This page is updated regularly | Last updated: November 15, 2025
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Community Resources
An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
The workshop offers an introduction to the diverse spectrum of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). We will discuss the unique strengths and challenges individuals with ASD navigate daily, while exploring strategies to create supportive environments.
Appropriate for: : Individuals, families and professionals.
Upcoming dates:
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Register by: January 30, 2026
Your Disability Tax Credit Questions Answered – Virtual Speaker Series
Learn how to apply and claim the DTC…and much more.
This Speaker Series will help to:
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- Learn how to apply for the DTC,
- Learn how to claim the DTC once approved and
- Learn about other CRA disability-related tax programs, including the RDSP
Register online: www.sdrc.ca/workshops-and-training
Upcoming dates:
Presenter: Canada Revenue Agency
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Time: 10 am to 11:30 am
Register By: February 6, 2026
Emotional Regulation – Virtual Workshop
Presenter: Jennifer Jacobs
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Time: 12 pm to 1 pm
Register by: February 20, 2026
Appropriate for: Parents and Caregivers.
School Refusal – Virtual Workshop
Appropriate for: Parents and caregivers
Upcoming dates:
Presenter: Denise Burke
Date: Monday, March 30, 2026
Time: 6 pm to 7 pm
Register By: March 27, 2026
Some of our clinics are:
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- Ask A Behaviour Consultant Clinic
- Ask A Speech Language Pathologist Clinic
- Ask A Service Coordinator “Let’s Talk School” Clinic
- Intake Financial Clinic
- Speech Language Pathology Clinic
For specific information on each clinic and dates please visit: www.sdrc.ca/clinics. Call Rehana Khanam at 519-741-1121, ext. 2201 to register.
Brightside Sibling Group
Free group for children 11 and under who have a sibling with autism (registered with OAP).
- Supporting, fun, and safe space where you can connect with others who understand your experiences
- Facilitated by our Clinical Therapists
- Increase your understanding of autism
- Opportunity to share concerns about the future
- Problem solving and perspective taking
- Learn how to support your sibling and yourself!
Morning and Afternoon Sessions Available
Thursday, March 19, 2026 (RSVP by March 12, 2026)
Register for one session per child by emailing Rehana at r.khanam@sunbeamcommunity.ca
Sunbeam Community and Developmental Services.
65 Hanson Ave., Kitchener, ON, N2C 2H6
Offered as part of SDRC’s Foundational Family Supports through the OAP.
Groups at SDRC
Autism Social Skills Group
SDRC offers a 6-week Social Skills Group to children/youth with an autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 11 and 17 years. A referral is required as this is not a drop-in group. The Six-Week Group runs on Tuesday evenings from 5:00 pm-6:30 pm.
SDRC offers a Monthly Social Group for youth between the ages of 14 and 17 years with an autism spectrum disorder with no intellectual disability. Individuals must be able to be independent. The purpose of the group is to help individuals develop social skills. A referral is required as this is not a drop-in group.
Please call 519-741-1121 for more information about how to join.
The Weekly Mothers’ Support Group at SDRC
The Mothers’ Support Group is a 6-week group, providing the opportunity for mothers to discuss a range of topics related to parenting a child with an intellectual disability and/or autism. Topics include: understanding and sharing the diagnosis, grief and resilience, community resources, behavioural challenges and self-care. Guest speakers from the community and SDRC also contribute their expertise.
The group is a great way to connect with other mothers who understand your daily experience. It is a small group, for
6 – 10 members, and runs for 6 consecutive weeks.
Two times are offered:
– Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
– Thursday mornings from 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Groups are offered 2 – 3 times per year. Please call 519-741-1121 for more information about how to join.
The Monthly Mothers’ Group
Monthly Mothers’ groups of SDRC are offered at two different times:
Daytime: The last Friday of the month
from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Evening: The last Tuesday of the month
from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
The purpose of the group is to connect with other mothers, share ideas, learn more about community resources and get support. Speakers are often invited to share information on topics of interest to group members. Some of the topics discussed in the past year were: anxiety, school issues and grief.
Please call 519-741-1121 for more information about how to join.
The Monthly Fathers’ Support Group
The Fathers’ Support group is open to fathers in Waterloo Region who have a child (of any age) with an intellectual disability and/or autism. The group meets monthly.
It is a great opportunity for dads to discuss a wide range of topics related to parenting a child with an intellectual disability and/or autism. Fathers learn from guest speakers as well as from each other, sharing wisdom, understanding and a chance to talk to other dads who “get it”.
