Eastern Ontario

 

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A word from the clinical director

 With the support of government funding, IFCEO developed the Eastern Ontario Autism Program, which has enabled us to improve our capacity to serve more children and adolescents with autism for several reasons.

First, the funds enabled us, in 2024-2025, to offer free multidisciplinary services (psychology, social work, speech therapy, and occupational therapy) to 44 children and adolescents with autism, many of whom were previously on waiting lists, thereby relieving parents of the significant costs of these services.

Second, we launched social skills groups programs that take place on Sundays and support peer interaction, emotional regulation, and communication, creating additional free services for families. The social groups not only supported children and adolescents, but also created informal networks among parents, strengthening the resilience and engagement of families.

Third, we have implemented coordinated care models that enable professionals from different disciplines to work more effectively as a team and provide more holistic care, as well as supported the training and integration of new clinicians, increasing our long-term goal of meeting the service needs of these youths.

It is also important to mention that by integrating several disciplines and facilitating collaborative care, we have improved the quality and continuity of support provided to children, adolescents, and their families. Free access to services has significantly reduced financial barriers, decreasing stress for families and preventing delays in early intervention. Several children under the age of 7 have received services, particularly speech therapy and occupational therapy, to contribute to early progress and reduce the need for more intensive intervention in the future. As an interdisciplinary team, parents had access to a wider range of services under one roof, which improved navigation of services and allowed for personalized support based on the needs of the child and adolescent.

Finally, this experience has been incredibly meaningful for both the professionals involved and the families we serve. The ability to offer accessible and high-quality services has had a profound effect on our community. With a solid foundation of services now in place, we look forward to the next two years as we continue to implement and develop these much-needed services for children and youth with autism in Eastern Ontario.

To expand our services in the coming years, we will be starting Sibshops groups for siblings of children/adolescents with autism. These meetings offer siblings a unique space to share their experiences, better understand autism, develop coping strategies, and above all… have fun together. It’s a time to feel understood, valued, and to bond with others who are living the same reality.

We are also starting groups focused on physical activity, which will have many benefits for young people with autism. Physically, we believe that these groups will promote the development of motor skills, coordination, and overall health. Socio-emotionally, research shows that physical activity helps reduce stress and anxiety, thereby improving frustration tolerance and emotion regulation. Finally, in a group setting, they will encourage learning to collaborate, follow simple rules, and experience shared successes that reinforce self-esteem and a sense of belonging.

We will also be launching, in partnership with Propsychnet, a community for parents of children and adolescents with autism. This community aims to have a significant impact, both emotionally and practically. Among other things, the parent community will:

  • Offer emotional support by creating a sense of belonging that breaks down isolation through a safe space to express frustrations, concerns, joys, and victories.
  • Share concrete, reliable, and creative information that supports the functioning of the child/teenager, as well as experiences with people who truly understand the challenges/successes of everyday life;

Strengthen parenting skills by accessing workshops and training on a variety of topics.