Local Access:
Multiple locations across the GTA with new locations coming soon.
Best Practices:
Evidence based, research backed non-therapeutic approach.
Inclusive Programming:
No diagnoses required. All children and youth are welcome, as all participants benefit from the My Outlet program.
Private Insurance and OAP Coverage:
Having a registered psychotherapist present each class means parents can access private insurance and Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding.
Train your body
Increase your heart rate through exercise to heighten your awareness and prepare your brain to learn.
Learn your mind
Learn and practise the skills to heighten self awareness, build resilience and confidence, and learn to advocate for yourself.
Express yourself
Explore your passions through Art, Music, STEM, Nature, and Gaming—rotated to spark self-expression.
Experience calm
Find your calm with techniques like yoga, meditation, breath work, and more.
Children, youth, teens and their families benefit
Have your say and let us know what part of the GTA you live in, and whether you would be interested in weekends or after school programming! Regions under consideration include:
Who should sign up
Bridging targeted gaps
Children ages 7 - 15 who could use support with self regulation, executive functioning, impulsivity, inter-personal relationships and more.
Building confidence and advocacy skills
Children ages 7 - 15 who could use support with building their confidence and ability to advocate for themselves in a variety of situations, from school to home, to the playground and more.
Siblings from neurodiverse homes
Children ages 7–15 from neurodiverse households learning to live authentically, meet their needs, and better understand their neurodiverse sibling or parent.
Elevating kids strengths
Children ages 7-15 who could benefit from learning how to strengthen their strengths (or superpowers!) and bring their weaknesses up to par.
Leaders in training program
Youth ages 16+ who are neurodiverse and building many of the same skills and tools as our younger participants, will join the kids program as leaders in training to develop invaluable and transferable leadership skills through the LIT program.
Planting the seeds for career pathways
Youth ages 16+ who may be unsure of potential career pathways and may be seeking exposure to a variety of outlets, professionals and community members that can provide informal guidance and clarity.
Increasing inclusivity
Society doesn't yet have the fluency, frameworks and tools to speak about neurodiversity in a comfortable and inclusive way. Youth in the LIT program will learn how to talk about neurodiversity and inclusion in their day-to-day conversations, with confidence and self-respect.
Strengthening strengths for youth
Youth ages 16+ who could benefit from learning how to strengthen and leverage their strengths (or passions!) and bring their weaknesses up to par.
How does My Outlet Signature work?
Our facilitators guide your child through each of the four blocks, with the entire session lasting 90 minutes. Our registered psychotherapist attends each session.
The four blocks operate under the following structure:
01
Get moving
Physical activity sparks biological changes that encourage brain cells to bind to one another. For the brain to learn, these connections must be made. We prepare participants to reach a heightened state of awareness through 25 minutes of rigorous exercise.
LITs play an important role in welcoming our participants to the program each week. As a familiar face and often an activity co-facilitator for this block, our LITs quickly become an integral part of the My Outlet fabric and culture.
02
Get focused
In Block 2, we spend 15 minutes using fun and engaging activities to explore a variety of challenges and opportunities that stem from ADHD, Autism and other neurodiverse types, without calling out labels or diagnoses. Within this neuroinclusive ecosystem, children learn the ways in which they can harness their individual differences to convert them into their own unique superpowers.
Our LITs are learning skills and strategies in this block as well. What's different here is that their lived experiences and maturity often allow them to take things to the next level. They do this by naturally drawing upon these experiences to open up meaningful conversations in a group setting. The supportive and emotionally safe environment enables our LITs to be their authentic selves while boosting their confidence and building their leadership skills as they gradually increase their support for our participants.
03
Get creative
Block 3 is all about art, music, STEM, nature, gaming, and other cool, fun and creative ways to explore and express yourself. This 45 minute block is designed to find "your outlet".
All of our LITs have unique strengths and abilities and they are often eager to share them with their new community. Over the course of the session, LITs will have the opportunity to co-develop and co-lead a block 3 for our participants, which builds on their individual strengths!
04
Get quiet
Quieting the mind isn't easy. We get it. That's why we've designed our fourth and final block around exploring different techniques to help calm both your mind and body down. In this block, we teach breath work, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and to be grateful for the superpowers that every one of us has.
We're all forever students of mindfulness, yoga, meditation and the like. For block 4, our LITs are modeling a growth mindset for the younger participants as they attempt new techniques, experiment with new practices and embrace the unfamiliar!
Primary My Outlet kids program objectives:
Learn, practise and embed skills that foster awareness, resilience, confidence, and the ability to advocate for oneself.
Build new relationships and feel a sense of community and belonging.
Reduce sense of loneliness and isolation.
Learn to appreciate and take advantage of your unique learning differences and superpowers.
Feel an accepting, safe environment, free of stigma and judgement