Foundational Family Services

A Speech-Language Pathologist 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.

Consult and collaboratively work with an Occupational Therapist 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.

Learn about ABA strategies to support with building skills during this 6- session workshop. Topics covered include: Pairing, Prompting, Setting Events, Exercise, Reinforcement, Visuals, Task Analysis; Shaping; Chaining, Scripting, Video Modelling

Learn about ABA strategies to support with building skills during this 6- session workshop. Topics covered include: Pairing, Prompting, Setting Events, Exercise, Reinforcement, Visuals, Task Analysis; Shaping; Chaining, Scripting, Video Modelling

Learn about ABA strategies to support with building skills during this 6- session workshop. Topics covered include: Pairing, Prompting, Setting Events, Exercise, Reinforcement, Visuals, Task Analysis; Shaping; Chaining, Scripting, Video Modelling

Learn about ABA strategies to support with building skills during this 6- session workshop. Topics covered include: Pairing, Prompting, Setting Events, Exercise, Reinforcement, Visuals, Task Analysis; Shaping; Chaining, Scripting, Video Modelling

Conversation Cues (Part 1) is a 6-session program teaching the skills needed during conversations. Sessions are taught using a variety of activities, videos, workbooks, and role- plays. Topics covered include; When To Start Conversation, Cue: Interested, Cue: Not Interested, How To Start Conversation, Cue: Bored, Take Turns

Time for a Playdate (Part 1), is a 6-session program using video modelling, games, activities, and practice to support with developing skills used during playdates. Several contexts are used to support with generalization. The sessions will focus on the following skills; Greet Friend, Share, Guest Chooses, Stay with Friend, Losing is OK, Talk on Topic

Conversation Cues (Part 1) is a 6-session program teaching the skills needed during conversations. Sessions are taught using a variety of activities, videos, workbooks, and role- plays. Topics covered include; When To Start Conversation, Cue: Interested, Cue: Not Interested, How To Start Conversation, Cue: Bored, Take Turns

Conversation Cues (Part 1) is a 6-session program teaching the skills needed during conversations. Sessions are taught using a variety of activities, videos, workbooks, and role- plays. Topics covered include; When To Start Conversation, Cue: Interested, Cue: Not Interested, How To Start Conversation, Cue: Bored, Take Turns

Sibshops is a program designed for brothers & sisters of someone with ASD. Sibshops is not therapy, but rather a venue for sibs to have fun, laugh, talk about the good and not-so-good parts, play some great games, learn something about the services/diagnosis of their brothers or sisters, and have some more fun. Dinner will be provided.

Sibshops is a program designed for brothers & sisters of someone with ASD. Sibshops is not therapy, but rather a venue for sibs to have fun, laugh, talk about the good and not-so-good parts, play some great games, learn something about the services/diagnosis of their brothers or sisters, and have some more fun. Dinner will be provided.

Sibshops is a program designed for brothers & sisters of someone with ASD. Sibshops is not therapy, but rather a venue for sibs to have fun, laugh, talk about the good and not-so-good parts, play some great games, learn something about the services/diagnosis of their brothers or sisters, and have some more fun. Dinner will be provided.

Sibshops is a program designed for brothers & sisters of someone with ASD. Sibshops is not therapy, but rather a venue for sibs to have fun, laugh, talk about the good and not-so-good parts, play some great games, learn something about the services/diagnosis of their brothers or sisters, and have some more fun. Dinner will be provided.

"These individual consultations are designed to allow for caregivers the opportunity to discuss 1-2 concerns they have about their child’s speech and language development. Families will meet with a registered Speech-Language Pathologist for a 1:1 consultation, which will last 45-50 minutes and be offered virtually. During the session, strategies and goals will be shared with the caregivers to ensure that they have the knowledge and confidence required to allow them to help their child become a more effective communicator. Topics discussed would be beneficial for children who are not yet using verbal words to communicate, use a limited number of words, communicate with a communication device (i.e. PECS, Proloquo, SnapCore), struggle to produce speech sounds, communicate using incomplete sentences, or have difficulties with social communication and interaction with peers. No matter what the need is, we can help!

