junior inclusion services logoIf your child or youth has a disability and requires support, Junior Inclusion Services (JIS) can provide free, limited, one-on-one support to them. JIS supports within the Recreation and Culture, Children and Youth programs. Our team helps children and youth reach their goals physically, mentally, and socially while participating in our programs.

Who is JIS for?

JIS support is not required

  • Behaviour is typical for their age

  • When supported by JIS, the Facilitator does not need to provide support and recommends they come independently

  • Assistive devices allow the child to participate independently

JIS support is recommended
  • Your child has a diagnosis or is undergoing the diagnosis process, along with one (or more) of the following:

  • Your child is non-speaking, or requires assistance with communication

  • Your child is a flight risk
  •  Your child has personal care needs
  • Your child needs assistance with transitions, behaviour redirection
  • Your child may become aggressive towards themselves
  • Your child cannot participate with the group, unless assisted by a staff person

Needs exceed JIS support capabilities
  • Two staff members are required to provide support
  • Restraints are required 
  • Personal care needs go above JIS' capacity 
  • Aggressive behaviours that staff are unable to mitigate (see Cancellation Policy)

 

Steps to Take

If you are interested in support for one of our programs (listed below), please follow these steps: 

1) Let us know! Please do so by emailing jis@thunderbay.ca. At this point you will be added to our email list. We send out emails when the request list opens, as well as reminders about registration and upcoming sessions. 
2) If you are new to using JIS, we ask that you complete a Participant Information Form. If you require a PDF copy please let us know!
3) A JIS Coordinator will contact you to provide next steps! 

The Request List

  • The request list for support list for programming from January-June is NOW OPEN. 

  • Support is scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. We have a limited amount of hours, that is based on staff availability. 
  • The Winter session will be scheduled and support finalized by early January. 
  • The Spring session will be scheduled and support finalized by early April. Scheduling for the Spring session will start at the point on the request list where the Winter session ended. 
  • In early January requests for support during March Break and PA Days will be opened. Please email jis@thunderbay.ca if interested. 
  • The Summer Request list will open March 2, 2026.

Programs

JIS support can be scheduled in the following programs:

July-August

September-June

Things to Know

Scheduling
  • JIS is free
  • Children/youth are scheduled in a first come first serve order
  • Support is scheduled for a single session (fall/winter/spring/summer) at a time
  • Contact us before you register for a program
  • During the summer, support is scheduled for the equivalent of one week of camp/programming
  • During the fall/winter/spring, participants are scheduled for one weekly program
  • Support is scheduled based on child/youth need and staff availability

Site visits
  • Conducted at the location of the program, or other agreed upon location. A combination of a phone call and visit may also be an option. 
  • Site visits are scheduled before your child/youth comes to our program.
  • Perfect time to ask questions and for staff to meet your child/youth.
  • Most often within two weeks of program start date.
  • Must be within City limits.

Frequently Asked Questions 
 
  • Is financial aid available for the programs?
    • JIS does not provide financial support for the programs we support in. Check out PRO Kids for information on financial support for children in recreation.

  • Does JIS provide transportation to and from programming?  

    • JIS does not provide any means of transportation to programming. Staff will meet participants on-site for support. 

  • Can my child come without JIS support, if I am also accessing JIS?

    • Once support has been scheduled, typically that means that the child requires support to participate safely and successfully in the program, and as a result cannot attend programming without a JIS Facilitator or a PSW provided by the family. 

    • There are a couple exceptions to this, which include:

      • If there is a specific activity the child needs support in (ex swimming), they can attend programs that do not have swimming without support
      • If it has been identified that a certain structure of programming requires support, while others do not (ex full day summer programming vs after school programming)
      • The child’s needs are on the cusp of requiring support and it is agreed that an attempt without support can be made.
    • Please note any exceptions must be approved by the Program Supervisor - Children, Youth and JIS.
  • Will my child always need JIS support?
    • Children change as the age and sometimes that means they will no longer require support. In these cases children will 'graduate from JIS'.
      • If the parent/guardian or JIS staff member suggests that a child no longer needs JIS, the following are steps that could happen:
      • JIS staff will pull back from support and take notes on how it is going.
      • A schedule of check in's will be created for an allotted period of time.
    • If JIS support is required again, after the child has graduated, just contact us!

Personal Support Workers
  • Our programs welcome Personal Support Workers to attend the program with a child who needs extra support!
  • We recommend you call the program ahead of time, so that we can help with any adaptions, information sharing and help create a welcoming environment for the child and their PSW.
  • A PSW Support package will be provided at the program for you to review on your first day with our programs.

More resources for children with disabilities

Over 18

If your youth is 19 or older, Inclusion Services provides support in Recreation Programs.

Support Suspended/Cancelled Policy 

The Junior Inclusion Services (JIS) program, offered by the City of Thunder Bay, provides a valuable opportunity for children aged 5-18 with disabilities to actively engage in our programs. JIS ensures inclusive participation by offering personalized one-to-one support across various support needs.

 In the event that a participants behaviour exceeds our staffing ability, support can be suspended or cancelled until a new plan is developed and in place to provide support in the safest way possible for both the staff and the participant. In these rare instances JIS staff will ensure they have exhausted all support strategies and will keep parent/guardians as up to date as possible. Some behaviours that may result in the cancellation of support are: repetitive aggression or violence towards Facilitators, program staff, oneself, or other participants, recurring events of eloping that raise safety concerns, changing personal care needs and participants that require 2:1 support to maintain safety. Acts of violence encompass behaviors such as biting, hitting, punching, kicking, spitting, pulling hair, throwing objects and other behaviours that put the safety of oneself or others at risk. It is our hope that support can be tailored to meet the needs of your child and we look forward to working with you to make that happen!

Should you have any inquiries or concerns, please feel free to contact us at jis@thunderbay.ca. We are here to assist you.

Interested in being a part of our team?

If you are interested in applying to work in our Programs during the school year or as a part of our summer staff team, visit the City of Thunder Bay Jobs page for job descriptions and application forms.

If you require a PDF in an accessible format, please email our Municipal Accessibility Specialist.

 

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