G.R.I.T. Calgary Society

Today is the last day of programming before Winter Break! We hope that everyone can take this time to relax, recharge, and enjoy special moments with their loved ones.

Programs will resume on Monday, January 5th! Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you all in the new year! Happy Holidays! ❄️⛄

 

Image Description: A child places dry, snowflake-shaped pasta pieces onto a 'Snow Globe Counting' worksheet. The image includes overlaid text that reads "Winter Break."

We are truly amazed by the generosity of our community! From an incredible donation of switches and switch-adapted toys from , to your support through our plant fundraiser, to helping us raise $1,300 to empower communication, and even an extraordinarily generous anonymous donation of $11,000, your kindness has blown us away! Because of you, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to be included and experience the joy of learning through play! These contributions make a true impact, and we cannot thank you enough for coming together to support our program this holiday season!



Image Descriptions: The first image shows a variety of switch-adapted toys and switches piled in the middle of a blue carpet. Text stating, "Thank You!" is at the top and the Makers Making Change and G.R.I.T. Calgary logos are at the bottom. The second image shows 4 G.R.I.T. staff members smiling as they hold different wreaths and festive plants from our Growing Smiles fundraiser. The Growing Smiles and G.R.I.T. Calgary logos are at the bottom.

We had an incredible time celebrating our amazing team at our annual winter luncheon on Monday! We enjoyed each other's company, shared delicious food, and had a blast with some friendly arcade competition! Not only that, we continued our tradition of giving back and came together to donate a whopping 450 pounds of food and essential items to the Calgary Food Bank! A huge thank you to our staff for all their hard work and dedication this year and thank you to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the for the important work they do! 



Image Descriptions: First image shows G.R.I.T. staff members gathered in a restaurant and playing a game of "Holiday Find the Guest Bingo". They are smiling and wearing festive holiday attire as they fill out their bingo cards! Text stating, "Winter Luncheon" is in the corner. The second image shows staff lined up to grab a slice of pizza from the buffet. Text stating, "Delicious food" is in the corner. The third image shows two staff members playing a round of Mario Kart at the arcade. Text stating, "Friendly competition" is in the corner. The last photo shows the back of a van with the trunk open to reveal boxes and bags of essential items and food. Text stating, "Giving back" and "450lbs of essentials donated" are over the image.

December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities! 💙 This year’s theme, ‘Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress,’ reminds us the importance of creating spaces where everyone can thrive! Inclusion, accessibility, and universal design don’t just benefit the disability community, they benefit EVERYONE! When we foster inclusion, we create environments where every individual feels embraced, empowered, and celebrated!

GRITCalgary

Image Description: Three Lego figures on a wooden table. The first one is a boy using a wheelchair, the second is a boy using a white cane, and the third is a girl sitting on the floor. Text states: International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Let’s Empower Communication! 💙💛❤️💚

Giving Tuesday is just around the corner and this year we’re on a mission to raise $5,000 to purchase AAC devices like BIG Step-By-Steps and SimplyWorks SmoothTalkers! These tools help remove barriers to communication and create more opportunities for children to express themselves, connect with friends, and participate in learning!

Every donation made from today until December 15th will go directly toward purchasing these devices!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
🔗 Donate using the link below or the "Empower Communication" link in our bio!
➡️ Share this post with your friends and spread the word!

Donate Here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/7539

Together, we can make sure every child has the tools and support they need to participate fully and feel included.

 

Image Description: Text over an image of a Big Step-By-Step and Smooth Talker states, "Empower Communication! Donate today and help us raise $5,000 for AAC devices like Big Step-By-Steps and SimplyWorks SmoothTalkers to help remove barriers to communication and create more opportunities for connection!" Next is an image of a green Big Step-By-Step with text that states, "Big Step-by-Steps and SimplyWorks SmoothTalkers give children more ways to share their ideas, connect with friends, and join in on learning! By offering a variety of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, we can support each child’s unique communication style and make sure everyone has what they need to participate fully and feel included!" The last image shows a yellow Smooth Talker with text stating, "How you can help! Donate today using the link in our bio! Share with friends and spread the word!" The G.R.I.T. Calgary and Giving Tuesday logos are in the corner of each image.

May we always remember those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. ❤️

Please note that there will be no programming on November 10th and 11th as we honor Remembrance Day. Programs will resume Wednesday, November 12th.



Image Description: Two ripped paper poppy Remembrance Day crafts on a wooden table. Text in a green translucent blob over the image states, "No Programming on Nov 10th & 11th for Remembrance Day."

Help Us Win $10,000 to Empower Communication!

G.R.I.T. Calgary Society is excited to join the Zeffy Giving Tuesday Challenge, and we need YOUR help to make a BIG impact!

This Giving Tuesday, our goal is to raise funds for communication technology for the incredible children in our program. Every child has the right to communicate, and the right tools make that possible. By having a wide range of switches and technology available, we can create personalized solutions that meet each child’s unique needs, empowering them to express themselves, connect with others, and thrive! 💙💛❤️💚

Here’s how YOU can help:
1. Fill out the entry form and type “G.R.I.T. Calgary Society” as your nonprofit.*
2. Bonus entries: Like 's Giving Tuesday Contest posts on Facebook & Instagram and tag 3 friends!
3. Share our post with your friends and ask them to enter for "G.R.I.T. Calgary Society"!

