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Autism Journey Blog Series: Empowering Caregivers with the Right Supports

JANUARY 13, 2026

Table of Contents

The Heart of the Journey: Caring for the Caregiver

Caring for a child with autism is deeply rewarding and it can also be demanding. Between therapy appointments, school meetings, and daily routines, many caregivers put their own needs last.

For Sarah, mornings were a whirlwind of activity and responsibilities. Between getting her 4-year-old ready for school, coordinating therapy sessions, and managing household tasks, she sometimes felt stretched beyond her limits. She loved her child deeply, but some days the stress felt overwhelming.

Caring for yourself as a caregiver is just as important as caring for your child.  When you feel rested, informed, and connected, the whole family thrives.

But how do you know what you need?

Every family’s autism journey is unique, and caregivers play a central role. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, navigating a tough day, or figuring out the next step in services, it can be a lot on your plate.

Many caregivers share feelings of isolation, fatigue, and uncertainty. It’s normal to wonder, “Am I doing enough?” Luckily, there is a variety of support out there, so you don’t have to do it alone! Support that aims to provide education, practical strategies, and community connection for parents and caregivers.

Here are a few options for caregiver support depending on your needs.

Family Tip

Take a moment each day to reflect on one small success. Recognizing progress helps build confidence and resilience for both you and your child.

Support to Provide Breaks from Caregiving

Taking a break isn’t a luxury, it’s essential. Respite programs for autism families provide caregivers with a little relief while ensuring your children continue to receive quality care and engagement. So, if you’re looking to schedule time for yourself, respite might be just the right thing.

During group-based respite, children experience structured activities that are both fun and developmentally supportive, while caregivers like Sarah can take a rare moment to rest, run errands, or simply breathe.

Our group-based Respite Services offers fun, reliable care for children ages 3–12, typically running 4–7 hours per week, with flexible options on weeknights, PD days, or Saturdays. With small group ratios of one staff for every three children, each session blends active play and calming downtime, from arts and crafts, baking, and sensory play to gym time, story time, and quiet activities.

Respite isn’t just a break. It’s a chance for families to recharge and feel supported while their child enjoys safe, engaging activities

Wendy Coa, Registered Behaviour Analyst, Manager Children & Youth Services

Family Tip

Start small: try one respite session per week and notice how it affects your energy and family routines.

Support that Helps Empower Families

We know that children’s first and most important teachers are their parents and caregivers. When caregivers are active, engaged, and informed about their child’s needs and learning strategies, children benefit immensely.

During a Foundational Family Services session, caregivers practice real-life strategies, applying lessons learned to everyday routines to support communication or emotional regulation.

These services are free for families registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and are designed to coach parents on therapeutic strategies that promote skill development. By building this knowledge base early, caregivers are better positioned to support the generalization of skills when children start ABA services, helping children bring new skills into the home environment.

Our Foundational Family Services include:

  • Educational workshops for caregivers
  • Coaching sessions to help you apply practical strategies at home
  • Family and peer mentoring for shared learning and support
  • Brief targeted counselling and professional consultations
  • Resource supports and clinic days where you can explore services and ask questions

These services give families the knowledge, confidence, and community connections to navigate the autism journey with clarity and hope.

Adrienne Greenspan, Registered Behaviour Analyst, Manager of Autism Services

Family Tip

No need to wait. You can register for sessions whenever you feel ready! Learning and support are available whenever your family needs it.

Support to Help Build Confidence

For families with young children under age six, our Caregiver-Mediated Early Years services teach parents strategies they can use at home through play and everyday routines. These sessions are hands-on and family-centred, helping caregivers strengthen their child’s communication, social interaction, and independence. By building these skills early, caregivers become active partners in their child’s growth, creating positive, lasting change long after sessions end.

Family Tip

Even short daily practice at home reinforces the strategies learned in sessions, it’s how small steps become lasting skills.

Support to Help Grow Together with Your Child

Play is more than fun, it’s one of the most powerful ways children learn. Through play, children explore their world, express emotions, build relationships, and develop language and social skills.

In our Developing Through Play: Therapeutic Group, caregivers and children engage together in structured activities that encourage communication, social connection and skill-building. Guided by professionals across psychology, occupational therapy, and behaviour analysis, this multidisciplinary group uses play as a bridge for connection, learning, and growth.

Caregivers learn strategies to:

  • Encourage developmentally appropriate play.
  • Use language during play to boost communication.
  • Connect more deeply with their child through shared activities.
  • Support emotional regulation and calming strategies.

Children simultaneously practice foundational social skills like taking turns, sharing, and communicating their needs, each small step contributing to big developmental gains.

Caregivers gain tools they can continue using at home, turning everyday moments into meaningful opportunities for growth and connection.

Adrienne Greenspan, Registered Behaviour Analyst, Manager of Autism Services

Because this is a caregiver-participation program, families experience progress together. It’s a chance to build connection and confidence, not just in the therapy space, but at home, every day.

