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ONLINE PROGRAM REGISTRATON
NOW AVAILABLE

– Click here to register for any of our programs –

Registration button is also available to on the right side menu.

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We have received several requests for our camp.
Due to limited capacity, we will do our best to accommodate dates requested.

LOCATION
St. Mark’s United Church
201 Centre Street South, Whitby ON L1N 4V7
DATES
July: 5 to 9 and 19 to 23
August: 9 to 13 and 23 to 27
COST
$25 per session
$6 for 1 hour aftercare
SESSIONS
Morning: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Afternoon: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Full day: 9:00am – 4:00pm
1 hour aftercare: 4:00pm – 5pm

Camp Great Strides is funded by the generous support of

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Our programs have been able to continue during these challenging times
through the support of the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF).

 

FOOTPRINTS 4 Autism is supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency
Community Support Fund and Durham Community Foundation.

    

               

 

FOOTPRINTS 4 Autism is supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency
Community Support Fund and United Way Durham Region.

 

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FOOTPRINTS provides respite services for families with children diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum in Durham Region. With programs located in Pickering and Whitby, FOOTPRINTS strives to provide respite care to as many as possible.

Having a child diagnosed with Autism can be one of the most stressful situations a parent ever faces.

The diagnosis is just the beginning of the journey as both the child and parent must learn together how to identify, prepare for and manage the variety of behaviours that make up the Autism Spectrum.

These might include impaired cognition and communication, social deficits, frequent tantrums and other challenging behaviours that often lead to physical and emotional exhaustion for all involved.

Faced with such overwhelming stress and barriers, many parents of children with Autism find themselves overwhelmed and unable to cope.

Crafts at FOOTPRINTS CampRespite care can help ease some of the burden on these families.  Respite care ensures that, for a few hours each month, the families can enjoy a short but much needed break from the 24/7 care required by these children.

Respite time allows parents to pay extra attention to their other children, spend some time together, run errands or just have some down-time.

The program at FOOTPRINTS is geared towards recreation, rather than therapy, for children.  Many children affected by autism spend several hours a week in therapy classes and often this does not provide a lot of time for social play and to just “be”.

Under the guidance of trained volunteers, who are supervised by a trained Program Consultant, FOOTPRINTS offers participants social interaction with others in a safe and happy environment.

Click for Brochure

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New Health and Safety Protocols

We continue to update our health and safety policy and procedures to meet the fluid situation of the pandemic.

New procedures are in place to safeguard everyone involved in our programs.  Health screening assessment and a temperature check will be required before any participant can enter our program.   This will be done outside of the facility and only the participant may enter.  The screener is standard and similar to ones you most likely have come across already.  Team members will have a mask and a face shield on at all times and we have increased hygiene and sanitizing measures.

Everyday Actions

Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health:

  • wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • sneeze and cough into your sleeve
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
  • avoid contact with people who are sick
  • stay home if you are sick

Poster: What you need to know to help you and your family stay healthy

Government sites regarding Covid-19

Durham Region Health Department
Government of Canada
Province of Ontario