My Personal Learning Program

This workshop will provide parents with an understanding of the basic principles of ABA to support their child’s skill development. Key teaching strategies will be discussed, and there will be opportunities for parent discussion and activities to demonstrate how these strategies can be included in day-to-day parenting.

This is an opportunity to learn about services, supports, programs and funding options available to families in the city. Families will be guided through the details of each program or service and will be provided with a booklet to help keep them organized.

Child advocate, lawyer and the parent of a child with autism, Areva Martin, outlines 7 key principles to being an advocate in her book, “The Everyday Advocate.” This workshop explores those principles, and families will participate in discussions and activities to learn how to put the principles into practice.

Families will review the principles of ABA and discuss how they can be included in their everyday family life. There will also be an opportunity to create an individualized teaching plan to help guide them in teaching their child a new skill.

EAST:

Tues | May 26 | 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

This will help families develop an understanding of behaviour and the underlying reasons why kids and teens may engage in challenging ones. Case studies and strategies for addressing these behaviours will be examined. Families will learn to prevent or redirect the challenging behaviours displayed at home and in the community.

Families will learn about signs of readiness, different toilet training methods, and teaching strategies that can help with the toileting process. Families will also have an opportunity to develop an individual plan to get started with their child.

Teaching independent living skills to children with autism is incredibly important to give them control over their lives with more choices for the future. Families will learn about the variables that influence the learning of self-help skills and different strategies used to teach them. Parents will also create a practical teaching plan for their child.

If your child is experiencing sleep issues, you will know how much of an impact it can have on everyday life. Families will learn the benefits of healthy sleep habits and discuss common problems such as falling asleep on their own and night awakenings. Families will also learn strategies to improve their child’s sleep routine.

Children with autism may experience meltdowns or other challenging behaviours when they are overwhelmed, or things don’t go their way. Families will learn what emotional regulation is, how to identify dysregulation and practical strategies that can help their child begin to manage their emotions.

Communication is a fundamental skill that will enhance your child’s quality of life. Families will gain an understanding of how early speech and communication skills develop in children with autism and learn teaching strategies to build their child's communication skills within daily routines.

SOUTH:

Mon | Jun 8
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Transitions big and small can be difficult for individuals with autism. With support and preparation, these changes can be more manageable. Families will learn strategies that can help manage common life transitions, such as starting a new activity, changing schools, moving, or welcoming a new baby.

WEST:

Wed | Mar 4
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

This workshop will highlight practical teaching strategies to enhance interactions with peers and methods to ensure these skills are generalized to other environments. Common social skills such as greetings, sharing, initiating and maintaining interactions, and having back and forth conversations will be discussed.

There is a wide range of information related to diet and nutrition for individuals with autism and filtering through the information can be challenging. Families will discuss well-researched information regarding nutritional considerations, common eating challenges around mealtime routines, and learn behavioural strategies to address them.