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NEEDS
ANALYSIS!
PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK!
Kerry's
Place Autism Services (KPAS) in Toronto Region would like your feedback
on accessing ours and other agencies' services in the Greater Toronto
Area (GTA), that support people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. By
filling out this Needs Analysis Survey, you understand that KPAS-Toronto
may not be able to fulfill everyone's wishes with regards to accessing
services; rather, your responses will help inform us as we continue to
maintain, improve and attempt to grow our supports and programs. We
thank you in advance for sharing your responses and comments. To view
and submit your responses, please use this Survey Monkey fast and easy
tool!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/kerrysplaceautismservices2010
PLEASE SUBMIT BY JULY 23, 2010!!
If you have questions regarding the
survey or about Kerry's Place's Community Supports in Toronto, please
contact Stephanie Conant, Community Supports Manager, at 416-537-2000,
ext. 228 or
sconant@kerrysplace.org.
Thank you!
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Toronto Region
Regional Director: Joe Persaud
jpersaud@kerrysplace.org
12A – 219 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON M6K 3J1
Phone: 416-537-2000
Fax: 416-537-7715
Community Services
Kerry's Place Autism
Services (KPAS) offers a number of community services to
individuals with all levels of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their
families/ support circles. These free or fee-for-service programs are provided
through adult social groups, social skills groups for youth, a weekend day
respite program for adults, and through collaborative community efforts.
There are opportunities for
people with and without ASD to be trained as volunteers in our community
programs. Often through this recruitment, volunteers can become mentors to individuals
with ASD.
Kerry's Place Autism
Services, along with other service
providers, contributes to the planning and coordination of processes
within the framework of the Toronto Developmental Services System. KPAS is
a member of Developmental Services Toronto (DSTO) and is represented at various
community planning tables such as Service Resolution, Respite Network, Special
Needs Advisory Group and Toronto Networks of Specialized Care.
The Toronto Region is
regularly invited to display information at disability celebrations, info fairs,
and inclusion awareness events. This gives us an opportunity to support and
network with other developmental service agencies in the province and city,
while promoting Kerry’s Place Autism Services as a whole.
Residential and Crisis
Supports
With its inception in 1985, Kerry's Place Toronto was the first KPAS residential
program to be situated in a large urban centre. A number of individuals and
their families have been supported by KPAS Toronto in the following areas:
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Accommodation and residential crisis supports which includes:
consultation, family home meetings, seeking out Adult Protective Service
Worker (APSW) supports and transition
planning. KPAS is a member in the Griffin Community Support Network, which
provides crisis and transitional assistance to individuals, age 16 years and
older, with a developmental delay or dual diagnosis (developmental disability
and mental health needs). For
residential referral information and application , please call 416-537-2000 Ext. 233.
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Employment/vocational and educational supports facilitate access to
employment for individuals supported by our residential and community
services.
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Social support encourages skill development and connections to
others within local communities.
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Person - centered planning and Personal Outcomes Measures.
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Respite planning is made possible through our membership with
http://www.respiteservices.com
, which assists KPAS in providing respite services and
supports. KPAS provides information on upcoming events as well as information
on the variety of respite services available to families in the Toronto
Region.
Residential Supports
Kerry's Place Toronto was the first
KPAS residential program to be situated in a large urban centre. It began in
1985 with two residential settings and has since expanded to multiple sites with
varying levels of support. Most of our homes are clustered in North York and Scarborough with a few
settings in West Toronto and the downtown core. Presently, our services
are primarily available to adults, and many of these individuals who receive
residential support have a dual diagnosis. Each residential setting is
individually designed to meet the needs of the individuals who reside there. In
eight of the homes, staff members provide twenty-four hour support, including
life skills training in the home.
Supported Independent Living
Kerry’s Place Autism
Services, Toronto Region, also supports individuals who live in Supported
Independent Living settings in which staffing hours vary from one hour per week
to eight hours per day.
Recreational/Leisure Activities
Evenings and weekends at Kerry's Place
Autism Services in the Toronto Region focus on developing leisure skills,
following personal pursuits, enjoying family time, taking courses, making
friends and having fun for individuals we support through our residential
services. For those individuals living on their own or with their families, KPAS
assists in connecting them with social, recreational and leisure activities
within their local communities.
Department of Psychological and Family Support Services
The Department of Psychological and
Family Support Services is a resource to staff and to individuals we currently
support through our residential services. The psychological support needs of
individuals in our service may include strength-based assessments, treatment and
intervention (e.g. family counseling, behaviour analysis and
cognitive-behavioural recommendations).
