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How can Foundational Family Services help?

Foundational Family Services are available at no-cost to all families registered with the Ontario Autism Program. Our team of experts will give you the tools you need to work with your child or youth and support their growth with evidence-based services online, in-person or in groups.

Visit our main Autism page to learn more about our other Autism and Behavioural Services.

How do I get started?

You can access Foundational Family Services for free, all you need is your OAP registration number. Don’t have an OAP registration number? Contact us today and we can help.

Email [email protected], or call us at 1-800-668-8555 ext. 1333 to get more information, register for services, or book an appointment.

Autism Consultations

You can access our Autism consultations by video or phone from anywhere in Northern Ontario. They are open to any families who have a child or youth diagnosed with Autism. Consultations provide help on service coordination, behavioural consultation, and speech-language consultation.

Consultation spots are available every Tuesday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, with extended evening hours the first Tuesday of every month (last appointment at 6:00 pm). If Tuesday doesn’t work for your family, call to arrange a different day that suits your schedule.

Seminars for Caregivers

Our seminars are 1.5 to 2-hour long information sessions for caregivers. Each seminar focuses on a specific topic to help you engage with a child or youth with Autism. We focus on sharing information and giving you general strategies to increase your confidence in your chosen topic area. We have a variety of seminars available throughout the year and deliver both in-person and virtually.  Please note, that seminars are being delivered virtually at this time.

We are offering the following seminars. Click on the topic below for dates and times:

Autism and Mental Health

Tuesday, April 29
Tuesday, June 03
7:30 pm
10:00 am
Online

Develop a better understanding of mental health and autism, and what it means to have a dual diagnosis. Learn More

Body Changes: Now What?

Tuesday, March 18 2025
Tuesday, April 22
Tuesday, May 13
7:30 pm
7:30 pm
10:00 am
Online

Learn how to support your youth during all the changes that come with puberty. Learn More

Challenging Behaviours 101

Tuesday, July 11 2023
Tuesday, September 05 2023
Coming Soon
Online

Provides information and strategies to help manage challenging behaviours. Learn More

Challenging Behaviours 102

Tuesday, July 18 2023
Tuesday, September 12 2023
Coming Soon
Online

After taking 101, this follow-up seminar can help with more in-depth strategies for managing challenging behaviours. Learn More

Change is Hard

Tuesday, July 09 2024
Tuesday, August 27 2024
Coming Soon
Online

Support your child with changes and transitions and better understand why they may have difficulties. Learn More

Combating Sleep Issues

Tuesday, October 29 2024
Coming Soon
Online

Learn strategies and steps to improve sleep. Learn More

Managing Challenging Behaviours

Tuesday, April 08
Tuesday, May 13
10:00 am
7:30 pm
Online

Learn about why your child/youth might be engaging in challenging behaviours and gain strategies to support decreasing behaviours Learn More

Master the School Meeting: School Advocacy

Tuesday, May 06
Tuesday, June 10
10:00 am
7:30 pm
Online

Learn strategies and tips to advocate for your child while navigating the school system. Learn More

Not On My Plate

Tuesday, December 10 2024
Tuesday, January 28 2025
Tuesday, March 25 2025
Coming Soon
Online

Sharing strategies to overcome difficulties with picky eaters. Learn More

Say What? How Language Develops

Tuesday, November 19 2024
Tuesday, October 29 2024
Coming Soon
Online

Learn about language development, echolalia, and how to help your child build communication and language skills. Learn More

Toilet Training 101

Tuesday, April 08
Tuesday, May 27
7:30 pm
10:00 am
Online

Toilet training techniques and strategies using ABA principles are discussed. Learn More

Tools for Communication

Tuesday, January 14 2025
Tuesday, February 11 2025
Coming Soon
Online

Learn about Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Learn More

Autism Clinics

Our clinics are small group offerings for children and youth with Autism, and in some cases, their caregivers. They focus on social skills, positive peer interactions, and conversation skills. Through fun and interactive activities, children and youth increase their abilities to interact with each other and staff appropriately.

