Kinark Autism Services
600 Alden Road, Suite 200 L3R 0E7 Markham, ON, Canada

Transitioning to adulthood can be challenging for everyone as there are increased levels of independence, choice, responsibility, and personal control. Our team is here to support youth with autism and their families as they navigate this transition! Kinark's free Transition to Adulthood sessions help to educate parents and caregivers on the services and supports available including, financial/estate planning and education, community supports and additional information to assist with transition planning. Visit our website to learn more and register for an upcoming session - https://kinarkautismservices.ca//foun/transition-supports/

This World Autism Awareness Day, the United Nations observed inclusion in the workplace and opportunities in a post-pandemic world. Inclusion offers the same activities to everyone, while providing support and services to accommodate each individuals unique differences. It is important that we teach our children and youth to understand, accept and value human differences to help build a stronger and more inclusive world for those with autism. Here are four ways that teachin...g inclusivity supports the autism community: 1. It allows for children with autism to participate in programs in their community with their siblings, friends and neighbours. 2. It supports children with autism as they learn from their peers who serve as role models to help them with social skills and communication. 3. It provides children with autism with preparation for adult life in the community. 4. Their peers learn empathy and are exposed to diversity which allows them to see each person for their unique differences. You can learn more about inclusion in the workplace and community on the United Nations website at https://www.un.org/en/observances/autism-day #WorldAutismAwarenessDay

Our Kinark Autism Services staff are celebrating with the global autism community by wearing blue in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day! Every day they work hard to support families, spread awareness and strengthen inclusivity of those living with autism. Thank you to our staff! #WorldAutismAwarenessDay

Are you looking for individualized resources to help support your child’s development at home? Kinark's Brief Behavioural Consultation is a free foundational family service that provides parents and caregivers with resources to help support their child or youth with autism. Families connect with a skilled clinician and discuss behaviour-based strategies to help address a specific goal of their child's development! To request a Brief Behavioural Consultation, please complete the service intake form on our website - https://kinarkautismservices.ca//brief-behavioural-consul/

Today is World Autism Awareness Day! This day recognizes the struggles and triumphs of individuals on the autism spectrum and draws attention to the need for innovative programs to support children and youth as they navigate the transition to adulthood. We hope you can show your support and help raise awareness to create a stronger and more inclusive world for those living with autism! #WorldAutismAwarenessDay

Looking for some new and exciting crafts for your children to create at home? Let’s make some beautiful flower crafts! Grab some paint, paper, paintbrushes, a cup of water and a fork to join along. Check out our website for more crafts and DIY projects that your family can enjoy!

Spring is here and so is registration for our April virtual parent and caregiver education workshops! Take a peek at the upcoming sessions topics and register for free today! As part of Kinark's free foundational family services, these workshops offer a variety of educational opportunities on a wide range of topics for parents and caregivers of children and youth with autism. Visit our website to learn more and register for an upcoming workshop! https://kinarkautismservices.ca//parent-and-caregiver-edu/

Kinark's Service Navigation and Coordination connects you with knowledgeable Family Support Workers who provide information based on the unique needs of your family and your child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Here are some key benefits of Kinark's Service Navigation: 1. After your child's diagnosis, Service Navigation can help when you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. ... 2. Family Support Workers educate and connect you with the available services and supports in your community. 3. Service Navigation can help you identify which Ontario Autism Program supports and funding you qualify for to help cover the costs of services. 4. It provides you with the support needed so you don’t feel lost and alone. Learn more about Kinark's Service Navigation and Coordination at kinarkautismservices.ca//service-navigation-and-coordinati

Do you have a child currently attending school or one that is about to start? Kinark's School Series is a collection of parent education workshops that introduce Ministry of Education policies and relevant information that every parent and caregiver should know. These workshops help you better understand the policies and support you to advocate successfully for your child. In this series, we will also share tools and strategies for promoting a positive and collaborative relat...ionship with your child’s school team. This series is designed to build: 1. Your knowledge of relevant policies and procedures in the school system, 2. Your capacity to advocate effectively for your child, and 3. Skills for developing positive collaborative relationships with your child’s school team. Visit our website to register for an upcoming School Series workshop at https://kinarkautismservices.ca//parent-and-caregiver-edu/

