Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Foundational Family Services
Caregiver Workshops
Registration closes 24 business hours prior to the workshop
Please note: Multiple workshops have the option to attend in person at 155 McNicoll Avenue or via zoom. Please choose the appropriate platform when registering.
Stepping Stones Triple P
Stepping Stones Triple P forms part of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program system of family intervention. It is aimed at helping you prevent and manage problem behaviour common in children with a developmental disability. It also helps to encourage behaviour you like, cope with parental stress, develop a close relationship with your child and teach your child new skills.
We offer a variety of Triple P based intervention programs. Please choose the type of program based on your needs and level of commitment available.
Stepping Stones Triple P Seminars
Stepping Stones Triple P is an evidence based parent education workshop series for families of children with developmental disabilities who have or are at risk of developing behaviour problems.
The seminar series introduces participants to the principles of positive parenting and positive behaviour support strategies to encourage skill building confidence, competence and resilience in children. Although not required, participants are encouraged to attend the seminar series in the order presented.
Seminar One – Positive Parenting for Children with a Disability:
Focuses on the seven key principles of positive parenting and how to apply them in the child’s environment. Positive parenting involves emphasizing what is going well and planning ahead to prevent problem behaviour.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Monday, November 1, 2021 – 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | Register Here |
| Thursday, December 2, 2021 – 10:00 am to 11:30 pm | Register Here |
Seminar Two – Helping Your Child Reach Their Potential:
Focuses on six steps to teach new skills. How to choose skills to teach, using rewards, when and where to teach, effective teaching strategies and progress tracking will be discussed.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Monday, November 8, 2021 – 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | Register Here |
| Thursday, December 9, 2021 – 10:00 am to 11:30 pm | Register Here |
Seminar Three – Changing Problem Behaviour into Positive Behaviour:
Looks at the six key steps to change or manage problem behaviour. We will cover the importance of tracking the problem behaviour, look at why it is happening as well as how to encourage positive behaviour.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Friday, October 29, 2021 – 10:00 am to 11:30 am | Register Here |
| Monday, November 15, 2021 – 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | Register Here |
| Thursday, December 16, 2021 – 10:00 am to 11:30 pm | Register Here |
Group Stepping Stones Triple P (9 week program)
Group Stepping Stones Triple P is a 9 session group intervention on positive parenting for parents/caregivers of children with a developmental disability. This training program provides assistance for parents/caregivers who currently have concerns about their child’s development and behaviour.
For more information, please contact: Michelle Mariotti 416-744-7650 ext. 4285 or Larissa Mazarello 416-744-7650 ext. 4262
| Date and Time | Registration Link | |||||||||||||
| Mondays, October 18 – December 13 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm | In Progress |
Triple P and Tea
These topic-specific workshops are designed to assist parents/caregivers in implementing positive parenting strategies from the Triple P program.
1. Leveraging Data
Ever wonder how ABA therapists take data? This hands-on workshop explores how data can assist you to identify and evaluate your child’s goals.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Wednesday, October 27, 2021 – 10:00 am to 11:00 am | Register Here |
| Tuesday, November 2, 2021 – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
2. Maximizing Reinforcement
Is your child not motivated by praise? This practical, hands-on workshop explores how rewards are used to encourage desirable behaviour and teach new skills.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Tuesday, November 9, 2021 – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
3. Activity Schedules Galore
Do you want your child to be more independent or are you curious about activity schedules? This practical workshop provides parents/caregivers with information on how to create and use activity schedules at home.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Tuesday, November 16, 2021 – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
4. Demystifying Behaviour Charts
Does your child use a behaviour chart at school, or would you like to learn how to implement this strategy at home? This workshop walks you through how to set up a behaviour chart and fade it out over time.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Tuesday, November 23, 2021 – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
5. Ground Rules and Logical Consequences
Does your child test boundaries or do you struggle to follow-through when your child acts out? This practical workshop explores the use of ground rules and logical consequences for minor misbehavior.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Wednesday, October 20, 2021 – 10:30 am to 11:30 am | Register Here |
| Tuesday, November 30, 2021 – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
Introductory Workshops
These workshops are designed to help caregivers develop an understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) strategies used to teach new skills as well as limit challenging behaviours.
