Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological difference that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people, as well as their environment. It can affect social interactions, body language, sensory processing capacities, and how they engage with their interests. An individual with autism processes information differently than a neurotypical person.
FIREFLY offers professional assessment, intervention, and treatment services for children and youth under 18 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), FIREFLY also provides a wide range of programs and services designed to meet the diverse needs of children and their families. Explore the details below to learn more about each one including eligibility criteria.
Still have questions about Autism Spectrum Disorder? Check out the videos below to learn more:
The Northwestern Ontario Autism Diagnostic Hub offers comprehensive inter-disciplinary assessment and diagnostic services for children and youth aged 0-18 across the Kenora, Rainy River, Sioux Lookout, and Far North regions. Families can benefit from pre- and post-clinic support provided by the Autism Diagnostic Hub’s clinic coordinator, ensuring a seamless experience. The Hub also facilitates referrals to community service providers, offers tailored recommendations for caregivers and educators, and fosters meaningful community networking opportunities.
Our Interdisciplinary Team may include:
The Diagnostic Hub is a partnership project between FIREFLY, Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services, Kenora Association for Community Living, Kenora Chiefs Advisory, Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, and Kenora-Rainy River Child & Family Services.
The ASD Support Worker offers a range of services and supports to families centred around both OAP and FIREFLY’s autism-related programs, as well as other supports available to them. Key services include:
The ASD Support Worker also actively participates in community events, sharing information and resources to enhance support networks for families.
The Virtual Autism Parent Support Group is an excellent opportunity for caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to get together and share their struggles, successes and ask questions. You do not need to commit to every session, but we encourage you to attend as many as you can.
For more information on the Virtual Autism Parent Support Group please email [email protected]. You can also see and register for each month’s group session by heading to our News and Events page.
The Virtual Autism Youth Group is an excellent opportunity for youth with ASD to get together and chat about topics they’re interested in. A new topic is chosen each month. The group meets the last Monday of the month and youth between the ages of 10-16 are welcome.
For more information on the Virtual Autism Parent Support Group please email [email protected]
The Ontario Autism Program (OAP) offers support to families of children and youth on the autism spectrum.
Children and youth who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by a qualified professional are eligible for the program. Children receive services and supports until the age of 18.
Caregiver-mediated early years programs support families with young children ages 12 months to 48 months (4 years). The programs help young children learn new skills and meet individualized goals.
Through these programs, parents and caregivers learn therapeutic strategies and specific techniques from professionals based on their child’s individual needs. The programs aim to build parents’ and caregivers’ capacity to support their child’s skill development in:
The programs are play-based, child-led and developmentally appropriate. Programs are free of charge and available for up to six months per child.
Eligibility
Most children who are 12 to 48 months old and registered in the Ontario Autism Program are eligible to receive caregiver-mediated early years programs.
If your child is receiving core clinical services or has an active behaviour plan, you’re not eligible to receive caregiver-mediated early years programs.
Children who are receiving caregiver-mediated early years programs can receive other Ontario Autism Program supports (other than OAP core clinical services), special needs supports and/or early intervention programs at the same time. For example, your child can receive foundational family services or urgent response services at the same time as a caregiver-mediated early years program.
FIREFLY currently offers Project ImPACT and Pivotal response treatment (PRT). Each program is 12 weeks in length.
Pivotal response treatment (PRT)
For: children 12 to 48 months (4 years) at start of intervention
Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is an evidence-based intervention program that uses applied behaviour analysis (ABA) principles. PRT uses your child’s motivation to teach communication and social engagement. You will learn the core strategies of the program so that you can use it in day-to-day routines and interactions with your child.
The program targets many skills, including eye contact, requesting, turn taking, play skills, and how to gain your child’s attention using a range of strategies.
Project ImPACT
For: children 12 to 48 months (4 years) at start of intervention
Project ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) will help you and your child increase social communication, imitation and play skills throughout daily routines.
Highly qualified professionals will coach you as the expert on your child. Together, you and the trainer will develop priority goals and activities to support your 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.
This service can be purchased using OAP funding (e.g., Access OAP funding, childhood budgets, interim one-time funding, etc.), out-of-pocket or other sources including charitable funds and private insurance.
Applied Behaviour Analysis is the science of behaviour, which aims to make socially significant changes in people’s lives. It uses a scientific approach to understand how behaviour works in relation to the environment, and understand factors that affect learning and produce meaningful change. Applied behaviour analysis uses an individualized approach to understand and apply evidence based strategies to develop new skills in all areas of a persons life, including daily living skills such as toilet training, feeding or sleeping, in areas of social and emotion regulation skills, communication and play skills, self-help skills, academic or job-related skills, and increase independence at home, school and in the community.
