My Outlet Issue #5 | 2026
Back-to-School Success Starts Now
Founder’s note
Summer in Ontario is a special time. Whether you’re a hard-working parent, corporate executive or student, it usually allows for a short pause and reflection, a smidge of self-care and rejuvenation and magical memories that deepen connections with beloved friends and family.
When preparing for a vacation I love indulging by buying a new magazine or two, to accompany my book. I selectively choose a couple of magazines at the airport, or the local store. Both paper formats allow me to separate from technology while feeding my brain and soul with content it craves.
This summer I was very fortunate to spend some time with my husband, two kids and our dog at a cottage in Muskoka. This time, I picked up two magazines to accompany my book, Michael Lewis’ latest publication, “Going Infinite”. The first magazine was nature based (I LOVE MAGNOLIA) and the second was a fitness magazine. I read through the fitness magazine finding an eclectic series of well designed programs as I thought to myself, “oh how I’d love to fit back into my favourite dresses and suits from a decade ago.”
Having taken years worth of personal training, group fitness classes, earning my bachelor of health sciences degree and more, I learn nothing really new or revolutionary, but I’m somewhat inspired by the photos and content in the magazine. As I read, my mind keeps re-directing to what I feel is the critical missing ingredient throughout the magazine: the answer key to creating new habits and establishing reliable systems with accompanying accountability. What comes to mind are the insights stemming from author James Clear in his book Atomic Habits, TedX speaker and past My Outlet panelist, Aleem Nasser, and The Power of Habit author, Charles Duhigg.
I was first drawn to Atomic Habits when my former manager and mentor introduced me to the book. An example he highlighted went as follows: “if you just put your running shoes or workout clothes on, you’re significantly more likely to get to the gym for a workout that day versus if you take neither of those steps. Implementing this system has worked for me more often than not.
A few quotes and pieces of advice from James Clear are found to the right. They are all compelling.
A habit must be established before it can be improved
If you’re struggling to improve, the problem isn’t you, it’s your system
Join groups where your desired behaviour is the normal behaviour
Excellence is often not about radical change, it’s about accruing small improvements over time
You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems
James Clear refers to habits as the compound interest of self-improvement.
I find this very truthful and a bit amusing as I nearly named My Outlet “DCF” to allude to the compounding impact of desired acquired habits over time. (This is one of the key principles underpinning the design of My Outlet’s kids programs). Luckily a good friend, mentor and former colleague of mine talked me out of it (thank you Guy!). My Outlet certainly resonates more easily with most.
New habit creation isn’t isolated to the individual/family level. We also see the desire to create new habits in the way that organizations create, implement and embed strategy, policy and systems. These efforts are often undertaken to manage risk, capitalize on opportunity, contribute to organizational culture, and move everyone in a consistent and clear direction. (Having worked for the banks, I can appreciate the necessity, impact and implications of internal policy and regulation and their role in habit formation.)
As we look just around the corner to the new school year, many of us parents, leaders and organizations set our eyes on establishing new habits, new systems and supports to level up and prepare ourselves and others for the year ahead.
So how can we apply the lessons of James Clear, Aleem Nasser, Charles Duhigg and others? How should we think about methods for successfully adopting new habits?
Proactively explore the systems, frameworks and routines that could support you, your family or your organization with embedding the valuable habits you want to acquire. Speak to subject matter experts, try a complementary consultation, ask questions, and join information sessions or trial classes.
With that, I’ll boldly invite organizational leaders to book a complementary consultation with My Outlet. At the same time I’ll invite parents to register for our special evening event on August 24th for parents and their children (see below for details and registration link). And if fall enrollment is on your radar, now is the time to register.
Have a wonderful second half of the summer (we still have 32 days left!!)
— Warm regards, Audrie Chad Founder, My Outlet
News and upcoming events
Fall 2026 | Kids Signature Program
Registration is now open for everyone. Choose the location that works best for your family — both run the full program.
📍 8 sessions run on Sundays:
October 18, 25
November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
December 6
Whether your child is neurodivergent, experiencing challenges with attention, emotional regulation, or social skills, or simply looking for a supportive and inspiring environment, we encourage you to check out our 4-block Kids Signature Program!
Activities are adapted to meet different developmental levels, learning needs, and emotional regulation capacities, so every child can comfortably participate and grow at their own pace.
📍 North York location: 1947 Avenue Road (Gravitate Studio). Time: Sunday afternoons, 2:00–3:30 PM
📍 Vaughan location [NEW location]: 130 Racco Parkway, Unit #10, Thornhill (SMILE Therapy's space). Time: 10:30am–12:00pm
Want to learn more or reserve your spot? Book a free 15-minute call with Audrie or send us an enquiry.
Got a teenager who's ready for more?
Leadership In Training (LIT) Program
Our signature leadership stream for neurodivergent teens — where they don't just participate, they lead and build transferable skills that set them up for future work opportunities.
LIT participants work alongside younger children in the Kids Signature Program, applying real leadership skills in real time. The result? Teens who leave more confident, more self-assured and part of a community, and genuinely proud of who they are.
LIT runs at the same time and locations as the Kids Signature Program. Same dates, same commitment, powerful impact.
Spots are limited. Book a free 15-minute call with Audrie or send us an enquiry.
We're Looking for Facilitators!
We're recruiting facilitators to co-lead our various kids and youth programs this fall. If you know someone who is passionate about supporting children and youth, is a curious self-starter and keen to develop valuable leadership skills, we want to hear from them!
