Parent & Caregiver Education

Join us in discovering how playtime isn’t just fun, it’s a powerful way to help your child learn important life skills. This workshop provides an opportunity for you to ask questions about how to navigate tricky playtime moments, encourage positive behaviors, and bring out the best in your child, all while having a blast!

Date: June 24, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.

We all thrive on routine. Children with autism do especially well with predictability and repetition. But what happens when your child’s regular routine is disrupted? This workshop will teach you how to establish a healthy routine at home with your child or children and how to manage disruptions. You will learn the importance of establishing predictable day-to-day routines as well as how to help your child adapt to changes in routine. We will review and provide you with several ABA-based tools that will help you create structure at home such as a first-then board, visual schedule template, choice board, table-top activities, etc.

Date: July 3, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parents and caregivers of children and youth with autism often navigate a complex system of supports and services. Join a Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA) and a Registered Nurse (RN) for this interactive session designed to help families better understand how different professionals can support their child’s development and well-being.

The RBA will provide insights into Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), including treatment focus, scope of practice, and how to identify quality ABA services. The RN will offer a healthcare perspective on managing medical needs, developmental concerns, and the intersection between health and behavioural supports. Together, they will address common questions about integrating ABA with other services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and medical care. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and gain a well-rounded understanding of available supports.

Date: July 7, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.

Join us at the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) to learn practical ways to prepare your child for vaccinations.

This workshop will introduce evidence-based strategies to help children with autism feel more comfortable during needle-related procedures. Learn how to use choice, break tasks into manageable steps, and apply positive reinforcement to increase success. You’ll leave with tools and tips to help your child confidently receive the COVID-19 vaccine or any other vaccinations.

Date: July 8, 2025 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

To access Core Clinical services through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) a Determination of Needs (DoN) will be completed with primary caregivers to determine funding amounts.

This session will provide an overview of the DoN. You will learn about the overall process, and have a better understanding of how to prepare, what to expect, and next steps. At the end of the session there is time allotted to answer additional questions you may have.

Date: July 11, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.

Sleep concerns can be common in children with autism and many parents struggle with how to address them. You are not in this alone! We are here to support you with ways to develop a healthy sleep routine. In this workshop you will learn ways to track your child’s sleeping behaviours, identify and troubleshoot potential problems with your child’s current sleep routine, establish and introduce a new sleep routine for your child, and discuss some strategies based on Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) that aim to promote better sleeping behaviours for your child.

Date: July 16, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Toilet training can be a challenge for anyone! This session will cover what you need to know prior to starting toilet training for your child and set you up to be successful. This workshop will discuss key prerequisite skills and important considerations before starting a toilet training program. As well, you will learn how to decide when to move onto the next step of toilet training. You will learn various strategies and tools that can be used to help your child meet toileting goals including communicating their need to use the toilet.

We will provide you with the information you need to create an individualized toilet training plan for your child to be successful.

Date: July 21, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join us at SCHC for a workshop focused on helping your child feel more prepared for medical and dental visits.

We’ll explore how evidence-based practices can support children with autism in coping with healthcare appointments. Learn strategies like offering choice, breaking tasks into small steps, and using reinforcement to improve cooperation. You’ll leave with a toolkit of strategies to make these experiences less stressful for your child, and for you.

Date: July 22, 2025 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The Transition to High School workshop is tailored to prepare families with helpful information and tips to help decrease some of the stress and anxiety related to this significant milestone. In this workshop, we build awareness to support a successful transition including ways to familiarize your child to the new school, prepare you for school meetings, skills, and routines to work on before the transition and more. The goal of this session is to provide you with ways to prepare your child for this transition, as well to support you in feeling more confident and informed.

Date: July 24, 2025 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Wondering how to support your child’s transition to kindergarten? This workshop is tailored to prepare families for this significant milestone with helpful information and tips. In this workshop you will learn about steps to prepare your child for school, effective communication with the school, visual supports, and more!

Date: July 30, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Transitioning to school after a summer vacation and perhaps having attended school online previously might be a challenging experience for learners and caregivers. Proactive planning and supporting your child with the tools they need ahead of this significant transition can make going back to school a more positive experience. This session presents safety skills to practice, routines, strategies, and visual resources to prepare for the start of school, as well as the importance of being aware of both child and caregiver mental health throughout this transition.

Date: August 6, 2025 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Interested in enrolling your child in a social skills group, school, or community program? Wondering how you can help them be successful in group settings? Wondering how skills are taught in groups and what skills can be learned?

Meet and chat with one of our Group Facilitators to learn more!

Date: August 11, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.