At initial contact with the family, discussion about whether the child should be present for a part of the session will take place, should it allow for better caregiver coaching. At the end of each session, families will be provided with strategies and tips that will be helpful to their unique situation, which can be implemented with the child within their daily routines at home!"

Following a 1-hour consultation meeting with our on-site BCBA, your child will receive 3 hours of 1:1 follow up service with our clinical team, at our center, for up to 4 weeks. Session dates and times will be arranged with each individual family.

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 (e.g., Picture Exchange Communication System – PECS
and/or Proloquo2Go.
Pre-Vocational/Vocational Skills
Emotional regulation
Social Skills
Executive Functioning Skills
Strategies for dealing with problem behaviour

*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.

Are you a caregiver of a young child recently diagnosed with ASD? Do you have questions about ASD symptoms, or where to begin with planning services? Would you like to learn some easy ways to add ABA-based teaching into your child’s everyday routines? Or are you a caregiver of a pre-teen/teenager looking to address new skills and challenges that come with maturing?
A Brief Behaviour Consultation is a flexible way for caregivers to connect with a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). A 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.

Following a 1-hour consultation meeting with our on-site BCBA, your child will receive 3 hours of 1:1 follow up service with our clinical team, at our center, for up to 4 weeks. Session dates and times will be arranged with each individual family.

Following a consultation with our Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, caregivers will develop a goal for their child. They will then have access to 3 hours of 1:1 coaching and/or continued consultations with the BCBA or Lead ABA Therapist for the following 4 weeks. Consultations will occur via telehealth, phone, and in-person where possible.

This group will focus on basic organizational skills for everyday life. Emphasis will be placed on organizational strategies for the school and home. Participants will learn the importance of being organized in their daily lives and strategies for how organization can be maintained. Organizing one’s time will also be addressed as this is a necessary life skill, particularly in adolescence.

In this presentation, participants will learn how to define behaviour, including examples of appropriate and challenging behaviour. Participants will learn how to apply the Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence (A-B-C) Model, looking at the different functions of behaviour and general teaching strategies

Difficulties with transitions are common challenges associated with an ASD diagnosis. This 2-hour group workshop will involve learning opportunities to explore several evidence-based strategies to support with everyday transitions such as going to the grocery store, leaving the house for recreational activities, morning/bedtime routines

Participants will learn the strategies to apply prior to a big life change and how to cope with the change. Big transitions may include moving, going to preschool, moving to a new school, having a new sibling, death of someone close, divorce, etc.

In this workshop you will learn practical strategies to teach your child daily living skills such as handwashing, brushing teeth, getting dressed or taking a shower. Strategies include learning how to break down a skill into smaller parts and how to use motivation to encourage success. This is accompanied by a one-hour follow up consultation to support with how to teach the daily living skill in the home setting.

This workshop will discuss strategies that are proven effective when teaching toileting skills. Participants will gain knowledge of steps of toilet training, teaching strategies to implement during the toilet training journey. This is accompanied by a one-hour follow up consultation to support implementation into the home setting.

Using evidence based social skills, participants will explore the skills related to dating.

Topics covered include:
Letting someone know you like them
Flirting
Choosing appropriate people to date
Online dating
Asking someone on a date
Accepting rejection
Turning someone down
Planning and going on dates
Dating do's and don'ts
Handling pressure from partners.

Content adapted from PEERS for Young Adults. A social coach/caregiver session will be offered concurrently to the youth session. It is recommended a social coach attend to support the youth outside the session.

Go-Getters; Motivation & Organization is a 12-session program for those looking for support with learning to get organized and motivated. Sessions will include video modelling, games, activities, and practice.

