Empowered Kids Ontario

Member of the Month: Contact Niagara 🎉
https://www.empoweredkidsontario.ca/memberdirectory/contactniagara

Contact Niagara is the central access point for children and youth with developmental, behavioural, autism, and complex needs in Niagara.

They provide bilingual information, access, intake(s), referral(s) and service coordination to 10+ publicly funded service centres for children and youth experiencing emotional, developmental and/or behavioural concerns in the Niagara region and surrounding area.

Contact Niagara also co-leads the Youth Wellness Hub Niagara, offering youth ages 12–25 integrated mental health, substance use, wellness, primary care, peer support, and social services.

Learn more about Contact Niagara and their exceptional impact on their website: https://www.contactniagara.org/

STAY TUNED: We are highlighting the incredible community-based organizations that are part of the EKO family. These teams are dedicated to their families and communities and, together, ensure that all kids in Ontario live their best lives.

Fun AF Fact Friday: AccessFest is next weekend!
https://accessnow.com/fest/schedule2026/

- Accessible Yoga
- Concerts
- Workshops
- Tours

Check it all out in the event schedule (link above) and see you there!

AccessFest

Festival Schedule 2026 - AccessFest

The fourth Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion (CCDI) is on May 28. This year’s theme is "Building a Strong, Accessible Canada"
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/canadian-congress-disability-inclusion.html

The Congress will kick-start National AccessAbility Week. It will support the sharing of insights to help shape accessible and inclusive communities and workplaces across Canada. It will bring together:
- persons with disabilities
- disability organizations
- public and private organizations
- academics
- innovators
- thought leaders

CCDI 2026 is a virtual, accessible, and inclusive event. It is free and open to the public.

Register with the link above.

Niagara Children's Centre is zooooming through the campaign

The Centre reached more than 80 per cent of their goal after just three weeks!

Meet Cameron, car enthusiast, car show organizer and Help Kids Shine campaign ambassador: https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/newsroom?newsid=2128

And check out his next car show at Martha Cullimore Public School in Niagara Falls on Friday, June 19, from 4 to 7 p.m.

DSBN

Young Car Enthusiast Driving Inclusion Through Help Kids Shine Campaign Inspired by visits to the Canadian International AutoShow and local car events, Cameron launched his own school car show to share his love of vehicles with classmates and the broader community. 

THRIVE is celebrating National Physiotherapy Month with our incredible Physiotherapy team! 💙

Dedicated to helping infants, children, and school-aged clients grow, move, play, and reach their fullest potential every day. Our team is proud to support their clients and their families with compassion, expertise, and teamwork — from early milestones through success at school and in the community.

💙 Join us in celebrating the amazing impact our Physiotherapy team makes—this month and every month!

https://accessibility.day/

Let's get talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disabilities/impairments.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

GAAD Thursday, May 15, 2025, help us celebrate the 14th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments.

Join EKO's Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning November 2026.

EKO is seeking individuals with experience in legal and regulatory matters, health administration/leadership, and government and government relations.

We invite visionary leaders to apply and help shape the future for the one in six Ontario kids with disabilities and developmental needs, their families, and their communities.

Learn more with the link in comments!