Join us in discovering how playtime isn’t just fun, it’s a powerful way to help your child learn important life skills. This workshop provides an opportunity for you to ask questions about how to navigate tricky playtime moments, encourage positive behaviors, and bring out the best in your child, all while having a blast!

Date: August 14, 2025 from 10 to 11 a.m.

We all know how challenging a picky eater can be, but did you know there are Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) strategies that can help? You will become more familiar with the importance of good eating habits, issues common to picky eaters, and factors that may influence them, how to increase healthy eating routines, and ways to track how your child’s eating habits are changing. Additional resources on creating and managing a healthier lifestyle will be provided.

Date: August 20, 2025 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Change happens…but it does not have to be hard! In this session we will help you identify the bigger and smaller transitions in your child’s life and provide you with the tools and strategies for success. You will learn how to prepare your child for the many transitions across their day, their week, and the bigger transitions for years to come.

In this workshop we will also share strategies on how to access transition supports at school. You will participate in a make-and-take component that will help you create helpful transition tools and resources to take home and use with your child.

Date: August 26, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Does your child struggle when faced with unexpected events or changes to the routine? Do they insist on having things a certain way or have trouble shifting their point of view? Rigid thinking and behaviours are common and may be tied to anxiety. In this session, we’ll talk about some common issues around rigidity, ways to support your child in these moments, and strategies to help promote flexibility in thinking and behaviour.

Date: September 3, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parents and caregivers of children and youth with autism may experience challenges with their child’s school placement, helping school staff understand their child’s needs, and understanding the services and supports your school board may offer. Seeing your child struggle with accessing curriculum or thriving in either virtual or in-school placements can be difficult.

Come and chat with one of Kinark’s School Consultants! Each session allows for an interactive experience for parents and caregivers to bring your questions about the school system and receive support from a School Consultant. You will also learn about other experiences from parents and caregivers, how to effectively advocate for your child, school policies and practices, individualized education plans (IEPs) and effective collaboration, as well as other valuable tips and tools for navigating and interacting with the school system.

Date: September 8, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.

To access Core Clinical services through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) a Determination of Needs (DoN) will be completed with primary caregivers to determine funding amounts.

This session will provide an overview of the DoN. You will learn about the overall process, and have a better understanding of how to prepare, what to expect, and next steps. At the end of the session there is time allotted to answer additional questions you may have.

Date: September 10, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.

Parents and caregivers of children and youth with autism may experience challenges navigating all the available supports and services for their child. Come and chat with a Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA) to learn more about treatment areas and scope of practice within the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).

This session allows for an interactive experience where parents and caregivers can ask questions related to ABA and how it can help support your child. Topics covered may include treatment focus, differences between ABA and other therapies such as speech therapy and occupational therapy, and how to look for a quality ABA service provider.

Date: September 16, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.

Parents and caregivers of children and youth with autism may experience challenges with their child’s school placement, helping school staff understand their child’s needs, and understanding the services and supports your school board may offer. Seeing your child struggle with accessing curriculum or thriving in either virtual or in-school placements can be difficult.

Come and chat with one of Kinark’s School Consultants! Each session allows for an interactive experience for parents and caregivers to bring your questions about the school system and receive support from a School Consultant. You will also learn about other experiences from parents and caregivers, how to effectively advocate for your child, school policies and practices, individualized education plans (IEPs) and effective collaboration, as well as other valuable tips and tools for navigating and interacting with the school system.

Date: September 18, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.

This fourth session in the School Series focuses on bringing together the information of the previous three sessions on school policies and procedures to help you to effectively advocate for your child and collaborate with your child’s school team. This session will provide you with information on what it means to be an advocate for your child and effective ways to advocate. It also provides information on why it is important to collaborate with your child’s school team and ways to enhance collaboration. There will be an opportunity to discuss challenges you may face when working with your child’s school team and tips, tricks, and resources to overcome these challenges.

Date: September 22, 2025 from 9 to 11 a.m.

This workshop will empower you with a deeper understanding of modern approaches to Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) that respect and celebrate neurodiversity. Gain insights into the diverse experiences of individuals with autism, appreciating the unique strengths and challenges they bring. Explore how today’s ABA practices prioritize the needs and values of both the client and their family, promoting a collaborative and inclusive approach. Discover how contemporary ABA methodologies align with neurodiversity-affirming philosophies to support and enhance the well-being of neurodiverse individuals.

This session is designed to equip parents with the knowledge and tools to support their child’s unique journey through evidence-based, compassionate, and inclusive ABA.

Date: September 26, 2025 from 12 to 1 p.m.