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.

If you are between the ages of 0-11, please complete the following form.

If you are between the ages of 12-21, please complete the following form.

Groups

Physical Literacy for children is back at KidsAbility!

The Therapeutic Recreation team is thrilled to provide group sessions focused on developing essential social, movement, and routine skills. These sessions aim to prepare children and youth for active participation in recreation, sports, and leisure activities. Our ultimate goal is to help them feel confident and comfortable engaging with their community.

Therapeutic Recreation Services offers balance bike groups and three-wheel bike groups. During this four-week program your child will have the opportunity to learn how to ride their bike in a fun and engaging environment. Surrounded by their peers, participants will participate in obstacles and activities that will prepare them for bike riding in the community and with their friends. Topics of focus may include bike safety, gliding, turning, stopping/braking, pedalling and more!

Bring your own bike or borrow one of our bikes. A limited number of bikes are available to borrow for the groups.

All bike groups take place at the KidsAbility Waterloo site, 500 Hallmark Drive, Waterloo. Parent participation may be required.

Upcoming Spring/Summer Group dates:

TBD

To participate in a bike group you must attend a Triage Session, book here.

This group is currently full.
Please submit the form to express interest in future groups and to be added to our waitlist. You will be contacted when space becomes available or when we are running the group again in the future

Active Start is a physical literacy group for participants with disabilities that focuses on fundamental movement skills including running, jumping, catching, throwing, kicking, and balance through obstacle courses, fun games and group activities. This program will build participant’s confidence and get them ready to engage in future sport activities.

Please fill out this form to submit interest in the program:

To join this group participants must be ages 4-6, and able to participate independently.

Upcoming Active Start Spring and Fall group dates:

Kitchener Site: Wednesdays, April 23, 2025 – June 18, 2025, at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Waterloo Site: Wednesdays, October 1 – November 26, 2025, at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Sportsmanship Stars is a new program offered by KidsAbility’s Therapeutic Recreation services (remove this sentence). KidsAbility’s Therapeutic Recreation team is excited to welcome you to our Play Fair Club. In these group sessions we will focus on being a good sport, showing respect, typical sport behaviour, and winning and losing. The structure of the group will be a mix of curriculum and discussion-based learning, role play, games and activities that require collaboration and fair play.

Please fill out this form to submit interest in the program.

To join this group participants must be ages 7-12, and able to participate independently.

This group will be offered again in the winter, please fill out the registration form to submit your interest.

Camps

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

Learn more about summer camp opportunities for children, youth, and adults with special needs in Waterloo Region, Guelph Wellington, and beyond.

Fairs are offered virtual from 7 – 9 pm. Click on the link below to register:

Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 – Overnight Camps Waterloo Region, Guelph-Wellington, and Beyond

Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025 – Day Camps for children 4-12 (Waterloo Region)

Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 – Day Camps for children 4-12 (Guelph/ Wellington)

Wednesday, Feb 5, 2025 – Day Camps for Teens and Adults (Waterloo Region & Guelph/Wellington)

How and When to Plan for Summer Camp Webinar

Our Recreation Therapists will go over the steps need to successfully plan for summer camp. Learn where to find information about camps, funding options, how to access inclusion support (1:1), and the importance of planning and registering early. Learn about additional camp planning support available from KidsAbility. We will host an open discussion following the presentation for any questions you may have.

Webinars are offered in December, January, February and March at 12 noon or 7:00 pm

Camp Planning Resources can be found on our website.

Summer Overnight Camps Directory

Summer Day Camps for Children, Teens and Adults Directories

Camp Planning Steps handout and presentation

All About Me instructions, samples and template

Past Summer Camp Fair Webinar recordings

Camp Funding Options

Plus more

View Resources

If you require additional support for camp planning after reviewing our camp resources, email rectherapy@kidsability.ca  to request a camp consult.

KidsAbility Summer Camp Consult Clinics are offered January – March. 

Camp Questions?

Email rectherapy@kidsability.ca and one of our Recreation Therapists will be happy to help you.

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.