| Our Mission
Kerry’s Place Autism Services is
committed to enhancing the quality of life of individuals with Autism
Spectrum Disorder, through innovative personalized supports, expertise,
collaboration and advocacy.
Our History
The Kerry’s Place organization was
established in 1974 by a group of parents who were increasingly frustrated
by a lack of understanding and support service for their children with
autism. Generally regarded as hopelessly retarded or schizophrenic,
children with autism were often given a life sentence of
institutionalization and chemical sedation. The founding parents of Kerry’s
Place refused to accept the discouraging prognoses of professionals as
certain.
With support from the Ministry of Health,
the parent group founded Kerry’s Place, a residential home for teenagers
with autism, at Clarksburg, Ontario. By emphasizing a consistent,
individualized approach, the development of communication and life skills
and as much integration as possible in normal family and community life,
the caring staff of Kerry’s Place shattered previously held expectations
and have gone on to pioneer exciting new horizons of personal growth,
independence and meaningful living for people with autism everywhere.
The affairs of Kerry’s Place Autism
Services are directed by a voluntary board of directors representing
various fields of expertise. They view community involvement as an
integral part of its philosophy and strategic planning. The board of
directors is made up of a diverse group of individuals who bring with them
the experience and knowledge in areas such as finance, journalism,
education, business, law and human resources.
The Growth Of The Kerry’s Place
Organization
In the early 1970's, a group of concerned
parents and professionals from the newly formed Ontario Society for
Autistic Children were concerned that the needs of persons with autism
approaching adolescence and adulthood were not being met in the
educational or residential systems for the mentally handicapped. Out of
this concern, Kerry’s Place was incorporated in 1984 as a non-profit,
non-share Ontario corporation.
In September 1974, Kerry’s Place opened
its adolescent program for 11 teenagers in Clarksburg, Ontario on the farm
of Val and Ann O’Neill. The program and corporate name were chosen in
honour of the O’Neill’s daughter Kerry, who was one of the original
residents. Nearly three decades after the opening of the Clarksburg centre,
Kerry’s Place Autism Services’ has grown to serve the regions of
Peel/Halton, Dufferin, Durham, York/Simcoe, Toronto and Hastings.
With the addition of community outreach
services, Kerry’s Place Autism Services has been able to provide support
and consultation to individuals with autism who live at home. Community
outreach service allows us to serve not only a greater number of
individuals but also allows us to serve a wider age range of persons than
our residential component could possibly accommodate.
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