Community Outreach

Kids Helping Kids

The Play/Social Skills Department also operates “Kids Helping Kids”, a social skills program that is delivered to students in the schools where Giant Steps children are integrated. Originating in Giant Steps Montreal, Kids Helping Kids is an educational social skills program created to benefit all students in the area of social competency and to develop more caring classroom communities. The ultimate goal of the Kids Helping Kids program is to foster successful integration experiences for our students in their local schools. The Play/Social Skills Department at Giant Steps Toronto adapted the original program and has been delivering it in our students' local school classrooms since 1995. Led by a play specialist in classes from Kindergarten to Grade 8, this interactive program uses stories, drama, puppets, class discussions and co-operative games to encourage greater understanding, acceptance and inclusion of all children, including those with autism and other special needs.

The Part 1 6-8 week in-class program augments the current Ontario school curriculum in the areas of drama, English, religion and health, and is offered to classes where Giant Steps kids are integrated and to their siblings' classes. Subjects explored include attributes of kids who are different, communication strategies, acceptance and rejection, friendships, bullying and conflict resolution. Teachers are provided with a follow-up package of activities and ideas to further expand and reinforce the themes and ideas presented in the workshops.

Kids Helping Kids Part 2 consists of a number of sessions held with 4-6 students who show leadership qualities and who, through this program, become mentors to kids with autism. These students help kids with autism “fit in” and help reduce their isolation at key times for social interaction such as recess, lunch periods and in physical education classes.

Since 2000, Giant Steps has developed the program and provided it to 500-740 students/year in the Greater Toronto Area, largely due to the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Sports & Recreation Program

One of the goals of the Giant Steps Program is to improve the social, sports and recreational skills of kids with autism and their participation in recreational programs in their communities. Our objectives are:
•  To foster sportsmanship, teamwork, self-confidence and fitness.
•  To provide an opportunity for friendships and social interaction.
•  To provide a fun, recreational experience for kids with autism.
•  To increase the children's participation in recreational programs in their communities.

These are achieved through the delivery of two services:

•  Our "Go Kids Go! The Leafs Club": an exciting weekly evening recreational program supported in part by Go Kids Go! The Leafs Fund where volunteer high school students are buddied with kids with autism and participate in various games, sports and recreational activities under the direction of two Community Coordinators.

•  A resource and counselling service: Community Coordinators are available by phone or home visit to participating families, connecting them to recreational opportunities in their own neighbourhoods and helping them find support workers for their children. They also offer a workshop in the spring to help train summer support workers who will be working with kids with autism in summer recreational programs.