This small group learning opportunity focuses on learning about relationships and sexual health and well-being with a respectful and caring facilitator. Topics include: Introduction, relationships, communication, exploitation, understanding the body and resources and review.

Benefits
Learners continue to build their understanding of factors that support positive, healthy choices, including building a deeper understanding and appreciation of themselves and their identity. Learners are also exploring healthy ways to engage in evolving and new relationships.

Description
Week 1 (Introduction) The learner will actively participate in activities designed to establish a safe, comfortable learning situation for the study of social skills and sexuality.

Week 2 (Relationships) The learner will be able to identify and describe different types of relationships (self, family, friend, date, helper, acquaintance, stranger) and identify social skills and behaviours that appropriately accompany each type of relationship.

Week 3 (Communication) The learner will develop functional, appropriate, assertive communication and decision-making skills in the following areas: non-verbal communication, making requests and refusals and handling rejection.

Week 4 (Exploitation) The learner will be able to recognize exploitation and exploitive situations including sexual abuse and exploitation and will be able to respond appropriately and effectively.

Week 5 (Understanding the Body) The learner will develop a functional understanding of human anatomy, body and feeling changes of puberty and sexual health and hygiene.

Week 6 (Resources & Review) The learner will be able to identify and access available resources for further learning and discussion of social skills and sexuality related topics, and will be able to identify interest areas for future study.

This 2-session workshop will explore different ways visuals can support learning, communication, and day-to-day routines. Bilingual facilitators and examples will be available. Following participation in the introductory session, parents/caregivers will return to create visual aids to take home with them for use with their child. This workshop will provide an overview of the following teaching objectives:

How to teach that pictures represent items/activities
How to use visuals to support your child’s communication (e.g., choice board)
How to present expectations visually (e.g., “First-Then” board)
How to organize schedules or routines visually (e.g., visual schedule, task analysis)
How to source pictures or symbols
How to create visuals
Following the completion of both sessions, parents/caregivers will be eligible for a one to one consultation with an ABA Therapist (via virtual and/or in person) to support with individual training goals that may include:

Assist with in home implementation
Assist with generalization
Troubleshooting individual questions about various visuals
Bilingual facilitators are available as requested.

The Feeding Education Series (FES) consists of four evening educational sessions for parents. Participants will learn the skills involved in eating, areas where their child may be having difficulty, and strategies and resources available to assist with feeding difficulties. Option of individual consultation follow ups will be available.

This caregiver group involves participation in a Parent Management Training (Kazdin, 2008) program that aims to enhance parenting skills to improve challenging behaviours in children, such as aggression, hyperactivity, and non-compliance. The training will take place virtually in a group session and will be followed by an in-person individual consultation. Handouts will be emailed to participants prior to each scheduled session.

All applicants must undergo a brief intake interview.

Children with ASD often demonstrate challenging behaviour related to mealtimes and food intake. From a behavioural perspective, strategies to troubleshoot these difficult behaviours and increase the variety of foods accepted will be presented.

Benefits
Improve food selectivity and decrease challenging behaviours during mealtimes.

This virtual therapy group is intended for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, aged 14 to 18 years, who are interested in learning about their own mental health. The group will focus on increasing knowledge about a variety of common diagnoses and symptoms, the relationship between stress and stressors faced by adolescents and young adults with ASD, and where and how to access mental health support. In addition, the group will focus on understanding one’s own emotions and the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and to learn strategies to better regulate emotions and behaviour in
the face of stress and adversity.

This group may be delivered virtually or in-person depending on demand. Materials will be emailed to participants prior to each scheduled session.

Note: All applicants must undergo an intake interview to determine eligibility.

Using the Flexible and Focused curriculum, practical strategies will be explored to help teach learners to be focused, organized, flexible, and able to effectively manage their emotions and their environment. Resources such as checklists, data sheets and task lists will be shared with the learner to use in real-life everyday situations. The goal is to improve the executive functioning skills, as it applies to the learner, in the following areas: self-awareness, inhibition and impulse control, self-management, attention, organization, problem solving, time management, planning, working memory, emotional self-regulation and flexibility.

Session Description
Weekly sessions with an ABA therapist to help children build skills such as self-awareness, inhibition and impulse control, self-management, attention, organization, problem solving, time management, planning, working memory, emotional self-regulation and flexibility.

