KidsAbility

1. Cultural Diversity (Equity, Inclusion, Awareness): - as a non-profit group funded by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services, KidsAbility does seem to provide Speech-Language support in other languages other than our two official languages (French and English) though the reference to those other languages takes you directly to the Ministry web site. As with ESL and ELL families at school, a first step with KidsAbility may be a referral meeting with an interpreter. -website is entirely in English and I am presuming that most services are offered in English with wait-times for SLP in other languages. As such, wait times and secondary referrals often mean inequity in obtaining services. However, the KidsAbility mandate is equity, inclusion, and awareness for people with special needs. There mandate is not, also, second language learning though there is a need (with First Nations and immigrant populations) to further provide services that our culturally sensitive or those populations are at risk for not benefiting from KidsAbility.

2. KidsAbility provides services such as early diagnosis, assessment, intervention, therapy, resources, and support for children and families for all types of exceptionalities

2.1. behaviour

2.1.1. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Intensive Behaviour Intervention (IBI)

2.2. communication

2.2.1. Autism, ABA, IBI

2.2.2. Speech-Language,

2.3. intellectual

2.3.1. "Growing Up Ready" - transition services for MID and DD teenagers moving into adulthood

2.4. physical

2.4.1. OT, physio, orthotics,

2.4.2. Blind / Low Vision

3. Mission: KidsAbility "empowers children and youth with special needs to realize their full potential"

4. NFP est. 1957 to service KW and Guelph families of children with a variety of special needs

5. Core Values: - each child is unique and has a right to realize their full potential; inclusive and empowering relationship; the power of collaborating with families, community partners, donors/funders