Topics covered:
Do My Best
Planning Ahead
Being on Time
Note-Taking
Organization
Persistence
Break it Down
Flexibility
Focus
The Big Picture
Memorization
Mistakes

Sibshops is an opportunity for those who have a sibling with an ASD diagnosis. Sibshops is not therapy, but rather a venue for sibs to have fun, laugh, talk about the good and not-so-good parts, play some great games, learn something about the services/diagnosis of their brothers or sisters, and have some more fun. This all-day session includes snacks and lunch.

Join us for a mid-summer camp, just for the siblings. Sibshops is an opportunity for those who have a sibling with an ASD diagnosis. Sibshops is not therapy, but rather a venue for sibs to have fun, laugh, talk about the good and not-so-good parts, play some great games, learn something about the services/diagnosis of their brothers or sisters, and have some more fun. This all-day session includes snacks and lunch. Our 5 day camp includes snacks and lunch.

Sibshops is an opportunity for those who have a sibling with an ASD diagnosis. Sibshops is an opportunity for those who have a sibling with an ASD diagnosis. Sibshops is not therapy, but rather a venue for sibs to have fun, laugh, talk about the good and not-so-good parts, play some great games, learn something about the services/diagnosis of their brothers or sisters, and have some more fun. This all-day session includes snacks and lunch.

Increase financial literacy with our Money Talks program. Participants will learn through a mix of games, practice, videos and other activities.

Topics include;
Making purchases with cash or debit
Budgeting basics
Needs vs. wants
Cheques
Tips & gratuities
Taxes
Types of savings & loans
Travelling with money

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a method of functional communication for anyone with a language disorder, including autism. PECS can be taught by professionals and parents, in all everyday settings. The PECS is based on the motivation of the chils and aims to bring about spontaneous and autonomous communication. Its teaching is rigorous and goes through 6 learning phases. It can improves the quality of life of the person and his family to the extent that it allows effective communication. This workshop focuses on learning the 6 phases of PECS as well as the assessment and intervention of ABA strategies. Each participant will have access to 3 consultations to support implementation and the continuation through next Phases of PECS.

Transitions can be difficult for children and youth with ASD, but they don’t have to be. Parents will be provided with the tools, education and knowledge for advocacy skills and navigating systems seamlessly in order to support their child to experience smooth transitions. Sectors included can be between years of study and/or between school settings, secondary and post-secondary or for the adult sector, work force and community settings. These individual consultations and relevant ressources will be child/youth specific in response to their personal strengths, needs and specific needs of the family.

Welcome to Holland! Simple and effective Applied Behaviour Analysis strategies can easily be incorporated into everyday life at home. This webinar offers practical solutions for families to develop a routine, integrate visual aids into daily life, keep children busy, master controlled choices, Before and After, and following through. The one hour consultations will focus on direct parent training that can be incorporated into everyday life (between the loads of laundry and making supper).
3 one hour virtual Individual sessions scheduled in accordance with family availability.

Following brief assessment of social communication skills, the child or youth participates in 20 individualized sessions up to one hour each supervised by a BCBA. The goal is to increase conversation and turn taking through fun games and interactions. This service is intended for children or youth age 8 and up who are verbal, speak in sentences and have basic reading skills. It is ideal for those who need to build important social communication skills prior to participation in a social skills group.

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.

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 evidence based naturalistic developmental and behavioural principles. Sessions will increase child play and language skills, as well as caregiver confidence in teaching their child new skills. This service is intended for caregivers and children with ASD who are between the age of 4 and 8, minimally verbal and/or who use little appropriate independent or creative play.

