Annual Report 2025/26

Driven By Community

Message from our CEO and Board President
Our Impact
Strategic Plan Achievements
Meet Our Donors & Funders

Message from our CEO and Board President

This year, Surrey Place continued to evolve with purpose, adapting our services, strengthening our organization, and expanding our impact to better meet the changing needs of our community. Every step forward reflected our commitment to providing accessible, innovative, and compassionate supports that help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families thrive.

Throughout the year, we strengthened the ways people access care by expanding flexible service delivery, including virtual, home and community-based clinical services, multidisciplinary group programming, and new respite services for families. We also launched Safer Steps My Way, Ontario's first harm reduction program designed specifically for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, creating a new model of care that responds to an important gap in services. At the same time, we continued investing in our people through advanced clinical training, leadership development, and mentorship, strengthening the knowledge, skills, and capacity that will support high-quality care for years to come.

We also remained committed to strengthening Surrey Place's long-term sustainability. Through the generosity of donors, funders, volunteers, and community partners, we expanded opportunities for connection, inclusion, and belonging while building a stronger foundation for the future. Across every area of the organization, collaboration remained central to our work, enabling us to build new partnerships, respond to emerging needs, and create meaningful opportunities for the people and families we serve.

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without our staff, whose compassion, expertise, and dedication make a meaningful difference every day. We are equally grateful to our clients and families, whose experiences and perspectives continue to shape our work, and to our partners, donors, funders, and volunteers, whose ongoing support helps us extend our impact across the communities we serve.

This year also marks the completion of Surrey Place's 2023–2026 Strategic Plan. By working together, we have expanded access to care, strengthened our clinical expertise, deepened community partnerships, advanced equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, and built a stronger, more sustainable organization. These achievements reflect the collective efforts of our community and provide a strong foundation for the future.

As we look ahead to our next strategic plan, we remain guided by the same purpose that has shaped our journey: listening to our community, responding to evolving needs, and creating opportunities for the neurodiverse communities and their families to thrive. We are excited for what comes next and grateful to everyone who continues to evolve with us.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Sincerely,

Dr. Terri Hewitt, Ph.D., C.Psych.

Chief Executive Officer

Carolyn Acker, C.M., R.N., M.A., D.SC.

H.C. Board President

Our Impact

16,136

Unique Clients + Caregivers* per year, including DSO-Toronto Region clients

**excludes infant hearing screening**

0–5 years old

40.15%

6–17 years old

33.62%

18+ years old

24.23%

Unique Clients Served by Locations

4,013

Toronto

3,261

North York

3,508

Scarborough

2,851

Etobicoke

Our Programs

25,712

infants screened through the Infant Hearing Program

1,013

clients supported through behavioural services

1,424

children supported through Developmental Paediatrics

885

children supported through Speech-Language Pathology

286

clients supported through Occupational Therapy

93

clients supported through Multidisciplinary Groups

113

children supported through the Blind Low Vision Program

167

caregivers supported through Respire services

72

clients accessed FASD Clinic serviced

1,395

online wellness events hosted

Our Staff

586

employees at Surrey Place

446

staff completed trained in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) fundamentals

387

staff completed anti-Black racism training

Our Partnership

42

Partner Solutions contracts with 27 completed and fully paid, each with a unique timeline

$285,682.86

Total funds raised through grants, sponsorships, partnerships, etc.

Strategic Plan Achievements

Expanding Access to Flexible Clinical Services

Launching Recreational Respite Services

Investing in Advanced Clinical Expertise

Expanding Community Partnerships

Surrey Place’s Partner Solutions continued to evolve its work beyond developmental services this year, expanding partnerships and bringing specialized supports into community, education, and wellness environments. These initiatives reflect a growing commitment to meeting communities where they are and adapting services to the unique needs and diverse contexts of the communities we serve.

A key example was the partnership with Humber College to support one of their students enrolled in a post-secondary program experiencing significant stress due to managing school alongside a medical condition. Through this collaboration, Surrey Place provided coordinated behavioural supports, including a support worker and Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA), helping the student remain engaged and successfully complete their coursework. This targeted, time-limited intervention highlights the value of flexible, in-situ supports that enable participation and success in inclusive education settings.

