Easton

Thank you for considering Easton for Respite Funding. For giving him time for Faith, and Friendship. It’s a chance for him to Learn, Grow, and Belong. Request: Thank you for reviewing my request for funding for Respite Support for Easton. I'm seeking to raise funds for Easton to continue with Stride Academy. To be part of local community programs. Also attending Stride for some school holidays and breaks. As well as allowing him to attend camps in a safe environment with like-minded individuals. Safety: Easton is a flight risk. Making it difficult to find an environment that can support his specific needs. Along with the ability to keep him safe. I have found that within the Ontario Autism Program Urgent Response Services (URS) program, Stride Academy, which provides the respite programming for URS has people trained for these special areas. They offer amazing care for kids with autism. Catering to each child's abilities. Support: We've received amazing support recently from the Ontario Autism Program Urgent Response Services (U.R.S.) I would appreciate it, if we could continue to receive support from Stride Academy and their amazing team. We had support from February 4, 2025 to May 4, 2025 with URS and the supporting team members. I would like to request weekly support with Easton with this specially trained group to handle his needs and at special events. Experience: Easton has enjoyed Urgent Autism Support (URS), care team, but especially the Stride Academy team. Who have provided the respite part of the program. It has helped him with behavioral challenges. He's a flight risk, making it challenging to find safe care. Easton requires constant surveillance. Also, Easton struggles to emotionally regulate in large crowds. When he becomes heightened, his stimming behaviours will escalate. This stimming behaviour is vocal stim, or biting his hand or two fingers. Sometimes the vocal stim can be so loud that it distracts others around him and impedes his learning in that environment. It is helpful if he has breaks from the large crowd to help with his regulation. With the aid of the respite worker, Easton can have his breaks. He can have safe supervised assistance. With the ability to grow. Giving him the freedom to come and go. Teaching him self-advocacy skills, develop gentle assertiveness and self-confidence. It will empower him to clearly set boundaries and communicate his needs. Therefore, for example I am able to stay and participate in the Church Service He has been able to grow exponentially with this support. I would love to continue with this amazing URS program for my son, Easton, but unfortunately, on May 6, 2025, we were no longer able to access this program free of charge. However, there is the option to continue respite care. There is a cost for us to access this respite service. I have seen remarkable growth in Easton and would love to continue with this respite program. Cost: (as of 2025) Therapeutic respite (1:1) hourly rate = $50/hour Travel time = billed as straight time (see above) Mileage = $0.60/km For example, for an on-site session scheduled: 3 hours at Stride =$150 Mileage = N/A Total cost = $150 per session A Sunday session as currently scheduled would breakdown as follows: Staff arrives at the church at 9:50 am, leaves by 11:40 am (billed 9:30 am-12 pm inclusive of travel) = 2.5 hours = $125 Mileage (Stride to church, church to Stride) = 40km = $24 Total cost = $149 per session Donations (via cheque) an be sent directly to: • Stride Academy • 593 Norris Crt, • Kingston ON K7P 2R9 On the cheque in the Memo Line please add the name: • Easton Irwin • Tax Receipts can be mailed to the donor. • Name of Organization/Individual • Full Mailing Address • E-Mail Address Easton needs constant supervision. At church, Stride Academy provides him with a specialized worker. So that he can attend Sunday school and have breaks when needed. Easton has the opportunity to attend specialized camps. All of the money raised will go towards Easton’s enrichment, faith building and social interactions within the community. Thank you again Anna & Easton Irwin