Want to learn how to make money? Want to learn how to volunteer? Are you ready to join the workforce? Join us from the comfort of your own home to learn how to pursue jobs you might be interested in. By the end of the group, you’ll know how to search online for jobs, you’ll know what you need to write a resume you can hand out to potential employers, and you’ll have practice with an ‘actual’ interview situation. Take the next steps toward being a part of your community!
Fine print for caregivers: Participants will join group sessions online with 1-2 facilitators. Peers will learn alongside each other how to search for employment (volunteer or paid), actively apply for jobs, and participate in interviews. Participants will be expected to complete a mock interview in their final session individually with a novel facilitator (i.e., not with the whole group present) so they may demonstrate the skills they learned in the previous 7 sessions.

In our virtual group session, we will discuss a strategy that may help with communication around emotional or social scenarios: The Incredible 5-Point Scale. Children or youth who are interested in learning about the strategy for themselves are welcome to join their parents!
In the weeks following, we will meet individually with each family (virtual or in person) up to 3 more times to support the development of their own individualized scales that can be used within the home. We will discuss any successes or barriers to using the scales and whether any ‘tweaking’ has to be made to make the scales more effective for you and your family.

Based on the Circles® Curriculum, parents will join a virtual group session to learn about one strategy we can use to teach about different degrees of talk, touch, and trust associated with various people in their child’s life. This program fosters communication about social and relationship boundaries and helps parents develop a visual support to teach these concepts to their child.
In the weeks following the virtual group session, we will meet individually with each family (virtual or in person) up to 3 more times to support the development of their own individualized ‘Circles’ that can be used for reference within the home. We will discuss any successes or barriers to using this visual to explain these concepts to your child, and whether any ‘tweaking’ has to be made to make the visual more effective for you and your child.
It is recommended that your child not attend the virtual workshop; however, it may be appropriate for them to attend follow-up consultations with their parent and the facilitator.

SibShops are events which provide 8-13 year old brothers and sisters of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) an opportunity to meet other siblings in a relaxed, recreational setting.
SibShops intersperse information and discussion activities with high-energy games, new friends, and craft activities to get children talking, laughing, and learning. An introduction to ASD will be included to provide participants with a better understanding of the disorder and how it may impact their sibling.

Facing Your Fears (FYF) is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program for children and youth with ASD who experience significant symptoms of anxiety. This group focuses on helping children and their caregivers in identifying worries, developing coping strategies, and practicing managing anxiety. This group consists of 12 weekly in person sessions. Caregiver AND child participation in each session is required.

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 self- awareness, self-regulation, flexible thinking, and social competence. This virtual caregiver group intends to provide program material and psychoeducation regarding the above topics for caregivers to didactically support the needs of their child(ren) at home. All materials will be provided.

This caregiver group involves participation in a Parent Management Training (Kazdin, 2008) program that aims to enhance parenting skills to improve challenging behaviours in children, such as aggression, hyperactivity, and non-compliance. The training will take place virtually in a group session. Handouts will be emailed to participants prior to each scheduled session.

We are pleased to offer drop-in clinics to access a 50-minute consultation session with Dr. Price. This service would be appropriate for caregivers of children of any age or adolescents who wish to have an individual consultation themselves. Clients will be able to schedule a time during one of the clinic days, where they are able to discuss any current mental health concerns, learning basic strategies that can be implemented at home and in the community, and to receive recommendations to plan for next steps.

Register for 1 session or all 11, as each session will be different interactive fun activities. Sibshops is an opportunity for the siblings of children with ASD to meet other siblings in a relaxed, recreational setting. In a fun and relaxing atmosphere, facilitators will provide opportunities to discuss common joys and concerns, how to handle commonly experienced situations, and a venue to learn more about the implication of their siblings’ special needs.

PEERS is a 14-week evidence-based social skills program delivered virtually for students aged 12 – 17. There is a weekly mandatory parent session.

