Autism Services
Autism Diagnostic Hub
What Families Can Expect
As part of the regional Autism Diagnostic Hub system, Children First is committed to providing high-quality, timely autism assessments so children can receive support as early as possible. Families can expect a compassionate, family-centered process every step of the way.
Supportive Assessment Process
A clear, respectful process designed to understand each child’s strengths, needs, and developmental profile.
Experienced Clinical Team
Family Collaboration
Recommendations and Next Steps
Ontario Autism Program
As part of changes to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), most children aged 12 to 48 months who are registered in the OAP and have received an invitation are eligible to participate in one caregiver-mediated early years program free of charge per year.
In Windsor-Essex, Connections Early Years Family Centre, Children First, and John McGivney Children’s Centre are among the service agencies selected to deliver these programs.
About Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Programs
Caregiver-mediated early years programs help young children learn new skills and meet individual goals. All programs are play-based, child-led, and developmentally appropriate, and are available for a period of up to six months per child.
Skill Areas Supported
- Social interaction
- Play
- Communication
- Emotional development
- Adaptive development and self-help skills
How to Access the Program
Once you receive an invitation from the Ministry of Children, Community & Social Services through Access OAP, visit ontario.ca/page/ontario-autism-program to learn more about the service and other opportunities available. When you choose the program that is right for your child, you register directly with the service provider.
Available Programs
In the West region, Connections Early Years Family Centre, Children First, and John McGivney Children’s Centre offer three Caregiver-Mediated Early Years programs to families in Windsor-Essex: Social ABCs, Project ImPACT, and The PLAY Project.
Service is available in English and French, with translation for other languages available as needed. Virtual programs may also be offered to families located anywhere in Ontario, as space allows.
Questions or Registration
If you have questions about our new programs OR have received an invitation letter and would like to register, you can email us at info@children-first.ca or call 519-250-1850.
Caregiver-Mediated Programs in Windsor-Essex
Social ABCs Program
Provider: Connections Early Years Family Centre
Age range: 12 to 42 months at the start of the program
Type of program: Individual parent coaching sessions
Location: Coaching sessions can be virtual or in-person at Connections Early Years Family Centre
Duration: 12 weeks
Visits: Individual parent-child coaching sessions ranging from 1 – 3 times per week
About:
Social ABCs is an evidence-based, caregiver-mediated intervention for toddlers who have social communication difficulties. It is based on a combination of developmental and behavioural principles and focuses on improving a toddler’s use of vocalizations to communicate and sharing positive emotions with others. Opportunities for teaching and learning come from the toddler’s natural interests during playtime and day-to-day caregiving routines. Parents or other primary caregivers work with a trained Social ABCs coach to learn the intervention strategies in their child’s natural environment, using play-based activities and daily routines that their child finds most motivating.
For more information, visit the Social ABCs early intervention program website.
Project ImPACT
Provider: Children First
Age range: Earliest age of diagnosis up to 48 months
Type of program: Individual and group coaching
Location: Virtual or in-person in the home or clinic
Duration: 12 weeks
Visits: Each visit is 60 to 90-minutes in length, between 1 and 2 visits per week.
About:
The Project ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) program is aimed at parents and their young children with a diagnosis of autism, to increase social communication, imitation and play skills throughout daily routines. Parents are experts on their child and are coached by highly qualified professionals. Together, parents and the trainer develop priority goals and activities to support the child’s learning throughout the day. Project ImPACT uses a combination of developmental and behavioural strategies to increase social-communication skills in four main areas: social engagement, language, social imitation, and play.
For more information, visit the Project ImPACT website.
The PLAY Project
Provider: John McGivney Children’s Centre
Age range: 14 to 48 months
Type of program: Individual
Location: Virtual or in-person in the home or community
Duration: Up to 6 months
Visits: Each visit is 1 to 3 hours in length, between 2 and 4 visits per month.
About:
The PLAY Project is an evidence-based, playful, practical, parent-implemented program that supports the development of social interaction, communication, play and pre-academic skills in children on the autism spectrum. This program is appropriate for children up to 48 months of age who are communicating at a variety of levels, from no words up to and including sentences. The PLAY Project is designed for children at all levels of need. It is developmentally appropriate and fun, with strategies that can be easily used in a family’s daily activities.
For more information, visit The PLAY Project website.
In Partnership With:
