Adapted Karate – Ages 6 and Up – Sensei Alessandro Bartoli
Adapted Karate offers a supportive and inclusive environment for neurodivergent children and teens. Classes are designed to meet each student where they are, respecting individual needs, abilities, and learning pace. In a safe, encouraging, and pressure-free setting, students develop confidence, coordination, and a strong sense of belonging through movement, play, and the fundamentals of karate. Every achievement is celebrated, no matter how small.
Drama Therapy
Hi! We are Annie and Shannon, two Drama Therapists who dream of creating unique performance opportunities for children across the spectrum. We believe all children deserve a turn in the spotlight.
Our sessions use play, drama, movement, and sensory-based activities to support your child’s self-expression while they build confidence, learn emotional regulation, and develop social skills.
Our personal and professional experiences have taught us to recognize each child has a unique way of communicating their talents and we understand that connection doesn’t always happen through words. Your child will have the opportunity to explore different parts of themselves and experience the freedom of being seen, accepted, and celebrated by others for exactly who they are.
At the end of each month, there will be a small showcase of the works-in-progress, giving children the opportunity to take centre stage!
Drama Therapy
Shannon McKenna, MA Drama Therapy
After earning a BFA in theatre from New York University and 15 years of performing and coaching acrobatics and circus arts, Shannon decided to combine her love for the performing arts with a passion for helping others. She finished a Master’s in Drama Therapy at Concordia University and is completing additional certification in Dance/Movement Therapy, focusing on developmental movement.
Her personal and professional experiences working with neurodiversity fuels her belief that theatre is an accessible avenue to empower children while teaching life skills. She strives to create playful spaces that facilitate each child’s development from humanistic and strength based perspectives.
Annie Tuma, MA Drama Therapy/CCPT Certificate
With an MA in Drama Therapy and a Certificate in Child-Centered Play Therapy, I create spaces where children can connect, explore, and express themselves through play.
Using storytelling, movement, imagination, and creative play, I support children in building confidence, communication skills, emotional awareness, and social connections. My approach is child-led, strengths-based, and neurodiversity-affirming, meeting each child where they are and celebrating their unique way of engaging with the world.
My work is also informed by my ongoing training in Somatic Experiencing®, bringing a body-aware perspective that supports regulation and self-awareness. My goal is to help every child feel welcome, included, and free to be themselves.
Painting Workshop
Loyd Reynel is a visual artist, painter, and art facilitator who believes in the power of art as a gentle and meaningful form of expression. He creates safe, caring, and flexible spaces where children can explore creativity at their own rhythm, free from pressure or expectations. Through colors, shapes, and textures, art becomes an alternative language—especially for neurodivergent and non-verbal children—to express emotions, ideas, and sensations.
This work is deeply personal to Loyd. Having an autistic cousin who holds a special place in his heart, and having often felt different himself, he brings empathy, sensitivity, and authenticity to every interaction. Today, he is actively involved in raising awareness through school programs, artistic exhibitions, and community events, using art to foster connection, inclusion, and self-expression.