Available to Caregivers ONLY in the entire North Region
- Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Behaviour
- Caregiver Training
- Communication
- Consultation
- Daily Routine
- Early Learning
- Language
- Life Skills
- Play
- Reinforcement
- School Age
- Skill Building
- Transitions
- Visuals
This brief consult provides caregivers the opportunity to meet with a BCBA. A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a professional with extensive knowledge in Applied Behaviour Analysis. Many BCBA’s also have considerable experience working with individuals with ASD and their families.
During this consultation we can discuss strategies related to a single skill acquisition or behaviour reduction goal you have for your child. Caregivers will leave the consult appointment with a specific, measurable goal, as well as a few strategies that can be implemented during family routines.
Intended for parents and caregivers of children or adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Anger
- Caregiver Training
- Coaching
- Consultation
- Emotional Regulation
- Self-regulation
- Workshop
This caregiver workshop involves a condensed version of our Parent Management Training (Kazdin, 2008) program. The aim is to enhance parenting skills to improve challenging behaviours in children and adolescents with ASD, such as aggression, hyperactivity, and non-compliance. The training will take place virtually and handouts will be emailed to participants.
Reserved for children and families who are not engaged in a similar service with another provider. They can be on a waitlist for services with another agency.
- Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Behaviour
- Caregiver Training
- Coaching
- Communication
- Consultation
- Daily Living Skills
- Daily Routine
- Early Learning
- Emotional Regulation
- Feeding
- Independence
- Language
- Life Skills
- Picky Eaters
- Preschool
- Reinforcement
- School Age
- Self-regulation
- Skill Building
- Sleeping
- Social Skills
- Toileting
- Transitions
- Visuals
Focused ABA targets one or two behavioural goals at a time. You will virtually meet with our BCBA to help develop programming based on identified goals (joint attention, transitions, communication, self-help skills, play skills, etc.). ABA therapists will work 1:1 with your child to help achieve goals. Parents will have the opportunity for BCBA coaching to help generalize learning to the home environment.
Intended for adolescents with Autism spectrum Disorder, aged 14 to 18 years, who are interested in learning about how mindfulness and being in the “here and now” can help to improve various aspects of their lives.
Exclusionary Criteria:
Due to the nature of this group, sessions are not intended for children with intellectual disabilities or significant learning problems. Eligibility to be determined at intake. Those not appropriate for this group will be directed to more appropriate services.
- Emotional Regulation
- Mental health
- Resilience
- Teens
This therapy group is intended for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, aged 13 to 18 years, who are interested in learning about how mindfulness and being in the “here and now” can help to improve various aspects of their lives. The group will focus on increasing knowledge about the core components of mindfulness and various practical ways that mindfulness can be applied and practiced. Participants will learn strategies such, but not limited to, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization and guided imagery, and self-compassion. All applicants must undergo an intake interview to determine eligibility. Resources will be emailed to participants.
Intended for adolescents with Autism spectrum Disorder, aged 13 to 18 years, who are interested in learning about their own mental health.
Exclusionary Criteria:
Due to the nature of this group, sessions are not intended for children with intellectual disabilities or significant learning problems. Eligibility to be determined at intake. Those not appropriate for this group will be directed to more appropriate services.
- Anxiety
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Depression
- Mental health
- Teens
This therapy group is intended for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, aged 13 to 18 years, who are interested in learning about their own mental health. The group will focus on increasing knowledge about a variety of common diagnoses and symptoms, the relationship between stress and stressors faced by adolescents and young adults with ASD, and where and how to access mental health support.
In addition, the group will focus on understanding one’s own emotions and the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and to learn strategies to better regulate emotions and behaviour in the face of stress and adversity. This group may be delivered virtually or in person depending on demand. Materials will be emailed to participants prior to each scheduled session.
Note: All applicants must undergo an intake interview to determine eligibility.
Reserved for children and families who are not engaged in a similar service with another provider. They can be on a waitlist for services with another agency.
- Caregiver Training
- Coaching
- Communication
- Consultation
- Daily Routine
- Early Learning
- Emotional Regulation
- Language
- Play
- Preschool
- Reinforcement
- School Age
- Skill Building
- Social Skills
An SLP will conduct a parent interview and screen your child to determine speech, language and/or social communication skills. Based on parent focus and child’s skill level, SLP will work with child, demonstrate strategies and coach the caregiver in order to facilitate learning and help transition skills to home.
