New Kelowna ‘Home for Belonging’ gives neurodivergent community a permanent place to connect

A new building in Kelowna, opened by Autism Okanagan, offers a permanent home for neurodivergent individuals and their caregivers to connect and engage in community programs. After 13 months of transforming the donated property into a community space, the organization is now able to hold all its programs in one location. Autism Okanagan director Christy Phillips expressed that the new home provides consistency, allowing kids to attend regular weekly sessions.

The facility will offer a variety of activities, such as LEGO, digital arts, comics, drawing, Dungeons & Dragons, cosplay, and social groups. Currently serving around 1,000 people aged four to 40, the organization hopes the new space can eventually accommodate twice as many. While Autism Okanagan focuses on autism, the organization welcomes anyone with neurodivergent traits.

Programs are offered as full sessions, with participants spending two to five months to develop relationships and routines. The programs run after school during weekdays and on weekends, with more activities planned as funding becomes available. A separate group for parents and caregivers is also in the works, giving families a chance to form their own community.

The ultimate aim is to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging, with the hope that individuals will grow up in the space and feel like it's truly theirs.