How to Plan Autism Services for Your Child: 5 Simple Steps

• ABA Group Therapy: You can choose from a suite of services that offer children a structured, engaging place to learn important life skills in a group setting. There are many benefits to choosing ABA Group Therapy, like interacting with peers, building confidence in group settings, and learning in a really fun learning environment! 
• 1-to-1 Therapy: Focused Behavioural Intervention & Full Day ABA: A fully customized approach, allowing our clinicians to adapt teaching and design goals specifically for your child, ensuring a focused and personalized structure. 
• Summer camps: Children and teens can enjoy fun, supportive full-day ABA-based summer camps that feature activities like coding, robotics, cooking, city exploration, and fitness. These camps help boost skills and confidence.
• Multidisciplinary Groups: These groups allow children and families to work with our multiprofessional teams including our psychologists, social workers, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and behaviour team members.
• Parallel supports: Led by experienced clinical psychologists and social workers, these programs combine evidence-based therapeutic approaches within an engaging, activity-rich environment. They include consultation from members of our other therapy teams such as behavioural analysis, speech-language pathology or occupational therapy.

What does progress look like?

• Late January > Spring ABA services 
• Mid-February > Summer ABA Camp services
• Early July > Fall ABA services
• Mid-October > Winter ABA services

• Ontario Autism Program (OAP): Explore provincial government funding options through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and the free services that they offer for families registered with registered with the OAP, like Foundational Family Services, Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Services, Entry to School Program, and the Urgent Response Services.
• Insurance coverage and grants: If you have insurance coverage, look into what services might be covered, or explore possible grants and scholarships to help alleviate some of the costs. Mixing group and 1-to-1 therapy programs for your child can also help with affordability.
• Individualized Funding: Individualized Funding is money that goes directly to people with developmental disabilities and their families, which they can use to direct their own services and supports. Visit the Individualized Funding Library (IF) website to help you learn how to find and use your Individualized Funding that best meets your family’s needs.
• Funding for special services at home: Families caring for a child under 18 with a developmental or physical disability can apply for funding for special services in or outside the home. Managed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, this funding can be used for a variety of supports such as respite and recreational programs. 

• Discover your ABA Journey: During this 2-hour service navigation consultation, you’ll meet with our experienced clinicians committed to seeing your child succeed. We help answer your questions and develop a plan of tailored recommendations to best support your child’s development and goals.
• Now What? tool: If you’re curious about our autism support services and how ABA therapy can benefit your child, explore our self-guided Now what? navigational tool. This tool helps guide you at different stages in your autism journey.

• Parent Support Groups: At Surrey Place, we have parent support groups like Caregiver Connect that always welcome participation.
• Podcasts for Caregivers: Sometimes hearing about other families’ experiences can be helpful and reassuring. The Exceptional Caregivers Life podcast, hosted by Surrey Place’s Family Advisory Council, is meant to do just that.