Our Program

Learn more about what we do.

Our program is designed to meet the unique needs of our clients. Our comprehensive approach includes a blend of recreational activities, academics, independent living, and opportunities for social interaction.

An Overview

The participants are split into groups based on their ability and level of support required. Each group has a different daily schedule tailored to their needs and preferred activities.

Participants transition between activities every 30 minutes. Applewood has 5 classrooms and access to a full gymnasium in the afternoons.

Our program is curated to support academic, sensory, social, and recreational needs. There is a different theme each week, tailored to our participants’ interests and learning goals, which helps staff to plan fun, meaningful activities.

Our program runs Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. Participants and their family/guardian can choose their scheduled days, depending on availability, and can opt for full or half-days. We do not offer drop-ins.

Full day: 9 am to 4 pm

Half-day morning: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Half-day afternoon: 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm

There are two set lunch times, depending on the participant’s group and feeding requirements. Lunch will take place from either 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, or from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm.

Applewood is open throughout the year, including during the summer and March break. The Centre is closed for all statutory holidays and for two weeks during the Winter break. Registered families will receive a copy of our yearly calendar with closures. Additionally, the calendar can be found in the footer of our website.

Explore Our Activities

Participants are involved in activities to develop knowledge and improve skills in the application of day-to-day living.
Academic activities include science, literacy, mathematics, trivia, history, geography, strategy building, and money management.
Our participants are involved in activities which support the development of personal and domestic skills. Daily tasks include laundry, kitchen clean-up, general housekeeping, and simple food preparation.
Our Independent Living and Advanced Life Skills programs explore money management, social skills, nutrition, resume building, and other important skills that foster independence.
Our English as a Second Language program offers a nurturing and inclusive environment for select clients to develop their English language skills. Meeting once a week, our program is designed to provide personalized instruction that helps select participants improve their communication abilities and gain confidence in everyday situations.

Recreation therapy focuses on building new skills, enhancing cognition, social functioning, and increasing confidence. Clients take part in numerous recreational activities, such as listening to music, playing instruments, dancing, performing arts, gardening, puzzles, and board games.
Trips to our local leisure attractions and facilities help to provide a greater sense of being connected and belonging to the community. Some previous day trips have been to Riverwood Conservatory, South Common Mall, Mississauga Ribfest, bowling, and cooking classes.
Participants take part in activities planned for personal expression, recreation, and pleasure. Practical applications such as decorations for seasonal celebrations and displays of crafts are always in progress. The use of a wide range of materials are used and explored.
Our participants engage in activities that allow them to explore current media and news in a safe, supervised way. Guided by our themes of the week, staff and participants explore current events and daily news in an interesting and engaging way.
Each day our participants are encouraged to engage in our calendar activity, where we explore the date, weather, season, and special events that took place on that day in history.
We have a computer lab which includes laptops and tablets for participants to engage in both supervised free time and planned activities.

We encourage participation in a variety of physical activities to improve personal fitness and to promote an active lifestyle. Applewood is located in an old high school building, which allows us to have access to a full gymnasium every afternoon. In addition, weather permitting, we have access to a track and nearby walking trails.
Socializing is a main focus at Applewood. Participants have ample time to connect with other participants, staff, and field placement students each day. Every activity breeds an opportunity to practice and develop social skills. Participants are encouraged to take part in our Healthy Relationships program which assists in the development of social skills, etiquette, and community skills. Some activities participants engage in include learning about street/pedestrian signs, boundaries, healthy relationships, and manners/etiquette.
Our participants engage in daily mindfulness and sensory activities. Our facility includes a sensory room that provides a comforting, calm, yet stimulating experience where participants can explore different sensory stimuli and engage in guided meditation.
Special occasions are celebrated at Applewood, including diverse holidays, birthdays, and event days, such as track and field day, talent shows, and winter fest.