The Ontario Government, after years of advocacy work by the AODA and other disability organizations, has committed to enact an Education Accessibility Standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). An advisory committee, the K-12 Education Standards Development Committee, which includes representatives from the government and the disability community, was assigned to develop recommendations on what the Education Accessibility Standard should include.

The committee’s initial recommendations report, a 185-page report, was made public on June the 1st (summaries below). The public has been given until September the 2nd to send feedback on the initial recommendations. This may be your only opportunity to have your voice heard. 

To take more action, click here and find out more.

Click here to read an open letter from the Child & Youth Planning Table.

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Autism Ontario is happy to announce that the 2021 One to One Summer Support Worker Reimbursement Fund is now open for application!

Applications are due by June 28th!

Reimbursements will be provided based on a random selection made from all eligible applicants who apply by Monday, June 28th, 2021.

To learn more, click here.

To read FAQ, click here.

To apply, click here.

We all share the same dream for our children—a life filled with friends, joy and opportunities. As a parent of a child with a disability, you already have a lot on your plate. But there are things you can do NOW that will make a huge impact on your child’s future.

The Early Planning Toolkit will get you started. 

Check out what Recreational Respite offering for virtual programming by clicking here.

Through funding from the Youth Employment Skills Strategy (YESS), we have been able to recently launch a new program called "Getting Ahead in the Workplace" that is geared at supporting youth. Youth continues to be defined as individuals aged 15-29 years of age. 

This is on top of the Youth Job Connection programs that we have running. Our Cambridge office will be specifically starting another group, which is still accepting referrals, as of May 10th. 

Our next Youth Job Connection Summer program for high school students will be starting at the end of June / beginning of July after high school courses finish for the year. 
 

Click out the summer programming list for Extend-A-Family by clicking here.

The Summer Job Skills Builder Program at KW Habilitation for youth up to the age of 30 is starting soon.  We have refocused our Summer Youth Employment program to be based more on skill development.  Should someone obtain employment, we will of course still provide job coaching support. 

Summer Job Skills Builder (click here for info poster): Will begin end of July/first week of July for the summer.  Application deadline has been extended to May 21 (click here for application).

This is a funded program (no cost to you).

The schedule for meetings and training will be determined between the applicant and their Job Coach, so can be flexible.  There will also be some preset training dates that applicants can decide to attend based on their availability.  The program itself does not have “set hours” or set number of hours, but instead looks at the skills the person wants to build upon, what areas of work they want to explore and then create a plan based on that.  Learning will be done both one on one as well as in group settings.  Virtual and live options are being planned, and again, this is individualized based on the person’s goals and availability.   With the focus being more on skills building, we have the flexibility to do more online if that is what works for the person.

Passport for Success is a free, 6-week, full time program that guides you to explore your personal strengths and to establish your academic and career goals.

What is keeping you from College?

• Didn't complete high school?
• Don't have money to pay for College?
• Not sure what to choose?
• Not sure where to start or who to talk to?
• Don't have the time?
• Think you're too old?
• Need indivdual support to make it through?

We can help. It IS possible!

Check out the program flyer here for more details.

For more information contact, Allison McLean at amclean@conestogac.on.ca