Supports for Families of Children with Autism

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

The Ontario government is providing additional supports for families of children on the autism spectrum.

Starting in March, the province will begin offering core clinical services based on a child's individual needs, a key element of the new Ontario Autism Program. These services include applied behaviour analysis, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and mental health supports.

The ministry has asked the Child and Parent Resource Institute to oversee the launch of core clinical services.

Care coordinators will be trained to conduct and guide families through a new determination of needs process that will include:

  • Meeting with a family to identify a child's goals, strengths and support needs
  • Allocating funding to families to purchase core clinical services
  • Supporting families with next steps to access core clinical services of their choice

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