Child and youth services minister Tracy MacCharles celebrated the results of the province’s increased investment in the lives of children and youth with special needs at a Feb. 12 ceremony here. Announced in August, the province committed an annual boost of $310,000 to help KidsAbility take children off waiting lists and into therapy and support programs across Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington.
Through the province’s investment, KidsAbility leveraged the increase in annual funding against donations raised locally through its foundation, to allow for the creation of a new program known as “SKIP” which stands for: School Kids Intervention Program.
“Through KidsAbility’s new SKIP program our goal is that by December, we will have taken approximately 140 children between the ages of four to five off of our wait lists empowering them the skills and support that they need to be successful,” said KidsAbility CEO Linda Kenny.
“SKIP is an excellent example of the creative initiatives that children’s treatment centres carry out in their communities,” said MacCharles. “These programs are vital to meeting the diverse needs of the kids they serve. Ontario has increased funding for children’s rehabilitation services across the province by $10 million over the last two years, and the results can be seen in centres, like KidsAbility, all across Ontario. This investment, coupled with the innovative programming offered by Kidsability, will help young people with special needs reach their full potential.”
MacCharles was joined by KidsAbility children, families and staff for the celebration inside KidsAbility’s new “Smilezone,” helping to cut the ribbon for the official grand opening ceremony. This is the fifth Smilezone to open across Canada with the goal of “putting smiles on children’s faces.”
The space in Waterloo will welcome over 2,200 children and youth each year.
The Smilezone Foundation is an independent charity founded by Adam Graves, former NHL player for the New York Rangers, and Scott Bachly of Bachly Construction. Together they established the mission of assisting children, and their families, who are facing difficult times and health challenges.
“Every child deserves a reason to smile and it has been such an honour working with KidsAbility and the Waterloo community. The staff, children and families at this centre are truly inspiring and our foundation is thrilled to be a part of helping make everyone smile,” said Graves.
Under the SKIP umbrella, children between four and five years old will benefit from occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, language therapy and therapeutic recreation services.
As well, SKIP’s programs will provide information and support for clients, families and the community towards improved community participation and quality of life. SKIP is offered from the summer before junior kindergarten up until the summer before the child enters senior kindergarten (or the summer before Grade 1 for children who qualify for KidsAbility’s six-and-up services). Services will be available during day and evening hours to best meet client and family needs.
KidsAbility
Founded and supported by local Rotarians since 1957, KidsAbility Centre for Child Development in Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington empowers children and youth with a wide range of complex special needs.
Through a team of therapists, teachers, support staff and volunteers, over 5,800 children and youth, from birth to age 18, benefited from therapy and support services at sites in Cambridge, Fergus, Guelph, Kitchener and Waterloo last year.
Funded primarily through the Ontario Ministry of Children & Youth Services, KidsAbility also receives support through community donations
There are approximately 900 individual children (average age of 3 years) waiting for services at KidsAbility.