Benefits
These sessions will provide the learner with the appropriate tools to enhance their own executive functioning skills, which are involved in everything they do every day to manage their own behaviour.

Youth with ASD can access up to three individualized 1-hr consultations with a registered psychologist experienced in working with youth having ASD and mental health difficulties. Participants will complete mental health screening questionnaires prior to the first appointment. Presenting concerns could be challenges with anxiety, stress, depression, anger or emotion regulation. A strength based, cognitive behavioural approach will help children and youth to problem solve, to discover new coping strategies and to determine next steps for support in their home community.

This virtual therapy group is intended for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, aged 14 to 18 years, who are interested in learning about how mindfulness and being in the “here and now” can help to improve various aspects of their lives. The group will focus on increasing knowledge about the core components of mindfulness and various practical ways that mindfulness can be applied and practiced. Participants will learn strategies such, but not limited to, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization and guided imagery, and self-compassion. All applicants must undergo an intake interview to determine eligibility.

Resources will be emailed to participants.

FLIP-IT an evidence-based program for parents to help young children identify their feelings, learn healthy self-control and reduce challenging behaviour. Caregivers will increase their knowledge about the resilience framework and how it can be used to support children who use challenging behavior. They will learn and implement the four FLIP-IT steps (Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, Prompts) to help their children learn self-control and transform challenging behavior.

Caregivers participate in 1-hour interactive training sessions each week for four weeks and receive one 1-hour phone or video follow up consultation to support implementation with their child at home.

Location:
Virtually via Zoom Health (Groups A & C)

In Person at Roots & Wings, Sudbury (Group B)

Roots & Wings Psychology
1 – 1191 Lansing Ave,
Sudbury, Ontario
P3A 4C4
Phone: 705-885-9998
Fax: 705-885-1257

This Program provides parents with simple strategies to use during every day routines and activities to help their child interact more meaningfully with others and experience less frustration. Participants will receive 4 individual consultation sessions with caregiver & child; 8 group learning sessions for caregivers.

Simple and effective ABA strategies can easily be incorporated into everyday life at home. This webinar offers practical solutions for families to develop a routine, integrate visual aids into daily life, keep children busy, master controlled choices, Before and After, and following through. Individual consultations will be offered to participants to brainstorm ABA strategies and resolve potential challenges. Domains that can be addressed; Social/interpersonal skills, Communication skills, Play and leisure, Cognitive functions, School readiness, Transition to Adulthood, Adaptive skills, Self-regulation, Challenging behaviour. These consultations will focus on direct parent training of simple strategies that can be incorporated into everyday life.

We seek to empower caregivers with the knowledge and confidence to help their child become more functionally independent communicators. Our approach is based on the ABA principles of Verbal Behaviour and uses play-based natural environment teaching.

Caregivers participate in two 1-hour webinars, and receive two 1-hour in person, phone or video consultations to implement individualized strategies with their child at home.

Both English and French families are welcome and will receive the consultation in their language of choice.

Please Note: registration cut off 1 week prior to session

FCW is a series of 5 – 1 hour workshops which provides parent and caregivers with a foundational understanding of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and evidence based strategies. Topics include; ASD, reinforcement, antecedent strategies, replacement behaviour, functions of behaviour, and setting events.

Adolescence can be a confusing and stressful time for both children and families as parents try to introduce key concepts of human development. As children struggle to understand the rapid changes they are experiencing, it may feel discomforting for children to openly ask questions to parents.  From bodily changes, hormonal changes, and new hygiene habits it can be overwhelming for children with ASD to grasp all that is encompassed during puberty. The focus of this group is to break down this complex period in human development and inform children of the normal stages of development they will experience. Sessions will focus on the following aspects: biological, psychological, social, behavioral, and new hygiene routines. Concepts will be broken down and taught with clear, concise and engaging teaching materials. Lessons will also be accompanied with visual aids and social stories for the home environment. There will be a strong emphasis to create a safe space where children feel comfortable to ask questions or discuss challenges they are experiencing. Should your child feel shy in a group setting they will also have the opportunity to chat 1:1 with the instructor. If caregivers require certain topics to be discussed or omitted, they can reach out by email .

Topics covered:
Week 1: Introduction to body parts and functions
Week 2: Changes in body parts during puberty
Week 3: Healthy hygiene habits
Week 4: Moods and feelings
Week 5: Discriminating between public and private behaviours (teaching socially appropriate behaviours versus private behaviours)
Week 6: Review and group discussion

Adolescence can be a confusing and stressful time for both children and families as parents try to introduce key concepts of human development. As children struggle to understand the rapid changes they are experiencing, it may feel discomforting for children to openly ask questions to parents.  From bodily changes, hormonal changes, and new hygiene habits it can be overwhelming for children with ASD to grasp all that is encompassed during puberty. The focus of this group is to break down this complex period in human development and inform children of the normal stages of development they will experience. Sessions will focus on the following aspects: biological, psychological, social, behavioral, and new hygiene routines. Concepts will be broken down and taught with clear, concise and engaging teaching materials. Lessons will also be accompanied with visual aids and social stories for the home environment. There will be a strong emphasis to create a safe space where children feel comfortable to ask questions or discuss challenges they are experiencing. Should your child feel shy in a group setting they will also have the opportunity to chat 1:1 with the instructor. If caregivers require certain topics to be discussed or omitted, they can reach out by email .

Topics covered:
Week 1: Introduction to body parts and functions
Week 2: Changes in body parts during puberty
Week 3: Healthy hygiene habits
Week 4: Moods and feelings
Week 5: Discriminating between public and private behaviours (teaching socially appropriate behaviours versus private behaviours)
Week 6: Review and group discussion

This workshop series will provide caregivers with introductory and foundational information about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in addition to an understanding of strategies and behaviour. There are 5 sessions in total.

A workshop focusing on teaching skills to toilet train your child. Learn about readiness skills, routine building and how to contrive motivation to successfully transition out of diapers. Parents can ask questions specific to their child and have 2 follow up zoom calls with our BCBA afterwards.

Consult and collaboratively work with an OT to identify concerns related to fine motor skills, visual motor skills (paper and pencil; cutting), self-regulation, self-care skills as well as areas of sensory processing affecting the child’s functional skills in their everyday life.

Functional Communication Learning (FCT) is a differential reinforcement procedure in which an individual learns an alternative response that results in the same function of the identified problematic behavior. When children can communicate functionally, they are also ready to learn to make choices and increase their independence. The function of the behaviour is the same: they try to meet their needs, while avoiding meltdowns and frustrations. For learners who do not develop this naturally, they may need intervention to help teach these skills. Each participant will access 2 individual consultations to support the development of functional communication and one follow up session to further support the ongoing need.

Opportunity to explore what is “picky eating” as well as some common causes and strategies you can use at home to help introduce new foods, encourage food exploration and help mealtimes become more enjoyable.

A webinar link will be sent out after each registration

The objective of this workshop is to provide an introduction to pre-vocational and vocational skills. This workshop will help the parent/caregiver to brainstorm areas of strength and areas of need for their youth with autism, in an effort to determine what vocational experience might be best for their child. It will review some tips for preparing the youth with autism for a vocational opportunity such as resume building, interviewing and social skills on the job.

Using the interviewed informed synthesized contingency analysis model, children will learn alternatives to problem behaviour and increase appropriate behaviour in various contexts. 2 analysts are present at all times to ensure the safety and welfare of all participants.

Benefits
Learning alternatives to problem behaviour often provides increased opportunities for socialization, learning and can improve general well-being.

Using the interviewed informed synthesized contingency analysis model, children will learn alternatives to problem behaviour and increase appropriate behaviour in various contexts. 2 analysts are present at all times to ensure the safety and welfare of all participating in the assessment and treatment. Concurrent psychotherapy for each family to reduce stress and improve overall family functioning.

Session Description
Using individual preferences and challenges, children will learn to communicate to get their needs met and learn to tolerate delays and denials of preferred items and activities. Concurrent psychotherapy helps reduce family stress and improve overall family functioning.

Benefits
Learning alternatives to problem behaviour often provides increased opportunities for socialization, learning and can improve general wellbeing. Improvements in overall family functioning.

Discuss concerns, establish goals and be coached by a BCBA to help implement strategies that are individual to you, your child and your family. Areas that can be addressed but are not limited to include: daily living skills, communication, play, sleep, toileting, behavior, and regulation.