Community Participation Supports

Karis Peel currently supports 20 people in regular weekly programs and activities. 

We foster community participation by offering meaningful opportunities that promote skill-building, recreation, and employment supports. Our goal is to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where people can build friendships, discover new interests, and grow both personally and socially. Programs are available for people 18+ years with ASD or a developmental disability. 

Our Core Activities and Experiences 

We regularly provide a variety of engaging and enriching experiences, which may include: 

• Sport and Recreation: Bowling, Hiking, Basketball, Trail walks, Museum visits

• Skill Building: Literacy, Money, Arts, Health and Wellness, Music, Volunteering, Job Coaching, Transit trips

• Special Events: Seasonal Dances and Community Activities 

We also support people in preparing for and pursuing employment or volunteer opportunities, based on their personal goals and interests. 

Our Approach 

• Support Ratio: 1:1 – 1:5  

• Our enthusiastic team follows a person-directed approach, tailoring supports to each person’s strengths, preferences, and goals. 

• If a person requires a different support ratio to participate in an event or activity, it will be communicated when registering.  

Our Partnerships and Community Activities 

• We actively collaborate with local organizations and groups, including: 

• St Johns Ambulance (pet therapy) 

• Meadowvale Library (swimming)

• PAMA Museum (history lessons)

• and many others who share our commitment to inclusion and community growth. 

Contact us for information about fee for service opportunities and respite supports.   

Our approach to Community Participation Supports focuses on fostering environments where people with disabilities can actively engage with their communities, contribute their gifts, while building relationships and skills that create belonging and confidence. Whether through job or volunteer supports, recreational activities and skill-building, or local events, Karis Disability Services ensures that each person has opportunities to participate in community life as they choose, underscoring our belief that communities are at their best when everybody belongs and contributes.

Community Participation Services in Toronto has two locations to choose from (our Finch Avenue location and our Islington Avenue ).  We facilitate, approximately up to twenty service users at each site regularly. Our focus is on independence skill development, exploring new and meaningful activities with a commitment to  celebrate gifts and the joy of the everyday journey of belonging. We love to see our participants CONNECT-THRIVE-BELONG.

Creative Activities of Choice:

• Individualized supports and self-directed services

• Education, independent skill building and cultural experiences

• Recreation and Leisure (bowling, yoga, Zumba, Art & Wellness)

• Wall Less Community Days are offered to explore the richness of our city and surrounding areas

• Community and location-based Activities

The Community Participation Supports also has a 10 year partnership with Humber Polytechnic  for our Culinary and Baking Program.  We also have volunteer opportunities at Aninda Food Bank. 

Elliot Lake Karis offers 25 funded spots along with fee-for-service options. The program provides a range of activities designed to support individual goals, including cooking, education, literacy, and skill-building. Participants also engage in various recreational activities such as goalball, swimming, horseback riding, bowling, crafts, ball hockey, floor hockey, pickleball, and games.

In addition, the program organizes a variety of excursions, including annual golf tournaments and bus trips to Toronto for sporting events, such as baseball games. These activities are open to the broader community, promoting opportunities for socialization both within the program and in the local community, with options tailored to individual interests.

After-hours, fee-for-service activities are also available, offering programs such as mosaic art, stained glass, soap-making, resin crafts, and jewelry-making, which are open to all members of the community. Everybody is welcome to participate in these engaging and creative opportunities.

Blind River Karis offers 25 funded spots along with fee-for-service options. The program provides a range of activities designed to support your goals, including cooking, education, literacy, and skill-building. People can also engage in recreational activities such as goalball, swimming, horseback riding, bowling, crafts, ball hockey, floor hockey, pickleball, and games.

We also organize a variety of excursions, including annual golf tournaments and bus trips to Toronto for sporting events, like Blue Jays games! These activities are open to the broader community, promoting opportunities for socialization both within the program and in the local community, with options tailored to individual interests.

After-hours, fee-for-service activities are also available, offering programs such as mosaic art, stained glass, soap-making, resin crafts, and jewelry-making, which are open to all members of the community. Everybody is welcome to participate in these engaging and creative opportunities.