Foundational Family Services

When a family has questions about their child’s development, KidsAbility is often the first call that they make. Whether you’re wondering where to start or what services are available, we provide Foundational Family Services to anyone in our community with an Ontario Autism Program (OAP) number.

Funded through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Foundational Family Services are offered at no cost to families. These services aim to provide you with more tools to support your child’s ongoing learning and development. They are evidence-based, delivered by various professionals, and responsive to your family’s changing needs and your child’s developmental stage. Services cater to regional, language, and cultural needs and are available in various formats, including:

Virtual,
Self-directed,
In-person, or
Group-based

KidsAbility’s Foundational Family Services

Our dedicated professionals will assist you in finding workshops, resources, support groups, and more to help you and your child. We are here to support you at any point in your journey, or if you are helping someone else on their own journey. You don’t need to be a KidsAbility family to access these services, but you must be registered with the OAP.

Services

Ask the ABA Team:

For children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) currently enrolled in the OAP, we offer “Ask the ABA Team” consultations. These one-to-one virtual or phone appointments connect you with our Autism and Behaviour Support Services team. You can speak with:

A Goal Planning Specialist (GPS),
A Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA),
Instructor Therapist (IT) from our Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Program

You can ask questions such as:

Where do I start?
What might services look like for my child?
Do we qualify for tax credits or additional funding?
How can I encourage my child to play?
Where do I start in establishing routines?
How do I know if my child is ready for potty training?

To request a brief consult, please email FFS@kidsability.ca. Please include your child’s name and Ontario Autism Program number.

A member of our Foundational Family Services team will then be in touch to gather some more information related to your consultation.

Everyone registered in the Ontario Autism Program can access Foundational Family Services at no cost. You can choose to access these services based on your needs, and there are no limits to how many times you can register for them.

You can find more program details on the ministry’s website at ontario.ca/autism.

You can also call the Central Resource Team at 1-888-444-4530 or email oap@ontario.ca if you have questions.

Workshops & Resources:

KidsAbility provides a range of free workshops and resources to support you and your child. Workshops are offered both virtually and in-person to meet the needs of busy families.

Check out our Workshop & Events for upcoming dates and registration information.
Join our mailing list to stay updated on upcoming Autism and Behaviour Support Workshops and Resources.

To register for available workshops in May/June 2025 please visit our Workshops & Events page.

Workshops continued to be added, so please check back often to be kept up to date on available workshop offerings.

You can find more program details on the ministry’s website at ontario.ca/autism.

You can also call the Central Resource Team at 1-888-444-4530 or email oap@ontario.ca if you have questions.

Mothers Addressing Autism Together – Peer Support:

If you have a child with an autism diagnosis and want to connect with other moms who understand your journey, MAAT is for you. You can drop in to meet other moms, share experiences, discuss concerns, and get answers to your questions.

The group meets virtually on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
(except the first Tuesday of each month).

Thank you for your interest in our Mother’s Addressing Autism Together (MAAT) Group. Registration for this group is currently closed. Please check back often for updates.

Families who are interested in more timely access to Peer Support are encouraged to explore available options available through Foundational Family Services. More information can be found here.

Thank you for your understanding