PowerUp is a full-day therapeutic program for elementary-aged children (4–12+) who benefit from intensive, individualized support. It is designed for:
Autistic children
ADHDers
Children with layered developmental support needs
PowerUp is not an ABA program. We offer a developmental, relationship-based model of care – built on the understanding that children grow best through safe, trusting relationships and support that meets them where they are – and celebrates who they are!
With low ratios (one-to-one or two-to-one support, plus in-program therapeutic lead and on-site social work supervisor), our team helps each child build the foundational skills to thrive at home, at school, and in the community:
Communication of all kinds
Verbal
Gestural
Low, mid, and high-tech communication aids (AAC)
Kinetic
Managing regular transitions and routines (and unexpected changes!)
Activities of daily living
Toileting
Meals, food & eating
Managing seasonal clothing
Safe drop-offs & pick-ups
Somatic and functional physical skills
Internal/external body awareness
Balance & coordination
Motor planning
Sensory awareness & regulation
Emotional awareness & regulation
Self-expression, autonomy and advocacy
For our PowerUp Plus kids
Safe community engagement
Peer relationships
Executive function skills
Where and when?
PowerUp runs from our Ancaster ‘big house’ – a spacious clinic in a natural setting – and welcomes families from Hamilton, Halton, Brant, Haldimand, and Niagara.
The program runs Monday to Thursday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, throughout the year (excluding statutory holidays), across three terms:
Term One: September – January
Term Two: February – June
Summer Term: July – August school break (full-week camp-style placements)
Your child attends on the same day each week for the length of the term. This consistency is intentional: it gives children the time and predictability they need to build trusting relationships and practice new skills, and fees work like tuition for the term. Placement days are offered based on our team’s assessment of your child’s current needs, clinical recommendations, and availability.
PowerUp is intentionally small — just 4 children per day Monday to Wednesday, and 8 ‘PowerUp+’ kids on Thursdays.
On top of our 1:1 and 2:1 ratios, an extra floating team member is always on hand to step in and support dysregulated moments, with onsite supervisors and speech and occupational therapy consultation available as needed. Our staff are highly attuned to each child’s specific needs, and get to know our PowerUp children – and their families – very well.
What does it cost?
1:1 Support Ratio2:1 Support Ratio
Monday
1:1 support
$850
per day
Tuesday
1:1 support
$850
per day
Wednesday
1:1 support
$850
per day
Thursday
2:1 support · PowerUp+
$750
per day
✓PowerUp+ — for older elementary children ready to build life skills and take part in community outings
Fees work like tuition for the term. Placement days are offered based on our team’s assessment of your child’s current needs, clinical recommendations, and availability.
Is there funding available to help with the cost of PowerUp?
Most PowerUp families are receiving OAP Core Funding to access the program, but workplace benefits can also be used – our services can also be accessed using Social Work, Speech Language Pathology, and Occupational Therapy benefits. We’re always happy to help you understand your funding and benefits – and our client care team is happy to support you with planning and budgeting to ensure your wider needs are accounted for across your funding year.
Wraparound support for the whole family
Many PowerUp families also access other services inside the clinic using their OAP funding – from individual speech and occupational therapy sessions to sibling support, parent coaching, psychotherapy, and in-home sessions. We can arrange for our speech and/or occupational therapist to work with your child alongside PowerUp staff, so the support strategies can be walked out by the team throughout the term.
Our case management team can support you with OAP budgeting and receipt reconciliation, and with planning ahead for your full funding year – including any equipment needs.
Fostering connections to home and school
The PowerUp team is happy to connect with your child’s teacher to share information, so your child is supported by one cohesive team at school and in the program.
Parents and caregivers stay closely connected day to day, with lots of communication and feedback options – including dedicated family connection sessions with a member of the PowerUp team, available at the clinic, virtually, or in your home (one private family session is included near the end of each term, additional 1:1 sessions are $180/hr). These sessions help the skills your child is building in the clinic carry over into everyday family life.
As your child develops and grows, our goal is to walk alongside your family as part of your long-term support network – helping you find joy, meaning, and enrichment within your family and community.
What happens in PowerUp?
Each day blends one-on-one support with small, carefully curated groupings. Activities are play-based, joyful, interest-based, and chosen to meet each child where they are:
11:00🍓Peel the Eggs & Cut the Strawberries Motor Activity — Making Homemade Strawberry Popsicles
11:30🪴Decorating Clay Pots & Planting a Seed
Afternoon
12:00🍕Lunch — Making Naan Pizzas
12:30🌳Outside / Free Play
1:00🍋Lemon Squeeze Pom Pom Water Play & Making Lemonade
1:30🪥Monster Teeth Brushing
2:00🧁Baking — Chocolate Rice Crispies
2:30👋Goodbye Song & Circle, & Gather Belongings
2:45🌳Outside until Pick-Up
An example of a real PowerUp day – activities change daily, and every child’s schedule is shaped by their Individualized Support Plan.
Who is the PowerUp staff team?
