Summary: Amy MacFarlane, Founder and Chief Executive, Recreational Respite (Canada) http://recrespite.com/ https://twitter.com/recrespite. Unlocking the Potential in our Communities. Changing policy and practice, innovative partnerships and use of technology in respite provision in Canada. Improving engagement by turning things into fun. The respite needs of first responders (police/health/fire etc.) such as therapy for PTSD. The Ontario Special Needs Strategy connecting children and young people to services they need as early as possible http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/professionals/specialneeds/strategy.aspx. Flexible funding e.g. used by the Ontario Autism Program to reduce waiting times http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/specialneeds/autism/ontario-autism-program.aspx. Care for adults with special needs Developmental Services Ontario https://www.dsontario.ca/. Community care access centres. Empowering care givers, care givers creating their own groups to band together with the help of social media. Crowd funding for fund raising for those without resources. Partner programmes, especially with organisations who may be losing members due to caregiving responsibilities. Extended health care benefits. Self-directed funding. Supporting adult programmes in Kuwait for PTSD post-Gulf War. Introduced by Donald Macleod, Conference Chair. ISBA 2016:The 10th International Short Break Association conference, 13–15 September 2016, Edinburgh, Scotland
