Cambridge, ON – Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH), in partnership with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School and Project SEARCH successfully piloted a new initiative today aimed at transforming how young people with diverse learning and communication needs, experience hospital care.
“Discovery Day,” held on April 30, welcomed ten secondary school students for a guided, hands-on introduction to the hospital environment. Supported by their teacher and educational assistants, students moved through four interactive stations in a structured and supportive setting designed to build a greater sense of safety, familiarity, and belonging.
For many individuals, a first hospital visit happens during a time of crisis. For people with disabilities and members of the neurodiverse community, this can be especially overwhelming. Discovery Day was created to change that experience by empowering individuals through early, positive exposure that will help them navigate future hospital visits with more confidence.
The initiative was inspired by CMH oncology nurse Tara Farias, whose personal experience as a parent of a child with autism highlighted the need for more accessible and compassionate introductions to healthcare environments.
“When a child’s first experience in a hospital happens during an emergency, it can be frightening and confusing,” said Farias. “But when we create opportunities for positive, supported exposure, that fear can turn into familiarity. Discovery Day is about helping young people feel safe, confident, and understood.”
Throughout the 90-minute session, students participated at interactive stations using a “buddy” (a stuffed animal) to practice common hospital procedures, including using an aerosol mask, administering medicine, applying a cast, and experiencing a saline lock. These activities mirrored real-life care experiences in a gentle, engaging, and inclusive way.
The program was delivered by an inter-professional team of CMH staff, alongside Project SEARCH interns Anthony and Ryder, who played a key role as group leaders, guiding participants through each station and helping create a welcoming, peer-supported environment.
“Partnership is at the heart of Discovery Day,” said Stephanie Garibaldi Alischer. “We are grateful to CMH, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, Monsignor Doyle students and their families, and the Project SEARCH program for their collaboration in bringing this vision to life. Together, we are working to foster inclusive, welcoming care and create more positive experiences for patients and families in our diverse community.”
Discovery Day was championed through CMH’s Best Practice Committee, a group of frontline staff dedicated to quality improvement and evidence-based care. The initiative also reflects CMH’s ongoing commitment to advancing health equity and creating a more accessible healthcare environment for all.
Following the success of today’s pilot, CMH and Project Search will explore opportunities to expand the program in the future.
About Cambridge Memorial Hospital
Cambridge Memorial Hospital is an acute care hospital offering a full complement of integrated services including surgery, maternity, laboratory, diagnostics and emergency. It employs over 1,600 dedicated and skilled health care professionals, technicians and staff, 280 physicians and more than 300 volunteers providing exceptional care to the residents of Cambridge, the township of North Dumfries and the Region of Waterloo. CMH has been named a top employer locally, in Southwestern Ontario and ranked in the top 300 nationally for two consecutive years. For more information, visit www.cmh.org.
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For media inquiries contact:
Cambridge Memorial Hospital
Robelle Meereboer
Communications Specialist
519-621-2333 x2603
rmeereboer@cmh.org
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Lema Salaymeh
Senior Manager of Communications
519-897-6181
lema.salaymeh@wcdsb.ca
Photo credit: Darcy D., Digital Media and Marketing Officer, WCDSB