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ONTARIO AUTISM PROGRAM: CAREGIVER-MEDIATED EARLY YEARS PROGRAMS

Learn about early years programs for children who are between 12 and 48 months
old and registered in the Ontario Autism Program. Find out about eligibility and
how to register for services.


ON THIS PAGE SKIP THIS PAGE NAVIGATION

 1. Overview
 2. Eligibility
 3. Sign up for programs
 4. Types of programs
 5. Find services

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


OVERVIEW

Caregiver-mediated early years programs support families with young children
ages 12 months to 48 months (4 years). The programs help young children learn
new skills and meet individualized goals.

Through these programs, parents and caregivers learn therapeutic strategies and
specific techniques from professionals based on their child’s individual needs.
The programs aim to build parents’ and caregivers’ capacity to support their
child’s skill development in:

 * social interaction
 * play
 * communication
 * emotional development
 * adaptive development and self-help skills

The programs are play-based, child-led and developmentally appropriate. Programs
are free of charge and available for up to six months per child.


ELIGIBILITY

Most children who are 12 to 48 months old and registered in the Ontario Autism
Program are eligible to receive caregiver-mediated early years programs.

If your child is receiving core clinical services or has an active behaviour
plan, you’re not eligible to receive caregiver-mediated early years programs.

Children who are receiving caregiver-mediated early years programs can receive
other Ontario Autism Program supports (other than OAP core clinical services),
special needs supports and/or early intervention programs at the same time. For
example, your child can receive foundational family services or urgent response
services at the same time as a caregiver-mediated early years program.


SIGN UP FOR PROGRAMS

AccessOAP sends invitations to all eligible families after they register for the
OAP. You need to receive an invitation before you can sign up for a
caregiver-mediated early years program.

Once you receive an invitation, you can contact service providers to ask
questions about the programs they offer and decide which program is best for
your child. When you choose the program that’s right for your child, you
register directly with the service provider.

Read the list of service providers.


TYPES OF PROGRAMS

Service providers offer one or more of the following six caregiver-mediated
early years programs. Eligible families can access these programs for free.

Programs are offered in either a one-on-one format, group format or both.
Services may be delivered in person or virtually. The duration of each program
can vary. Most programs are offered in either 6-week, 12-week, or 24-week
sessions.

To get more information about the programs you’re interested in, you can contact
service providers who are offering the programs. You can find out which service
providers are offering which programs under the find services section below.


EARLY SOCIAL INTERACTION/SOCIAL COMMUNICATION EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND
TRANSACTIONAL SUPPORTS (ESI/SCERTS)

For: children 12 to 36 months (3 years) at start of intervention

In ESI/SCERTS, you will receive coaching and be supported to develop your
child’s social communication skills within everyday activities and social
activities, such as:

 * games (peek-a-boo, hide and seek)
 * meals and snacks (setting the table, clean up)
 * caregiving activities (bathing, diaper changes, hand washing)
 * play with toys (blocks, puzzles, play dough, pretend play)
 * family chores (picking up, getting the mail)
 * books (shapes, colours, numbers)
 * transitions from one activity to another

The coach will guide and support you throughout the program, helping you engage
your child by following your child’s focus of interest and by keeping activities
predictable. This is highly motivating for children, and it will help you
improve your child’s communication, social skills, play skills, self-help and
motor skills.

This program is based on evidence as well as the principles of child development
and applied behaviour analysis (ABA).


JOINT ATTENTION, SYMBOLIC PLAY, ENGAGEMENT AND REGULATION (JASPER)

For: children 12 to 48 months (4 years) at start of intervention

Joint attention, symbolic play, engagement and regulation (JASPER) trains
caregivers about social communication skills. Through JASPER, you will help your
child develop targeted skills, including:

 * gestures for joint attention and requesting (such as pointing, coordinated
   looks between objects and people, and showing)
 * play diversity and complexity (such as using objects to represent something
   else in play)
 * social engagement (such as improving the child's engagement with others)
 * behaviour regulation (such as using strategies to handle behaviours that
   interfere with learning and engagement)
 * verbal communication (such as building on the child’s existing language,
   while also teaching them new words)

The program will show you how to use strategies at home with your child. The
program is tailored to the abilities, motivations and needs of each child and
caregiver.


PIVOTAL RESPONSE TREATMENT (PRT)

For: children 12 to 48 months (4 years) at start of intervention

Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is an evidence-based intervention program that
uses applied behaviour analysis (ABA) principles. PRT uses your child’s
motivation to teach communication and social engagement. You will learn the core
strategies of the program so that you can use it in day-to-day routines and
interactions with your child.

The program targets many skills, including eye contact, requesting, turn taking,
play skills, and how to gain your child’s attention using a range of strategies.


