Behavioural intervention services can be provided to children on the autism spectrum under certain conditions.
To receive a referral to the Autism Intervention Program, your child must:
- live within the geographic boundaries of the program area
- have a diagnosis from a doctor or psychologist saying your child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or a disorder that is considered to be towards the severe end of the autism spectrum
Your child will then be assessed by the staff working with your regional ASD service provider to determine whether intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) services will be offered.
In Ontario, publicly funded IBI programs are made available through the Autism Intervention Program. There are nine agencies that act as “lead” providers:
- Kinark Child and Family Services (Central East)
- Erinoak (Central West)
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Eastern)
- Chedoke Child and Family Centre (Hamilton/Niagara)
- Algonquin Child and Family Services (North East)
- Child Care Resources (Northern)
- Pathways for Children and Youth (South East)
- Thames Valley Children’s Centre (South West)
- Surrey Place Centre (Toronto)
For a more detailed description of this service and contact information for these nine Autism Intervention Services visit http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/specialneeds/autism/programs.aspx.
Toronto Partnership for Autism Services (TPAS)
IBI
The Toronto Partnership for Autism Services (TPAS) is a community-based service that helps children with ASD and their families, through a highly structured learning program of IBI. The goal of the TPAS program is to build skills for success at home, school, and in the community. Children diagnosed with ASD, on the severe end of the spectrum, are eligible for a screening appointment. Your family must live in the Greater Toronto Area.
TPAS services are provided by five agencies working in partnership in your community. These agencies are:
- Surrey Place Centre (lead agency for the Toronto region)
- Adventure Place
- Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre
- The Etobicoke Children's Centre
- Geneva Centre for Autism
For more information visit www.surreyplace.on.ca.
ABACUS
Autism Ontario’s Registry of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Providers
The ABACUS website exists to provide parents, caregivers, and the general community information about applied behavioural analysis (ABA) services in Ontario for individuals with ASD. Visiting this website will help you to understand ABA and agencies that provide this service.
To gather information on how to choose and monitor ABA services, and to search a list for ABA providers in your area who have experience with ASD, visit www.abacuslist.ca.