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.

Camp Planning

Learn more about summer camp opportunities for children, youth, and adults with special needs in Waterloo Region, Guelph Wellington, and beyond. In partnership with Waterloo Region Family Network (WRFN) and Supporting Kids in Camp (SKIC), KidsAbility is hosting a series of Summer Camp Fairs to showcase camps who provide programming and/or supports for campers with special needs. 

2024 Camp Planning Workshops

Overnight Camps in Waterloo Region, Guelph-Wellington, and Beyond

Presentations from: Hidden Acres, Camp Kennebec, Camp Towhee, Extend-A-Family, and information on other camp options. 

Day Camps for Children, Aged 4-12 (Guelph-Wellington)

Presentations from: Supporting Kids In Camp (SKIC), City of Guelph, Rainbow Day Camp, Kerry’s Place, Creative Encounters, Childhood Apraxia & Speech, and information on other camp options. 

Day Camps for Children, Aged 4-12 (Waterloo Region) 

Presentations from: City of Kitchener and Waterloo, City of Cambridge, Township of Woolwich, Engineering Science Quest (ESQ) Camp, Hidden Acres, SunBeam Medically Fragile Technically Dependent (MFTD) Camp and information on other camp options.

Teens & Young Adults (Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington)

Presentations from: City of Kitchener, Adults In Motion (AIM), Kerry’s Place, Extend-A-Family, Community Living Cambridge, City of Guelph, Supporting Kids In Camp (SKIC), Rainbow Day Camp, SunBeam, KW Habilitation, Creative Encounters, Arts Express, Hidden Acres, and information on other camp options.

Need Support for Camp Planning?

Additional resources for camp planning, and all camp planning workshop recordings can be found in our ThriveTogether library.

Email rectherapy@kidsability.ca with your camp questions or to request a camp consult.