PLAY PROJECT

For: children 12 to 48 months (4 years) at start of intervention

This program is designed for children:

 * at all levels of need
 * who communicate at a variety of levels, from no words up to and including
   sentences

The PLAY project is an evidence-based, playful, practical, parent-implemented
program that supports the development of social interaction, communication, play
and preschool skills in children on the autism spectrum. It is developmentally
appropriate and fun, with strategies that you can use in your daily activities
with your child.


PROJECT IMPACT

For: children 12 to 48 months (4 years) at start of intervention

Project ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) will help you and
your child increase social communication, imitation and play skills throughout
daily routines.

Highly qualified professionals will coach you as the expert on your child.
Together, you and the trainer will develop priority goals and activities to
support your child’s learning throughout the day.

Project ImPACT uses a combination of developmental and behavioural strategies to
increase social communication skills in four main areas: social engagement,
language, social imitation and play.


SOCIAL ABCS

For: children 12 to 42 months (3 and a half years) at start of intervention and
have social communication difficulties

Social ABCs is based on a combination of developmental and behavioural
principles and focuses on improving a toddler’s use of vocalizations to
communicate and share positive emotions with others. Opportunities for teaching
and learning come from your child’s natural interests during playtime and
day-to-day caregiving routines.

You will work with a trained coach to learn the intervention strategies in your
child’s natural environment, using play-based activities and daily routines that
your child finds the most motivating.

Social ABCs is an evidence-based, caregiver-mediated intervention for toddlers.


FIND SERVICES

Find service providers that offer caregiver-mediated early years programs.

The providers below are organized by the ministry’s five regional areas:
central, east, north, Toronto and west. Many providers offer these programs in
partnership with other providers in their communities.

Some providers may offer programs online or virtually to people from anywhere in
Ontario.


CENTRAL REGION

AUTISM IN MIND CHILDREN’S CHARITY

Program offered: Project ImPACT

Local areas served: Markham, Scarborough, Stouffville, Aurora, Newmarket,
Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Vaughan, North York

Service available in the following language(s): English, Cantonese, Mandarin,
Tamil, and Korean. French services can be accommodated through an interpretation
service.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * intake@autisminmind.org
 * 905-604-8226
 * http://www.autisminmind.org

EASTWOOD PSYCHOLOGISTS

Program offered: Project ImPACT

Local areas served: Peel, Halton, Dufferin-Wellington (Orangeville) and York
(Woodbridge)

Service available in the following language(s): English, French, Hindi, Polish,
Portuguese, Punjabi, Tagalog, and Urdu.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@projectimpactbrampton.ca
 * 905-463-2069
 * https://projectimpactbrampton.ca

ERINOAKKIDS CENTRE FOR TREATMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

Program offered: ESI/SCERTS

Local areas served: York, Simcoe, Peel, Halton, Dufferin/Wellington, Waterloo

Service available in the following language(s): English and French. Translation
services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * intake@erinoakkids.ca
 * 905-855-2690, then press 1
 * Toll-free: 1-877-374-6625, then press 1
 * http://www.erinoakkids.ca

KIDSABILITY

Programs offered: ESI/SCERTS and Social ABCs

Local areas served: Waterloo Region, County of Wellington

Service available in the following language(s): English and French (via virtual
services through a partnership with the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario –
CHEO). Translation services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * intake@kidsability.ca
 * 519-886-8886 ext. 1214
 * http://www.kidsability.ca

MONARCH HOUSE PARTNERED WITH LIFEWORKS AND BOOMERANG HEALTH

Program offered: Project ImPACT

Local areas served: York, Peel, Waterloo, Halton, and Toronto

Service available in the following language(s): English. Translation services
for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@monarchhouse.ca
 * 905-849-7993 ext. 10716
 * http://www.monarchhouse.ca

ON SOLID GROUND INC.

Program offered: Project ImPACT

Local areas served: York and Simcoe

Service available in the following language(s): English and French. Translation
services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@osgbehaviour.ca
 * 705-984-4441
 * http://www.osgbehaviour.ca

SOUTH ASIAN AUTISM AWARENESS CENTRE (SAAAC) PARTNERED WITH ALPHABEE

Program offered: JASPER

Local areas served: Toronto, York, Peel, Halton, and Hamilton

Service available in the following language(s): English. Translation support
will be available as needed for French, Tamil, Urdu, Hindi, Mandarin, Bengali,
Farsi, Malayalam and Kannada.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@earlyconnections.ca
 * 416-367-5968
 * http://alphabee-saaac.com/

ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH CENTRE GUELPH

Programs offered: Project ImPACT and PLAY Project

Local areas served: Waterloo, Wellington and Dufferin Counties

Service available in the following language(s): English. Translation services
for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * OAP@sjhcg.ca
 * 519-824-6000 ext. 4303
 * http://www.sjhcg.ca

WOODVIEW MENTAL HEALTH AND AUTISM SERVICES

Program offered: Project ImPACT

Local areas served: Halton

Service available in the following language(s): English. Translation services
for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * projectimpact@woodview.ca
 * 289-527-5306
 * https://woodview.ca/caregiver-mediated-early-years

YORK SIMCOE AUTISM NETWORK (YSAN)

Programs offered: PRT, PLAY Project and Social ABCs

Local areas served: York Region and Simcoe County

Service available in the following language(s):

 * Play Project: English and French
 * Pivotal Response Treatment: English and French
 * Social ABCs: English and French
 * Translation services for other languages will be available as needed

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information

 * OAPintake@ctnsy.ca
 * Toll-free: 1-866-377-0286
 * https://www.ysanetwork.ca/caregiver-mediated-early-years-services/


EAST REGION

ACT LEARNING CENTRE PARTNERED WITH MAKE WAY FOR ME, ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND
1TO1 THERAPY

Program offered: PLAY Project

Local areas served: Ottawa, Stormont/Dundas/Glengarry, Prescott/Russell,
Lanark/Leeds/Grenville, Renfrew, Frontenac/Lennox/Addington, Hastings/Prince
Edward/Northumberland, Haliburton/Kawartha Lakes/Peterborough, and Durham

Service available in the following language(s): English, French and Spanish.
Translation services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * playproject@actlearningcentre.ca
 * Toll-free: 1-833-887-7529
 * https://playproject.actlearningcentre.ca/

CANOPY SUPPORT SERVICES

Programs offered: ESI/SCERTS, PRT

Local areas served: Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton and Northumberland

Service available in the following language(s): English and French

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@canopysupport.ca
 * 705-876-9245 ext. 200
 * Toll-free: 1-888-616-3456 ext. 200
 * http://www.canopysupport.ca

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF EASTERN ONTARIO (CHEO)

Program offered: Social ABCs

Local areas served: Stormont-Dundas and Glengarry, Prescott and Russell, Ottawa
and Renfrew, Dufferin/Wellington (French services only), Waterloo (French
services only)

Service available in the following language(s): English and French

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * autismemail@cheo.on.ca
 * 613-249-9355 ext. 444
 * Toll-free: 1-888-616-3456 ext. 200
 * http://www.cheo.on.ca/socialabcs

CONNECTWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH

Programs offered: PLAY Project

Local areas served: Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville Counties, and Renfrew
County

Service available in the following language(s): English and French

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * EYAutism@connectwell.ca
 * 613-257-7121
 * Toll-free: 1-800-667-2617
 * http://www.connectwell.ca

GRANDVIEW KIDS - OAP DURHAM PARTNERSHIP

Programs offered: Project ImPACT, Social ABCs and PLAY Project

Local areas served: Durham

Service available in the following language(s): English and French. Translation
services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * OAPearlyyearsintake@grandviewkids.ca
 * 905-728-1673 ext. 2468
 * Toll-free: 1-800-304-6180 ext. 2468
 * https://grandviewkids.ca/caregiver-mediated-programs/

KIDSINCLUSIVE – KINGSTON HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE

Program offered: Social ABCs

Local areas served: Kingston, County of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington
Counties, Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville Counties

Service available in the following language(s): English and French

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * 613-544-3400 ext. 3175
 * Toll-free: 1-855-544-3400 ext. 3175
 * http://www.kidsinclusive.ca

MALTBY CENTRE

Program offered: Project ImPACT

Local areas served: Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville Counties, Renfrew County,
City of Kingston, County of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Counties, Hastings
and Prince Edward Counties

Service available in the following language(s): English and French. Translation
services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * autism@maltbycentre.ca
 * 613-546-8535
 * Toll-free: 1-844-855-8340
 * http://www.maltbycentre.ca

QUICKSTART EARLY YEARS PARTNERSHIP INC. PARTNERED WITH EMERGING MINDS, MONARCH
HOUSE MARKHAM AND ASPIRE ACADEMY

Program offered: ESI/SCERTS

Local areas served: Ottawa, Stormont/Dundas/Glengarry, Prescott-Russell,
Renfrew, Lanark, and Durham

Service available in the following language(s): English and French.
Interpretation services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@quickstartearlyyears.ca
 * Toll-free: 1-844-515-1919
 * http://www.quickstartearlyyears.ca


NORTH REGION

CHILD & COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Programs offered: PRT and Project ImPACT