Some of the topics discussed in the past year were: mindfulness, sharing the diagnosis and advocating for your child.
The Fathers Support Group meets on the
3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
Please call 519-741-1121 for more information about how to join.
Who Can Access Services:
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- Children, youth, and families living with or suspected of having FASD
- Ages: Up to 18 years old, or up to 21 if still attending school
- Must reside in the Waterloo Region
Referral Process:
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- Referrals can be made via Plexus
- Eligible referrers include:
- The individual or their legal guardian
- Extended family members
- Family physicians
- Agencies acting on behalf of the individual/family (with permission)
- Individuals aged 16+ must provide consent if they understand the implications of assessment/treatment
Support Offered:
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- Coordination and guidance from FASD Coordinators
- Resources for caregivers, health professionals, and social service providers
- Information and assistance regarding eligibility and services
Need Help or Have Questions?
Contact the FASD Coordinators at SDRC directly for clarification on eligibility or services for children under 18 at: plexusfasd@sunbeamcommunity.ca
They can also be found on Instagram and Twitter at – @Plexus Fasd Iike, follow, share and connect!
Referrals can be made here: Plexus Referral
sunbeam-centre.ontarionow.ca/self-referral/?aLanguage=
FASD Ontario Webinars
FASD Ontario has a resource page with past webinar recordings that cover a wide variety of topics within FASD including FASD and cannabis, FASD prevention, supporting parents raising children with FASD and more.
www.fasdinfotsaf.ca/webinars.
Sunbeam Holiday Appeal – 2025
Dear Supporters of the Sunbeam Community,
The holiday season is just around the corner and we are looking forward to spending time with family and friends. This time is a reminder of the importance of family, friends and community, making us feel valued and supported in our hour of need. For the individuals served by Sunbeam Community & Developmental Services, this caring sense of belonging is at the heart of everything we do.
When a person supported at one of Sunbeam’s many group homes or overnight respite programs is sent to the hospital due to an urgent situation or for a planned treatment or procedure, there are often unique challenges involved as many of the people we support do not use words to communicate. This presents challenges and can impact the hospital stay experience. The people we serve rely on Sunbeam staff for emotional support and to interpret their responses and their needs.
The full PDF can be viewed below or you can click here to open the PDF in a new tab.
To make donation, you can download the PDF and use the form on page 2, or you can visit: www.sunbeamcommunity.ca/donate
Ribbon Cutting – The Vos Family Multi-Sensory Space
On Friday, December 5th, Sunbeam officially opened the Vos Family Multi-Sensory Space also known as the Sunbeam Snoezelen Lounge.
A Snoezelen room is a specially designed therapeutic environment created to stimulate, relax, or calm the senses in a controlled and gentle way.
Recreation and Wellness Programs of SCDS
The team introduces the monthly Recreation and Wellness Calendar of Events, which contains information and details for all group activities at Sunbeam. It can be found on the Sunbeam Community website here:
www.sunbeamcommunity.ca/recreation-wellness-program
These programs are eligible for Passport funding for adults 18 and older, and are also available as fee-for-service options for children aged 12 and up.
For more information and registration, please contact the Recreation & Wellness department via phone: 519-893-6200 (ext. 1211) or email: recreation@sunbeamcommunity.ca
DSO Central West
DSO CWR is funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, is one of nine DSO’s in Ontario and is administered by Sunbeam Community and Developmental Services.
What services can you apply for?
There are many different services offered across the province. Some of the services that may be available in your area include:
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- housing supports
- respite for your caregivers
- supports to help you take part in the community
- specialized and clinical supports
- Adult Protective Service Worker Program
- Passport program
Please check their website, www.dsocwr.ca, for more information.
Community Resources
We want to provide an informative resource that will be a useful guide for you. Sunbeam Developmental Resource Centre does not necessarily endorse the information contained in this Update. The purpose is to provide information to the community. It is up to the reader to decide what is useful for them. We make every effort to ensure that our information is accurate and relevant. We apologize for any errors or omissions that occur.
AccessOAP
Intake Organization to connect you with autism programs and services available to your family through the Ontario Autism Program.
If you have questions about the New Access-OAP, how to create an account or the Ontario Autism Program visit these websites:
Autism Ontario Calendar of Upcoming Events
Autism Ontario helps all individuals with autism and families in their communities have access to meaningful supports, information, and connections so they are equitably and seamlessly supported across their life course.
www.autismontario.com/events
Virtual Mindfulness for Family Caregivers
Online
Tuesdays, January 27 – March 3, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The 6-week Mindfulness for Family Caregivers Program is available across Canada and open to all caregivers of people with disabilities, or of people who are aging or experiencing a challenging illness.