Topics include:
How to use appropriate conversational skills
How to find common interests by trading information
How to appropriately use humour
How to handle rejection, teasing and bullying
How to handle rumours and gossip
How to be a good host during get-togethers
How to make phone calls to friends
How to be a good sport
How to handle arguments and disagreements
How to change a bad reputation (by investigating one new extracurricular activity)

Children’s Friendship Training is an evidence based interactive program delivered in module sessions in which children and families develop and practice social skills necessary to initiate and maintain meaningful peer relationships.  Caregiver’s attend sessions at the same time as their children/youth.

Through ten modules, children will learn to make phone calls, host play-dates, maintain play, share in the interests of others’, and respond appropriately to bullying/teasing. During these sessions caregivers will learn how to support their children in the exciting new world of social opportunities. 

Facilitators will complete a pre-screening tool with families expressing an interest in participating.

GJCC Focused Consultative ABA services (using the techniques and strategies of Applied Behaviour Analysis – ABA) can help individuals learn new skills, cope with, and tolerate different situations, and decrease some challenging behaviours. Individualized plans will include 1 goal, which is then broken into smaller steps through teaching strategies. Some examples are:
- Improving social skills, taking turns
- Following instructions, transitioning between activities, following a schedule
- Learning to care for personal needs, like: getting dressed, teeth brushing, basic daily self care

You will guide the process. Together, we will talk about your needs, goals, and what you and your child/youth need support with. Do not worry; we will help give clinical recommendations if you do not know where to start.

When you have selected the goal, we will observe and assess your child/youth to see his/her current strengths and needs. Our clinical team will create an individualized 10-week plan for your child/youth based on your goals. Your child/youth will be working 1-1 with a Behavioural Therapist to deliver the plan with the Clinical Supervision of the BCBA.  There are also opportunities for caregiver mediated coaching throughout the 8 weeks of sessions. All services can be delivered virtually or in-person, as determined in collaboration with your child/youth’s Behaviour Clinician (BCBA).  These goals can happen in a variety of environments based on needs and consents.

The Next Step (8-12 year olds) will review emotions and zones and focus on the identification of moving through the zones. Strategies to increase ability to self-calm, increase alertness, and increase awareness of potential triggers.

Beginner Zones will focus on identifying emotions and the Zones of Regulation®. Flexible thinking, inner coaching, and calming strategies will be explored virtually.

Conversation Cues is an 11-week evidence-based social skills program delivered virtually for students aged 9 – 17 years of age.

Topics include:
When to start a conversation
How to start a conversation
Take turns appropriately
Maintain conversation with peers
Talk on topic
Identifies disbelief & responds appropriately
Identifies confused, bored, not interested vs. interested & responds appropriately
Learn how to identify your cues
How to end a conversation

Educational sessions for caregivers wanting to learn more about ASD and social skills. Over the course of these four 1 hour sessions, caregivers will learn about why social language is important, what the key components of social language are, and how to help your child learn about neurotypical communication. Each session will discuss a different topic and will build on the previous one. If you are unable to attend all 4 sessions, you are still welcome to attend.

This one-hour presentation offers strategies to support children and youth who experience ASD and anxiety.  

Parents of children with ASD will learn how to use visuals to support the learning and understanding of new concepts. Parents will learn how visuals can fit into existing daily interactions and routines and how they can be phased out over time. Parents will also learn how to use visuals to break big skills down into small steps, to make it easier to learn new concepts/skills.

Children with ASD commonly face challenges with eating a healthy range of foods for many reasons. Come and learn more about why your child might be struggling with food and strategies to support healthy eating habits and a wider food variety. For further guidance and support, an individualized follow-up session may also be scheduled during the week following the presentation.

During this fun group format program, children will learn to self – manage emotional and behavioural responses using Applied Behaviour Analysis and The Zones of Regulation Curriculum in order to be able to continue to engage in learning activities, maintain social relationships and maintain their well – being. 

Objective: Students in this group will learn to identify: 
- Emotions in themselves  
- Emotional/behavioural responses to the environment 
- Coping strategies to self-regulate their emotional/behavioural responses 
- Problem solving related to emotional/behavioural responses 
- The teaching will be done using evidence-based best practices for individuals with ASD.  