*It is encouraged that participants complete Workshop 2 before signing up for Workshop 3
1. Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
This session provides families with an introduction to the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and some of the recent research that explains how ASD can affect brain functioning. Families will begin to look at the strengths and needs of their own child and parent will discuss various ways that they can take care of their own needs.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Thursday, November 4, 2021 – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | Register Here |
| Monday, November 22, 2021 – 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Register Here |
| Friday, December 3, 2021 – 12:00pm to 2:00 pm | Register Here |
*2. ABA Made Easy
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is the scientific methodology that is used to support each child’s skill development within the OAP. This workshop will introduce families to ABA and demonstrate how these strategies can be used to teach skills during daily family routines.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Thursday, November 11, 2021 – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | Register Here |
| Friday, December 10, 2021 – 12:00pm to 2:00 pm | Register Here |
3. Challenging Behaviours: Strategies for Prevention and Redirection
A guide to improving problem behaviour. This seminar is best suited for those who have a foundational knowledge of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
Learn about the various functions of behaviour and why a child might engage in challenging behaviour. Participants will use case studies to develop an understanding of how to use ABA strategies to prevent and/or redirect difficult behaviours.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Thursday, November 18, 2021 – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | Register Here |
| Monday, December 6, 2021 – 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | Register Here |
| Friday, December 17, 2021 – 12:00pm to 2:00 pm | Register Here |
Skill Development Workshops
Designed to target specific skills, these workshops combine ABA theory and strategies in practical ways to help parents/caregivers support their child to reach their full potential
1. Teaching Early Communication:
In this workshop, families will gain an understanding of how early language and communication skills develop in children with autism and learn teaching strategies to help develop their child’s communication skills within daily routines.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Tuesday, November 9, 2021 – 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Register Here |
| Wednesday, December 8, 2021 – 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Register Here |
2. Fostering Independence and Daily Living Skills:
This supportive workshop explores how autism may impact your child’s daily living skills. It prompts parents/caregivers to explore the benefits of teaching daily living skills, while providing tips, tools and strategies to assist you not only in selecting but fostering your child’s independence at home.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Friday, October 29, 2021- 9:30 am to 11:30 am | Register Here |
| Wednesday, December 1, 2021 – 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Register Here |
3. Autism & Sleep: Setting Up Routines for Bedtime Success:
Some children with autism have difficulty establishing a healthy sleep routine. This workshop will discuss common sleep challenges, how to navigate challenging behaviours around sleep and how to apply ABA strategies to set up a bedtime routine.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Wednesday, October 13, 2021 – 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Register Here |
| Wednesday, December 15, 2021 – 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Register Here |
4. Understanding and Promoting Emotional Regulation:
This workshop explores the causes of stress behaviours and aims to provide parents/caregivers with a richer understanding of emotional regulation. It also provides concrete strategies to support children’s ability to monitor and manage their emotions, thoughts and behaviours in appropriate ways that support their wellbeing, learning and relationships.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Monday, October 4, 2021 – 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
| Thursday, November 11, 2021 – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | Register Here |
5. Nutrition Strategies for Less Hectic Mealtimes:
This workshop equips parents/caregivers with information about the developmental stages of nutrition and how autism may affect your child’s diet. It supports parents/caregivers to implement supportive feeding strategies for use during mealtimes and provides ways to evaluate their child’s progress.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Tuesday, October 19, 2021 – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | Register Here |
| Wednesday, November 24, 2021 – 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Register Here |
| Monday, December 20, 2021 – 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
6. Learning to Play:
Play has an important role in a child’s language and social skill development. Families will explore the various stages of play, have the opportunity to problem solve and discover fun and creative ways to be engaged with their child during play, and learn various strategies to teach play skills.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Thursday, October 28, 2021 – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | Register Here |
| Thursday, November 25, 2021 – 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Register Here |
| Tuesday, December 11, 2021 – 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
7. Teaching Social Skills:
Does your child struggle socially? This in-depth workshop equips parents/caregivers with practical teaching strategies to support their child’s social skills development at home and in the community.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Tuesday, October 26, 2021 – 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
| Thursday, November 25, 2021 – 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Register Here |
8. Toilet Training Strategies:
This workshop will provide an overview of readiness skills for toilet training, as well as how the characteristics of autism may affect the toilet training process. Families will learn about different toilet training methods and teaching strategies.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Friday, October 15, 2021 – 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm | Register Here |
| Friday, November 5, 2021 – 9:30 am to 11:30 am | Register Here |
9. Supporting Transitions:
Families will learn strategies to manage common and major life transitions such as changing schools, moving or starting a new activity.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Monday, October 25, 2021 – 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Register Here |
| Thursday, November 4, 2021 – 5:00pm to 7:00 pm | Register Here |
| Friday, November 26, 2021 – 12:00pm to 2:00 pm | Register Here |
| Tuesday, December 11, 2021 – 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Register Here |
10. Advocacy and You!
Facing barriers when it comes to inclusion? Become your child’s best advocate! This practical workshop is designed to empower parents/caregivers with the tips, tools and information that you need to speak clearly and confidently about your child.
| Date and Time | Registration Link |
| Monday, December 13, 2021 -1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Register Here |
Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Services
Children and youth ages 12 to 48 months who are registered in the Ontario Autism Program will receive invitations to register for Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Services from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
Once you receive an invitation, you can register for our programs. Learn more