One Stop Talk
One Stop Talk is a free, confidential service that lets kids and youth get immediate mental health support with a registered therapist.
It is accessible, including in many languages.
Check their website: www.onestoptalk.ca
Groups and Workshops at Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health
Groups are ongoing sessions, typically meeting weekly for about 8 weeks. Workshops are one-time events focused on specific topics.
Please visit their website at www.caminowellbeing.ca/groups-workshops for details.
To register for any group or workshop, please email groups@caminowellbeing.ca or call 519-743-6333.
Partners for Planning (P4P) Winter Webcast Schedule
Partners for Planning offers free online webcasts on various topics helpful for people with developmental disabilities. Here are some of their upcoming webcasts:
Jan 14, at 7 pm – Intro to ODSP
Jan 21, at 12 pm – Introduction to the RDSP
Jan 21, at 7pm – Wills and Estate
Jan 27, 12 pm – Strategies for Employment
Educational Podcast by CPRI:
Screen Use in Children and Adolescence and Promoting Health and Development in a Digital World – Dr. Michelle Ponti
In this podcast, Dr. Michelle Ponti talks about screen use and the impacts they have with school aged children. She explores current research and shares information about how screens can be used as tools to promote health and safety. You can listen to the podcast at this link: Listen here
School-Issue Parent Support Group of WRFN
This peer-led group provides support, advice and a safe environment for parents who have questions or concerns about school issues affecting their children with special needs. The WRFN (Waterloo Region Family Network) School Issues Support Group meets on the last Wednesday of each month during the school year. For more information, please contact Lisa Cook at lisa.cook@wrfn.info.
Special Education Resource Guide of Community Living Ontario (CLO)
Navigating Special Education in Ontario
A Guide for Students, Parents and Caregivers
This guidebook is intended to provide information for parents, caregivers, and community organizations that support students with disabilities. No matter your role, access to information is key when advocating for students throughout their learning journey.
Please check CLO’s website to see the Special Education Resource Guide
March Break Camp and Summer 2026 Camps
KidsAbility has posted all required information about March Break 2026 Camp and Summer 2026 Camps.
Please check these links:
Overnight Camp Directory Summer 2026
Helpful Links to Community Workshops and Activity Guides
City of Waterloo Program and Activities Guide
City of Kitchener Active Kitchener
City of Cambridge Activity Guide
City of Guelph Programs and Activities
Different agencies offer a variety of resources, workshops and educational sessions for parents, caregivers and professionals on various topics of interest. For more information on these visit these links:
www.kidsability.ca/programs-services-directory
www.eafwr.on.ca/events
wrfn.info/category/event
Fee Assistance for Leisure and Recreational Activities
Fee Assistance for Leisure and Recreational Activities are available from different sources in the Region of Waterloo. More information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, online application form can be found at these links:
The City of Waterloo: Fee-assistance-application Waterloo
The City of Kitchener: Fee-assistance Kitchener
The City of Cambridge: Activities for Less Fee Assistance application Cambridge
YMCA KW: Fee-Assistance YMCA
The City of Cambridge is hosting Inclusion Support Information Sessions
Join us for free virtual Inclusion Information Nights designed to help families learn about available program supports, how to create an inclusion portfolio, and what to expect from the summer camp registration process.
These sessions are free to attend, but registration is required.
Please use the links below to sign up.
December 17th 2025 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm
January 7th 2026 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm
January 21st 2026 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Inclusive Programs of City of Kitchener
City of Kitchener has introduced some Inclusive Recreational Programs this fall.
To register for the programs below please visit a Kitchener Community Centre, swimming pool or their website at www.kitchener.ca/ActiveNet.
You can also call the program registration line at 519-741-2907, Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 5pm.
The Hangout Café at the KW Habilitation is an inviting and comfortable place where everyone is welcome.
What to Expect: No purchase necessary, but they’ll have coffee, tea, other drinks, and snacks to buy.
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 am – 11:00 am
KW Habilitation, 99 Ottawa St S. Kitchener, ON N2G 3S8
Move and Groove!
By Fun Fearless Females
Walk and Dance and even sing along with popular music in this execise class that’s fun.
*Join via Zoom from anywhere*
Wednesdays 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm
Cost to drop in $16.50 plus hst (eligible for SSAH and Passport Funding)
Email: lori@funfearlessfemales.ca to register and more information.
To better serve our community, we have moved to an online format in the fall of 2025.