The Road Ahead: You’re Not Alone

Every caregiver is part of our community. Whether you’re just starting your autism journey or navigating new stages, Surrey Place aims to help you feel supported, informed, and connected.

From Foundational Family Services to our specialized programs like Respite and Developing Through Play, each service is part of a continuum that supports both children and caregivers. Families can access skill-building, therapeutic guidance, and time to recharge, one small step, one connection, one milestone at a time.

If you’re ready to explore autism caregiver supports or learn more about respite for autism families, start with Foundational Family Services.

These free, flexible programs are designed to meet caregivers where they are, offering education, connection, and empowerment at every stage of your child’s journey.

Register for free Foundational Family Services today.

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By 2 months

Has your baby had their hearing screened? YES NO

By 6 months

Does the child?

Startle in response to loud noises? YES NO
Turn to where a sound is coming from? YES NO
Make different cries for different needs (hungry, tired)? YES NO
Watch your face as you talk? YES NO
Smile/laugh in response to your smiles and laughs? YES NO
Imitate coughs or other sounds such as ah, eh, buh YES NO

By 9 months

Does the child?

Respond to their name? YES NO
Respond to the telephone ringing or a knock at the door? YES NO
Understand being told no? YES NO
Get what they want through using gestures (reaching to be picked up)? YES NO
Play social games with you (Peek-a-Boo)? YES NO
Enjoy being around people? YES NO
Babble and repeat sounds such as babababa or duhduhduh? YES NO

By 12 months

Does the child?

Follow simple one-step directions (sit down)? YES NO
Look across the room to a toy when adult points at it? YES NO
Consistently use three to five words? YES NO
Use gestures to communicate (waves hi/bye, shakes head for no)? YES NO
Get your attention using sounds, gestures and pointing while looking at your eyes? YES NO
Bring you toys to show you? YES NO
Perform for social attention and praise? YES NO
Combine lots of sounds together as though talking (abada baduh abee)? YES NO
Show an interest in simple picture books? YES NO

By 18 months

Does the child?

Understand the meaning of in and out, off and on? YES NO
Point to more than 2 body parts when asked? YES NO
Use at least 20 words consistently? YES NO
Respond with words or gestures to simple questions (Where's teddy? What's that?)? YES NO
Demonstrate some pretend play with toys (gives teddy bear a drink, pretends a bowl is a hat)? YES NO
Make at least four different consonant sounds (p ,b, m, n, d, g, w, h)? YES NO
Enjoy being read to and sharing simple books with you? YES NO
Point to pictures using one finger? YES NO

By 2 years

Does the child?

Follow two-step directions (Go find your teddy bear and show it to Grandma.)? YES NO
Use 100 to 150 words? YES NO
Use at least two pronouns (you, me, mine)? YES NO
Consistently combine two to four words in short phrases (Daddy hat. Truck go down.)? YES NO
Enjoy being around other children? YES NO
Begin to offer toys to other children and imitate other children's actions and words? YES NO
Use words that are understood by others 50 to 60 per cent of the time? YES NO
Form words or sounds easily and without effort? YES NO
Hold books the right way up and turn the pages? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 30 months

Does the child?

Understand the concepts of size (big/little) and quantity (a little/a lot, more)? YES NO
Use some adult grammar (two cookies, bird flying, I jumped)? YES NO
Use over 350 words? YES NO
Use action words such as run, spill, fall? YES NO
Participate in some turn-taking activities with peers, using both words and toys? YES NO
Demonstrate concern when another child is hurt or sad? YES NO
Combine several actions in play (puts blocks in the train and drives the train, drops the blocks off.)? YES NO
Put sounds at the beginning of most words? YES NO
Use words with two or more syllables or beats (ba-na-na, com-pu-ter, a-pple)? YES NO
Recognize familiar logos and signs involving print (Stop sign)? YES NO
Remember and understand familiar stories? YES NO

By 3 years

Does the child?

Understand who, what, where and why questions? YES NO
Create long sentences using five to eight words? YES NO
Talk about past events (trip to grandparents house, day at child care)? YES NO
Tell simple stories? YES NO
Show affection for favourite playmates? YES NO
Engage in multi-step pretend play (pretending to cook a meal, repair a car)? YES NO
Talk in a way that most people outside of the family understand what she/he is saying most of the time? YES NO
Have an understanding of the function of print (menus, lists, signs)? YES NO
Show interest in, and awareness of, rhyming words? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 4 years

Does the child?

Follow directions involving three or more steps (First get some paper, then draw a picture and give it to Mommy)? YES NO
Use adult type grammar? YES NO
Tell stories with a beginning, middle and end? YES NO
Talk to try and solve problems with adults and with other children? YES NO
Show increasingly complex imaginary play? YES NO
Talk in a way that is understood by strangers almost all the time? YES NO
Generate simple rhymes (cat-bat)? YES NO
Match some letters with their sounds (letter b says buh, letter t says tuh)? YES NO