Rapid and personalized care to support children with autism to keep themselves from harm as well as their loved ones.

Children with autism are particularly vulnerable to harm, including inappropriate behaviours, negative thoughts, and physical aggression. Safety is a critical issue among their families and caregivers. Our new Urgent Response Service provides timely services to address a specific need, designed to prevent risk escalation to self, others, and/or property. Children and their families can receive up to 12 weeks of personalized services and support, which may include:

• Short-term consultation with a child’s intervention team, caregivers and educators
• Respite services
• Direct support to the family and professionals involved to implement behaviour therapy with the child using a mediator model approach.

Each child and family will have an Urgent Response Service Coordinator working with them to develop and oversee the service plan. The coordinator will also provide service navigation to other services within or outside the Ontario Autism Program.

If you have additional questions, contact Surrey Place at 1-833-575-KIDS (5437) or childrens.registration@surreyplace.ca

Galloway March Break, Summer Camp, Holiday and Saturday Respite

Our Galloway Respite program offers a range of accessible relief services for youth aged 12 to 18 and adults aged 18 to 35 with a developmental disability or an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The goal of these services is to provide quality and flexible family centred programming that promotes the development of both social and life skills to the young adults who attend.

Access to service is based on an individual’s plan, family’s changing needs and availability. To be eligible all participants will have to complete a respite plan that meets our service criteria. This plan is reviewed yearly by staff and the family and/or individual. Available during breaks in the school year.

Steps to access the program:

1. Call the program at 416-724-7444
2. Set up an intake appointment to discuss the program, its cost structure, suitability and interest
3. Complete required paperwork; support to complete can be provided

The Galloway After School Program (GASP) is a socialization, life skills, and activity group for adolescents and young adults in East Toronto who have been diagnosed with Autism or a mild to moderate developmental challenge.

Attendees learn life skills such as cooking, street-safety, sexuality and relationship building. GASP helps meet individual needs and provides a safe, structured, and fun environment where they can learn and develop more independence skills. Activities and outings encourage a sense of cooperation, responsibility and achievement.

GASP uses Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to help develop goals for the youth. Assigned Primary Workers are responsible for the ongoing monitoring on the progress of goals. Functional Behaviour Assessments are completed a minimum of once a year and may be used as the basis for individual goal development. Family meetings and discussion with the youth are also essential components involved in the development of goal.

The program runs two afternoons a week during the school year – approximately seven hours per week. The staffing ratio is one staff member per four youth.

Steps to access the program:

1. Call the program at 416-724-7444
2. Set up an intake appointment to discuss the program, its cost structure, suitability and interest
3. Complete required paperwork; support to complete can be provided

AYCES provides programming for youth between the ages of 12 to 18 years of age with a diagnosis of High Functioning Autism (formerly called Asperger’s Syndrome).

The goal of the AYCES program is to encourage and help youth/young adults develop social and life skills, increase self-esteem, develop peer relationships, and create volunteer opportunities.

AYCES includes the following services:
• After-school program
• Summer camp
• March break
• Alumni Group
• Saturday outings