Designed to support children, aged 9 to 12 years.
Due to the content of this group, it is not intended for children with intellectual disabilities or significant learning problems. Eligibility to be determined at intake. Those not appropriate for this group will be directed to more appropriate services.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Mental health
- Resilience
- School Age
- Self-regulation
The Resilience Builder Program (Alvord, Zucker, & Grados, 2011) is designed to support children, aged 9 to 12 years, to bounce back from stress by developing resilience and protective factors, such as selfawareness, self-regulation, flexible
thinking, and social competence. All materials will be provided.
Note: All applicants must undergo an intake interview to determine eligibility.
Available to Entire North Region.
Reserved for children and families who are not engaged in a similar service with another provider. They can be on a waitlist for services with another agency.
- Behaviour
- Consultation
- Daily Living Skills
- Daily Routine
- Early Learning
- Emotional Regulation
- Play
- Preschool
- Reinforcement
- School Age
- Self-regulation
- Siblings
- Social Skills
- Vocational skills
Attend an OT workshop that explains sensory processing, challenges, and tools/toys/items that relate to senses. You will complete a sensory checklist to help identify your child’s sensory processing patterns. The OT will analyze and follow up with suggestions of tools/toys/items that support your child.
Caregivers ONLY
Exclusionary Criteria:
In case of high demand, drop-in sessions may be prioritized for caregivers who are not already participating in other caregiver services at Mariani and Associates. This will be evaluated on a case-bycase basis. Please do not hesitate to register.
- Caregiver Training
- Consultation
We are happy to offer drop-in clinics for caregivers, specifically designed to address questions regarding either their child’s transition to school or transition into adulthood. Sessions will consist of review of their child’s strengths and weaknesses, learning about recommended evidence-based transition practices, and creation of an individualized transition plan.
Reserved for children and families who are not engaged in a similar service with another provider. They can be on a waitlist for services with another agency.
- Caregiver Training
- Coaching
- Communication
- Consultation
- Daily Living Skills
- Daily Routine
- Early Learning
- Emotional Regulation
- Independence
- Play
- Preschool
- School Age
- Self-regulation
- Skill Building
- Transitions
- Visuals
Consult and collaboratively work with an OT to identify concerns related to fine motor skills, visual motor skills (paper and pencil; cutting), self-regulation, self-care skills as well as areas of sensory processing affecting the child’s functional skills in their everyday life.
Available to Entire North Region
- Anger
- Behaviour
- Caregiver Training
- Coaching
- Consultation
- Emotional Regulation
- Reinforcement
- Skill Building
The purpose of this training is to disseminate methods and strategies to reduce disruptive behavior in children from preschool to adolescence. The skills covered in this training will enable and empower parents to be the change agent, given that they spend the most time with their children. The goal of the training is to reduce disruptive behavior such as tantrums, aggression and so on and increase adaptive living or functioning. The behavior modification techniques we will be covering are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and have empirical support in reducing disruptive behavior in children. During training we will cover information on strategies such as positive reinforcement of appropriate behavior, use of daily schedules, specific techniques known to enhance compliance, systematic teaching of new skills and so on.
Parents/Caregivers, Families, Adolescents
Exclusionary Criteria:
In case of high demand, drop-in sessions may be prioritized for caregivers who are not already participating in other caregiver services at Mariani and Associates. This will be evaluated on a case-bycase basis. Please do not hesitate to register.
- Caregiver Training
- Coaching
- Consultation
We are happy to offer drop-in clinics for caregivers and their children, or for adolescents with or without their caregivers, specifically designed to address questions regarding a recent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, to discuss basic strategies, and to review treatment plans and specific recommendations.
Sessions will cover topics such as the nature of ASD and what it means for you (as a caregiver or individual), your child(dren), and your family, prognosis and planning for the future, intervention options, attachment and relationship building, and the importance of self-care.
