Hello there!

As summer days give way to cooler nights, you and I both know it can mean only one thing — back to school!

There are more than 100,000 students who attend elementary and high schools across the communities we serve in Guelph-Wellington and Waterloo Region. On that first day and throughout the school year, our therapists will be there to welcome and support students who need a little extra help with communication, physical, or developmental needs. 

With a shared goal to foster an inclusive, accessible, and safe school environment for every student to realize their full potential, our School Based Rehabilitation Services (SBRS) team works closely and collaboratively with teachers, school staff, and family members. Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physiotherapists provide students with specialized services that develop fine motor and daily living skills, like holding a pencil or playing with friends, speech and communication, and mobility and movement needs to help the kids we work with to fully participate in activities alongside their peers.

It's tremendously important work that sees so many children reach milestones often hand-in-hand with specialized services received at our locations, like seating and mobility, specialized feeding and other programs you help support. And it's thanks to your trust in our work that bright futures are possible.

Fall is also the perfect time for you to embrace some exciting opportunities to support with companies that support us. It's a great way to get involved, give back and pay forward.

Warmest regards,

Lisa Talbot, Executive Director, KidsAbility Foundation

“It’s my mission to create the most inclusive puzzles for kids!” 

Ashley Kizis believes in raising kind kids, especially her own sweet child. From her desire to better represent diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in children’s toys and games, she founded Kidunified to represent kids in the puzzles they play with. 

We caught up with Ashley to learn more about her passion and why her puzzles make the perfect classroom, birthday, back-to-school, and teacher gifts! Through her collaborative fundraising partnership, you can order Kidunified Mission: Inclusion puzzle with $15 from each puzzle donated to KidsAbility -- but only until Sept 30. 

While summer will soon be over, children and families need our help year-round. Will you take advantage of our monthly donor challenge to double your impact now?

When you give before 11:59 p.m. on August 31, your gift will be matched by SV Law for one entire year!

Your monthly gift is worth TWICE as much and gives 2X as many kids like Delilah the support of specialized services they need to thrive.

I hope you will take this opportunity to double your impact before it's gone.

Please give us a call if you prefer to give by phone or donate by mail! Your kindness means everything and SV Law will match new monthly donors by phone or cheque received postmarked August 31.

Your gift generously matched up to $10,000 by:

“KidsAbility is a place where I can go and ask questions and, you know, have conversations with therapists who really make me feel like I play a part in my daughter’s development. I feel less helpless as a parent, and their support with seating, speech-language, and feeding has made a world of difference for both Molly and for me.” – Fran V., mom to Molly

You make brighter futures possible.

When you purchase from businesses who support KidsAbility, we all help support local kids in our community. Thank you!

Is there a story you’d really like to hear? Other feedback you’d like to share? If so, simply email me. I welcome your thoughts and ideas. And, if you know a family member or friend who would love reading these stories, please share this email. Thanks for reading this issue of Connections.



Lisa Talbot, Executive Director, KidsAbility Foundation