Our gifts for Mission & Service make respite care for parents and
recreational play for children on the autism spectrum possible.
Our gifts for Mission & Service support work with parents and children on the autism spectrum, like Footprints 4 Autism. With programs located in Pickering and Whitby, Ontario, 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 faces. 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 unable to cope. Respite care can help ease some of the burden on these families, ensuring that, for a few hours each month, they can enjoy a short but much-needed break from the 24/7 care these children require. The respite also allows parents to pay extra attention to their other children, spend some time together, run errands, or just have some down time.
Many children affected by autism spend several hours a week in therapy classes and often do not have 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.
Your gifts to Mission & Service make respite care for parents and recreational play for children on the autism spectrum possible.
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