IT IS INVISIBLE DISABILITY AWARENESS WEEK! WEAR BLUE TO RAISE AWARENESS!
A touch quilt (also known as a sensory blanket or tactile quilt) is a type of handmade quilt designed to provide sensory stimulation and comfort to individuals with sensory processing difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, or other conditions that affect sensory regulation.
Our touch quilts are constructed with a variety of fabrics, textures, colours, and materials sewn onto or incorporated into the quilt. The combination of these sensory elements creates a quilt that offers a rich sensory experience, promoting relaxation, calmness, and sensory regulation for the individual using it. Touch quilts can be customized to suit the specific preferences and needs of the user, making them a versatile tool for sensory therapy, relaxation, and comfort.
Many individuals with invisible disorders find touch quilts to be comforting and enjoyable, and they can be particularly beneficial during times of stress, anxiety, or sensory overload. Additionally, touch quilts can serve as a practical and therapeutic way to engage in sensory integration activities and promote overall well-being for people with invisible disorders.
A touch quilt can be incredibly beneficial for someone with an invisible disorder in several ways:
A touch quilt can be incredibly beneficial for someone with an invisible disorder in several ways:
As we prepare for the upcoming winter months, The Change Coalition is taking steps to make our Touch Quilt Program more accessible and inclusive. To help reduce unnecessary travel during the colder season, we’re introducing a virtual format that allows participants to create and donate touch quilts from the comfort of their own homes.
We recognize that many of our community partners are running similar programs, and we want to build on this shared effort by using the skills and technology we’ve developed to take a new, innovative approach.
Through this program, anyone with a sewing machine can create a touch quilt and donate it directly to a recipient of their choice. For those living in the Ottawa Valley, our team will gladly pick up your completed quilt and deliver it to your chosen recipient — or to one of our partner organizations.
This evolution of the Touch Quilt Program reflects our commitment to creating something consistent with today’s digital age, integrating new tools like artificial intelligence (AI) to assist those who need us most.
“We’re excited to use technology to make compassion more accessible and creativity more connected.”
— Cynthia Irving, President & CEO
In 2024, we distributed 63 quilts thanks to generous donations and partnerships with Country Quilter, Safe Families, and the Ottawa Valley Quilting Guild. With $1,500 in in-kind donations, we’ve been able to grow this program and bring comfort to so many. This is just the beginning! Join us as we continue to expand and make a difference—one quilt at a time.
Help us fulfill our vision!
Want to get involved? Join us in bringing comfort to more lives!
In this powerful and emotional video, we meet Perry Reid, a former French Foreign Legion paratrooper, who is now facing the challenges of multiple sclerosis at St. Patrick's Home of Ottawa.
Watch as Perry receives his Memory Quilt, a symbol of comfort and support, and reflects on his incredible journey, sharing stories from his time in the Legion and the resilience he's shown in the face of MS.
Join us as we honor Perry’s strength and spirit, a true testament to perseverance.
Meet Ben: a young man with unique challenges, including autism spectrum disorder, hypopituitarism, global developmental delay, and legal blindness. In this brief clip, Cynthia—our CFO, President, and one of the founding faces of Change Coalition—introduces Ben to a “Touch Quilt.” This handcrafted, one-of-a-kind blanket features a variety of textured fabrics and fidget tools, specifically designed to provide comfort, security, and relief for individuals with disorders like Ben’s. Each touch quilt offers a calming sensory experience, helping to alleviate some of the discomfort associated with autism spectrum disorder.
Change Coalition is dedicated to collaborating with other non-profit organizations to create a holistic support system for individuals with invisible disorders like Ben’s. Through your generous donations, we’re able to develop life-enhancing tools, such as the touch quilt, to help people like Ben feel more at ease and supported.
Jane Roszell helped the Change Coalition Touch Quilt Project by attending one of our events. She provides an informative explanation regarding the benefits of touch quilts. They help a range of people that we serve.