Frequently Asked Questions
We’re happy to answer your questions about what Surrey Place has to offer. Learn about services, opportunities and more.
Below you’ll find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions. If you have questions that aren’t answered call us at 416-925-5141 to learn more.
General
Surrey Place provides specialized clinical services that are responsive to individual’s needs and promote health and well-being in the Toronto region and Northwestern Ontario.
We help children, youth and adults living with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and visual impairments reach their full potential. We offer a variety of groups and workshops for clients, families and caregivers and professionals, as well as extensive education and consultation services to community agencies. View our directory for a full list of services.
Surrey Place provides services for people with developmental disabilities, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and autism spectrum disorder. We also provide hearing, vision and speech screenings and support for infants and young children with or without a disability.
Many of our specialized supports can be purchased as B2B services to help other populations through our Services for Partners and Organizations stream.
View our directory for a full list of services.
Our services are fully integrated, offering cohesiveness at various points in our clients’ journey. Additionally, we make the interests of our clients and their families and caregivers a top priority. Our team helps them to navigate the system in a way that respects their individuality and ensures the best opportunity to meet their needs.
Clinicians and professionals with expertise in a range of disciplines deliver services to our clients with the highest level of care, collaboration and support. As the lead agency for Developmental Services Ontario Toronto Region and as a partner of Toronto Autism Services Network, we are a core component of service delivery in our community and across the province. We employ staff who are leaders in the fields of social services and healthcare as well as specialists within their respective disciplines. Our staff, which consists of over 450 members, are often the first point of contact for many.
Our main location is 2 Surrey Place in the Toronto region. In addition, we have four locations across the Greater Toronto Area and provide telehealth in Northern Ontario. Learn more.
There are many ways that you can donate to the Surrey Place Charitable Foundation. Every dollar you give makes a difference. Please choose the option that best suits you. Learn more.
Surrey Place values accessibility at every level of the organization. Some measures taken to ensure that all visitors of the organization feel welcome, safe and supported include:
- Accessibility Plan, which aims to reduce structural, communication and technology barriers
- Wheelchair accessible main entrance at 2 Surrey Place
- Extensive training for all staff and clinicians
- Language Interpreters available to clients
Read our Accessibility Plan to learn more.
If you are interested in volunteering at Surrey Place, please send in your resume and cover letter to hr@surreyplace.ca and add volunteer in the subject line of your email. We accept applications on a continuous basis throughout the year.
If you are interested in volunteering in a specific department, please list the department in your cover letter when submitting your application. When a volunteer position opens up, we may contact you for a placement opportunity. Learn more.
Surrey Place has a list of current opportunities available on the website. If you are interested in any position, please submit your resume and cover letter in one file saved in either a PDF or Word document format. Please use the following format to name your file: firstname.lastname (ie. John.Smith) to hr@surreyplace.ca. Please also quote the file number in the subject line of your email by the closing date.
If you are contacted for an interview and require accommodation, appropriate arrangements will be made to assist you through this process. We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Learn more.
Please contact partners.services@surreyplace.ca to learn how to collaborate with Surrey Place.
Your feedback is important to us. The information received can help Surrey Place to better support you and/or improve our organization. To share feedback, please fill out the short feedback form. We want to hear from our clients, family members, caregivers, employees, community partners, volunteers, students, contractors, consultants, donors and funders. Learn more.
Intake
Children: This is determined at the time of intake. Eligibility criteria varies by service and can be found on our directory. We encourage interested clients to contact central intake at 1-833-575-KIDS (5437) to learn more.
Adults: Eligibility criteria varies by service and can be found on our directory. We encourage interested clients to contact our adult intake line at 1-855-DS ADULT (372-3858) to learn more.
Please contact our intake staff members and they will assist you.
Children & Youth: 1-833-575-KIDS (5437)
Adults: 1-855-DS ADULT (372-3858)
If you need help in an emergency or are in a crisis, visit your local emergency department or call 911. For general information on where to go in a crisis, visit our resource page. Learn more.
Children & Youth: Referrals are triaged through central intake. If you are submitting a referral for a client, please call 1-833-575-KIDS (5437) or fill out our centralized intake registration form.
