inclusive to all abilities, ages 12 – 17 Registration is NOW OPEN for our virtual groups for youth ages 12-17! This fall, join our safe and inclusive online community to explore your interests and build new peer friendships with Canadian youth of all abilities! The Virtual Friend Den, guided by Kelsey!Tuesdays @ 6:30-7:30pm ET. For more information
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A Lifespan Approach to Social Engagement June 2025 Authored by Zachary Pencarinha, Community Engagement Provider, Recreational Respite. Zach possesses an honours degree in Psychology & Criminology, with a minor in Sociology. He currently works at Community Living Essex County, and as a Community Engagement Provider at Recreational Respite, while he completes his master’s in Counselling Psychology
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How Recreation Breaks Down Participation Barriers and Improves Upon Mental Health for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities April 2025 Authored by Zachary Pencarinha, Community Engagement Provider, Recreational Respite. Zach possesses an honours degree in Psychology & Criminology, with a minor in Sociology. He currently works at Community Living Essex County, and as a Community Engagement Provider at
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Engaging older adults with dementia in recreational activities February 2025 Authored by Lisa Kikuchi, Community Engagement Provider, Recreational Respite. Lisa is a graduate of Canadore College with a Recreation Therapy diploma, and is an enthusiastic Community Engagement Provider at Recreational Respite, providing tailored one-to-one respite support. She is passionate about her work with older adults with
January 2025 A new chapter begins at Recreational Respite, as we welcome Allison Reis as our new Owner and Chief Executive Officer. Allison has been an instrumental leader at Recreational Respite for six years, leading innovative partnerships, increasing efficiencies as our organization grew to a national scope, developing quality control measures, strengthening our pandemic response,
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Grief Peer Support Groups for Teens on the Autism Spectrum / with intellectual Disabilities Recreational Respite is grateful to have been awarded a grant from The Children’s Grief Foundation of Canada to deliver neurodivergent-affirming grief support to bereaved teens on the autism spectrum and/or intellectual disabilities across Canada in 2025. Recognizing that neurodivergent individuals process
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Published June 2024 – Updated April 2025. We’re thrilled to announce the official launch of the Caregiver Toolkit, in partnership with Hydrocephalus Canada, and proudly sponsored by the Rexall Care Network, a partnership dedicated to championing caregiver well‑being across Canada. Caregivers everywhere can download this dynamic, printable resource and immediately dive into interactive planning pages, self‑reflection exercises, and
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Recreation Knows No Limits: How Recreational Respite Promotes Inclusive Recreation At Recreational Respite, we believe that recreation should be accessible and enjoyable to all, regardless of age, ability, or background. That’s why we’re recognizing Inclusive Recreation Day on June 19, 2024! What is Inclusive Recreation? Inclusive recreation goes beyond simply providing access to facilities and
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January 2021 – present Challenger Baseball is an adaptive baseball program by the Jays Care Foundation, where kids living with physical and/or cognitive disabilities find a place on a team where they belong. Challenger Baseball ensures athletes of all abilities have the opportunity to play in a fun and safe environment where they learn to
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