PowerUp Play-Based Alternative Education Program

In September 2023 we are launching our weekday morning PowerUp sessions as an alternative daily option for families from 9:00 – 11:30 am, with optional shuttle transport to local schools after the program!

PowerUp is an intensive early elementary therapeutic learning program designed as a supplement or alternative to traditional learning models.  It’s packed with access to range of therapeutic professionals to give kids access to as much support as possible in one location at one time because we understand how difficult it can be for families to fit in multiple appointments at different locations around work, school, and other activities.

Children aged 3-8 will increase their comfort level with social interactions and their ability to self-regulate while building foundational academic skills around early literacy and numeracy.  We encourage the use of personal management skills throughout the program (self-regulation, self-monitoring) through an organic, fun, and play-based approach.  Each session will include outdoor play and nature immersion in every season, music, expressive art-making, fine and gross motor work, literacy, mindfulness, self-monitoring, and social negotiation to encourage clients’ growth and development in these areas.

PowerUp sessions target skills such as:

  • Greeting, initiating interactions, maintaining play

  • Taking turns, listening, and impulse control in social situations

  • Understanding and expressing emotions in healthy ways

  • Tolerating non-preferred sensations, choices, and emotions

  • Building working memory, harnessing focus and attention

  • Cognitive flexibility, perspective-taking, social problem-solving

PowerUp can be covered under many private employer-provided benefit plans under MSW (Social Work).  Families with Ontario Autism funding (OAP Core Funding) are able to use these funds to access our services also.

Who is it for?

  • Kids from approximately 3-8 years old (flexible depending on needs and developmental stage)
  • Kids who would benefit from comprehensive, low ratio support (depending on support needs, 2-4 kids per therapist with support staff available)
  • Children with diagnosed or suspected developmental challenges and/or exceptionalities including Autism, ADHD, and developmental delays
  • Families looking to assess for lagging skills and create a plan to support their child’s development
  • Busy families who would like to access a range of therapeutic supports for their child in one place and time, rather than juggle multiple appointments during the week

What is involved?

PowerUp is a comprehensive, individualized program run by experienced therapists, designed to build a wide range of foundational skills through the lens of social development, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance.  Programming includes a fun, play-based approach to a range of skills including:

  • Fine and gross motor skills
  • Speech, language & communication skills
  • Pre-literacy and early literacy skills
  • Basic numeracy, relating numbers and measurement to real life
  • Age-&-stage appropriate emotional expression
  • Co-regulation & self-regulation skills

Your children will be building skills via play-based activities including:

  • Music & movement
  • Storytime
  • Art and craft projects
  • Sensory exploration (sand, water, rice, etc)
  • Outdoor play and nature immersion (year-round)
  • Creative and imaginative play
  • Circle time, snack time, and guided transitions

Where & when is it happening?

  • 144 Wilson St E, Ancaster
  • Weekdays from September 2023 to June 2024 from 9:00 – 11:30 am

How much does it cost & how is it billed?

  • $200 per 2.5hr therapeutic session ($1000 for the full week program)
  • The financial commitment is month to month; families may register for anywhere from one to five mornings per week in advance
  • We require a valid credit card on file; sessions are charged to your card (generally within 48hrs of each appointment) and paid receipts are emailed weekly for you to submit to your insurance company
  • PowerUp can be covered by most extended benefit plans (depending on the day, services may be under MSW, SLP, OT, or BCBA)
  • Talk to us if you require alternate financial arrangements

How do I register?

  • Families with children under 16 come through our children’s intake process so we can get to know you and your child’s needs; this generally involves an initial 1:1 appointment to generate an individual treatment plan before joining an appropriate group
  • Autism families – we have a dedicated OAP Case Manager who can help your family create and adminster a plan that includes all wraparound supports (groups, individual therapy, parent support)
  • If you’re ready to go ahead, give us a call at 289 678 0581 or send us an email at info@nowwhatsupports.ca

Meet the Team

  • New clients need to fill out a general clinic Intake Form, Service Agreement, and outdoor waivers which will be emailed to you after you reach out to the front desk.
  • We will also ask for an allergy waiver, a photo permission form, and an outdoor/off-site waiver (depending on the needs of the children in the group, occasionally we may take a walk off-site to our local park or trails, and we are ALWAYS outdoors, whatever the weather!)
  • SLP & OT specific consent forms will also be required