An Introduction to Kerry’s Place Autism Services

A Comprehensive Range Of Support Options For Persons With Autism Spectrum Disorder

As Kerry's Place Autism Services approaches its third decade of service for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder, we continue to look for ways in which to enhance our capability of providing a comprehensive range of supports for our clients and their families. Our extensive experience and specialized skills in the field have made Kerry's Place Autism Services one of the few agencies in Ontario to be able to provide a broad array of specialized supports and services for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Our Commitment To The Individual

Kerry’s Place Autism Services is committed to enhancing the quality of life of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder that will allow them to live in society with dignity and respect. With a variety of supports that recognize the particular needs and choices of each person, our knowledgeable and dedicated staff assist our clients to reach the highest level of independence that they are able to achieve. Our focus is to offer them those types of services that best accommodates their particular support needs while maximizing their individual strengths and potential.

At Kerry’s Place Autism Services we focus upon what the individual would like to do with his or her life and then develop a plan to make it happen. Every aspect of the individual’s life is integral to the development and maintenance of his or her personalized plan for the future. We call this the "person centered plan". At Kerry’s Place Autism Services, we believe that the individual should be the primary source of information and input into his/her person centered plan supported by individuals who care and support the individual. Plans are regularly reviewed to assess whether the strategies and supports in place are effective in achieving specific outcomes that the individual and the people closest to him or her have identified as being important in his or her life. We refer to the outcomes as "outcome based performance measures".

The individualized planning process is a dynamic one that changes as the person or circumstances change. The development of strategies to assist the individual reach his or her maximum potential are based on what the individual wants or needs interpreted, as necessary, by the individual’s family support circle with input from staff and community supports. These strategies are revised as the individual and/or circumstances change over time. As more options for the person present themselves, strategies are adjusted accordingly.

It is not possible to live an enriched and fulfilling life without experiencing risk. Kerry’s Place Autism Services is committed to ensuring that there is a reasonable balance between opportunities, life experiences and associated risks.

At Kerry’s Place Autism Services, we encourage those types of communication which allow the individual the maximum level of participation in all areas of his/her life. Individuals may communicate by using their preferred methods, whether they may be verbal, sign or pictoral. We will help the individual develop effective ways of communicating in whatever methods they may use as well as to observe what the individual’s behaviour is telling us about his/her likes and dislikes, when he or she does not communicate verbally.

The Board of Directors of Kerry’s Place Autism Services views community involvement as an integral part of the Kerry’s Place philosophy and strategic planning. At Kerry’s Place Autism Services, we are committed to helping the individual exercise his or her right to participate as a fully functioning member of the community. In other words, we value the individual’s "inclusion" in all aspects of society. Vocational, educational and volunteer opportunities enable clients to learn valuable skills and allows them to participate in meaningful and productive community activities.

Although Autism is a life-long disability from which there is no known cure, there is much that we can do to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to expand his or her horizons of independence and achievement through innovative and personalized supports. The individuals that we support value the same things in life that any one of us do: inclusion, respect, fairness, choices and opportunities and sufficient supports if and when needed.

Community Outreach supports provide support and consultation to individuals with autism and their families. Supports may include behaviour management training, development of strategies and systems, long term planning, school advocacy, family resource days, workshops and parent support. Some regions offer overnight and/or day respite support to families in need, either as an extension of the existing residential supports or through the use of respite providers.

The residential supports operated by Kerry’s Place Autism Services offer safe and practical living arrangements within various rural and urban communities throughout Southern Ontario. Group homes are single family dwellings, most of them accommodating four residents per home. Residential supports also include supported independent living arrangements and a variety of home-share settings in which clients reside with individuals/families who serve as support providers.

Our Locations 
Kerry’s Place Autism Services operates residential, vocational and community outreach programs in a number of communities in Southern Ontario. All fall within the jurisdiction of one of the following four regional areas:

Kerry’s Place West (Peel, Halton and Dufferin)
Kerry’s Place East (York, Simcoe and Durham)
Kerry’s Place Toronto
Kerry’s Place South East (Belleville, Thomasburg and Tweed and Kingston)  
Kerry's Place Dept. of Psychological and Family Support Services (Aurora)