Programs & Services

Registration for fall programs is closed. Stay tuned for winter sessions.

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Caregiver Support Groups

Being a caregiver of a child with special needs can be challenging, but it’s also a unique opportunity for personal growth. Exhausted? Sad? Angry? Feeling isolated? Our Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Caregivers Support Groups, led by clinicians who are also caregivers themselves can help. ACT presents activities that foster the well-being of caregivers by increasing their emotional resilience through mindfulness activities, acceptance and values-based processes. With ACT, you acquire skills to struggle less and become more flexible with difficult situations and feelings. ACT does not attempt to change unwanted feelings or thoughts, but rather helps develop a new mindful relationship with those situations. ACT processes have been scientifically shown to lead us to greater life satisfaction without having to eliminate our challenges. ACT shows us that it is possible to struggle less, reminds us of who we are, and brings us back to what we value most in life. Join us for our free virtual ACT-based Caregiver Support Groups this fall. During the course of 6 weeks, we aim to engage you in a dialogue and help guide you away from being stuck, so that you can continue to evolve into your fullest selves.

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Sibling Support Groups

Being a sibling of a child with special needs can be challenging, but it is also a unique opportunity for personal growth. Do you have a child or youth who has a sibling with special needs? Our Siblings Support Groups, led by our highly trained, multi-disciplinary staff can help. At Kinark, we can empathize with the unique experiences of having a sibling with special needs. Our Sibling Support Group aims to create a space where siblings can come together to build relationships through fun and interactive activities. With a focus on mindfulness and open discussion, siblings can share their experiences and the emotions that come with being a sibling. Our goal through this group is to create a place where siblings can come to enjoy, interact, and express themselves without fear of judgement, with other like-minded siblings. Join us for our free in-person Sibling Support Groups this fall. During our 5 sessions together, we will dive into topics that include relationships, values, feelings/emotions, and reflection all through meaningful and engaging activities.

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 If you would like more information about our Family Support Group services, please contact our team at autisminfo@kinark.on.ca. 

 

We offer Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) assessment and treatment sessions for children and youth.  Our SLP services focus on the assessment and treatment of a broad range of speech, language, and communication impairments. These sessions support a child’s ability to communicate more effectively and participate in daily activities.

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Connections for Students (CFS) is a collaborative approach to improving transitions for school-aged children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This service is offered to support a child’s individualized needs through brief targeted consultative services that support the successful transition of a student with ASD into and/or within the publicly funded school system.

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Caregiver-mediated early years (CMEY) programs are offered through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and support families with young children between the ages of 12 months to 48 months (4 years). These programs help young children learn new skills and meet individualized goals.

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Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment sessions now available!

Kinark Autism Services offers individual Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment and treatment sessions to families of children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

These sessions provide support with concerns related to self-care, productivity and leisure. Occupational Therapy can also support sensory processing, sleep, selective eating, and emotion regulation concerns to enhance overall quality of life. Sessions can be provided in-person within a clinic setting or virtually (if appropriate).

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Kinark offers a variety of respite options to meet the needs of your family. Starting in May 2022, on-site programming will resume at the Kinark Outdoor Centre.

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Kinark offers a range of psychological assessments for children and youth between the ages of two and 18. A psychological assessment is used to evaluate a child or youth’s development, thinking, learning, emotions, behaviour and/or day-to-day functioning. The information gathered through assessments helps to support children, youth and their families in making informed decisions and to better advocate in health care, school, and community settings.

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Kinark Autism Services provides Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) services for children and youth with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

Our clinical team includes Registered Behaviour Analysts, R.B.A. (Ont.)s who have many years of experience identifying the strengths and needs of children and youth with ASD, and developing individualized services and supports. Our approach is family-centered, flexible, individualized, and developed in collaboration with you to meet the needs of your family.