Caregivers will work together with the Occupational Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist and BCBA, to choose a couple goals. They will then have six hours of 1:1 coaching and/or consultations with any of the professionals, based on what the needs and goals are.

Following a brief screening by the team, you will discuss strategies related to skill acquisition or a behaviour of concern that the family may find challenging. Caregivers will leave the initial consult with specific, measurable goals. The professionals will develop strategies and will then help coach the family or work with the child directly for the remaining sessions.

A Speech-Language Pathologist 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.

Consult and collaboratively work with an Occupational Therapist 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.

This caregiver workshop is designed to give caregivers a better understanding of what fine motor skills are expected for their child, why fine motor skills are important, and simple tips for supporting fine motor skills at home. It includes a quick consultation phone call of up to 30 minutes to discuss how the strategies can be implemented and/or individualized.

Mealtimes can be full of stress and overwhelm for families with a picky eater, Rachel and Julie provide a team perspective (OT and SLP) to provide caregivers with an understanding of why children may be “picky eaters” and how parents can support their child to become more open to trying and exploring new foods. Make mealtimes fun again by learning tips for gradually increasing your child’s interest in new or less-preferred foods.

Sensory Survival Course is designed to equip caregivers to better understand their child’s sensory differences and to learn strategies for how they can best support their child’s sensory differences.

Sensory Yoga classes consist of yoga postures, breathing techniques and relaxation. Classes are held for children with sensory differences. Programs are adaptable to individual needs. Benefits include improved balance, coordination and strength. Learn practical tools to help manage stress and create a calm and focused mind. Learn in a safe and enjoyable environment with an occupational therapist certified to deliver sensory yoga.

The Think Good Feel Good program uses a cognitive behavioural approach to explore and test thoughts as well as learn alternative cognitive and behavioural skills. The program helps learners explore their thoughts and feelings and understand the impact these have on their actions. The goal of the program is to gain greater control over what happens in our lives while increasing overall happiness.

The RUBI Parent Training for Disruptive Behaviours is intended to equip parents with a variety of techniques and tools that can help minimize disruptive behaviours and increase desired behaviours. It provides families with a wealth of information that can assist in their day-to-day planning for their child by including teaching opportunities for play skills, daily living skills as well as opportunities to apply behaviour management skills for encouraging desired behaviours.

This skills group will aim to teach school aged learners’ important social skill for engaging in social play and social interactions, building friendships with peers, as well as managing emotions in challenging social settings. Learners will have the opportunity to identify their social strengths as well as an opportunity to practice play skills, language skills, self-regulation skills and school readiness skills. This social skills group will provide a variety of facilitated activities that will encourage learners to connect with peers, enhance their self-awareness skills and practice problem solving and cooperation skills.

This skills group will aim to teach preschool and kindergarten learners prosocial skills for transitioning into the demands of a school setting. Learners will focus on school readiness skills, play skills, as well as self-awareness skills. This social skills group will provide learners with an opportunity to explore and practice social skills such as asking for help, greeting peers, turn taking, asking peers to play, and joining in on other peers’ play. Through a variety of facilitated activities, this group will also help learners identify and practice skills needed for managing their emotions and learning to cooperate with other peers.

Individualized targeted 3 session consultation to work on a specific goal. These may include: functional skills such as toileting, eating, hygeine; communication goals (i.e., functional communication); identifying alternatives to disruptive behaviour, etc.

The early years are especially crucial for verbal children on the autism spectrum because they still face special communication challenges. Often, these children find it difficult to:
- Have conversations with others
- Play with children their own age
- Talk about things that interest someone else
- Change a routine without becoming frustrated

If you’ve noticed more than one of these difficulties in your child, the TalkAbility Program can help. Specifically designed for parents of verbal children ages 3-7 years and up with social communication difficulties, the TalkAbility Program teaches parents practical ways to help their child learn people skills.