Being a sibling of a child or youth with autism has its rewards and challenges. Many siblings may have a lot of different feelings and be unsure of who they can talk to about how to manage these feelings. Kinark's sibling support groups allows for a safe space to connect virtually and share feelings and experiences with other youth who understand what it’s like to have a sibling with autism. Find out how other siblings cope and learn new skills for managing frustrations with your sibling. Register for an upcoming workshop today at https://kinarkautismservices.ca//foundati/support-groups/

Our free Kinark Kreates videos are great educational resources for children and youth with autism that provide a fun and interactive experience This week's topic: Going to the Dentist! A dentist visit can be challenging for everyone but it is important to go to keep our teeth clean! This video shares an overview of a visit to the dentist and how to stay safe and calm. Please note that individual experiences at the dentist may vary.... Check out our website for more educational videos that you and your family can enjoy! #KinarkAutismServices #PartnerInYourSuccess #Autism #AutismCare #AutismSupport #VirtualServices #ASD #OAP #OntarioAutismProgram #FreeSupport #AutismServices

Individuals with autism often require additional support when learning functional life skills. These skills often involve the ability to manage time, organize thoughts and complete tasks that allow us to function independently at home, school, in our community, and the workplace. Here are some important tips to consider when teaching your child with autism functional life skills. 1. Choose one target skill at a time and build up success with this skill before introducing a n...ew one. This will ensure your child knows the skill properly and help build their confidence when tackling the next skill. 2. Assess how much support your child needs with this skill. Simply watching your child complete the task (without helping) will give you an idea about how much support they need. 3. Break down the skill into small sequenced steps through written and verbal communication. This will assist with teaching the skill and also help with tracking your child's improvement over time. 4. Use Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) strategies, such as prompting, to help teach your child to complete each step of the skill. To learn more about functional life skill strategies, register for our upcoming parent and caregiver education workshop on this topic at https://kinarkautismservices.ca

It can be challenging to stay consistent with a child’s routine when their parents and/or caregivers live apart. In our Co-Parenting on the Spectrum support group sessions, we discuss common challenges and provide tips to help maximize the benefits of co-parenting while raising a child or youth with autism. Learn more about this free support group and register for an upcoming session at https://kinarkautismservices.ca//foundation/support-groups

Have you had a chance to join one our free Social Time sessions? Our Social Time sessions are a fun and interactive way for families, parents and kids to connect virtually, discuss ongoing events or participate in different activities and crafts! To learn more about this program and upcoming sessions topics, visit our website at https://kinarkautismservices.ca//foundational/social-time/

We understand for many families the ongoing COVID-19 emergency has created disruption to your lives, the services you and your child have customarily received, as well as the stresses of balancing work, home, and caregiver roles. To best support our clients, their families, and the autism community, we have adapted many of our services to be delivered virtually until we can once again resume in-person services. In a 2020 Client Experience Survey, 100% of families said the p...rogram taught them skills to use to help their child in the home. Another 97% said the services and supports their child received helped them deal more effectively with the challenges in their life. Visit our website to request a free consultation and start a conversation with our intake representative - https://kinarkautismservices.ca/free-consultation/

We’re back in school! How fun? You probably have a lot of cool items to pack into your backpack each day. Join us and learn how to pack your backpack! -- Our Kinark Kreates videos are great resources for parents and caregivers of children and youth with autism!... These videos share tips and tools based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to help you support your child's learning and development. Visit our website for more educational Kinark Kreates videos like this!

Let’s get creative! Join us in making some fun DIY jewelry with items you can find around your home. Grab some string and beads to join along! We want to hear from you! What topics would you like to see our staff create for you and your family to enjoy. It can be educational, interactive or simply entertaining to help support child and youth development at home. Comment below or send us a message! As a reminder, you can watch all previous videos on our website! We post new videos every Tuesday and Thursday. Check them out!

