NEWS RELEASE
AUTISM ONTARIO
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On Friday, local MPP Wayne Gates met with Autism Ontario South Region to hear more about the $13,500 grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to purchase sensory-type equipment for their programs.
The project will give people in the community an enhanced program experience for years to come.
“I want to congratulate Autism Ontario South Region on receiving this grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Wayne Gates, MPP for Niagara Falls. “Autism Ontario’s mission is to create a supportive and inclusive Ontario for autism, and this grant will help the organization to accomplish this incredibly important goal. The work they do for families in our community here in Niagara is so impactful - whether it’s providing learning opportunities, scholarships for students, supporting volunteers, and so much more.
"I want to thank the staff and volunteers at Autism Ontario, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation for this excellent partnership to get good things done for our community.”
The sensory-friendly equipment provides a supportive program environment and inclusive services in the Niagara Region that allow individuals on the spectrum to participate in programs that support their needs. The equipment assists the participants in decreasing stress, improving physical development, and stimulating cognitive and social skills.
Thanks to the $13,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the local community has access to programs that have the necessary equipment to create a safe and adaptable environment to increase autistic individuals’ ability to gain social interactions and skill development.
"The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant goes beyond addressing a requirement for adaptable and sensory-friendly equipment in order to allow for successful program participation,” said Margaret Spoelstra, Chief Executive Officer of Autism Ontario. “This grant brings much-needed attention to autism and a community often overlooked when considering inclusive programming. With the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we can ensure our programs meet the community's needs and that we uphold our vision of Best Life, Better World, Making Autism Matter.”
Autism Ontario is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive Ontario for autism. If you wish to enquire about our programs and services, please visit the website. The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships.
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