December 1, 2009      

Throughout 2009 we celebrated the 35th anniversary of this great organization, which was started by a group of parents dissatisfied with the level of supports available to their children. Armed with seed money from the Ministry of Health, their own resources, and information about “best practices” provided by such professionals as Dr. Mary Konstantareas, a week-day residential training program for adolescents was established at Clarksburg, Ontario in 1974. In the early years support from the Ministry of Education was also important in establishing the original program. At the time it was thought that, with appropriate life-skills training, the young adolescents involved would learn skills that would allow them to get jobs and live relatively independently in various community settings. Responsibility for core funding was eventually assumed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Since 1974 we have grown significantly and have developed a unique support model in which individuals of all ages, and on all parts of the ASD spectrum, may be given a continuum of supports tailored to their needs.

Unfortunately, in this province many children with ASD are still raised in environments or under circumstances that do not reflect or accommodate their special needs, and more serious problems too often do result. In extreme cases this can lead to admission to psychiatric wards or forensic units. Because of our reputation for success in supporting individuals having ASD with complex needs, we have been called upon to establish community assessment and treatment environments for both children and adults that could not be supported in their family homes, or by other community agencies. Based on information that was reviewed at a strategic planning session last July our Board has resolved that we should devote more time and effort to help others to develop greater capacity to understand and support individuals with ASD as a means of achieving our mission of “enhancing the quality of life with ASD” far beyond those for which we are providing direct support.

The many staff who have dedicated their careers to Kerry’s Place Autism Services since our inception have been instrumental in developing trusting relationships with many individuals and their families, and in helping the individuals that we support to achieve better quality lives. Each year I am very proud to congratulate the increasing numbers of staff members who have reached a service milestone. 

I commend the contributions, creativity, and commitment of our senior team who develop strategies to overcome the obstacles associated with providing support to the ever increasing number of people diagnosed with Autism each year.  They are very important architects of our success and leaders in making it happen.

I very much appreciate the leadership of our Board. Over the whole of our history Bob Hart has provided a calm, reasoned guiding hand. Having stepped down as the Chair, he is the last “founding member” ever likely to fulfill this role. No other person is as responsible for making this organization what it is. While he will no longer be Chair, Bob has promised to stay involved in other capacities and we sincerely thank him.  I very much look forward to working with Isabel Meharry, our new chair, Tony Ross, Vice Chair Nancy Lala, our treasurer and our other dedicated board members, David Acri, Jeff Holmes, Roland Beauregard, David Morrow, Jordana Hubert, Jay Serdula, Lorne Hartman and Mark Walsh.

Last but not least, I want to acknowledge the contributions of all who have played a vital role in building this organization over the years. Every single individual, staff member and volunteer is important to what we do, and who we are. With our increasing focus on community capacity building and outreach we are at the threshold of having a positive influence on how most, if not all of the individuals with ASD in this province are supported so that the impact of Kerry’s Place Autism Services can be even greater.

Dr. Glenn Rampton, CD, PHD, CPsych

C.E.O. and Clinical Director

Kerry's Place Autism Services