A calm place to learn, play, and belong.

EmpowerU Day Services supports adults and youth on the autism spectrum in Scarborough, Ontario. Every day has a plan, and every person moves at their own pace.

Arrange a visit See our space

Unit 11, 700 Progress Ave, Scarborough, Ontario M1H 2Z7

An example day

Every person builds their own weekly plan. This is one way a day can look.

  1. 9:00 amArrive and settle in
  2. 9:30 amGym time
  3. 11:30 amCook and eat lunch
  4. 12:30 pmQuiet time
  5. 1:15 pmWalk in the park
  6. 2:00 pmMovie or gaming room
  7. 2:45 pmGet ready to go home

Our space

Almost 3,000 square feet, set up for moving, resting, playing, and cooking. Here is what you can do in each room.

  • A group of people sitting in a circle of chairs in our gym, with a drum and a ball, taking part in an activity together.Someone in our gym holding a basketball up to shoot at the hoop, with other people standing nearby.Our gym with a blue trampoline against the back wall and a basketball hoop on the side wall.

    Gym

    Room to move, bounce, and make some noise.

    • Basketball shooting and games
    • Trampoline time
    • Drum circle on the acoustic drum set
    • Obstacle courses and movement games
  • Our library corner with a well-stocked bookshelf, cozy beanbag chairs, and a reading table.

    Library

    A quiet place for books, stories, and creative work.

    • Reading time and story time
    • Drawing and journaling
    • Book club: pick a book and talk about it
    • Homework and study time
  • Our sensory room with two bean bags, a glowing bubble tube, and soft coloured lights.

    Sensory room

    A calm space to rest, reset, and recharge.

    • Calm-down breaks whenever you need one
    • Guided breathing and relaxation
    • Sensory play with textures and sounds
    • Quiet music
  • Four people sitting in our dimmed movie room, watching a film on a glowing wall-mounted TV.

    Movie room

    Watch together, or on your own.

    • Movie afternoons
    • Vote on the film
    • Film club, with time to talk afterwards
    • Popcorn made in the kitchen

  • Gaming room

    Play with friends, or take your turn on your own.

    • Video game time
    • Two-player and team challenges
    • Tournament days
    • Turn-taking and teamwork games

  • And a full kitchen

    Cooking is part of the week too. See what we make.

    See what we cook

In the kitchen

Cooking builds skills and is a lot of fun. Every recipe is broken into clear steps, and everyone gets a job.

A hand spooning cake batter into paper liners in a cupcake tin, with a jug of batter beside it.
Spooning batter into cupcake liners.
Balls of cookie dough on a lined baking tray, with gloved hands nearby, during a baking activity in our kitchen.
Cookie dough ready to bake.

  • Make-your-own pizza

    Choose toppings, build, bake, and eat together.

  • Smoothie bar

    Pick your fruit, blend it, and taste your own mix.

  • Baking day

    Cookies, cupcakes, and banana bread, measured and mixed step by step.

  • Pancake breakfast

    Mix the batter, flip, and add your favourite toppings.

  • Sandwich and wrap station

    Build lunch your way, then pack it up.

  • Picture recipes

    Follow a recipe with photos for each step, from first to last.

  • Fruit and snack prep

    Wash, peel, and cut fruit, then make trail mix or snack boxes.

  • Kitchen helpers

    Set the table, wash up, wipe the counters, and put things away.

  • Menu planning

    Vote on next week's recipe and write the shopping list together.

Out and about

We also spend time away from the building, with plans made ahead so everyone knows what to expect.

A group of people smiling together in front of an Avro Arrow display during a visit to the science centre.
Our group on a visit to the science centre.
A group of people sitting in a row on a bench in the sunshine, with the CN Tower and city buildings behind them.
Relaxing outside on our science centre trip.
Two people walking through a cloud of cool mist in an outdoor plaza on a sunny day.
Cooling off in the mist on the same trip.
A group of people posing together in front of a colourful Toronto Zoo mosaic wall on a sunny day.
Our group on a visit to the Toronto Zoo.
  • A client wading in the shallow end of the pool during a swim outing at Variety Village.

    Swimming at Variety Village

    Time in the water at Variety Village, an inclusive sports and fitness centre.

  • Three people out on the grass in a park, dancing and talking, with tall trees and picnic tables behind them.

    Walks in the park

    Fresh air, nature, and time to move at your own pace.

  • Two people standing on the trampolines at Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park, smiling and talking to each other.

    Sky Zone

    Bouncing and playing games at Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park.

  • A person smiling on the trampoline floor at Flying Squirrel, an indoor trampoline playground with bright pink padded edges.

    Flying Squirrel

    Bouncing and playing at Flying Squirrel, an indoor trampoline playground.

  • A person sitting at a large arcade game at Dave and Buster’s, aiming a toy blaster at the glowing screen.

    Dave & Buster's

    Playing arcade games with friends.

  • A silver supercar with its doors open at a car show, on display under bright lights.

    Visits to car shows

    Checking out the latest cars and getting up close with some real showstoppers.

  • Science centre and Toronto Zoo

    Days out to the science centre and the Toronto Zoo, planned ahead so you know what to expect.

  • Track and gym at Variety Village

    Walk or run laps on the track, or work out in the gym there.

  • Walks around the facility

    Short walks around the building for a change of scene and a reset.

Hours and fees

Two programs, plus a ride to and from home if you need one.

Day program

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Activities in our space and out in the community, for adults and youth on the autism spectrum.

After school

3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

A place to unwind, play, and see friends after the school day.

Pick-up and drop-off

$0.80 per kilometre

We can bring your family member from home to our facility and back again.

How to get started

  1. Get in touch

    Call or email us. Ask anything you like.

  2. Come and see the space

    Look around, meet the team, and see what a day looks like.

  3. Make a plan together

    Choose activities and times. You can change the plan later.

Arrange a visit

Call or write to us, or come and see the space. Ask anything about how a day works, and we will answer in plain language.

Address
Unit 11, 700 Progress Ave
Scarborough, Ontario M1H 2Z7
Get directions
Phone
416-200-7779
Email
info@empowerudayprogram.com
Website
empowerudayprogram.com
Day program
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
After school
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm