About Us

Mission

Centennial Infant and Child Centre is committed to the development and education of young children with developmental challenges. Centennial focuses on the individual needs of each child and family through early intervention at home, in our integrated preschool and kindergarten programs, and through participation in community programs. Centennial values and builds on the unique abilities and strengths of children with special needs, and encourages all of them to develop the confidence and skills to find their place in the world.

Vision

Centennial Infant and Child Centre helps children with special needs begin to learn strategies which will help them to develop and function as independently as possible in society.Staff and families set goals through which these strategies will be achieved. All aspects of a child’s development are considered. We believe the goals are best accomplished through an individualized program. In our preschool this is enhanced with a one-to-one adult/child ratio and with the inclusion of normally developing children.

We work directly with families to lend emotional support and to encourage the optimal development of each child. This is an on-going process in which the staff and the family learn from each other.

History

In the 1960s, in all of Metro Toronto, there was no preschool for children with disabilities. Parents, who chose to keep their children at home instead of institutionalizing them, had no consistent relief from 24 hour care and almost no means of getting help to develop the skills and talents of these little children.

Children

For over 40 years more than 1500 children have attended the preschool at Centennial Infant and Child Centre. Thousands more have been served through the Early Intervention Program. Centennial supports children with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. Children with Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, delays resulting from prematurity, congenital anomalies, brain damage caused by accident or illness and many other special needs are a part of the CENTENNIAL community.

Staff

The staff at CENTENNIAL brings a vast array of experience and diversity to their work. Many have been associated with the CENTENNIAL community for many years as parents, volunteers and students.

Board of Directors

Centennial is a non-profit corporation run by a Board of Directors. The Board consists of individuals from the community, two of whom are parent representatives.

Strategic Plan

Centennial's Three Year Strategic Plan (2008-2011)

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