Best suited for: Parents/Caregivers only
Exclusionary Criteria:
In case of high demand, drop-in sessions may be prioritized for caregivers who are not already participating in other caregiver services at Mariani and Associates. This will be evaluated on a case-bycase basis. Please do not hesitate to register.
- Behaviour
- Caregiver Training
- Coaching
- Consultation
- Mental health
We are happy to offer virtual drop-in clinics for caregivers to access a 50-minute consultation session with Dr. Price. Parents/Caregivers will be able to schedule a time during one of the clinic days, where they are able to discuss any current mental health concerns related to their child(ren) with Autism Spectrum Disorder, learn basic strategies that can be implemented at home, and to receive recommendations to plan for next steps.
Available to Entire North Region
- Anxiety
- Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Assessment
- Behaviour
- Caregiver Training
- Coaching
- Communication
- Consultation
- Daily Living Skills
- Daily Routine
- Emotional Regulation
- Employment
- Feeding
- Independence
- Language
- Life Skills
- Picky Eaters
- Play
- Reinforcement
- School Age
- Self-regulation
- Siblings
- Skill Building
- Sleeping
- Social Skills
- Teens
- Toileting
- Vocational skills
This is a consultative service for parents/caregivers who are looking for support with 1-2 specific goals with their child. The following are examples of suitable areas of need to be addressed via this consultative model:
- Sleeping
- Toileting
- Picky Eating
- Daily Living Skills (e.g., dressing, brushing teeth, taking a bath or shower etc.)
- Increasing Basic Communication (e.g., pointing/gestures, eye contact, joint attention, word approximation, sentence expansion, persistence in communication etc.)
- Augmentative Communication Systems
- Pre-Vocational/Vocational Skills
- Emotional regulation
- Social Skills
- Executive Functioning Skills
*In some cases, the clinician might find it beneficial to work with the child/youth directly for part or all of the session depending on the goal. This will be determined during intake and discussed with families.
Appropriate for youth between 13 and 16 years with ASD who have friendship problems, agree to participate voluntarily and to attend weekly.
- Coaching
- Communication
- Consultation
- Skill Building
- Social Skills
- Teens
PEERS® is an evidence-based social skills program designed to improve social interactions for youth who want to learn how to make and keep friends. During the 12 weekly 1.5 hour group sessions, specific social skills will be taught, and participants will have the opportunity to practice the skills during fun activities and role playing. There will be weekly corresponding homework assignments, therefore parent support is strongly encouraged.
Caregivers also participate in two, 1-hour phone or video sessions with one of the facilitators to discuss their child progress and strategies to help them. Appropriate for youth between 13 and 16 years with ASD who have friendship problems, agree to participate voluntarily and to attend weekly. A screening questionnaire will be completed prior to the start date to verify criteria for the program are met.
Appropriate for youth between 13 and 16 years with ASD who have friendship problems, agree to participate voluntarily and to attend weekly.
- Coaching
- Communication
- Consultation
- Skill Building
- Social Skills
- Teens
PEERS® is an evidence-based social skills program designed to improve social interactions for youth who want to learn how to make and keep friends. During the 12 weekly 1.5 hour group sessions, specific social skills will be taught, and participants will have the opportunity to practice the skills during fun activities and role playing. There will be weekly corresponding homework assignments, therefore parent support is strongly encouraged.
Caregivers also participate in two, 1-hour phone or video sessions with one of the facilitators to discuss their child progress and strategies to help them. Appropriate for youth between 13 and 16 years with ASD who have friendship problems, agree to participate voluntarily and to attend weekly. A screening questionnaire will be completed prior to the start date to verify criteria for the program are met.
This service is intended for caregivers and children with ASD between 4 and 8 years of age who are minimally verbal and/or who use little appropriate independent or creative play.
- Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Behaviour
- Caregiver Training
- Communication
- Early Learning
- Emotional Regulation
- Language
- Play
- Preschool
- School Age
- Self-regulation
- Skill Building
- Social Skills
Following brief assessment of language and play skills, child-parent dyads participate in 20 programming sessions of up to 1-hour (2 times weekly) based upon both naturalistic developmental (JASPER) and ABA principles. Sessions will increase child play and language skills, as well as caregiver confidence in teaching their child new skills.
