Lorraine’s Grandview Kids Spring 2019 Update

Spring 2019 Update

Grandview Kids Autism Program- Journey to Potential

Since 1953, Grandview Children’s Centre has been entrusted with supporting families with children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs access the treatment and services they need to thrive and succeed.

In all that we do at Grandview, the foundational focus of our medical services, treatment, care, and support carefully considers how children, youth and their families can both fully participate in life activities and enrich their life experiences. This life span approach supports children and youth and their families to participate in real life situations and anticipates the transitions over their life course.

We have come a long way and today we provide multiple medical and other multi-professional assessments, treatments, rehabilitation services, supports, and specialized clinics. Grandview has successfully navigated 6 decades of complex shifts and changes in the paediatric health care system. Like the children, youth, and families we serve, we are resilient, we have thrived, we have grown, we have led and we continue to learn and advance.

The Grandview Kids Autism Program

At our core, the Grandview Team remains committed to supporting clients and families to make their dreams and the possibilities for their children come true. The recent changes to the Ontario Autism Program have challenged us to ensure that children, youth and their families can continue to access Autism Services with a trusted multi-professional team wrapped around them at Grandview Children’s Centre.

The Journey to Potential Autism Services Program at Grandview will be built on that same foundation. We have imagined the program mapped across 4 life stages:

Setting the Course (early years)
Moving Forward (school readiness)
On My Way (school age)
Future Focused (adolescents and young adults)

Our Autism Program Team

Our highly credentialed, skilled, and accredited Autism team consists of the following professionals:

Behaviour Consultants

Behaviour Consultants at Grandview are Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBA) and have a Master’s degree in Applied Disabilities Studies, Psychology, or a related field from a university of recognized standing with an academic curriculum emphasizing Applied Behaviour Analysis. Behaviour Consultants at Grandview are also required to have a minimum of three years of experience providing clinical oversight to behaviour analytic services.

On occasion, we may employ Behavioural Consultants who are working towards obtaining their Board Certification. These clinicians are supervised by a BCBA while they work towards their full certification.

Autism Therapy Assistants

Autism Therapy Assistants (ATAs) at Grandview have an undergraduate degree in a related field (Psychology, Child Studies, Behavioural Science, Communicative Disorders Assistant) and have completed Registered Behaviour Technician training. Grandview ATAs also have 1-3 years of experience working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and implementing behaviour analytic interventions.

Other Paediatric Experts

In addition to our BCs and our ATAs, we also have expert paediatric Grandview Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Physiotherapy (PT) teams who are ready to serve you and your child.

Building our Future Together

While we have a tremendous number of exciting and innovative program and service ideas, we want to co-create the new Autism Program with you, the families who will be purchasing the programs and services. We do not presume to fully understand the services and all of the ways in which you will want to access them in this new Autism Fee-for-Service system. In everything we do at Grandview, we work hard to be thoughtful and purposeful in our planning. We cannot do that without you.

We will be hosting two (2) Open Houses and a number of Focus Groups over the coming weeks with a plan to begin to offer new programs and services for purchase in early May.

Open Houses

Please watch for more details about our upcoming two Open Houses. These events are intended to welcome families in to visit and explore two of our delivery locations (Oshawa and Ajax). These sessions also offer a closer look at the Grandview Kids Autism Programs and an opportunity to meet members of our team:

Monday, April 29th, 5:30 to 7:30 at our Oshawa location
Thursday, May 2nd, 5:30 to 7:30 at our Ajax location

Focus Groups – Events complete

Registration is open to families who wish to participate in our Family Advisory Committee led Focus Groups aimed at understanding preferred Autism programs and offerings. (Please note, for each event, a maximum of 15 tickets are available, and families can RSVP a maximum of 2 spots.)

West Durham – Ajax location

Tuesday, April 16th 1-2pm

Tuesday, April 16th 4-5pm

Central and East Durham – Oshawa location

Wednesday, April 17th 1-2pm

Thursday, April 18th 6-7pm (Registration Full)

North Durham – S.A. Cawker Port Perry location

Thursday, April 18th 4-5pm

Registration is OPEN – Therapeutic Recreation Autism Programs

For families looking to register and purchase Autism programming, we know you are anxious to get started, and we are too!

Right now, before the new Journey to Potential Autism Program offerings are ready for registration, we do have a number of existing fee-for-service Therapeutic Recreation Programs for your consideration and registration.

Grandview Kids Camp for Kids with Developmental Disabilities including Autism (Ages: 4-6 / 7-9 / 9 -12)
Enjoy active games, crafts, sensory and outdoor play, music, swimming, and drama with your child’s unique abilities in mind. Develop physical literacy skills, engage in facilitated social interaction and learn transferable play skills.
Active Start for Children with Developmental Disabilities including Autism (Ages: 1.5-3 / 4-6)
Learn and practice physical literacy skills and group participation skills using instructional time, active play, and game-based activities. Click here for a summary of weeks one through ten (1 – 10)
Let’s Get Active for Kids and Teens with Developmental Disabilities including Autism (Ages: 8-12 / 13-18)
Activities that promote physical activity, physical literacy, and socialization.
Beyond the Walls for Teens with Autism (Ages: 13-18)
Activities that encourage independence, wellness, improved mental health, community involvement, joy, and resilience.

Click here for full program descriptions and details, and to register.

Parent Resources at the Ready

We will continue to keep you informed and connected to helpful information about the Government of Ontario Autism Central Intake and Registration Team that launches April 1, 2019, and to Autism Ontario and the role they can play to help families navigate services and the new program processes.

Here at Grandview Children’s Centre, our Service Navigation team is ready to help you to access information.

Call directly – Service Navigation at 905 728 1673 extension 2468
Email – service.navigation@grandviewkids.ca

I want to reassure families accessing the multitude of other Grandview programs and services that we remain fully committed to excellence across all of our services and supports.

I sincerely look forward to meeting you at an upcoming Open House or a focus group session.