ABA Behavioural Consultation Service is for children and youth with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, who are registered for, or have applied to, the Ontario Autism Program. The service is available through Fee for Service.
The ABA Behavioural Consultation program will work on a limited number of targeted goals (1-2), over a short period of time. The service will be developed and supervised by a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and delivered by an ABA Therapist.
The ABA Behavioural Consultation Service will include an initial clinical consultation meeting with the ABA Team who will help to identify your child’s strengths and areas of need. This may include an in-depth caregiver interview, assessment and observation of your child, as well as consultation with other clinicians involved in your child’s care at FIREFLY (when applicable).
This consultation service is offered in a 5 session package and includes a customized parent education component on the identified area(s) of need implementing specific ABA strategies, followed by a closing summary session to summarize progress and outline some recommended next steps to support further development.
To be eligible for the program clients must have:
Appropriate fit for this service will be screened at the time of referral and during the initial consultation meeting.
Targeted concerns may include:
This service can be purchased using OAP funding (e.g., Access OAP funding, childhood budgets, interim one-time funding, etc.), out-of-pocket or other sources including charitable funds and private insurance.
Children and teens with autism often experience mental health challenges such as social anxiety, isolation, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. Through our individual counselling sessions spread over 8 weeks, children and youth will explore and learn about their feelings, address daily challenges, identify problems and opportunities for growth, develop self-awareness and work towards overall happiness and success.
Our FIREFLY staff will work with your child in a safe, caring and interactive environment. Currently we are focusing our sessions around Autism and Anxiety.
Eligibility:
Still have questions or want to register for this service? Call Centralized Intake today 1-833-696-5437 at or email [email protected].
Entry To School (ETS) is a free program for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) clients that helps facilitates a smooth transition into school for children with Autism. The program is offered in partnership with those listed above, and will be implemented in two phases, as outlined below. Eligible clients will be sent an invitation in their Access OAP Portal, which then must be provided to FIREFLY.
The first phase of the program runs for 6 months, and builds School Readiness Skills with daily programming provided by the ETS Team. This team consists of a BCBA, an ABA Therapist, OT and SLP services. School Readiness Skills include: Communication, Play Skills, Social Interactions, Functional Routines, Behaviour and SelfManagement, and Pre-Academics.
The second phase is a transition into the school setting. During this time, transition supports and consultation will be provided to the family and school team by the ETS Team, as needed for up to 6 months. Transition supports may include resource development, school visits, consultations and observations, attendance at meetings, planning and problem-solving, and capacity building supports for school staff, such as modelling or staff training.
You must…
Entry to School is a partnership program between FIREFLY, Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services, Kenora Association for Community Living, Kenora Chiefs Advisory, Kenora-Rainy River Districts Child and Family Services, Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority and all local school boards.
Foundational family services are available free of charge to all families registered in the Ontario Autism Program.
Foundational family services aim to give you more tools to work with your child or youth and participate in their ongoing learning and development through services and supports that are:
Services
Services may include the following types of options:
For a complete list of Foundational Family Services offered by FIREFLY click here.
Urgent Response Service is a time-limited rapid service response for children and youth with Autism. The service is intended to address a specific behaviour need with a focus on preventing further escalation of risk of harm to self, others, and/or property. Eligible families can receive up to 12-weeks of services and support which are specifically designed to address a behavior of concern.
Urgent Response Services may include:
Each family will have a URS Coordinator working with them to develop and oversee the service plan and to provide service navigation to other services within or outside of the OAP.
Click on the videos below to learn more about Urgent Response Services and the Medicator Model Intervention (videos adapted from Surrey Place).
For Family: The first step is to design a service plan for the child and family in collaboration with the family and arrange for delivery of the components of the plan. The URS Coordinator may make referrals at this point to other services outside Urgent Response Services that might be helpful to the family.
Service elements offered through the URS will be tailored to the child’s and family’s specific needs. The services provided will focus on preventing further escalation of risk of harm to self, others, and/or property.
Before the end of the Urgent Response Services, the family will meet with the URS Coordinator to review the progress of the child’s behaviour and determine what other referrals can be made on their behalf to services within or outside the OAP. The family is then discharged from Urgent Response Services at the end of 12-weeks of service.
Note: Urgent Response Services is not a crisis support/urgent mental health service and operates during regular business hours. If, as a result of the screening process, the child is determined to be in mental health crisis the Urgent Response Coordinator will help them connect with appropriate Crisis Services in the community. Children experiencing a mental health crisis should be taken to the nearest hospital or call Crisis Services at 1-866-888-8988 for assistance.
820A Lakeview Drive
Kenora, Ontario
P9N 3P7