Use the link in our bio or click here to enter: https://app.viralsweep.com/sweeps/full/d97ea8-216953?framed=1

Every entry brings us closer to winning $10,000 to support our program!

Entry Deadline: December 1, 2025
Winner announced: December 8, 2025

*Please note that you must have a valid social media account to enter.

Thank you for helping us give every child the power to communicate!



Image Description: A green BIGmack and a red Smooth Talker AAC device on a wooden table. Text over the image states: "We're joining the... Zeffy Giving Tuesday Challenge! Help us win $10,000 to empower communication!"

Happy Halloween! Our little ghosts and ghouls had a frightfully fun time diving into all sorts of spooky, Halloween-themed activities this week! Wishing everyone a safe, fun, and fang-tastic day filled with tricks and treats galore! 🎃👻

Don’t forget to creep over to our previous post and check out the link in our bio for some tips on making Trick-or-Treating more inclusive and fun for everyone!



Image Descriptions: The first image shows a preschool-aged girl dressed up in a chicken costume and trick-or-treating in her classroom. She is sitting in her wheelchair and smiling as a woman in a Super Mario costume lets her choose if she wants yellow or orange playdough. Text stating "Happy Halloween" with a ghost graphic is at the top. Next is an image of a sensory bin filled with orange and black chickpeas and plastic Halloween-themed items including jack-o-lanterns, spiders, and bats. The following photo shows five staff members smiling and sporting some bright yellow minion costumes. They are wearing yellow hats, goggles, and overalls. The next photo shows a preschool-aged girl holding a skeleton hand clapper toy given to her by woman dressed up as Luigi from Super Mario. Next is an image of a preschool-aged boy dressed as Spiderman. He is sitting in a Special Tomato Sitter with a mobile base and using a yellow BIGmack switch to say "trick-or-treat". Next is an image of a black Tuff Tray filled with pumpkin guts and cooked green spaghetti noodles. The following image shows staff and volunteers dressed as pink, red, yellow, and blue superheroes. They are standing side-by-side and smiling as they wear their superhero shirts, capes, and masks. The next image shows a preschool-aged girl dressed in a yellow and black bumble bee costume. She is smiling brightly at the camera. Next is an image of a preschool-age boy trick-or-treating in his classroom. A staff member dressed up as Pete the Cat is showing him a Halloween bubble wand. The last image shows a child playing with green spaghetti on a tray. Beside the tray is an iPad with the TouchChat app open.

Halloween is just one week away! As we get ready for all the spooktacular festivities, we wanted to share some tips to help make trick-or-treating more accessible and welcoming for everyone. Swipe through or read below for some ways to help create a more inclusive Halloween! 🎃

For more info on accessible trick-or-treating, check out or visit their link in our bio!

👻 Make sure the path to your door is well lit and free of obstacles. Having a well-lit, obstacle free path allows trick or treaters to easily and safely access your doorway!
👻 Avoid flashing lights and loud sounds/music. Noisy environments and flashing lights can be overstimulating for many people. Make your home more accessible by ditching the strobe lights & keeping the noise to a minimum.
👻 Try handing out different kinds of treats!! Not all trick or treaters eat candy. By having different “treat” options available, like playdough or bubbles, you can make sure that everyone gets to enjoy a treat!
👻 Show off your treats! Describing the treat you are handing out and showing it to the trick-or-treater before placing it in their bag/bucket can help them better understand what they are receiving.
👻 Consider setting up a treat station at the end of your walkway. Long, narrow pathways with steps can be tricky to navigate. Having a treat station will allow everyone to easily access your treats!
👻 Be accepting of everyone! Everyone trick-or-treats differently! Some trick-or-treaters may appear older, may not wear a costume, may use a device to communicate, or may not say anything at all. No matter how they show up, they’re there to enjoy the fun!



Image Descriptions: The first image shows a cartoon-style black spider with the words "Accessible Trick-Or-Treating Tips" above it. The G.R.I.T. Calgary logo is in the bottom right corner. Each following image shows the same spider next to one of the tips listed in the caption above.

That snowy weekend has got us feeling festive, and you know what that means… it's time for our Winter Growing Smiles Fundraiser! From timeless poinsettias and festive holiday wreaths to lush indoor tropical arrangements, there's something to brighten every home this season. Best of all, the funds raised go directly toward enhancing the individualized programs that support the unique needs of each child we serve. Check out the link in our bio to place your order and help us grow smiles this school year! ☃

Order Deadline: November 18th at 11:00pm
Pick Up Dates: Dec 3rd 3:30pm-5:30pm & Dec 4th 8:30am-5:00pm



Image Description: Text in a translucent white blob states, "'Tis the season for our Winter Growing Smiles Fundraiser. Order Deadline: Nov 18th, 2025." A holly plant graphic with green leaves and red berries is in the background. G.R.I.T.'s logo is in the bottom right corner.