YOUR JOURNEY

A primary focus of Mandala Educational Therapy is engaging young people with disabilities in creative and recreational programs to develop their skills and confidence in building friendships. Establishing a sense of belonging and connection strengthen young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual well-being. Immersing young people with disabilities within a community of learners whereby they transform knowledge and contribute to their own personal insights and experiences sparks an excitement and motivation for schooling and learning, building your child’s inner confidence that generalizes to other environments, such as school. Once children feel connected with other peers and feel like they belong in their learning environment, academics and behaviours improve. At Mandala Educational Therapy we believe that understanding others’ behaviours, emotions, and perspectives are key to building friendships. 

Through creative arts, cooperative games and activities, and other forms of artistic therapeutic interventions (e.g., music and movement, play, poetry, drama, yoga, mindfulness) we work on strengthening proficiency in the following areas: conversation through various forms of communication, appropriate social interactions, following group instructions and routines, receptive listening, positive body language, expressive language, sharing, feelings and perspective taking, socio-emotional awareness, and imaginative curiosity.  

Groups run for 1.5 hours (90 min.)/per week, for a total of 8 weeks. Once joining a program, children must commit to the entire 8 weeks – this consistency ensures optimal opportunity for developing a strong community of learners and friends, particularly as it takes time to build trust and rapport among a group. Children can repeat a program more than once or they may start a new program upon completion of a previous group.  Caregivers will receive weekly feedback reports on their child’s progress and participation.  

Currently, we are offering the following groups: 

The More We Get Together – This is an early years program for young children ages 18 months - 6 years. This group runs every day (Monday-Friday) from 11am-12:30pm.  

Communicate, Create, and Connect – This is a program suitable for middle years/tweens ages 7-12 years. This group runs every day (Monday-Friday) from 3pm-4:30pm.