Programs & Services

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CTN is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and supports over 29,000 kids and youth with disabilities and developmental needs (up to age 19 or high school graduation) each year based on the family’s strengths, goals and needs. Together with our service partners, we work with kids, youth and their families to support development and well-being. We provide intake, service navigation, rehabilitation services, specialized clinics and coordinated service planning, as well as assessment and diagnostic services. CTN also provides some autism services. CTN supports families primarily in York Region and Simcoe County and delivers school-based rehabilitation services in Central and West Toronto.

Audiology:

CTN’s audiology services focus on the prevention, identification, assessment, treatment and habilitation of hearing loss in kids and youth with disabilities and developmental needs. Audiology services are provided by a registered audiologist and offered at CTN’s Richmond Hill site. The audiologist will make recommendations for the management of hearing loss and provide education and hearing-related counselling services for families.

Augmentative Communication:

CTN’s Augmentative Communication Consultation Service (ACCS) helps kids and youth who have challenges speaking and would benefit from using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to communicate. ACCS is a General Level Augmentative Communication Clinic designated by the Ontario Assistive Devices Program to provide appropriate services to kids and youth who have complex communication needs. ACCS services are limited to kids and youth younger than 19 years old who have been referred by their local team. The ACCS team may include speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and communicative disorders assistants based on the needs of the child or youth.

Brief Resource Service:

Brief Resource Service (BRS) can identify an initial action plan and help families who are waiting for service coordination or are preparing for a transition. BRS may be used to assist kids or youth with disabilities and developmental needs and their families access funding, camps, respite and other services. BRS is usually one to three sessions with a service planning coordinator.

Coordinated Service Planning/Service Coordination:

Service Planning Coordinators (SPC) support the development of a coordinated and integrated service plan that considers all service needs. SPCs are family-centred and support the child, family and team to identify and set meaningful goals.

Diagnostic Medical and Consultation Services (DMCS)

CTN's Diagnostic and Medical Consultation Services provide diagnostic assessments and medical consultation for kids and youth (up to a child’s 18th birthday) with complex developmental, medical and/or behavioural concerns living in Simcoe County and York Region.

Equipment Loan Program

CTN supports kids, youth and families by focusing on the F-words for Child Development. Every child with varying abilities has the right to have fun, enjoy friends, function as they are, access fitness, plan for their future and join in family activities like sledge hockey, hiking and adapted skating.

The Equipment Loan Program provides access to specialized recreation, therapy and complex clinical equipment so kids and youth with disabilities and developmental needs can participate with their family and friends at home and in the community. If your child is involved with an occupational therapist (OT) or physiotherapist (PT), speak to them first about which equipment would be most appropriate for your child.

Feeding:

The Feeding Assessment and Consultation Services (FACS) team provides clinical feeding assessment and consultation for kids and youth living in York Region and Simcoe County with complex feeding needs. Service generally consists of a one-time assessment that includes consultation with the child’s team where appropriate. The FACS team may consist of a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and/or an occupational therapist (OT) and/or registered dietitian (RD) as required, based upon the specified areas of concern. Service may also include a videofluoroscopic swallow study when deemed necessary following clinical assessment (additional physician referral may be required). Click here for more information.

Key Service and Support Coordinators:

This service is available for kids and youth with a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Key Service and Support Coordinators provide services to kids and youth up to the age of 18 (or 21 if still attending secondary school). The Key Service and Support Coordinators have expertise in FASD and will assist families to access information and better understand FASD and how it may impact their child’s or youth’s abilities. Coordinators will ensure kids, youth and families are connected to appropriate services and supports, as well as assist families to implement strategies in the home and other environments that support the child to build skills. In some situations, the Key Service and Support Coordinator will work together with the family and other team members, including school staff, to build a coordinated service plan.

Occupational Therapy:

Occupational therapy (OT) for kids and youth with neuromotor disabilities focuses on developing their motor skills to improve their ability to perform activities associated with their daily life such as self-care, play and community participation. The therapist may also, as part of therapy, assess and prescribe equipment to assist the child or youth to maximize function and/or comfort. An individualized treatment program will be developed based on the assessment findings and shared goals. Rehabilitation assistants also support this service.

