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Autism School Support Programs

Connections for Students

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Connections for Students (CFS) is a free service that helps students with autism who are leaving behavioural services and going/returning to full-time school. This program pairs your child with an Autism Spectrum Disorders Consultant who will work with your child’s therapy provider, your family, and your child’s school to support a successful transition.

  • Learn more about Connections for Students

    CFS support can begin up to six months before your child leaves therapy, and typically continues for six months after your child moves to full time school. During this time an ASD Consultant supervised by a Registered Behaviour Analyst will work closely with you, your child’s school staff, community service providers, and the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) service provider (if applicable) to set transition goals, implement strategies, and track your child’s progress.

    CFS can help in situations like:
    • Moving from a clinical setting to a public school.
    • Addressing school support needs not covered by the Entry to School program

    CFS does not cover:
    • Advocacy for specific school supports like an Educational Assistant
    • Support for students who are not registered in a public school (public or

    Catholic school boards)
    • Direct services to your child

    CFS is available at no cost for eligible students registered in the OAP and enrolled in a public school. To get started, your child must be registered with the OAP and their school board, and you have provided consent.

    Criteria for Referral
    • Need an OAP reference number
    • Parent would need to consent and participate in process
    • The student would benefit from a collaborative team approach:
            • To school related transitions
            • To support generalization of a specific skills from a clinical setting to school setting
            • To support assessment, resource development, educator capacity and parent capacity with regards to school.

    For more information click here

    You can begin by contacting us at [email protected]

Connections Targeted Transition Support

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The Connections Targeted Transition Support model is based on the more intensive Connections For Students for autistic children and youth, though designed to allow more flexible forms of service to be provided to a wider range of children and youth. The brief, targeted supports are available to any child or youth with an OAP number who is not currently involved in a full Connections For Students program.  In comparison, this program has a shorter timeline and a more specific focus than the Connections For Students program, and referrals can only be made by the school board staff.

  • Learn more about Connections Targeted Transition Support

    Connections Targeted Transition Support (CTTS) is a free service that provides short-term support to families and educators of children and youth with autism in relation to a specific school transition.  The service is available to any child or youth with an OAP number who is not currently involved in Connections for Students.  Because school boards have their own supports available, referrals to CTTS can only be made by the school board.

    CTTS is meant to:
    • Provide support around an in-school transition
    • Be applied flexibly based on the current needs of the child or youth, family, school and school board
    • Allow the goal, timeline and forms of the support to be determined collaboratively at the outset of the process with a target timeline of 3 months

    Criteria for Referral
    • Need an OAP reference number
    • Parent would need to consent and participate in process
    • Your child would benefit from collaborative approach to a school transition, such as:
            •Moving to a new grade
            •Moving from one subject or activity to another
            •Moving from school to home
            •Moving from home to school
            •Starting with a new school staff or team

    If you think CTTS would be helpful for your child, speak with your school’s principal to learn more.