Families of children and youth with disabilities and developmental needs can look forward to a fun and accessible March Break, thanks to Children’s Treatment Network (CTN). CTN, which operates in Simcoe and York, offers a range of inclusive events designed to provide safe, supportive activities for kids and youth who may traditionally experience barriers to participation.
“Children’s Treatment Network was inspired to host inclusive March Break events to provide kids and youth with disabilities and developmental needs, and their families, an opportunity to have fun in safe, supportive environments,” explains Maureen Marcoux, Community and Family Coordinator (Simcoe). “Recognizing the limited availability of inclusive programming, we created these events to better support CTN families.”
Although many of the York Region events are filling up quickly, there is still space available at the Township of King event on Thursday, March 13. Meanwhile, a variety of Simcoe-based March Break offerings remain open for registration. Families can kick off their break on Monday, March 10, at Heartworks Children’s Studio in Orillia, where kids will explore open-ended art and play stations that encourage creativity and fine motor skill development.
On Thursday, March 13, in King Township (Zancor Centre) and Friday, March 14, in Barrie (the Common Roof—165 Ferris Lane), college students from Seneca’s Therapeutic Recreation program and Georgian College’s Occupational/Physical Therapy programs will team up with CTN to run activity stations featuring STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) challenges, arts and crafts, sensory activities, and fun with food.
Marcoux points out that March Break can be challenging for families who have a child with a disability or developmental need. Inclusive recreational activities are often limited, and cost can be another barrier. By offering free events, CTN aims to remove obstacles to participation and give everyone a chance to engage in fun activities.
The organization works with venues to make experiences as accessible as possible and where needed, and it provides recreational equipment to families through the Equipment Loan Program to increase access. Most programs are open to kids up to age 19 (or 21 if still in high school), with a focus on supporting children and youth who have disabilities or developmental needs.
Even after March Break, CTN continues to offer events covering everything from adapted sports and creative arts to outdoor exploration and STEM. “Our events support personal and therapeutic goals outside of therapy settings,” Marcoux explains. “Kids can build skills and discover new interests in a fun, relaxed environment, while caregivers get to step back, enjoy family time, and focus on making memories.”
Families consistently report positive experiences. Marcoux shares a testimonial from a parent who said, “CTN made it easy so that I was able to focus solely on my family and their enjoyment for the day!” Another parent noted, “If it wasn’t for these events, I don’t know what I would do… The employees are the key. They are always friendly and helpful!”
All March Break events are free, and interested families can see a list of event offerings on the CTN website. CTN also provides inclusive event offerings year-round.
To stay up-to-date on all future events, visit CTN’s events calendar or subscribe to our newsletters. Looking ahead, Marcoux and her team plan to expand collaborations with partner organizations to continue creating accessible, barrier-free fun for families year-round.