Foundational Family Services

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