PowerUp is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of trusted, highly experienced specialists working under on-site social work supervision, with backgrounds spanning:
children’s mental health
behavioural support
communication
functional and sensory support
alternative education
Left to right: Vicky, Kesley, Tori, Kim, Kendall, and Meg
The program is supervised by Maureen Pangan, MSW, RSW – an experienced family clinician who values a play-based, relational approach to therapeutic care. Maureen is actively involved in the program, getting to know the children personally as she pops in throughout the week, and supports ongoing staff development and treatment planning.
To support therapeutic planning and program development, the PowerUp team regularly consults with our in-house team:
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP)
Occupational Therapists (OT)
Registered Social Workers (RSW)
Ontario Certified Teachers (OCT)
Neurodivergence Specialist
Executive Function Coaches
Child Life Specialist
The team also meets weekly to consider and plan for every PowerUp family – celebrating successes, troubleshooting challenges, and reviewing each child’s individualized care plan so it always reflects their current needs.
I’m interested … Now what?
1
Reach out
Contact us and fill out our intake forms – we’re happy to get this information over the phone or in person if language or writing is a challenge.
2
Caregiver intake
A virtual or in-person conversation with our case management team about your child and your family’s current needs to see if PowerUp is a good fit for your family.
3
Child Initial Assessment
An individual session with a member of the PowerUp team to identify needs and the best peer group – sometimes followed by a trial day, or initial speech and OT assessments where helpful.
4
Placement offer
A placement for the term is offered based on both your family logistics and the best fit for your child’s support needs – with a clear proposal and transparent pricing for you to review and confirm.
Contact us to begin the intake process, and together we’ll determine whether PowerUp is the best fit for your family’s current needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PowerUp an ABA program?
No. PowerUp is a developmental, relationship-based alternative to ABA. Rather than working on compliance-based goals, we focus on building attunement through safe, trusting relationships – supporting each child’s communication, regulation, and independence in ways that respect how they experience the world.
Can we use OAP funding for PowerUp?
Yes – while PowerUp isn’t exclusively for autistic children, many families access the program using their Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding. Our wraparound support option is especially popular with OAP families who want multiple services under one roof, and our case management team can help with OAP budgeting, planning, and receipt reconciliation. Learn about OAP funding support, or ask us at intake.
What ages do you accept?
PowerUp is designed for elementary-aged children, roughly ages 4-12+. Our PowerUp+ stream (Thursdays) is for older elementary children in the early ‘tween’ developmental stage who are ready to add life skills and community outings to their learning.
What does a typical day look like?
Days run 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and blend one-on-one support with small-group activities: arts and crafts, sensory play, music, games, motor activities, outdoor play, early academics, read-alongs, and shared snack and lunch (children help with the preparation and baking). Every child’s day is shaped by their individual care plan, current needs and special interests, state of mind, and capacity.
What is the staff-to-child ratio?
Low ratios are the heart of the program: Monday to Wednesday placements are 1:1, and Thursday placements are 2 kids to 1 staff member (our PowerUp+ day for kids who are developmentally ready for community outings and social groupings). The program is intentionally small – 4 children per day Monday to Wednesday and 8 on Thursdays – and an extra floating team member is always on hand beyond these ratios to step in during dysregulated moments, with onsite supervisors and SLP and OT consultation available as needed. Our staff gets to know each child and their family very well.
My child is non-speaking, or still working on toileting. Is PowerUp right for them?
Quite possibly – these are exactly the kinds of support PowerUp is built for. Our team includes communication specialists; we use visual supports such as core boards throughout the clinic, and toileting and other daily living skills are part of many children’s programs. Intake is where we’ll explore fit together.
Can my child attend PowerUp alongside school?
Yes – most children attend school alongside PowerUp, coming to us on their placement day, and children can also attend multiple days of PowerUp where spaces are available. Our team is happy to connect with classroom teachers and resource staff to share information and better support your child’s needs in both places.
Do you offer half days, or drop-in attendance?
Not currently – children get the most from PowerUp when they can settle into a full, predictable day with the same team each week. When staffing allows, we can sometimes offer a trial day as part of the intake process for families or our team who would like to explore further before committing to a full term.
Is there a waitlist? How does intake work?
Availability changes each term, so the best first step is to contact us. Intake has four steps: our intake forms (or we can gather this information by phone or in person), an in-depth caregiver conversation with our case management team, a family connection session for brand new families, and an individual session with your child – sometimes with a trial day or initial speech and OT assessments – followed by a placement offer with a clear written proposal and transparent pricing.
What happens if we miss a day, or need to withdraw during a term?
Because of the specialized nature, low staff ratios, and boutique size of the program, placements are offered by the term, and fees are due in advance. We work closely with OAP Provider Supports so families can reconcile their term’s enrollment costs without undue hardship from sickness or unexpected cancellations – we cover this fully in your personalized intake meeting. We will always work with families to ensure their placement is meeting their child’s needs – or work with you to problem-solve creatively if something needs to shift.
