Registration for ABA Group Therapy for Autism closes Dec 15 – sign up now!

Early to Intermediate Communication

Ages 6-9 | 12 Weeks | $8,160
Ages 10-13 | 12 Weeks | $8,160
Ages 14-18 | 12 Weeks | $8,160

Learn to communicate with increased vocabulary or short sentences

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Program Details

Is your child or teen ready to increase vocabulary through fun activities in an engaging and supportive environment? If yes, Early to Intermediate Communication is right for you! In Early to Intermediate Communication, children and teens with autism learn to request new activities or items, respond to gestures, label objects, comment on their environment, ask for help when they need it and answer simple questions.

This service includes educational support for caregivers, to help you support your child in maintaining their new skills. One-to-one support is available at an extra cost for children and teens who require frequent breaks outside of the group, have difficulty regulating emotions such as frustration or worry, or to maintain safety (e.g. seizure protocol).

Sample Goals

The types of goals that your child or teen may target in this group include:

  • Selecting 15-20 different items or pictures
  • Learning to request missing items without being prompted
  • Following two-step instructions
  • Speaking 10 two-part requests like “Go fast,” or “Pour juice”
  • Making 10 two-part observations about their environment like “Ball rolling,” or “Toy spinning”
  • Requesting others’ attention by saying things like “Look at this,” or “Listen to me”

Funding

  • OAP funding (childhood budgets, interim one-time funding)
  • Out-of-pocket
  • Charitable funds
  • Private insurance

Eligibility

WHO SHOULD REGISTER?

Your child might benefit from this group if they:

  • Consistently use 5 words or more (verbally or with an AAC device or signs).
  • Are able to use words to communicate wants and needs.
  • Use words in context.
  • Use words with intent.
  • Can follow simple instructions, such as “Come here” or “Stop”.

WHO IS NOT A FIT?

Your child may NOT be eligible if they:

Schedule

AGES 6 – 9

12 Weeks | 2 Days/Week | 2 Hours/Day | $8,160 (Tax Included)
This group includes 3 in-person caregiver education sessions and 2 in-person observation sessions.

Downtown2 Surrey Place Toronto, ON M5S 2C2

January 10 to April 3, 2024

Wednesday & Friday

03:30 PM – 05:30 PM

SOLD OUT

Etobicoke2150 Islington Avenue, Suite 102, Toronto, ON, M9P 3V4

January 9 to March 28, 2024

Tuesday & Thursday

03:30 PM – 05:30 PM

SOLD OUT

Mid-Scarborough Hub2660 Eglinton Avenue East, Scarborough, ON M1K 2S3

January 8 to April 5, 2024

Monday & Friday

09:45 AM – 11:45 AM

SOLD OUT

North York2 Champagne Drive, Unit E6, North York, ON M3J 0K2

January 9 to March 28, 2024

Tuesday & Thursday

10:15 AM – 12:15 PM

SIGN UP

AGES 10 – 13

12 Weeks | 2 Days/Week | 2 Hours/Day | $8,160 (Tax Included)
This group includes 3 in-person caregiver education sessions and 2 in-person observation sessions.

Downtown2 Surrey Place Toronto, ON M5S 2C2

January 9 to March 28, 2024

Tuesday & Thursday

06:15 PM – 08:15 PM

SOLD OUT

Etobicoke2150 Islington Avenue, Suite 102, Toronto, ON, M9P 3V4

January 10 to April 3, 2024

Wednesday

04:00 PM – 06:00 PM

Friday

03:30 PM – 05:30 PM

SIGN UP

North York2 Champagne Drive, Unit E6, North York, ON M3J 0K2

January 9 to March 28, 2024

Tuesday & Thursday

04:00 PM – 06:00 PM

SIGN UP

January 12 to April 6, 2024

Friday

03:30 PM – 05:30 PM

Saturday

09:45 AM – 11:45 AM

SIGN UP

AGES 14 – 18

12 Weeks | 2 Days/Week | 2 Hours/Day | $8,160 (Tax Included)
This group includes 3 in-person caregiver education sessions and 2 in-person observation sessions.

Downtown2 Surrey Place Toronto, ON M5S 2C2

January 9 to March 28, 2024

Tuesday & Thursday

06:15 PM – 08:15 PM

SIGN UP

January 11 to April 6, 2024

Thursday

03:45 PM – 05:45 PM

Saturday

01:00 PM – 03:00 PM

SIGN UP

North York2 Champagne Drive, Unit E6, North York, ON M3J 0K2

January 9 to March 28, 2024

Tuesday & Thursday

04:00 PM – 06:00 PM

SIGN UP

Scarborough10 Milner Business Ct., Suite 102, Scarborough, ON M1B 3C6

January 9 to March 28, 2024

Tuesday & Thursday

04:00 PM – 06:00 PM

SOLD OUT

How It Works

ABA Group Therapy is designed to work like swimming lessons. Some children progress quickly through the levels, while others repeat a level several times to work on or reinforce a goal. Sometimes, clinicians may recommend repeating a service. Caregivers can also sign their child up for the same level again if they feel they have more to gain from the curriculum.

Why Choose Us

At Surrey Place, our goal is to empower participants and their families in the ongoing journey of growth and development. We work closely with each family, listening to your unique needs every step of the way to create a personalized behaviour plan for each participant.

We offer resources for caregivers to maintain their children’s skills at home. From support staff working to match your child with a program that will best suit their needs to the ongoing care of expert clinicians, our team is here to help your child gain new skills, build self-confidence and reach their full potential.

Unlock Your Child’s Potential

Explore programs that enhance communication skills.

Ages 3-5

Basic Communication

Learn to communicate using single words.

LEARN MORE

Ages 3-9

PECSTM

Learn to communicate by exchanging picture cards.

LEARN MORE

Did you know that we offer free events for clients, caregivers and professionals?

BROWSE EVENTS

Wellness Events

Resource Library

Find accessible information developed by our clinicians to help you on your journey.

LEARN MORE

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