Community Family Advisory Committee
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program and service improvements
opportunities for communication and collaboration among families
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enhancement of information and resources for our community
Meet Our Members
Aleda, Committee Member
Aleda’s son, Charlie, has benefited greatly from many Kerry’s Place programs over the years, most recently through involvement with Ready2Work and TAY roundtables as he navigates early adulthood.
Proud mom of three, and Specialized HR Consultant by trade, Aleda is eager to give back to an organization that has been such an integral part of so many families autism support system. It takes a village, and she is grateful for the Kerry’s Place Community.
Anagha, Committee Member
Anagha is a mother to two superhuman kids and has been a parent advocate for youth and adults with multiple exceptionalities in school and community settings. She also holds a Master of Business Administration, specializing in Finance and Economics, and is thrilled to have worked with many MNCs as an Assistant Finance Manager.
Anagha is honoured to serve on committees at Kerry’s Place, Lakeridge Community Support Services, Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee, Kinark Child and Family Services, and Grandview Kids. Anagha considers this work an opportunity to make these associations a safe and effective place for clients and their families, as well as a chance to strengthen partnerships between staff and advisory members so they may continue to accomplish organizational goals collaboratively.
Jennifer, Committee Member
Jennifer is a proud wife and mother of two incredible children. She is also an Occupational Therapist, servicing the pediatric population in York Region for over 20 years. She has learned so much both personally and professionally from a variety of Kerry’s Place services and is pleased to give back to the community as it truly takes a village to support neurodivergent children and their families.
Michelle, Committee Member
Michelle is grateful to Kerry’s Place for the programs and resources they have provided to her family and is eager to give back to an organization that has been such an integral support system for so many families.
As a retired teacher of 22 years, with a Masters of Education, she has had the privilege of nurturing students with different learning styles, while emphasizing inclusion and the importance of acceptance.
As a retired Public Library Manager of 14 years, she has collaborated with government agencies and community organizations to initiate inclusive programming for children, youth and adults.
I look forward to working with this devoted committee to help ensure lifelong supports for families.
Myles, Committee Member
Myles and his family have been accessing Kerry’s Place services for three years, utilizing the camp and respite programs that provide essential support and enriching experiences. Through this journey, Myles has gained firsthand knowledge of the vital role Kerry’s Place plays in supporting families navigating autism services in Southern Ontario.
Professionally, Myles works in Commercial Management in the public sector, where he focuses on strategic procurement, vendor management, and stakeholder collaboration. This experience has given him valuable insight into organizational effectiveness, risk management, and the importance of strong partnerships between service providers and the communities they serve.
Myles is familiar with the broader landscape of autism services across multiple organizations and is honoured to serve on the Community Family Advisory Committee. He sees this role as an opportunity to advocate for families, contribute to continuous improvement at Kerry’s Place, and help strengthen the programs that make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families in the autism community.
Sapna, Committee Member
Sapna is a dedicated screening officer who has served at Toronto Pearson
International Airport’s Terminal 3 for the past 25 years. In addition to her professional role, Sapna has been a full-time primary caregiver for her Autistic adult son. Her son recently transitioned to a group living setting, allowing Sapna to continue focusing on improving her son’s quality of life to the best of her ability.
Sapna has completed a Certificate training course in parent training and has
successfully completed the online Nonviolent Crisis Intervention course, both with Kerry’s Place. She has also participated in various training programs offered through Erinoak Kids to deepen her understanding of Autism.
An avid reader, Sapna keeps herself informed by regularly reading Autism Mom’s
Magazine and engaging in seminars and activities that can enhance her parenting
skills.
Selina, Committee Member
Selina is a mother of two children – one who has Autism and has previously accessed individual clinical services with Kerry’s Place. Selina has worked in the Social Services field for over 24 years, advocating and supporting many individuals with complex needs within a variety of roles. Selina’s experience as a professional in the sector, as well as a mom of a child with Autism, will help provide crucial input on services and supports to help benefit and strengthen partnerships and services within the organization.
Learn More or Contact
The following commitments and guidelines govern the Community Family Advisory Committee at Kerry’s Place.
If you’re interested in sharing your insights and voice as a member of CFAC, please email: info@kerrysplace.org.
In their role as advocate and resource to leadership, CFAC members work on initiatives such as:
- Hosting virtual learning sessions for families about DSO/Transitional Aged Youth services
- Enabling families to more readily access passport funding
- Supporting the annual Community Feedback Survey
- Connecting with provincial advocacy groups for enhanced respite funding
- Ensuring the sustainability of CFAC through new membership drives
Email teneisha.lopez@kerrysplace.org to get in touch with our Community Family Advisory Committee.