Inclusive Recreation Programs

The SCDSB offers a variety of inclusive social and recreational programs for students with a developmental profile consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The programs focus on using recreation, music, coding, problem solving, and play to support social skills development. Programs are typically run in fall, winter and spring sessions.

Parents/guardians are an important part of the programs and will receive resources and support to help the children develop and practice new skills at home and at school. 

Information regarding each program is outlined below. When available, information and applications for upcoming sessions are posted on this page as well.

Upcoming session details

 

Coding and Robotics Club

Tuesday, April 16 to May 14, virtual
Session One - 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 17 to May 15, virtual
Session Two - 4:30 - 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 18 to May 16, virtual
Session Three - 4:30 - 6 p.m.

Apply for the Coding and Robotics Club


Journey to Success Social Skills Program

Tuesday, April 16 to May 21, virtual
Session One - 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 18 to May 23
Session Two - 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Apply for the Journey to Success Social Skills Program


Music Social Skills Program

Wednesday, April 17 to June 19, Ferndale Woods ES, Barrie

Session One - 4:30 - 5:15 p.m.

Apply for the Music Social Skills Program


Recreation Social Skills Program

Tuesday, April 16 – June 18, Ferndale Woods ES, Barrie
Session One - 4:15 - 5 p.m.
Session Two - 5:15 - 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 17 – June 19, Orchard Park PS, Orillia
Session Three - 4:30 - 5:15 p.m.


Apply for the Recreation Social Skills Program


Applications for the above sessions will close on March 29 at 4 p.m..


Limited spaces are available. Interested parents/guardians should complete the initial application form and submit it to the SCDSB. This does not guarantee enrolment into the program. You may be contacted for an initial telephone interview or virtual screening session to assess if the program is appropriate for your child.

Coding and Robotics Club

The Coding and Robotics Club is a five-week program focusing on providing children with a developmental profile consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) an opportunity to engage in social interactions and build friendships through a shared interest in computers, coding and robotics through a highly scaffolded progression of robotic themed activities.

A significant portion of each session is devoted to collaborative robotic and coding themed social games, designed to encourage joint engagement, conversation, turn-taking, and cooperation, while building behaviour regulation skills, patience, and perseverance.

Parents/guardians will receive information and strategies to help develop and practice new skills at home and at school.


Topics of instruction
  • Introduction to coding skills (sequences, loops and events)
  • Computation problem-solving strategies
  • Looking for patterns
  • Finding and fixing errors
  • Robotic themed assistive technology literacy and math activities
  • Online and robot graphical activities
  • Action songs and crafts
  • Unplugged computational thinking
  • Coding games
Participation requirements
  • Child must have a developmental profile consistent with ASD
  • Child is able to attend weekly virtual sessions for a five-week period
  • Demonstrates emerging social skills and an interest in building relationships with same-aged peers or peers with common interests

The program will be fully subsidized by the SCDSB and facilitated by LEARNstyle Coding and Robotics Trainers and SCDSB staff.

Journey to Success Social Skills Program

The Journey to Success Social Skills program is a six-week virtual interactive program designed to improve the conversational and problem-solving skills of children with a developmental profile consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by focusing on teamwork. This series aims to target various life skills while providing a fun and interactive experience.

Parents/guardians will receive information and strategies to help develop and practice new skills at home and at school.

Workshop goals
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Time management
  • Social skills
  • Sensory integration
Participation requirements
  • Child must have a developmental profile consistent with ASD
  • Child is able to attend weekly virtual sessions for a six-week period
  • Demonstrates emerging social skills and an interest in building relationships with same-aged peers

The program will be fully subsidized by the SCDSB and facilitated by Tia Services.

Music Social Skills Program

The Music Social Skills program is a 10-week, multi-component music platform designed to improve the emotional understanding and social skills of children and is suggested for children with developmental profile consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Music captivates children with its hands-on learning environment and variety of rhythm and songs. Each session provides movement, composition, singing, playing instruments, and is designed to help children learn new social and emotional skills in a fun environment.

Parents/guardians will receive information and strategies to help young ‘musicians’ develop and practice new skills at home and at school during the parent/guardian information session.


Topics of instruction
  • Impulse control, taking turns, and waiting
  • Following instructions
  • Talking and playing with others
  • Joining in conversations and activities with others
  • Labelling emotions
  • Developing an understanding of how situations make them feel
  • Identifying appropriate strategies to manage unpleasant emotions
  • Solving social problems
Participation requirements
  • Child must have a developmental profile consistent with ASD 
  • Child is able to attend weekly in-person sessions for a 10-week period
  • Caregiver must be able to attend one parent/guardian session (date to be confirmed)
  • Demonstrates emerging social skills and an interest in building relationships with same-aged peers or peers with common interests

The program will be fully subsidized by the SCDSB and facilitated by Music Therapy Services of Simcoe County Music Therapists.

Recreation Social Skills Program

The recreation program is a 10-week, multi-component recreation intervention designed to improve the gross motor skills and social skills of children with a developmental profile consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

This recreation program captivates children with its hands-on learning environment and opportunities to practice and learn new skills each week. Each session provides scaffolding, land marking, and cooperative games designed to help children learn new gross motor and social skills in a fun environment.

Parents/guardians are an integral part of the group program and receive support to help young athletes develop and practice new skills at home and at school.



Topics of instruction
  • Talking and playing with others
  •  Joining in conversations and activities with others
  •  How to cope with making mistakes, changes in routine, and feelings of uncertainty
  •  How to handle new situations and learning to ask for help
  •  Solving social problems
  • How to recognize simple and complex emotions in themselves and others
  •  How to express feelings in appropriate ways
  •  How to cope with feelings of anger and anxiety
Participation requirements
  • Child must have a developmental profile consistent with ASD
  • Child is able to attend weekly in-person sessions for a 10-week period
  • Demonstrates emerging social skills and an interest in building relationships with same-aged peers

The program will be fully subsidized by the SCDSB and facilitated by Shawn Delaire, Level 1 Coach and SCDSB staff.