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Autism services for children, teens and families registered with the Ontario Autism Program

The Ontario Autism Program (OAP) is funded and administered by the Province of Ontario and offers support to families with Autistic children and youth under 18. 

Families registered with the OAP are eligible for funding for Autism services, including:


To learn more about or register with the OAP, visit the
Ontario Autism Program.

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Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Services at Kerry’s Place

Our services and support are family and child-centred. Each is evidence-based and founded on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Browse services funded by the Ontario Autism Program below, or search the complete service catalogue here.

Core Clinical Services

Our team of clinicians works with families and individuals to develop specific plans to support a person’s interests, strengths and needs. Core clinical services are individualized, including direct (1:1) support, mediator coaching, and group services.

We use the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to support the following areas:

  • Communication
  • Social interaction
  • Play and leisure
  • Motor skills
  • Daily living activities
  • Executive functioning skills (planning, organization, attention, emotional regulation)
  • School and job readiness skills
  • Challenging behaviours

Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Services

Caregiver-mediated early years (CMEY) services support families with young children between the ages of 12 to 48 months registered in the Ontario Autism Program

These play-based, child-led and developmentally appropriate programs are available for a period of 6 months per child. Families and caregivers learn therapeutic strategies and techniques from professionals based on their child’s individual needs.

Eligibility

Children ages 12 to 48 months who are registered in the Ontario Autism Program will receive invitations to register for Caregiver-mediated Early Years Services from AccessOAP in their portal.

If your child receives core clinical services or has an active behaviour plan, you’re not eligible to receive CMEY services in the same year. Once you receive an invitation, you can register for our programs. You can learn more about the OAP invitation process on the OAP website.

The focus is on building parents’ and caregivers’ capacity to support their child’s skill development in:

  • Social interaction
  • Play
  • Communication
  • Emotional development
  • Adaptive development and self-help skills

Foundational Family Services

Foundational family services are a range of evidence-based services and supports designed to give families and caregivers various tools informed by evidence-based strategies. These tools can support families with the ongoing learning and development of their children, youth or teens. These services are available at no cost for families with children under 18 registered with the Ontario Autism Program.

Find the foundational family service that’s right for you:

Entry to School Program

Entry to School supports children between the ages of 3 and 6 who are entering kindergarten or grade one for the first time.

The program includes a six-month skill-building group service focused on building skills that prepare children to start school, followed by up to 6 months of transition supports for children once they begin school.

Eligibility

The Entry to School (ETS) program is available at no cost to families registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and who have received an invitation to participate from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

For more information on the Entry to School Program in York Simcoe please visit  https://www.ysanetwork.ca/entry-to-school/ 

For more information on Entry to School Program in Toronto Region, please visit https://www.torontoautismservices.ca/entry-to-school-program/  

During the 6-month skill-building group, children are supported through various activities and school routines focused on helping develop school-readiness skills in the following areas:

  • Communication
  • Play
  • Social interaction
  • Functional routines
  • Behavioural self-management
  • Pre-academic and attention

Kerry’s Place offers the Entry to School program in partnership with the Toronto Autism Services Network (TASN) and the York Autism Services Network (YASN).

Urgent Response Services

⚠ If this is an emergency or someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.

Kerry’s Place offers urgent response services funded through the Ontario Autism Program to support Autistic children and youth experiencing specific, urgent needs.

For more information on urgent response services in York Simcoe, visit the York Autism Services Network https://www.ysanetwork.ca/urgent-response/

For more information on urgent response services in Toronto, visit the Toronto Autism Services Network https://www.torontoautismservices.ca/urgent-response-service/

OAP Urgent Response is a 12-week program that focuses on:

  • Helping to stabilize a specific situation
  • Preventing crisis
  • Reducing the risk of harm to self, others, and property

You and your family are eligible for urgent response services if you are:

  • Registered in the OAP
  • Experiencing one or more high-risk factors that have started or worsened in the last 14 days. High-risk factors include:
    • Aggression
    • Property destruction
    • Violent thinking
    • Fire setting
    • Harm to animals
    • Risk of exploitation
    • Self-harm
    • Suicidal thoughts or behaviour
    • Inappropriate sexual behaviour
    • Flight risk