Proper hand washing with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds helps to limit the spread of COVID-19! There may be challenges when trying to explain proper hand washing to your child or youth with autism. Our team of clinical experts provided five tips to help support proper hand washing routines: 1. Break down the steps of handwashing into teachable units... 2.Post a visual of the hand washing routine and point to each step when teaching your child to wash their hands 3. Provide prompts as needed and slowly fade your prompts until your child is independently washing their own hands 4. Set a timer for 20 seconds to signal when to stop washing 5. Remember to provide praise and reinforcement to promote successful handwashing To learn more tips and resources to better support your child or youth at home and in the community, we encourage you to visit our website and register for a parent education workshop that suits your family's needs - https://kinarkautismservices.ca/parent-caregiver-education/

Many children learn to talk by first observing and then imitating others. But what if your child is struggling to develop language and communication skills? If this is the case, your child may need specific teaching to learn to communicate. The following list of steps developed by our team of clinicians can help support your child or youth when communication with words: 1. Determine the best mode of communication for your child (e.g., vocal speech, pictures) and consider tea...ching your child two ways of communicating (e.g., speech and sign language). Ensure others in your child’s community communicate with them in that mode. 2. Be aware of typical language development patterns in order to select the appropriate next step for your child. 3. Teach pre-language skills if needed (e.g., following instructions, making eye contact). 4. Choose a goal based on your child’s current skills and teach language skills in the order of typical language development. Children learn to copy sounds and words, ask for what they want, label things, then answer questions. 5. Start small and increase your expectations gradually as your child’s communication skills develop. Please visit our website to learn more about the resources and educational workshops available to better support your child or youth. https://kinarkautismservices.ca/parent-caregiver-education/

October is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month in Canada. Kinark is putting our #HandsTogether4Autism to help raise awareness and acceptance for those living with and/or affected by autism. Here are five ways you can support an individual with autism: 1. Remember that everyone learns differently 2. Offer choices 3. Be aware of possible sensory sensitivities... 4. Recognize each person’s unique strengths and talents 5. Share your knowledge about autism We encourage our audience to share this post to engage in the conversation and to help raise awareness and acceptance for those living with autism. #Autism #AutismAwarness #AutismAwarenessMonth

Parents and caregivers of children and youth with autism may experience challenges with their child’s school placement, helping school staff understand their child’s needs, and understanding the services and supports your school board may offer. Come and chat with a Kinark school consultant for free! The new service offering allows for an interactive experience for parents and caregivers to bring their questions about the school system and receive support from our school con...sultants. Each session shares valuable tips and tools for navigating and interacting with the school system. Visit our website to register for an upcoming session of Ask a School Consultant! https://kinarkautismservices.ca/transition-supports/

Kinark Autism Services offers virtual group based Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) services for children and youth with autism between the ages of five and 12. Help your child enhance their social skills with Kinark’s Let’s Be Friends! program or help your child enhance their emotional regulation skills with Kinark’s Emotions and Me! program. Screening is now open for our Winter 2021 groups! To ensure that your child is placed with appropriate peers, we are offering free virt...ual screening sessions to evaluate compatibility and group readiness skills. Visit our website for the details and pricing of each program and book a screening spot with us today! https://kinarkautismservices.ca/group-based-aba-services/

Are you looking for additional information about the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and how it can help support your family? Kinark is offering free information sessions designed to inform parents and caregivers about services and supports available in the OAP. Sessions will inform participants about interim one-time funding as well as provide guidance on eligible/ineligible expenses, foundational family services, and other services and supports in the OAP and the community. Visit our website to register for an upcoming session! https://kinarkautismservices.ca/information-and-resource-s/

Let’s play a fun game of scavenger hunt. Ask your parents to help you make a list of items to find around your house so you can play at home! As a reminder, you can watch all previous videos on our website! There are a lot more fun interactive activities to have with at home! We post new topics every Tuesday and Thursday.Check them out! https://kinarkautismservices.ca/kinark-kreates/... #KinarkAutismServices #PartnerInYourSuccess #Autism #AutismCare #AutismSupport #VirtualServices #ASD #OAP #OntarioAutismProgram #FreeSupport #AutismServices

Thank you to everyone who has shown your support for Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month so far! Although many of us can’t be together physically right now, it is still important that we show our support, acceptance and respect this month for those living with and/or affected by autism. There are many ways that you can put your #HandsTogether4Autism! Show your support by painting your hands blue, cutting out blue hands on construction paper, and drawing blue hands on your w...indows or in chalk on the sidewalk. Share your creation on social media with the hashtag #HandsTogether4Autism and tag us! With our (virtual) hands together, we are all stronger! #KinarkAutismServices #Autism #AutismAwareness #AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAcceptance #AutismCare #ASD

Let’s talk about the six colours of the rainbow! Grab your markers, two cups of water and paper towel and join us in making a colourful rainbow craft together in this addition of Kinark Kreates. Kinark Kreates is a free series of engaging and educational videos created to support child and youth development while at home. Want to see a video on a specific topic? Comment below! ... Visit our website to watch previous Kinark Kreates videos! New videos posted every Tuesday and Thursday. https://kinarkautismservices.ca/kinark-kreates/

