Therapeutic Recreation

We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to embrace their leisure time to the fullest, discover their potential, and engage meaningfully within their community.

At KidsAbility, Therapeutic Recreation (TR) helps children and youth with disabilities to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours that makes it possible for them to participate in, and enjoy recreation and leisure opportunities.

Benefits of Therapeutic Recreation

For children and youth with disabilities there are many different benefits to participation in recreation and leisure activities:

• Increase self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Increase independence
• Learn new skills
• Make new friends
• Reduce stress
• Experience feelings of competence

What Service Looks Like

We offer three main approaches to programs and services to help children and youth and their families grow and feel empowered:

• Community Development: We are committed to education, advocacy, and program development to make recreation activities and programs accessible for everyone. We help remove barriers to participation so activities can fit different needs. Additionally, we offer training and education for recreation providers, including inclusion training, disability awareness, and activity modification.
• Recreation Skill Development: Through therapeutic recreation services we empower children and youth to build and refine recreation skills. We further help them to gain independence and confidence through building of community partnerships and providing various levels of service support ranging from universal supports to 1:1 services.
• Parent and Child/Youth Education: We offer workshops and a recreation equipment loaning program to make it possible for children and their families to try out different recreation activities.

Community Recreation

Here at KidsAbility, our Recreation Therapists work closely with community recreation providers in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph/Wellington to promote inclusion and find program options for your family.

If you are seeking community recreation opportunities you can view our recreation directory here: Community Recreation Directory

For more information on how to access inclusion services within community recreation, please read the following handout: Accessing Inclusion

If you require additional support please email rectherapy@kidsability.ca and one of our Recreation Therapists will be happy to help you.

Workshop/Event- Caregiver Biking Education

Are you a caregiver looking to teach your child to ride a bike? Do you have questions about where to start, what bike to purchase, potential bike adaptations? You must attend a caregiver education in order to join an in person biking group Registration is required.

How to Keep My Child Safe on the Bike (Virtual):
Monday June 17 @ 3:30pm
Friday June 21 @ 12pm

Everything Balance Bikes (Virtual):
Friday June 14 @ 12:30pm
Wednesday June 19 @ 5:30pm
Friday June 21 @ 9:30am

Help your Child Master Future 2-Wheel Riding with Ease (Virtual):
Friday June 14 @ 2pm
Monday June 17 @ 12:30pm
Wednesday June 19 @ 12pm

Training and Support

The following training has been provided by our Therapeutic Recreation team and is intended for recreation providers, community partners, and caregivers to prepare our children and youth for success when attending community programs.

If you require additional support, please contact us by email at rectherapy@kidsability.ca.