Empowered Kids Ontario

06/05/2026

See you at AccessFest tomorrow!
https://accessnow.com/fest/

AccessFest, AccessNow

AccessFest is Toronto’s bold new festival celebrating accessibility, community, and culture. Join us at David Pecaut Square on June 6, 2026.

06/03/2026

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital's Brain Computer Interface (BCI) program is helping kids with disabilities connect and interact with the world around them.

The clinical BCI program at Holland Bloorview—the first in the world—has worked with children with cerebral palsy, brain injuries, neurodegenerative conditions, and, more recently, autism spectrum disorder and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Holland Bloorview's BCI system measures a user’s brain activity using headsets that map patterns into different commands to control an application, such as a music player or a game. For example, a user could turn on their favourite YouTube video just by thinking.

Seth seems to be enjoying it!

Possibility Neurotechnologies

Canadian scientists are using brain-computer interfaces to help kid...

06/02/2026

It's National AccessAbility Week in Canada!
https://www.cbc.ca/television/celebrate-national-accessability-week-2026-with-cbc-9.7211001

Looking for something to watch? Consider checking out some of the following disability-led and -focused content on CBC/Radio-Canada platforms:
- AccessCBC (national program for Deaf and disabled creators)
- Teeny Tales (kids' series designed with ASL—coming soon!)
- National AccessAbility playlists on CBC Kids YouTube and Gem page
- The Assembly (CBC Gem interview series)
- ASD Band (CBC Gem movie)
- The Unique Boutique (CBC Gem adaptive fashion series)
- Breaking Character (CEB Gem series about disabled performers)
- We Were Broncos (AMI docu-series about Ryan Streschnitzki)
- Reunion (AMI drama series)

AMI

May 31 to June 6, 2026 we celebrate all the ways we've helped reflect the experiences of disability in Canadian life.

06/01/2026

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.

05/29/2026

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

05/28/2026

Submit your EKO Tribute Award nominations before Monday!
https://www.empoweredkidsontario.ca/submitanomination

05/27/2026

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.

05/26/2026

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

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. 

05/22/2026

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!

05/22/2026