Join us for Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month as we put our #HandsTogether4Autism

Have you viewed the foundational family services we offer for free for children and youth with autism and their families? Our foundational family services range from a selection of evidenced-based services, delivered in a group or individually, to better support your family's needs. These services assist families in supporting their child’s learning and development. Visit our website to learn more - kinarkautismservices.ca/foundational-family-services

First-then boards are visual tools that help introduce your child to new tasks and activities, and increase their motivation to complete tasks they may not like or find difficult. In this Kinark Kreates video, Taryn teaches you how to create and use a first-then board with your child. Kinark Kreates is a free series of engaging and educational videos created to support child and youth development. Want to see a video on a specific topic? Comment below! ... Visit our website to watch previous Kinark Kreates videos! New videos posted every Tuesday and Thursday - https://kinarkautismservices.ca/kinark-kreates/

Siblings of children with autism often experience unique challenges that their friends or family members may not recognize or understand. They may have questions about autism or have a lot of feelings about living with a sibling with special needs. Kinark offers free sibling support groups facilitated by our social worker for ages 7-10 and 11-15. The sessions give your child the opportunity to connect with other children with similar experiences through activities and discussions. Visit our website to register for our sibling support groups and to learn more about the foundational family services offered through Kinark - kinarkautismservices.ca/foundational-family-services

It can be challenging to feed a picky eater as there are many different factors that may influence your child’s eating habits. Common feeding issues to recognize in your child include eating only a select group of food, refusing food presented, and disruptive behaviour at mealtime. It is important to determine your child's eating readiness skills, and set and monitor a goal as you implement strategies to help improve your child's eating skills. What strategies have you found ...help support healthy eating routines? Comment below to share! To learn more about the supports Kinark provides, visit our website to contact us for a free consultation! https://kinarkautismservices.ca/free-consultation/

Sensory bags are so fun to play with! This Kinark Kreates video will show you how to make three different DIY sensory bags. Remember to always ask an adult for help when using scissors. Kinark Kreates is a free series of engaging and educational videos created to support child and youth development. Want to see a video on a specific topic? Comment below! ... Visit our website to watch previous Kinark Kreates videos! New videos posted every Tuesday and Thursday - https://kinarkautismservices.ca/kinark-kreates/

With the impacts of COVID-19, we are all adjusting to a new normal. The Ontario government recommends wearing a face covering/mask in all indoor public settings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Here are three tips our team recommends to help support your child in successfully wearing a face covering/mask: 1. Offer choice when selecting a mask colour or design... 2. Use positive reinforcement by providing rewards for good mask wearing 3. Develop achievable targets by breaking down the steps To learn more about the supports Kinark provides, visit our website to contact us for a free consultation - https://kinarkautismservices.ca/free-consultation #KinarkAutismServices #PartnerInYourSuccess #Autism #AutismCare

Research has shown that caregivers of children with autism experience challenges that can lead to stress and isolation. It's easy to forget about ourselves when we are busy caring for children and dealing with other life stressors. Kinark's free caregiver support groups aim to empower caregivers by creating a safe space to share experiences, and gain understanding and support from other caregivers with similar experiences. Our support groups are one of many foundational family services offered by Kinark. Visit our website to learn more and register for our caregiver support groups - kinarkautismservices.ca/foundational-family-services

Transitions can sometimes be challenging for children, especially when this school year may look quite different. In this Kinark Kreates video, you will learn four tips to help support your child’s transition to school this September. Kinark Kreates is a free series of engaging and educational videos created to support child and youth development. Want to see a video on a specific topic? Comment below! ... Visit our website to watch previous Kinark Kreates videos! New videos posted every Tuesday and Thursday. #AutismCare #Autism #OntarioAutismProgram #FoundationalFamilyServices

Registration is open for our Fall 2020 parent and caregiver education workshops! As part of Kinark's foundational family services, our virtual workshops cover a variety of topics and provide parents and caregivers with techniques and tools to better support their child or youth with autism. We've added new workshop topics, such as proper handwashing and teaching functional life skills, to continue to adapt our service offerings for the families we support. Visit our website to register for a free workshop that meets your family’s needs - https://kinarkautismservices.ca/foundational-family-services