By “people skills”, we mean the ability to “tune in” to the thoughts and feelings of others by paying attention to non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, eye gaze, and tone of voice. The ability to consider other points of view and to have empathy for others is essential for successful conversations and for making friends. Children with social communication difficulties require extra help to develop these skills.

When you take the TalkAbility Program, you’ll learn:
- How your child carries on conversation and the next steps to take to help him have back-and-forth conversations
- How to encourage your child to pay attention to the social messages people send non-verbally
- How to talk so your child can tune in to what others are thinking ; help them appreciate another person<s feelings and point of view
- How to help your child tell stories and play imaginatively
- How to help your child make friends

Program Components
- Informative and personal classes for small groups of parents
- A Hanen Certified speech-language pathologist who leads the program and has received special training from The Hanen Centre
- A pre-program consultation for you and your child with your speech-language pathologist
- Individual video feedback sessions of you interacting with your child, so you can “see” what is helping and what else you can do
- Individual video feedback of your child playing with another child so you can “see” how you help their interaction

The More Than Words Program was designed for parents of children on the autism spectrum and with other social communication difficulties. Addressing the unique needs of these children, the program provides parents with the tools, strategies and support they need to help their children reach their full communication potential.

More Than Words does this by empowering parents to help your child reach the following three goals:
1. Improved social communication and back-and-forth interactions
2. Improved play skills
3. Improved imitation skills

As a parent and/or caregiver, here are some of the valuable things that are learned when attending the More Than Words Program:
-What motivates your child to communicate
-How to use your knowledge about your child to set appropriate and realistic goals
-How to make interactions with your child last longer
-Tips for using pictures and print to help your child’s understanding
-Strategies for how to talk so that your child understands you
-Strategies for developing your child’s play skills
-Ways to help your child make friends

Program Components
-Informative and personal classes for small groups of parents
-A Hanen Certified speech-language pathologist who leads the program and has received special training from The Hanen Centre
-A pre-program consultation for you and your child with your speech-language pathologist
-Individual video feedback sessions of you interacting with your child, so you can “see” what is helping and what else you can do
-Individual video feedback of your child playing with another child so you can “see” how you help their interaction

This workshop aims to outline strategies on reducing transition related problem behaviours. We will review how to establish positive rapport, specific steps to cue your child of upcoming changes, ways to prevent and deescalate behaviours and deciding when the advance notice is viable with the aim of reducing problem behaviours as a whole.

This series is recommended for families who have recently received a diagnosis for their child. In the midst of receiving a diagnosis, families will navigate through a lot of information and make decisions about next steps. This series offers 3 workshops, along with 3, 1:1, 30-minute consultations with a BCBA-D. Workshop 1 will provide an overview of various services recommended to families with a child with ASD. Workshop 2 will provide an overview of Autism and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and why ABA is well suited to address ASD. If seeking ABA based services, this information is key for knowing what to look for in providers and how caregiver involvement is key to helping children reach their full potential. Workshop 3 will review things to do as you wait for service that will aid in developing skills and routines in the home to maximize learning from the get-go. The initial consultation is aimed at gathering information that will be pertinent to focusing the workshops on the audience attending, with follow up consultations occurring after Workshop 3 which will focus on implementing ABA strategies in the home with coaching from a BCBA-D.

This group will run for 8 weeks with two BCBAs as facilitators, mediating the discussions on various topics. The aims include youths socializing, learning about how to identify friends and skills to maintain friendships while providing a platform to build social skills, and using technology to do it!

Toileting is an essential milestone for all individuals to acquire and a steppingstone to the development of other skills. This workshop aims to support parents and caregivers of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to teach toileting skills; the workshop includes teaching:
• Toileting phases
• Research supported strategies
• Child centered approach to toileting
• Collecting and interpreting data
• Reinforcement and troubleshooting