Inclusion Services | City of Oshawa

The City of Oshawa Inclusion Services strives to provide an inclusive recreation experience at our camps, adaptive programs and seasonal programs. To ensure meaningful and safe engagement we provide support that addresses communication, behaviour and self-regulation, environmental and sensory considerations, personal care and physical accessibility.

While our goal is to support everyone, there are limitations to the supports we are able to offer and participation criteria that must be met as outlined below.

Is my child ready for community-based recreation with the City of Oshawa?

The goal of 1 to 1 inclusion support is an inclusive and integrated recreation experience within our camps and programs. The intent is not to provide care and supervision separate from the camp or program. To ensure that your child is ready to participate in our camps and/or programs please review the readiness checklist below, and the detailed lists of the supports that we can and cannot provide.

Camp and program ready checklist

My child is ready to participate in City of Oshawa camps and programs with support if they can:

Participate in the programming 50% of the time;
Remain in the program space;
Respect a closed door and is not a flight risk;
Participate safely at a public park, pool or splash pad;
Safely transition between program spaces in a busy community recreation centre;
Perform basic activities of daily living, such as feeding, dressing and toileting independently with verbal prompts;
Communicate their needs and wants, using their preferred mode of communication;
Follow a one-step instruction such as “put on your shoes”; and
Interact and engage in the programming in a manner that is safe for themselves and others.

When participation may be reviewed

The City of Oshawa reserves the right to re-evaluate a participant's registration if:

The participant’s medical, physical, or behavioural needs change over time;
The participant’s needs are different from what was shared on the Participant Information Form; or
A participant causes injury to a staff member or another participant.

Participant support information

Communication supports

To support participant's communication in their preferred mode, our Inclusion Services provides the following:

Break and communication cards;
Choice, communication and core boards;
Picture exchange communication;
Staff with knowledge of communication by gestures, hand-leading and basic sign language; and
Staff with knowledge of and experience with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices and apps such as Proloquo2Go (participants must bring their own device/app).

Behavioural and self-regulation supports

To promote success, our Inclusion Services provides the following:

A strength-based approach to promoting engagement and participation;
First-then boards, communication and strategies;
Incorporation of a participant’s preferred interests;
Positive reinforcement and individualized reward systems;
Transition warnings and timers; and
Verbal redirection using positive language (we do not use “no” to redirect).

Environmental and safety supports

To promote success, our Inclusion Services provides the following:

Alternative seating options;
Dedicated areas for breaks and sensory tents;
Fidget items and sensory bins;
Noise-cancellation headphones;
Visual schedules and picture cues;
Weighted lap pads; and
A portable trampoline.

Personal care and physical supports

To assist participants with their activities of daily living and ensure safe participation, our Inclusion Services provides the following:

Access to adaptive equipment and/or program modifications;
Assistance with movement and navigation for participants who use a wheelchair;
Manual transfers with a two staff member to one participant ratio;
Assistance with changing for swimming or water activities;
Verbal support for bathroom routines;
Support with meals, snacks and hydration through verbal guidance and assistance with containers;
Monitoring and responding to seizures following approved municipal and personal protocols; and
Assistance with the administration of medication a Medication Administration Request form must be filled out.

If your child requires assistance with any of the above, please complete the Consent to Care form.

Supports we are unable to provide

City of Oshawa inclusion staff receive training in supporting individuals with disabilities and are certified in first aid. They are not professionally or clinically qualified, and the level of medical, personal, and specialized care they can provide is limited.

If a participant requires the below listed supports, caregivers or families can provide an external support person who is familiar with the participant and has the required credentials to provide the care needed. An External Support Form must be completed.

Diapering or changing of briefs for participants older than age six;
Catheterization;
Injections, blood sugar monitoring or other diabetic related care;
Intimate personal care, including menstrual hygiene assistance;
Tube feeding;
Suctioning; and
Managing self-injurious or aggressive behaviours toward others.

Register for inclusion support

Residency

Due to increased demand, City of Oshawa residents are given priority for inclusion support (1 to1). Residents and non-residents of Oshawa are welcome to provide qualified external support persons. When our resources are fully allocated, families are welcome to provide qualified external support persons. An External Support Form must be completed.

Inclusion external support criteria

Requirements for External Support Workers

Be at least 16 years of age
Provide a Criminal Reference Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Check, completed within the last six months, prior to attending any program or camp
Provide proof of valid Standard First Aid certification
Understand that they are employed by the parent/guardian, not by the City of Oshawa
Have previous successful experience working with the participant and a strong understanding of their individual needs, with the ability to effectively support their participation
Work cooperatively with City staff to help achieve program integration goals
Understand and follow all City of Oshawa program policies and procedures
Be on-site for the full duration of the camp day (9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), including camp lunch and any registered extended supervision. Participants cannot join the program until their support worker has arrived
Accompany and actively supervise the participant during all camp activities, including daily swims, ice skating, splash pad visits, and park trips
Assume full responsibility for the care, support, and safety of the participant during all activities and remain with the participant at all times
Acknowledge that City of Oshawa staff cannot relieve external support workers at any point during the day

Inclusion support allocation

To ensure fair access to inclusion support (1 to1) at our camps and programs, allocations are based on staff availability, demand, program capacity, and the level of support required, with priority given to City of Oshawa residents. Support is not guaranteed as resources are limited.

Intake process requirements

If a family does not complete all required steps of the intake process, the participant will not be eligible for inclusion support and may be removed from the program.

Requesting inclusion support at camp (new process).

Caregivers must complete the Inclusion Services Camp Registration and Profile Form indicating their preferred weeks in order of priority. We try to accommodate preferences, however the number of weeks of inclusion support (1 to 1) is not guaranteed. When our resources are fully allocated, families are welcome to provide qualified external support persons. An External Support Form must be completed.

Families requesting inclusion support are not required to register on camp registration day.

Steps to Register for Inclusion Support:

Access the Inclusion Services Camp Registration and Profile Form - Available March 1, 2026;
Complete the Inclusion Profile Form by April 1, 2026;
Receive confirmation of camp weeks with inclusion support April 30, 2026; and
Register for camp - a City of Oshawa clerk will contact families to register for approved weeks.

Requesting inclusion support at seasonal programs

Request 1 to1 inclusion support for any registered program listed on activeOshawa Online.

Register for program(s) of choice and the seasonal inclusion code.

All participants requesting inclusion support must fill out the Inclusion Services Camp Registration and Profile Form. The Inclusion Coordinator will confirm if the request for inclusion support can be provided.