Learn more about how we’re supporting our families, employees & partners.

Over the past several weeks, CTN has shared our response related to the COVID-19 pandemic and supported the continued public health measures to help keep our communities and citizens safe. As we adjust to our new ways of working, interacting and going about our daily lives, our commitment is to keep you updated with what’s happening to support the children, youth and families that we, along with our network partners, collectively serve.

What we’re doing

• Our ACCESS and School Based Rehabilitation Services (SBRS) phone lines are open and ready to support families. You can reach ACCESS at 1-866-377-0286 and SBRS at 1-877-972-7277.
• We’re meeting with partners to discuss how to best support families right now. We will continue to meet and share information, resources and work collaboratively on our shared goal of supporting children, youth and families with disabilities and developmental needs.
• We are planning virtual events, like coffee chats (every Thursday in April) and online webinars for families and providers.
• CTN’s employee engagement committee is focusing on how staff can stay connected while working from home.

What’s next?

• We’re working with our partners to explore opportunities around telepractice; a form of delivering services by conducting appointments over the phone, using videoconference platforms, etc. This may not be applicable to all CTN programs and services, but we’re working through it to determine where this may work to support children, youth and their families.
• Our family resource team is collaborating with our local team facilitators to anticipate the needs of families and find more ways to support them virtually during this time.

Brighter Together
CTN’s vision is to build brighter futures together and despite the current need to be apart, we’ve seen people find ways to pull together. Our employees, partners and families often share stories that inspire a smile and we thought it was important to share some of these moments with you.

• Do you know what "caremongering" is? It was invented by Canadians just a few short weeks ago!
• Our CTN Team may not be physically together, but we wore blue for our virtual team meeting to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.
• CTN works with several organizations that deliver essential services and we are grateful for the tremendous work they are doing during this extraordinary time. Check out how communities across the country are showing their support and gratitude to frontline and essential workers by organizing parades with siren brigades, recording virtual tributes, making signs and banners and so much more!

Have you had a moment or read an article where you were reminded that we’re brighter together? We want to hear from you. Share your bright moment with Cecilia Remo, Communications Manager at cremo@ctnsy.ca.

Applications for The Ministry of Education’s Financial Support for Families program are now open and may apply to many of you. Parents are eligible for a one-time per child payment of $200 for children aged 0-12, or $250 for children with special needs aged 0-21 (anyone accessing special education i.e. Individual Education Plan) to support online learning needs. If you have already applied for the Support for Parents during the education strikes, you do not need to reapply. For more information, please visit the government website.

CTN is proud to be part of a network with partners in the health, education and community sectors. If you have any questions about services and supports for children and youth with disabilities or developmental needs, please contact us and we would be happy to answer your questions or direct you to appropriate community resources.  We continue to monitor daily updates from all levels of government and public health to guide our decision making. We are committed to ongoing communication with all of you as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic together. Stay safe and take care!

Contact us ACCESS at 1-866-377-0286  I  SBRS at 1-877-972-7277  I  www.ctnsy.ca

2020-04-07