Adults: Referrals are triaged through our adult intake. If you are submitting a referral for a client, please call 1-855-DS ADULT (372-3858) or fill out our centralized intake registration form.
Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) is the access point for adult developmental services funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) in Ontario. If you have a developmental disability, live in Toronto, and are 16 years old you must apply through DSO Toronto Region to see if you are eligible to receive adult ministry-funded supports available in your community. Learn more.
We offer services in several other languages. If we do not have a staff available, we use Access Alliance for on-the-spot interpretation.
While every service can have a waiting list, the wait time varies from program to program. At the time of intake, staff can discuss expected wait times with you.
Children & Youth: After intake, a copy of the service plan is sent out to caregivers. If there is an identified clinician indicated on your service plan, you can call them directly. Central intake can also assist you.
Adults: After intake, a copy of the Intake Report is sent out to caregivers and there will be an intake worker identified you can call them directly.
Many of our live and recorded Wellness events and resources can be accessed while you wait for services, as well as before, during and after service has been provided. Learn more.
Our Wellness Services also offer free and timely services that support the changing needs of our clients across the lifespan. These are delivered through various means, including groups, workshops, clinics, drop-ins, phone-ins and Telehealth services.
Children & Youth: Our intake staff can review the documentation you have to determine next steps. In some cases, a diagnosis can be obtained through our children’s psychologists or medical services. In other circumstances we can assist to see if a diagnosis can be obtained in the community.
Adults: This info can be found on the DSO Toronto Region web page. Learn more.
We would encourage caregivers to reach out for support as soon as you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development.
Children & Youth: Access varies depending on the service as well as eligibility. The children’s central intake team can assist with any eligibility documents that may be required. Please note, not all services require a diagnosis.
Adults: You must be eligible for Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) to access Adult services. To check your eligibility, contact your local DSO. Some offerings including FASD Services and Family Medicine Consultation Clinic may not require a diagnosis. Learn more.
Services are delivered using an interdisciplinary approach with family-centred principles and practices. We will work with you and your family to deliver services in a way that works best to support your identified goals. Additionally, service contracts will be used to define what services look like in terms of identifying goals, how the goals will be achieved and the time duration in which we will move through the goals. Caregivers and individuals participation and expectations are identified at the time service is initiated.
Yes, people can access their health records by making a request through the email medical.records@surreyplace.ca . The health records team will then support the person in gaining access to review their files.
Funding
Most of the clinical services at Surrey Place are funded and do not have additional costs. This means that you can apply for funding through Developmental Services Ontario and, if deemed eligible, the cost of the service will be covered. Funding info can be found on the Developmental Services Ontario website. Learn more.
The Passport Program, funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), supports adults with developmental disabilities by providing funding for community participation services and supports, activities of daily living and person-directed planning. MCCSS aims to help these adults become involved in their communities and live as independently as possible. The program also provides funding for caregiver respite services and supports for primary caregivers of an adult with a developmental disability. Learn more.
The Ontario Autism Program (OAP), under the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) is a program for children and youth who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by a qualified professional and meet the eligibility requirements for OAP. Learn more.
Our assessment services are not currently covered under Ontario Autism Program (OAP). These services are offered for a fee. Learn more.
Aside from Autism Services and Services for Partners and Organizations, none of our other services offered at Surrey Place charge fees. For those services that do include fees, we offer several payment options to help you manage your budget:
OPTION 1: Pay in Full
We accept various payment options, including e-transfers, cheques, and major credit cards (note AMEX is not accepted). *Note: Payment is required at least one week before the service begins and late payments will be subject to interest fees.
OPTION 2: Pay in Installments
For programs $2000+: After an initial installment of 25% of the program cost (due one week before the service begins or within 30 days of the invoice date), the remaining balance will be paid in 30-day installments, and the final payment due before the service ends.
For other amounts: We offer other payment plan options to break your purchase into a series of affordable installments. Just ask, and we will work with you to meet your specific needs.
We accept e-transfers, post-dated cheques, bank drafts, and credit card payments (note AMEX is not accepted).