FOOTPRINTS provides respite services for families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Durham Region. There are currently two respite programs available in Pickering and Whitby.

FOOTPRINTS was established in 2004 at Dunbarton-Fairport United Church following a request for assistance from a local family. From this single request has grown a respite program that provides care for children age 13 years of age and under who have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In the fall of 2009, FOOTPRINTS opened its second location in Durham Region hosted by St. Mark's United Church in Whitby.

Securing affordable respite care is difficult for families in Durham Region – not that many community-based, low-cost programs exist. In the beginning, the program received human resource encouragement and financial support from the United Way of Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge. It was their enthusiasm and support that helped FOOTPRINTS welcome our first clients in mid-2004. And with their support and willingness to share ideas and resources, FOOTPRINTS applied for an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant to allow us to retro-fit equipment in our Pickering location and to create a 5-year Strategic Plan. This led us to a second successful OTF grant for program and operating needs that has allowed us to expand the program to assist more families in Durham Region and has directly led us to our newest program location in Whitby, Ontario.

Our volunteer base has grown from a few dedicated volunteers to well over 85 people who regularly give of their time each month to FOOTPRINTS. Volunteer opportunities are varied and include Child Support for the kids enrolled in the program, Steering Committee members who oversee all aspects of the program, as well as Special Event and Fundraising volunteers.