Facilitator will lead a series of online workshops for parents of children and youth with ASD regarding AAC. Parents will learn what AAC is, different options for AAC, what is aided language stimulation, modelling language and introduction to the core word program.

Children with ASD commonly face challenges in terms of developing social interactions and communication with peers. In this course, we will review some of these challenges and provide caregivers with family-centered strategies and tips aimed at the development of positive social interactions. For further guidance and support, an individualized follow-up session can also be scheduled during the following week.

Facilitators will lead an online workshop for parents of youth with ASD regarding aggressive behavior. Parents will learn how to support the development of helpful thinking styles, self-regulation skills, and adaptive behavior. Parents/youth will be offered online follow-up for further support.

Youth and their parents will attend an online workshop to learn strategies for coping with anxiety in healthy ways. Parents/youth will be offered online follow-up sessions for further support and skill development.

Facilitators will lead an online workshop on the topic of sexual health and wellness for parents of youth with ASD. Parents will learn how to support their youth explore issues including puberty, consent, and sexual boundaries. Parents/youth will be offered online follow-up sessions for further support.

Children with ASD commonly face challenges with eating a healthy range of foods for many reasons. Come and learn more about why your child might be struggling with food, and strategies to support healthy eating habits and a wider food variety. For further guidance and support, an individualized follow-up session can also be scheduled during the week following the presentation.

This presentation will provide ways that parents can use visuals to enhance the learning of young children. Visuals are proven to be exceptionally helpful when teaching new concepts to children with low language, delays in cognition, self regulation/anxiety challenges, and those requiring a bit more time to grasp new concepts or adjust to new situations/environments. I am hopeful that viewers will gain insight into how they can use visuals throughout their everyday interactions with children. Some research to support the effectiveness of using visuals to support children with autism can be found on the Autism Speaks website or by following the link below.

Link here

Children with ASD commonly face challenges with sleep which impacts not only the child, but the entire family as a unit. This session will some of the reasons your child may not be sleeping and strategies for families to try with their children.

PEERS® for Adolescents is an evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated teens in middle and high school who are interested in making and keeping friends and/or handling conflict and rejection.” (https://www.semel.ucla.edu/peers/teens) Caregivers and teens attend separate sessions that are run at the same time. Teens are taught social skills and caregivers are taught how to support their teen as a social coach.

TalkAbility is for parents of verbal children ages 3-7. Parents learn practical ways to help their child tune into the thoughts and feelings of others, consider other points of view and to have empathy for others. These skills are essential for successful conversations and for making friends.

TalkAbility is for parents of verbal children ages 3-7. Parents learn practical ways to help their child tune into the thoughts and feelings of others, consider other points of view and to have empathy for others. These skills are essential for successful conversations and for making friends.

Parents of children with ASD or other social communication difficulties will use tools and strategies to strengthen their child’s foundation for communication development. These include building back-and-forth interactions, strengthening imitation skills and expanding play skills.

Parents of children with ASD or other social communication difficulties will use tools and strategies to strengthen their child’s foundation for communication development. These include building back-and-forth interactions, strengthening imitation skills and expanding play skills.

Parents of children with ASD or other social communication difficulties will use tools and strategies to strengthen their child’s foundation for communication development. These include building back-and-forth interactions, strengthening imitation skills and expanding play skills.

This session is for siblings of children with autism to gain a deeper understanding of autism. We will discuss: what is autism, interacting with their sibling, and how to explain autism to others.

Children with ASD commonly face challenges with eating a healthy range of foods for many reasons. Come and learn more about why your child might be struggling with food and strategies to support healthy eating habits and a wider food variety. For further guidance and support, an individualized follow-up session may also be scheduled during the week following the presentation.

Parents of children with ASD will learn how to use visuals to support the learning and understanding of new concepts. Parents will learn how visuals can fit into existing daily interactions and routines and how they can be phased out over time. Parents will also learn how to use visuals to break big skills down into small steps, to make it easier to learn new concepts/skills.

This one-hour presentation offers strategies to support children and youth who experience ASD and anxiety.  

Educational sessions for caregivers wanting to learn more about ASD and social skills. Over the course of these four 1 hour sessions, caregivers will learn about why social language is important, what the key components of social language are, and how to help your child learn about neurotypical communication. Each session will discuss a different topic and will build on the previous one. If you are unable to attend all 4 sessions, you are still welcome to attend.

Caregivers of children recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will participate in a group session together with other Caregivers and FIREFLY team members that will introduce them to a range of services and approaches used to support individuals with ASD. Following the group session, a member(s) of the FIREFLY team will provide up to 4 hours, follow-up consultation, matched to the needs and interests identified by each Caregiver. Topics of interest for families may include, but are not limited to: communication, behaviour, early learning and independence. Caregivers will complete this service having basic information that will help them support and understand their child’s needs as they transition to life beyond initial diagnosis.

This Family PD Day Event is an opportunity for families with school aged children with ASD to spend a few hours of their PD Day socializing, having fun, and meeting with other autism families while creating and exploring activities. Light snacks and refreshments provided.

Family Craft Event is an opportunity for families with children under 19 years of age with ASD to spend a few hours of their day socializing and having fun with other autism families while creating and exploring. Sensory crafts and activities will be available to families. Light snacks and refreshments provided.

This service will be provided through a certified Sibshop facilitator. It is an opportunity for those who have a sibling with an ASD diagnosis to connect with others, have fun, laugh, play games, and learn something about the services and diagnosis of their brother or sister. This all-day session includes snacks and lunch.

This service will be provided through a certified Sibshop facilitator. It is an opportunity for those who have a sibling with an ASD diagnosis to connect with others, have fun, laugh, play games, and learn something about the services and diagnosis of their brother or sister. This all-day session includes snacks and lunch and will have a Halloween focused theme.