Caregiver-mediated Early Years (CMEY) Programs
Caregiver-mediated Early Years programs support families with young children registered in the Ontario Autism Program between the ages of 12 months and 48 months. The programs are play-based, child-led and developmentally appropriate, and available for a period of up to six months per child.
Families and caregivers learn therapeutic strategies and techniques from professionals based on their child’s individual needs. The focus is on building parents’ and caregivers’ capacity to support their child’s skill development in social interaction, play, communication, emotional development, adaptive development and self-help skills.
Services through the York Simcoe Autism Network (YSAN) are available to all children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) at no cost. To learn more about the OAP, visit their website here.
Accessing Services
Eligibility
Children ages 12 to 48 months who are registered in the Ontario Autism Program will receive invitations to register for Caregiver-mediated Early Years Services from AccessOAP in their portal. You can learn more about the caregiver-mediated early years programs below.
If your child is receiving core clinical services or has an active behaviour plan, you’re not eligible to also receive CMEY services in the same year. Once you receive an invitation, you can register for our programs. You can learn more about the OAP invitation process on the OAP website.
Registration
To register, please complete the online registration form by clicking the button below. If you have any questions about these programs, contact the intake team through email at OAPintake@ctnsy.ca or call us at 1-866-377-0286.
Respondents commonly commented on how helpful the program was, giving them strategies and they saw real improvements in a variety of skills including communications and language skills. “We were able to communicate with our child and get engaged in their play. with this, our child has become more responsive and communicates their needs very well.” *
* Testimonials and data are based on feedback provided by families who participated in ETS and CMEY programs in 2023 and 2024.
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is an evidence-based treatment for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aged 12 months to 48 months that uses your child’s interests to build their motivation, language, as well as social and play skills. Over 12 weeks of individualized coaching, caregivers will use the skills they have learned throughout all parts of their day to support how they interact with their child.
Benefits of PRT include:
- Greater parent engagement with their child
- Improved understanding of what motivates your child to learn
- Reduction in challenging behaviours
- Increased play skills
- Improved communication skills
- Greater interest in social interactions
- Strategies for using reinforcement to build your child’s skills
Caregivers will participate in an introductory session followed by weekly one-to-one coaching sessions with a PRT clinician. Sessions may be held at a community treatment centre, the program office, the family home, or virtually. At the conclusion of PRT, caregivers will be provided with a summary of their child’s progress and recommendations for next steps.
To learn more about this program, call intake at 1-866-377-0286 or register here.
The PLAY Project
The PLAY Project is a playful, practical, parent-implemented program that supports the development of social interaction, communication, play and pre-academic skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This program is appropriate for children aged 12 months to 48 months at all developmental levels.
The PLAY Project focuses on empowering parents to play with their child at the appropriate developmental level, and build the child’s skills through engagement and relationship building. Services are delivered virtually, in-home, or at a program office location through one-to-one sessions with a trained PLAY Project Consultants for up to six months.
In each session, the PLAY Consultant will coach families to use individualized, evidence-based techniques designed to help their child reach their full developmental potential. Consultants will listen to updates from families, answer questions, model techniques and activities, and coach families to use the techniques with their child.
The PLAY Project also involves families implementing the strategies learned with their child daily within regular family routines and activities. A minimum of three PLAY plans are created for each family which summarizes their child’s progress and includes goals to work towards.
To learn more about this program, call intake at 1-866-377-0286 or register here.
Foundational Family Services
Foundational Family Services provide a wide range of supports for families of children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
OAP Core Clinical Services
Our core clinical services include applied behaviour analysis, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and mental health services.
Entry to School Program
The entry to school program will support families with children ages three to six who are registered in the Ontario Autism Program and are entering school for the first time.
Caregiver-mediated Early Years (CMEY) Programs
Caregiver-mediated early years programs support families with young children registered in the Ontario Autism Program between the ages of 12 months and 48 months.
Urgent Response Services
Urgent Response Services are available to children and youth registered in the Ontario Autism Program who meet a defined criteria.