We are offering the following clinics. Click on the topic below for dates and times:

Fun with Food Virtually

Tuesday, October 01 2024
Tuesday, October 08 2024
Tuesday, October 15 2024
Tuesday, October 22 2024
Coming Soon
Virtual

Learn essential cooking skills to increase independence in the kitchen. Learn More

Learn to Cook

Monday, July 15 2024
Tuesday, July 16 2024
Wednesday, July 17 2024
Thursday, July 18 2024
Coming Soon
Pembroke

Teens learn essential cooking skills. Learn More

Learn to Cook

Thursday, August 08 2024
Thursday, August 15 2024
Thursday, August 22 2024
Thursday, August 29 2024
Coming Soon
Bracebridge

Teens learn essential cooking skills. Learn More

Learn to Cook

Thursday, August 08 2024
Thursday, August 15 2024
Thursday, August 22 2024
Thursday, August 29 2024
Coming Soon
Bracebridge

Teens learn essential cooking skills. Learn More

Learn to Cook

Wednesday, August 07 2024
Wednesday, August 14 2024
Wednesday, August 21 2024
Wednesday, August 28 2024
Coming Soon
Timmins

Teens learn essential cooking skills. Learn More

Learn to Cook

Tuesday, September 10 2024
Tuesday, September 17 2024
Tuesday, September 24 2024
Tuesday, October 01 2024
Coming Soon
North Bay

Teens learn essential cooking skills. Learn More

How-To Learning Series

Caregivers can learn how to use commonly suggested strategies to help with behaviours and communication in our virtual learning series.  Each week we will focus on a different strategy and break it down step-by-step, while providing examples and answering any questions you may have.

We are offering the following “How-To’s”. Click on the topic below for dates and times:

First-Then Boards

Thursday, January 09 2025
Thursday, February 06 2025
Coming Soon
Online

Learn how to create and use a first-then board. Learn More

Give Instructions and Prompt

Thursday, April 24
Thursday, June 05
11:00 am
7:30 pm
Online

Learn how to break down instructions so your child responds to you and prompt them through learning something new. Learn More

How to Take ABC Data

Thursday, May 15
Thursday, June 12
7:30 pm
11:00 am
Online

Learn how to collect ABC data Learn More

Independent Activity Schedules (IAS)

Thursday, January 09 2025
Thursday, February 13 2025
Coming Soon
Online

Learn how to create some independence for your child to complete tasks/activities. Learn More

Monitor Technology

Thursday, May 15
Thursday, June 12
11:00 am
7:30 pm
Online

Learn how to reduce screen time and safely monitor technology. Learn More

Three-Part: How to Teach Daily Living Skills

Thursday, September 12 2024
Thursday, September 19 2024
Thursday, September 26 2024
Coming Soon
Online

Learn strategies on how to break down and teach activities of daily living. Learn More

Three-Part: How to Teach Daily Living Skills

Thursday, September 12 2024
Thursday, September 19 2024
Thursday, September 26 2024
Coming Soon
Online

Learn strategies on how to break down and teach activities of daily living. Learn More

Three-Part: How to Teach Daily Living Skills

Thursday, December 05 2024
Thursday, December 12 2024
Thursday, December 19 2024
Coming Soon
Online

Learn strategies on how to break down and teach activities of daily living. Learn More

Three-Part: How to Teach Daily Living Skills

Thursday, December 05 2024
Thursday, December 12 2024
Thursday, December 19 2024
Coming Soon
Online

Learn strategies on how to break down and teach activities of daily living. Learn More

Token Boards

Thursday, April 24
Thursday, May 29
7:30 pm
11:00 am
Online

Learn how to use token boards effectively with your child. Learn More

Visual Schedules

Thursday, April 10
Thursday, June 05
7:30 pm
11:00 am
Online

Learn how to create and use visual schedules in a variety of settings. Learn More

Visual Schedules (in person)

Tuesday, June 17
5:00 pm
Bracebridge, Parry Sound, Timmins, North Bay

Learn how to create and use visual schedules in a variety of settings. Learn More

Ongoing services include:

  • Diagnostics
  • Consultations
  • Individualized Behaviour Therapy
  • Speech Language Therapy

Visit our main Autism page to learn more about our Autism and Behavioural Services.

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