Residential Respite Program
Kerry’s Place Autism Services Toronto
Region is partially funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services to
provide a longer break to families or caregivers who are supporting an adult at
home who has ASD and high support needs. Day, overnight, weekend, and week-long
respite services are available in a residential location in the west end of
Toronto. Respite alternatives (i.e. individualized flexible plans) can be
developed in exceptional circumstances. Please contact 416-537-2000, ext. 233
for more details or to book respite residential supports.
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Family Resource Days
Family
Resource Days, offered on the last Thursday of each month, provide the
opportunity for individuals, family/support circle members and professionals to
meet with an autism consultant, attend occasional workshops, and use the
materials in our resource centre.
During the
Family Resource Day, the autism consultant meets with the individual and family
to help them identify, develop, implement and evaluate effective program
strategies to deal with a specific situation or to teach a new skill. Through
this process, the consultant assists the family in acquiring specialized
knowledge and skills to supplement the knowledge they already possess regarding
their family member (adult, youth or child) with ASD. The autism consultants
will also help families keep connected to the community processes, letting them
know what is new at Kerry's Place Autism Services as well as in the community
where they live.
To book a Family Resource Day call (416)537-2000
Weekend Day
Respite Program
(18+ years)
Kerry’s Place Autism Services Toronto is funded by the Ministry of Community
and Social Services to provide respite to families or caregivers, who are
supporting an adult at home with a diagnosis of ASD and high support needs.
Those who attend will have the opportunity to participate in social,
recreational, and life skills activities in the local community. The program
runs three weekends each month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost/family per
weekend day is $15.00.
Contact 416-534-1644,
ext. 3
Weekend Day Respite Flyer!
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Social Skills Group
(12 - 18 years)
Facilitated
by autism consultants, a staff member from Griffin Centre, and expert
volunteers/mentors, this group meets on Monday and/or Tuesday evenings from 6:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The group’s focus is on skill-building, social interaction,
fostering friendships, improving communication, and having fun! This group,
funded by MCSS/ MCYS’s Autism Initiative, includes a monthly Sunday outing,
where skills learned in the weekly group sessions are practiced in the
community! To sign up for this exciting group, please call the regional office
at 416-537-2000.
Social Skills Group Flyer!
Adult Social Group
(18+ years)
This group for adults with ASD
meets at the Resource Centre once a month, on the second-last Thursday of each
month from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The focus is on social, recreational and
leisure activities. Games, Wii®, arts, snacks, and beverages are the orders of
the day! Please call the regional office at 416-537-2000 for more information.
Adult Social Group Flyer!
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Swim Club
(all
ages)
This recreational
program is associated with the Ontario Special Olympics and is open to 10
individuals of any age and/or ability with ASD. The Swim Club meets on
Wednesday evenings from 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. and the program runs from September to
June at the Bloorview MacMillan Children’s Centre, located at 150 Kilgour Road
(previously the Rumsey site). Volunteers are needed and welcomed! Please call
Kelly West at 416-537-2000, ext. 229.
Swim Club Flyer!
Music Group
(all ages)
This
recreational group meets with a singer/guitarist every Wednesday at the Resource
Centre from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. It is open from April 20th to September
28th to people with ASD of all ages.
Music Group Flyer!
Best
Buddies
KPAS is in the process of
becoming a host agency for Best Buddies in the community! This is an
opportunity for Student Buddies from local high schools to be matched with youth
aged 14-18 with an ASD. Please call 416-537-2000 ext. 228 to inquire.
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Resource Centre
Thanks to
generous grants from the Ronald McDonald Charities Grant Program and Green
Shields Foundation, all regions of Kerry’s Place were able to enhance their
Resource Centres. As a result, Toronto Region’s Resource Centre is now
well-stocked with new books, DVDs, and sensory tools! Come check us out!
The Resource Centre is
committed to providing resources to individuals with ASD, their family and other
support members, professionals, support staff, and any interested persons. To
arrange a visit to the resource centre, please call the regional office at
416-537-2000.
The Resource Centre is a lending
library for materials such as books, journals, videotapes and DVDs on a wide
range of topics including:
·
Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorders
·
Asperger's Syndrome
·
Education
·
Long-term planning
·
Social
Skills Strategies
·
Recreation and Leisure
·
Anti-abuse strategies
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Sexuality
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Other related topics
In addition,
we have:
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Internet access for information research related to ASD
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Access to the Boardmaker software program
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Space for individuals and families to meet formally and informally
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A laminator to develop personal resources like Picture Exchange
Communication Symbols (PECS)
Access to Community
Resources
The Resource Centre is located in the Coach House behind
376 Rusholme Road,
Toronto, ON, M6H 2Z5.
Currently, the Resource Centre does not operate as a
Drop-In centre.
To book a Family Resource Day, visit our library, use the
computer for ASD-related purposes, or learn how you can become involved with
Community programs at Kerry's Place Autism Services in Toronto, please contact the
administrative assistants at 416-537-2000.
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