Ontario Autism Program – Intake

As the Centralized Intake for the York Simcoe Autism Network (YSAN), CTN provides comprehensive intake for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) programs offered by YSAN (Caregiver Mediated Early Years and Entry to School). Service Navigators complete a needs and strengths assessment with the family and provide information on YSAN programs, as well as other relevant community supports and services.

Ontario Autism Program - Urgent Response Services

Urgent Response Services (URS) is a time-limited (up to 12 weeks), rapid response that addresses a specific need to prevent further escalation of a child or youth harming themselves, others or property. The service is available to kids or youth registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) who meets defined ministry criteria which is determined through a screening process that looks at high risk factors.

Physiotherapy:

Physiotherapy (PT) for kids and youth with neuromotor disabilities focuses on developing their gross motor skills to maximize the child’s function and participation at home, at school and in the community. The therapist may also assess and prescribe equipment to assist the child or youth to maximize function and/or comfort. An individualized treatment program will be developed based on the assessment findings and shared goals. In addition to the PT, rehabilitation assistants also support this service.

Psychological Services:

We provide neuropsychological consultation, assessment and diagnosis for kids and youth who have complex medical and/or neurological conditions or some neurodevelopmental disorders. Our clinicians take an evidence-based approach to clinical care. We strive to integrate our services within the larger community team and contribute to goal setting and program/treatment recommendations whenever possible.

Recreation and Leisure Services:

All kids and youth deserve to have fun! Participating in recreation and leisure activities such as adapted sports, community activities and social gatherings are important to your child’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development and overall quality of life. Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and Community and Family Coordinators (CFCs) work within the community recreational sector to create, facilitate and enhance inclusion and recreation opportunities for kids and youth. Programs may be delivered in a variety of locations.

School Based Rehabilitation Services:

The School Based Rehabilitation Services (SBRS) program exists to ensure that kids and youth with rehabilitation needs are able to attend school, participate in school activities and receive instruction. Therapy is provided in the school setting or virtually by contracted service providers and includes occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech language pathology. Services involve short-term consultation, training and intervention for specific rehabilitation needs. Referrals to this program must be made by the school. If you feel that this service would be appropriate for your child, but they have not been referred, please discuss this with your child's school. The school will work with you to determine if it would be appropriate for your child to be referred for this service.

Seating and Mobility Specialty Services:

Seating and mobility services are delivered by physical and occupational therapists. These services assists kids and youth who have complex seating or mobility prescriptions to determine and obtain the equipment best suited to their needs. Kids and youth requiring this service must be referred by the child’s OT or PT.

Service Navigation:

At CTN service navigation is provided by experienced professionals who are knowledgeable about services, programs and supports. Service navigators ensure kids, youth and their families are accessing the appropriate services based on a preliminary review of their strengths and needs.

SmartStart Hub:

CTN is now a SmartStart Hub, providing a one-stop point of entry to help families in Simcoe County and York Region find the services their child or youth may require.
If you have questions about your child/youth’s development, simply call 1-866-377-0286 and we will work with you to find the services and supports that will help you to meet the goals of your child/youth and family. Kids/youth are eligible from birth to age 19, or 21 if they are in school and live in Ontario. You do not need a diagnosis to contact the Hub.
Learn more here.

CTN compiles a list of approved abbreviations for use in the shared record semi-annually. This abbreviation list is meant to ensure that there is familiarity with abbreviations that are most commonly used across the network; however, CTN strongly recommends the use of full words or descriptors whenever possible to ensure service providers, clients and families understand the terms being used. See CTN’s Approved Abbreviations List for 2020-21.

Referral Information and Forms

EVENTS

CTN - Out and About for Teens: AAC - Simcoe & York

October 05, 2023

Join us for a social event series for youth ages 12 and up who use AAC in York Region and Simcoe County. This event will provide opportunities to connect with other AAC users and participate in fun activities!

The Centre For Dreams - Youth Achieving Dreams (Thursdays) - Markham

October 05, 2023

The Centre For Dreams is excited to annoce the implemenation of a brand new skills-based program specifically for your living with development disabilities.

SURVEY

As a parent/caregiver, I would like to learn more about:

Behaviour Regulation Strategies
Mental Health and Self-Care for Caregivers/Parents
Information Related to School or Special Education
Funding and Financial Planning Resources and Information for Kids and Youth with Disabilities
Transition Planning (school and adulthood)