Programs & Services (New – in development)

Get job ready! Job P.R.E.P. is for teens ages 14-17, who are looking to develop skills to help them find and maintain a job. The 10 session individualized program will work on skills such as, resumes, interview skills, public vs private, managing stress & anxiety, hidden social rules, and much more!

(PEERS®) is an evidence-based, social skills intervention program for motivated students who are interested
in learning ways to help them make and keep friends, managing conflict and rejection. Teens will learn these
skills through direct teaching, role-play and practicing these skills during group activities.
A caregiver/social coach will attend sperate session simultaneously and are taught how to assist their teens
in making and keeping friends.
Caregiver participation is required!
Virtual services are available to individuals and families residing outside of the City of Greater Sudbury, in a remote area.

I Can Do It is a 10-week evidence-based social skills program delivered virtually for students aged 14-17 Topics include:
Topics include; do my best, social skills in the context of challenging circumstances.

Each topic is demonstrated to help explain that particular rule. Each skill is demonstrated in more than one situation and across environments. This is useful to children with Autism because it helps with generalization of the skill taught.

Model Me Kids Tips & Tricks is a 10-week evidence-based social skills program delivered virtually for students aged 8-12. Topics include:
- Topics include; demonstrating social skills in school and in the community
Each topic is demonstrated to help explain that particular rule. Each skill is demonstrated in more than one situation and across environments. This is useful to children with Autism because it helps with generalization of the skill taught.

Over the course of four weeks, caregivers will consult directly with a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst on a goal for their child. They will receive 1:1 coaching and/or continued consultations with the BCBA. Consultations will occur virtually or by phone, and in-person where possible. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) as well as Mindfulness and values-based coaching will be used with caregivers (i.e., Acceptance and Commitment Training). ACT is an evidence-based approach that combines mindfulness techniques with values-based processes which helps caregivers to address the thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sensations that can arise when implementing new strategies.

PEERS is a 15-week evidence-based social skills program delivered in person 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)

Youth are invited to join a small group of their peers, learn and practice new skills, and have fun in a relaxed setting. This service is intended for youth who have basic conversational skills and want to have greater success making and keeping friends. Through instruction, demonstrations and role-play, participants will work on targeted skills such as: Trading Information, Maintaining Conversations, Entering and Exiting Conversations and Appropriate use of Humour. Lunch will be provided. A screening will be completed prior to the start date to establish that youth are a fit for the program.

Youth are invited to join a small group of their peers, learn and practice new skills, and have fun in a relaxed setting. This service is intended for youth who have basic conversational skills and want to have greater success making and keeping friends. Through instruction, demonstration and role-play, participants will work on targeted skills such as: Starting and Maintaining Conversations; Choosing Appropriate Friends; Finding a Source of Friends; Sportsmanship; Handling Disagreements; and Dealing with Teasing. A screening will be completed prior to the start date to verify criteria for the program are met.

Learning social behaviour begins quite early in life. As we navigate this social world, we develop appropriate skills to the context of situations for healthy sexuality. For parents and children with ASD, this social world can become frightening. This interactive webinar will support families in developing useful social repertoires amongst their peers and the world around them. Kids should learn these skills as soon as possible to protect them from being vulnerable to certain situations. These tools will be shared with parents and individual consultations will target one appropriate social skill to maintain healthy boundaries.

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.

Caregivers of children recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will participate in a group session together with other Caregivers and FIREFLY team members that will introduce them to a range of services and approaches used to support individuals with ASD. Following the group session, a member(s) of the FIREFLY team will provide up to 4 hours, follow-up consultation, matched to the needs and interests identified by each Caregiver. Topics of interest for families may include, but are not limited to: communication, behaviour, early learning and independence. Caregivers will complete this service having basic information that will help them support and understand their child’s needs as they transition to life beyond initial diagnosis.

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 resources will be child/youth specific in response to their personal strengths, needs and specific needs of the family.

Join us for one or more causal coffee sessions as we explore ABA strategies that can be used within your home. Time will be provided within the sessions to support parents with connecting with each other and service providers to allow for opportunities to build community connections. Sessions include an optional 30-minute follow-up support from facilitators. Information will also be available to support with:
September 11: Routines & Visual Schedules September 18: Developing a Positive Relationship September 25: Encouraging Desirable Behaviour

Model Me Confidence & Bullying Prevention™ provides children with Autism a teaching tool for preventing bullying and building self-esteem.
Model Me Confidence & Bullying Prevention™ will give children some good ideas about how to make themselves as strong as they can be. The lessons will teach them how to add to their toolbox with a variety of strategies to use every day at school, at home, and in their community.

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.

Join us as we focus on developing skills used within our community. Participants will practice traveling to the grocery store, purchasing items, and preparing their own food. Skills targeted during this session are:
- Money
- Busing
- Cooking
Parents and guardians are invited join us for at 3:30 for generalization, daily or at the end of the week. Handouts will also be provided.

Conversation Cues is an 10-week evidence-based social skills program delivered virtually for students aged 8 - 12 years of age. Topics include:
- When to start a conversation
- How to start a conversation
- How to take turns appropriately
- How to maintain conversation with peers
- How to stay on top
- How to identify emotions of their conversation partner respond appropriately
- How to end a conversation