Partner Solutions also continued its work with Northern communities through a partnership with Lac Seul First Nation, providing wrap-around interprofessional services to students across three schools: Obishikokaang Elementary School in Frenchman’s Head, Waninitawingaang Memorial School in Kejick Bay, and Morris Thomas Memorial Christian School in Whitefish Bay. A multidisciplinary team of clinicians, including behaviour therapy professionals, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychometrists, and clinical psychology professionals, collaborated with school staff and caregivers to support students’ participation and engagement in services. Supports were delivered both virtually and through in-person clinical visits to Lac Seul.

Additionally, Partner Solutions advanced community-based and wellness-focused programming designed to promote connection, engagement, and emotional well-being for neurodivergent individuals. These emerging initiatives reflect Surrey Place’s continued evolution toward flexible, community-based models of support that promote connection, participation, and belonging.

Strengthening Organizational Sustainability

Accessible and Exceptional Service

Mobile Behaviour Family Support and Stabilization Program

Surrey Place’s Mobile Behaviour Family Support and Stabilization Program (MBTT/MBS-P), in partnership with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, provides timely in-home behavioural intervention and coordinated supports for children and youth with complex behavioural, developmental, and family needs involved with the child welfare system.

During the pilot year, the program supported 21 children and youth across 19 families, with most families receiving behavioural support within 30 days of referral, enabling timely intervention during periods of high need. Among participating families, 71% of children and youth remained at home and did not enter care during their involvement. Families were also connected to developmental, respite, behavioural, and urgent response services.

Evaluation findings demonstrated strengthened caregiver capacity, improved service access, and reduced placement disruption. Key learnings informed program enhancements, including dedicated service coordination, expanded staffing, and clearer service pathways.

Safer Steps My Way: Launching a New Model of Inclusive Harm Reduction

This year, Surrey Place launched Safer Steps My Way: Community Outreach for Drug and Alcohol Use, Ontario’s first harm reduction program designed specifically for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) who use drugs or alcohol and may also intersect with the justice system. Funded by Health Canada, the four-year initiative moved from planning into active service delivery across the Greater Toronto Area and the Kenora–Rainy River region following extensive development and community engagement completed in the previous year.

Through multidisciplinary teams and strong local partnerships, the program delivers flexible, wraparound supports that meet people where they are and prioritize dignity, choice and accessibility. In Northwestern Ontario, the establishment of a full regional team marked an important milestone in expanding local service capacity.

Between the January 2026 launch and March 31, 2026, Safer Steps My Way received 46 referrals across Toronto and Northern Ontario, with strong growth driven through professional networks and community awareness. Early uptake demonstrates the need for this model of care.

Co-created with people with living and lived experience, the program continues to reduce barriers and expand access. Through a partnership with TELUS and the Mobility for Good® program, Surrey Place was able to secure 240 phones with talk-and-text plans to help participants stay connected to supports and maintain continuity of care.

Culture of Resilience

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Gathering

On September 30, 2025, Surrey Place hosted its first organization-wide National Day for Truth and Reconciliation gathering, creating a dedicated space for staff to reflect, learn, and share responsibility in advancing reconciliation. Developed by the EDIA Innovation team in collaboration with Indigenous partners and organizational leaders, the gathering encouraged staff to deepen their understanding of the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools and consider how the principles of truth and reconciliation can inform their everyday work. By fostering learning, reflection, and meaningful dialogue, Surrey Place continues to strengthen a workplace culture grounded in respect, accountability, and a commitment to reconciliation.

Sharing Knowledge Across the Sector

In Spring 2026, Surrey Place shared its expertise at the Inclusion Symposium’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Community of Practice (EDI CoP), presenting Strengthening Our Organization with Intention: A Process for Gathering Socio-Demographic Data Using an EDIA Approach.

The presentation highlighted Surrey Place’s approach to ethical socio-demographic data collection, including staff engagement, privacy considerations, and building trust throughout the process. By sharing its experience and lessons learned, Surrey Place contributed to sector-wide conversations on advancing equity through thoughtful, evidence-informed organizational practices.

Employment Equity Data Collection

This year, Surrey Place strengthened its commitment to equity by launching its first organization-wide Employment Equity questionnaire. By integrating equity data collection into its People Services systems, Surrey Place is building its capacity to identify systemic barriers, measure progress, and inform equitable recruitment, retention, and advancement practices.

Developed with transparency, privacy, and staff trust at its core, this initiative provides a stronger foundation for evidence-informed decision-making and supports Surrey Place's ongoing commitment to fostering a more inclusive workplace that reflects the communities it serves.