So as not to overlap with OAP Early Years Services, this service is offered to caregivers and children with ASD between 4 and 8 years of age who are minimally verbal and/or who use little appropriate independent or creative play.
This service is intended for caregivers of children between 3 to 8 years of age and is available virtually to families in any Northern district – urban, rural or remote.
- Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Behaviour
- Caregiver Training
- Communication
- Consultation
- Emotional Regulation
- Mental health
- Preschool
- Resilience
- School Age
- Self-regulation
- Skill Building
FLIP-IT an evidence-based program for parents to help young children identify their feelings, learn healthy self-control and reduce challenging behaviour. Caregivers will increase their knowledge about the resilience framework and how it can be used to support children who use challenging behavior. They will learn and implement the four FLIP-IT steps (Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, Prompts) to help their children learn self-control and transform challenging behavior.
They will learn and implement the four FLIP-IT steps (Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, Prompts) to help their children learn self-control and transform challenging behavior. Following the 4-week group training, each caregiver can participate in an individualized consultation. This service is intended for caregivers of children between 3 to 8 years of age who speak using phrases or sentences.
• Families and caregivers who has received an ASD diagnosis later in life for their child (6 +)
• This services is not intended for siblings under the age of 18 looking for support
• Northern Ontario residence.
• Must access to reliable internet connection and a computer to attend sessions
• Providing care for a child with an ASD diagnosis
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Caregiver Training
The goal of the group is to help parents / caregivers connect to the emotional side of receiving an ASD diagnosis for their child who is latency age or older. Through the group setting, parents and caregivers will be given the opportunity to explore and address their own thoughts, feelings and values surrounding the diagnosis of the child in their care. Themes focused in the group will be priority management, emotional wellbeing, caregiver burnout and personal advocating.
• Families and caregivers who has received an ASD diagnosis later in life for their child (6 +)
• This services is not intended for siblings under the age of 18 looking for support
• Northern Ontario residence.
• Must access to reliable internet connection and a computer to attend sessions
• Providing care for a child with an ASD diagnosis
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Caregiver Training
The goal of the group is to help parents / caregivers connect to the emotional side of receiving an ASD diagnosis for their child who is latency age or older. Through the group setting, parents and caregivers will be given the opportunity to explore and address their own thoughts, feelings and values surrounding the diagnosis of the child in their care. Themes focused in the group will be priority management, emotional wellbeing, caregiver burnout and personal advocating.
- Teens
Sessions will include about 30 minutes of information about impacts of ASD, as well as 30 minutes for discussion and questions. This group is well suited for individuals who are aware of their diagnosis and are interested in learning more about ASD while connecting with other teens with ASD.
New diagnosis? Join us for a guided discussion caregiver group. Upon intake, a facilitator will contact you for an individual session to discuss your needs and interests. We hope to create a safe place where families can share and learn from each other while being supported by experts in ABA & Autism Spectrum Disorder.
New diagnosis? Join us for a guided discussion caregiver group. Upon intake, a facilitator will contact you for an individual session to discuss your needs and interests. We hope to create a safe place where families can share and learn from each other while being supported by experts in ABA & Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Intended for parents and caregivers of children or adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Workshop
This virtual information and Q&A session is intended for parents and caregivers of children or adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The workshop uses components of the Parent Management Training (Kazdin, 2008) program and aims to enhance parenting skills to improve challenging behaviours in children, such as aggression, hyperactivity, and noncompliance.
Parents/Caregivers, Families, Adolescents
- Caregiver Training
- Consultation
- Teens
We are happy to offer drop-in clinics for caregivers and their children, or for adolescents with or without their caregivers, specifically designed to address questions regarding a recent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, to discuss basic strategies, and to review treatment plans and specific recommendations. Sessions will cover topics such as the nature of ASD and what it means for you, your child(dren), and your family, prognosis and planning for the future, intervention options, attachment and relationship building, and the importance of self-care.
Service Providers
ABA Northern Services and Training Inc.
Applied Behaviour Analytic Services
Breakthrough Speech & Language Therapy
Brenna Lanktree and Associates, Inc.
George Jeffrey Children's Centre
Kerry Maisels Behaviour Consulting Inc
Northern Outreach & Clinical Services