The RISE Program Initiative

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RISE — Respite, Inclusion, Skills & Education — is Embers for Access Foundation's integrated community program model, built for children with autism and developmental differences who are navigating waitlists, funding gaps, or limited access to services.

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Rather than offering a single service, RISE brings together a network of trusted partners to deliver four streams of support under one coordinated model. Embers for Access leads the Respite and Inclusion streams, providing structured group experiences, community programming, and meaningful peer connection. Mount Etna Child & Family Services delivers the Skills stream — individualized ABA therapy, parent coaching, and communication support — under the supervision of registered behaviour analysts. Zalik Academy anchors the Education stream, embedding learning within structured, age-appropriate environments for children who thrive with academic routine alongside therapeutic support.

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Every child in RISE is supported by a team that communicates, coordinates, and shares a common goal: meaningful progress in the settings where children actually live, play, and learn. Programs run across multiple community sites in Durham Region, Scarborough, and West Toronto, including clinic spaces, microschool environments, and community partner locations.

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RISE exists because no single provider can meet the whole child. It was designed specifically for the families who have been told to wait — and who deserve something better than waiting alone.

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Who RISE is for: Children ages 2 and up with an autism diagnosis or in the assessment process, whose families are currently on OAP or private waitlists or navigating a gap in funded services.

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How to get started: Families apply through the Embers for Access subsidy application. Our program coordinator reviews each application and follows up with eligible placements across the RISE streams that best fit your child's needs and your family's circumstances.