Building Leadership Capacity

In October 2025, Surrey Place launched its Leadership Foundations program, bringing together 16 leaders representing multiple levels of management and departments across the organization. Through this five-week intensive program, participants explored the foundational skills needed to lead effectively at Surrey Place and provided feedback to help shape future delivery. The program was designed to strengthen leadership capability, support ongoing professional growth, and build a shared foundation for leadership across the organization. As Surrey Place continues to evolve, investments in leadership development help create the conditions for stronger teams, greater organizational capacity, and future growth.

Supporting Career Growth Through Mentorship

This year, Surrey Place strengthened its mentorship program to provide more targeted opportunities for staff growth and development. Enhancements included focused support on interview preparation, navigating career pathways within Surrey Place, and building effective networking skills. The impact of the program was reflected in staff advancement: following the February to August 2025 cohort, three participants moved into management positions and 11 participants transitioned into new roles through promotions or lateral career moves. These outcomes included both mentors and mentees and demonstrate Surrey Place’s commitment to developing talent from within.

Advancing Accessible Hiring and Onboarding

Surrey Place continued to strengthen accessibility across the employee experience through its Accessible Hiring and Onboarding Project. Working in partnership with Lived Experience Associates (LEAs), the organization updated key recruitment and onboarding materials—including job postings, interview guides, and onboarding resources to align with principles of universal design and accessibility. This work helps create a more inclusive and equitable experience for current and future employees while supporting Surrey Place’s commitment to reducing barriers across every stage of the employee journey.

Our Financials

Funding Sources

Provincial government: 80%

Municipal government: 1%

Fee for service & grant revenue: 16%

Other revenue: 3%

3 Year Expenditure Trend ($’000)

2023-24: $95,872

2024-25: $95,872

2025-26: $100,980

Download Financial Report

Meet Our Donors & Funders

Opening Doors to Community: Farrah’s Story

“I often feel anxious about going to the movies, but [Surrey Place’s Social Inclusion Excursions] made me feel included and not judged. The quiet environment, dimmed lights, and closed captioning helped me feel comfortable and able to participate in my community.”

— Farrah, Surrey Place Client

Thanks to donor support and community partnerships, Surrey Place’s Social Inclusion Excursions help individuals with developmental disabilities experience community spaces in ways that feel welcoming and accessible. For Farrah, attending her first screening at the TIFF Lightbox was more than a movie outing — it was an opportunity to build confidence, explore a new space, and experience a greater sense of belonging.

Through accessible experiences like these, donors are helping build communities where people with developmental disabilities are recognized as valued participants, advocates, creators, and contributors

This section reflects donations and funders for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

Donors

Ab Velasco

Alan & Frances Flint

Amy Tran

Ana Santo

Andrew Anderson

Andrew McKinnon

Angela Dosis

Ann Smith

Anne Marie Cassin

Ashley Mamchur

Ayal Dinner

Ayanna Demetrius

Barbara Tallis

Barbara Wright

Barry Issacs

Bill Hogarth Secondary School - Best Buddies Club

Brendan Rogacki

Bruce Edwards

Bruce Wilson

Carla Silva

Carolyn Acker

Charities Aid Foundation of Canada

Cher Wells

Cheryl-Ann Camilleri

Corey Giovanella

Cresa Toronto

Deborah Bluestein

Elizabeth MacLeod

Elysse Leonard

Emily Smits

Emma Nosella

Esther Kim

Farm Boy Inc.