What we're looking for: People experienced in working with children and teens who possess a strengths-based mindset, strong judgement, shared values with My Outlet and a commitment to neuroinclusion.
Time commitment: 3-5 hours per week (program sessions + prep)
Interested? Fill out the form with your background and availability and we'll chat about the role.
AUGUST 24 – SPECIAL TRIAL CLASS + PARENT FITNESS + EXPERT SPEAKER
Want to experience My Outlet before committing to fall?
While your child is in class, do something for you.
Join us for a special event alongside a parent fitness class and expert speaker. Your child will experience our signature 4-block program, meet our facilitators, and learn how to build confidence, self-advocacy, and social skills along the way — while parents enjoy a Gravity Fitness class and connect with a community of parents seeking real strategies and support.
Event Details
📅 Monday, August 24
🕕 6:00 – 7:30 PM
💰 $25/person (parent fitness class + speaker session; kids trial class is complimentary)
📍 Gravitate Studio | 1947 Avenue Road, 2nd Floor, North York
Spaces are limited. Register now to reserve your spot.
Community Spotlight: Kid Quest Consulting
Kid Quest Consulting supports families navigating their child's development, behaviour, learning, and school journey.
Founder Yael Samuel helps parents create personalized plans, navigate assessments and diagnoses, connect with trusted professionals, and confidently advocate for their child at home and at school.
Kid Quest Consulting also offers educational seminars and professional development workshops for parents and educators, providing practical strategies that help children thrive.
Want to learn more? Visit Kid Quest Consulting to explore how Yael can support your family or organization.
On August 24, Yael will be joining My Outlet for a special event, leading a parent workshop on preparing for the new school year. The session will cover back-to-school transitions, reviewing IEP goals and accommodations, and practical strategies to help families start the school year with confidence.
We're grateful to partner with people and organizations doing meaningful work in our community.
Kids Signature Program webpage - Now complete with Research & Skills Framework
We've updated our Kids Signature Program page on the website with two important additions:
Our 4-Block Program Structure – research-backing now documented
We've expanded our explanation of how each block works, grounded in clinical research and child development principles. If you've ever wondered why we structure our sessions the way we do, this section breaks it down — showing you exactly what happens in each block and why it matters.
5 Core Skills We Teach
Your child develops real, transferable skills in every session, which compound over time. We've outlined the five core skills that sit at the heart of our program — skills that help kids in the classroom, at home, and in their relationships.
Explore the updated Kids Signature Program page to see how it all comes together.
Book Series In Development - Join The Waitlist
My Outlet Comic Book Promo Poster (Illustrated by Paige Williams) & Kids Book Series Promo Poster (Illustrated by Isabelle Shi)
Something Special is Coming
This summer, our co-op students are bringing two book projects to life — and we want you to be the first to know when they're ready.
The Comic Book Series
Follow a group of friends navigating school life, anxiety, sensory overwhelm, perfectionism, masking, and attention challenges. Every child and teen will see elements of themselves in these stories, validating their experiences and providing valuable insights and age appropriate resources to support them at this critical life stage.
The Children's Book Series
Explore what it's like to experience the world differently — helping young readers feel understood and celebrated.
Both series are being created collaboratively by students from animation, clinical research and creative writing, with review from numerous clinical, educational and other relevant subject matter experts. With an eclectic collection of contributors, these stories are grounded in real, lived neurodivergent experience alongside evidence-based research.
Be the first to hear when these books launch. Sign up to get updates, sneak peeks, and exclusive access to pre-orders.
NEW on the Blog
We've added two new resources to help you navigate some of the biggest questions parents ask us:
Do You Need a Diagnosis to Support a Neurodivergent Child?
Many parents feel stuck waiting for an assessment while their child struggles. The short answer? No. Learn why a diagnosis isn't required to build real support, and what you can do right now to help your child thrive
How to Choose an After-School Program for a Child with ADHD
Not all after-school programs are created with neurodivergent kids in mind. We break down what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to find a program that actually fits your child's needs.
Quick Tip
Prepare for Back-to-School Transitions
Small, intentional routines build big confidence. And confident kids navigate transitions better.
The weeks before school starts can feel chaotic. Help your child by establishing one new routine at a time — whether that's a consistent bedtime, a morning prep checklist, or a calming activity before school. Start small, practice it until it feels normal, then add the next one. (Fondly known as habit stacking!!)
The more they practice recognizing their zones, the easier it becomes to choose the right tool in the moment.
Learn more about how to build Confidence on our resources page.
Looking Ahead to Fall 2026
ummer is flying by, and we're already building toward fall.
The book projects are taking shape, and we can't wait to share more with you soon. Our August 24th event is shaping up to be something really special — if you're thinking about trying My Outlet, this is a great chance to experience it firsthand while connecting with other parents.
Fall enrollment is open now for both our Kids Signature Program and our LIT Program. Whether you're choosing North York or our brand new Vaughan location at SMILE Therapy, we have spots waiting for your family.
And if your child is already part of My Outlet, don't forget to explore each LEGO piece they've earned at home. Visit our resources page to dive deeper into every skill and concept — Boundaries, Friendships, Regulation, Confidence, and more.
We're so grateful for the energy and momentum this community has built. Thank you for being part of My Outlet.
See you this fall! 💙
— The My Outlet Team
Comments