Local areas served: Nipissing, Sudbury/Manitoulin, Algoma, Kenora/Rainy River,
Thunder Bay

Service available in the following language(s): English and French

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * keinarson@ccrconnect.ca
 * Toll-free: 1-877-996-1599 ext. 2608
 * http://www.ccrconnect.ca

HANDS THEFAMILYHELPNETWORK.CA

Program offered: Project ImPACT

Local areas served: Nipissing, Parry Sound, Cochrane /Temiskaming

Service available in the following language(s): English and French

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@handstfhn.ca
 * Toll-free: 1-800-688-8555 ext. 1333
 * http://www.thefamilyhelpnetwork.ca

ROOTS & WINGS PSYCHOLOGY

Program offered: JASPER

Local areas served: Sudbury and Thunder Bay District

Service available in the following language(s): English and French

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@rootsandwingspsychology.ca
 * 705-885-9998
 * http://www.rootsandwingspsychology.ca


TORONTO REGION

MONARCH HOUSE PARTNERED WITH LIFEWORKS AND BOOMERANG HEALTH

Program offered: Project ImPACT

Local areas served: York, Peel, Waterloo, Halton, and Toronto

Service available in the following language(s): English. Translation services
for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@monarchhouse.ca
 * 905-849-7993 ext. 10716
 * http://www.monarchhouse.ca

NEW HAVEN LEARNING CENTRE

Programs offered: PRT and ESI/SCERTS

Local areas served: Greater Toronto Area

Service available in the following language(s): English

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * Registration@newhavencentre.com
 * 416-259-4445 ext. 10
 * http://www.newhavencentre.com

SOUTH ASIAN AUTISM AWARENESS CENTRE (SAAAC) PARTNERED WITH ALPHABEE

Program offered: JASPER

Local areas served: Toronto, York, Peel, Halton, and Hamilton

Service available in the following language(s): English. Translation support
will be available as needed for French, Tamil, Urdu, Hindi, Mandarin, Bengali,
Farsi, Malayalam and Kannada.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@earlyconnections.ca
 * 416-367-5968
 * http://alphabee-saaac.com

TORONTO AUTISM SERVICES NETWORK (SURREY PLACE)

Programs offered: Project ImPACT, Social ABCs, and PRT

Local areas served: Toronto

Service available in the following language(s):

 * Project ImPACT: English and French
 * Social ABCs: English
 * PRT: English
 * Translation services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * 1-833-575-KIDS (5437)
 * http://www.torontoautismservices.ca


WEST REGION

CONNECTIONS EARLY YEARS FAMILY CENTRE

Programs offered: Social ABCs, Project ImPACT, PLAY Project

Local areas served: Windsor-Essex County

Service available in the following language(s): English and French. Translation
services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * info@children-first.ca
 * 519-250-1850
 * http://www.children-first.ca

MCMASTER CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL – HAMILTON HEALTH SCIENCES

Programs offered: Social ABCs, PRT, ESI/SCERTS

Local areas served: Hamilton, Niagara, Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Six Nations of
the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit and surrounding areas

Service available in the following language(s): English and French. Translation
services for other languages will be available as needed.

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

http://www.McMasterChildrensHospital.ca/Autism

Hamilton and area

 * McMaster Children’s Hospital – Hamilton Health Sciences
 * 905-521-2100 ext. 74180
 * earlyyearsservice@hhsc.ca

Niagara and area

 * Bethesda Community Services (including Niagara Children’s Centre)
 * 905-684-6918 ext. 170
 * serviceinfo@bethesdaservices.com

Haldimand-Norfolk and area

 * Haldimand-Norfolk Resource Education and Counselling Help (H-N REACH)
 * 519-587-2441 ext. 308
 * autisminfo@hnreach.on.ca

Brantford and area

 * Lansdowne Children’s Centre
 * 519-753-3153 ext. 268
 * emacdonald@lansdownecc.com

Six Nations of the Grand River and area

 * Six Nations Health Services
 * 519-445-4983 ext. 2600
 * jenniferdetweiler@sixnations.ca

TVCC (FORMERLY THAMES VALLEY CHILDREN’S CENTRE)

Programs offered: PRT, Social ABCs, JASPER

Local areas served: Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex (including Windsor), Grey,
Huron, Lambton (including Sarnia), Middlesex (including London), Oxford
(including Woodstock), and Perth (including Stratford) counties

Service available in the following language(s): English and French

Online/virtual programs: yes, for families located anywhere in Ontario as space
allows

More information:

 * abs@tvcc.on.ca
 * Toll-free: 1-866-590-8822, then press 1
 * https://www.tvcc.on.ca/intake-referrals

Updated: March 30, 2023
Published: June 25, 2021
MINISTRY OF CHILDREN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES




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