Felicitas Camposano

Felix Camposano

Fern Goncalves

Fernanda Araujo

Fit Squad

Frank Anderson

Garry Melville

Gemma De Guzman

Gilda Katz

Gilda Whyne

Goran Nikolovski

Guy Beaudin

Harishan Thaskaran

Heidi Ebert

Henry Fischler

IMCH Confections Incorporated/Courage Cookies

Jacob Yacoumidis

James Coleman

James Colman

James Savage

Janet Vogt

Jason Behamdouni

Jeanny Scantlebury

Jeff Payne

Jeff Shaw

Jeffrey Good

Jeniffer Lagman

Jennifer Allan

Jennifer Howey

Jennifer Tracey

Joe Bortolussi

John Flannery

John Hughes

John Percy

John Smith

Jose Philip Lagapa

Jozsef Hocs

Karen White

Karyn Farber

Kelsey Argue

Ku Alagan

Kumar Debidayal

Lai Doo

Lin Partridge

Lindsay Cubberley

Margarita Kodzhahincheva

Maria Louro

Maria Luisa Marchi

Maria Maglieri McNulty

Mark Hamill

Mark Lachman

Mary Caravias

Marzia Moro Quintana

Masira Abowath

Matthew Rosenberg

Meagan Blunt

Melanie Randall

Melissa Haeussler

Michael Richardson

Michael Rooke

Michael Wong

Monita Siu Han Chan

Muriel Flynn

Nancy Freeman

Natasha Fatah

Nebojsa Djosic

Nicholas Reed

Nick Jacko

Norie Anlacan

Olga Uporova Chen

Paul Szikszai

PayPal Giving Fund

Petar Petrovic

Robert Perkins

Roy Bryant

Sandra-Marine Isautier

Scott Hill

SDI Design

Square

Sharon Filger

Sharon Shelton

Shirin Dhalech

Sunil Khurana

Susan Edminston

Susan Lapell

Tai-Hing Hui

Teodora Hauptricht

Terri Hewitt

Thelma Neale

Thi-Kim Quyen Huynh

Tiffany Gurprasad

Tom Holdaway

Tricia Deroche

Valerie Temple

Vicki Bales

Wesley Hatfield

Funders

Board of Directors 2025/26

President

CAROLYN ACKER, C.M.,
R.N., M.A., D.SC. H.C.

Management Consultant Carolyn

Acker & Associates

Vice President

MICHAEL ROOKE, BBA,

CPA, CA, LPA

Partner Tinkham LLP

Directors

ASHAN M. FERNANDO

Former City of Toronto Councillor

Candidate, Hospitality/hotel

management professional

BAABA FORSON, B.A. (HONS.), LL.B.

Crown Counsel, Ministry of the

Attorney General, Ontario Public

Service

KEMI ODUWOLE LL B, LL M, M. CIARB

Managing Partner Kindriwlaw

Professional Corporation

(practicing as Topmarké Attorneys, LLP)

MICHAEL RICHARDSON, HBA

CEO & Co-Owner Eclipsys

Solutions Inc.

FRANK ANDERSON, FCPA, CPA

Retired Accountant

VICKI BALES, M.ED., PH.D.

Retired President, Vicki Bales

Consulting Inc. Consulting in

Community Health and Human

Services

Joe Bortolussi, MSW, RSW

Former Healthcare Executive & Social Services Leader, Community Health & Rehabilitation Professional

Linda Charlebois, CPA, CA, CHRL, C.Dir, LLM

Chartered Professional Accountant, Senior Executive & Public/Not-for-Profit Sector Leader

Stephanie Rygus

Autism Self-Advocate & Disability Rights Advocate, Surrey Place Self-Advocacy Council Member

I'm New - Start Here

Intake & Registration

Funding & Costs

Eligibility & Who We Serve

Resources & Tools

Community Supports

Education

Research & Publications

Events & Workshops

Get Involved

About Us

Contact Us

I'm New - Start Here

Intake & Registration

Funding & Costs

Eligibility & Who We Serve

Resources & Tools

Community Supports

Education

Research & Publications

Events & Workshops

Get Involved

About Us

Contact Us

Annual Report 2025/26

Driven By Community

Message from our CEO and Board President

Our Impact

16,136

40.15%

33.62%

24.23%

Unique Clients Served by Locations

4,013

3,261

North York

3,508

2,851

Our Programs

25,712

1,013

1,424

885

286

93

113

167

72

1,395

Our Staff

586

446

387

Our Partnership

42

$285,682.86

Strategic Plan Achievements

Mobile Behaviour Family Support and Stabilization Program

Safer Steps My Way: Launching a New Model of Inclusive Harm Reduction

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Gathering

Sharing Knowledge Across the Sector

Employment Equity Data Collection

Building Leadership Capacity

Supporting Career Growth Through Mentorship

Advancing Accessible Hiring and Onboarding

Our Financials

Meet Our Donors & Funders

Board of Directors 2025/26

CAROLYN ACKER, C.M.,R.N., M.A., D.SC. H.C.

MICHAEL ROOKE, BBA,

CPA, CA, LPA

ASHAN M. FERNANDO

BAABA FORSON, B.A. (HONS.), LL.B.

KEMI ODUWOLE LL B, LL M, M. CIARB

MICHAEL RICHARDSON, HBA

FRANK ANDERSON, FCPA, CPA

VICKI BALES, M.ED., PH.D.

Joe Bortolussi, MSW, RSW

Linda Charlebois, CPA, CA, CHRL, C.Dir, LLM

Stephanie Rygus

CAROLYN ACKER, C.M.,
R.N., M.A., D.SC. H.C.