Welcome to resources to support children and youth with special needs!
Special Needs Strategy

specialneedsinfo.ca

Resources to Support Children and Youth with Special Needs
Start finding services with the menu below.

Child Care and Schools

  • Group settings for children are available in schools, workplaces, churches, and child care centres.
  • Child Care - Early Childhood Education Centres
    Centre-based child care programs operate year-round and are located in schools, workplaces, churches or in a child care centre. The Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services maintains a searchable database of licensed child care ...
  • Child Care - Home Child Care
    This section lists programs and services offering child care services in the child’s or the provider's home.
  • Child Care - Preschools and Nursery Schools
    Preschool and nursery school programs provide education-based programs designed to prepare children for kindergarten. Many of these programs operate half-days during the school year. The Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services ...
  • Child Care - School-Age Programs
    Child care programs that operate before and after school and during Professional Development days and March break to accommodate school-aged children.
  • Child Care - Subsidy
    Parents on limited income or in need may be eligible for financial help with child care costs.
  • Schools
    Kindergarten, elementary and secondary education is provided through public and separate school boards. Special programs include French immersion, adult education, ESL/FSL (English or French as a Second Language), children with special ...

Children and Youth Mental Health

Community Support Resources, Employment, Skills and Training

  • Community services and programs that help parents, children, and youth with employment, life skills training, and access to other supports.

    The services within the topics below are not necessarily focused on children and youth with disabilities, but include people of all ages and abilities.
  • Child Abuse and Welfare
    The following programs provide information and/or interventions for individuals and/or families who are coping with the trauma arising from child abuse. Child abuse includes abandonment, neglect, or emotional, physical or sexual abuse by a ...
  • Community Resource Centres
    Community resource centres provide community access to a wide variety of health and social services to individuals of all ages.
  • Employment Assistance for Youth
    Unemployed or underemployed youth and young adults can get help through drop-in resource centres, job search assistance programs, and job-skills workshops. Employment counselling and career planning services provide information on the ...
  • Government Services - Information
    Federal, provincial, municipal, and Aboriginal service centres administer government functions and oversee the delivery of public services.
  • Information Services for Children and Youth
    Information to help you raise your children, such as referral to available services, is offered by telephone helplines and Internet sites.

Cultural Services

  • Cultural services offer a variety of social activities, sports, language-based resources and libraries, while advocating for cultural rights, interests, and cooperation.

    The services within the topics below are not necessarily focused on children and youth with disabilities, but include people of all ages and abilities.
  • Francophone Community
    Organizations or programs which offer service primarily within a French language cultural context, or that otherwise support cultural unity and development within the Francophone community.
  • Immigrant, Newcomer and Refugee Services
    Non-profit or government programs and services that deal with the immigration, refugee and citizenship process. Includes courses for preparing for the citizenship test.

Developmental Services

  • Programs and services for people with developmental disabilities, and their families.
  • Autism
    Autism is a developmental disorder affecting the brain`s normal development of a person`s social and communication skills. Diagnosis of autism usually occurs in early childhood.
  • Cerebral Palsy
    Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive paralysis that is caused by developmental defects in the brain or trauma at birth, resulting in loss of muscular control, spasms, weakness and speech problems.
  • Developmental Assessments
    Clinicians with expertise in child development can assess the strengths and needs of a child who may need extra supports. Copies of the results and recommendations are given to the parents and the referring physician, and can be made ...
  • Down Syndrome
    Down Syndrome is a genetic condition in which an extra chromosome is present. Many individuals have a degree of intellectual disability, although the range of ability is wide.
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Women who consume alcohol while pregnant risk having a child affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Children with FASD may have deficiencies in growth; characteristic facial features; and impairment to the central nervous ...
  • Housing and Residential Care for Children and Youth with Disabilities
    Residential homes, and group or independent living homes, offer structured and supportive environments for children and youth with disabilities.
  • Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida
    Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is an increased accumulation of fluid in the brain due to an interruption in the flow of the fluid that may have been caused by developmental anomalies, infection, injury or brain tumours. The ...
  • Learning Disabilities
    Learning disabilities affect the way in which a person takes in, remembers, understands and expresses information. Living with a learning disability can have an ongoing impact on friendships, school, work, self-esteem and daily life.
  • Mental Health for Children and Youth
    Mental health programs for children and youth provide preventive, diagnostic and treatment services in a variety of community and hospital-based settings to help them achieve, maintain and enhance their state of well-being, personal ...
  • Respite Care for Children
    Respite care offers temporary, substitute living arrangements or special care in the home for children with disabilities in order to provide a brief period of relief or rest (usually more than twenty-four hours) for the family members, ...
  • Screening Programs for Children
    Screening programs attempt to detect disease by examining children before they show symptoms.
  • Transition Services for Youth and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities
    Programs supporting youth with developmental disabilities help with the transition to adult health care providers, with the goal of living as independently as possible.

Diagnosis and Exceptionalities

  • Services related to a specific condition, including medical services, social activities, and advocacy.
  • Acquired Brain Injury
    Acquired brain injury (ABI) is any damage to the brain after birth not caused by a congenital or degenerative disease. Trauma, such as from a fall or accident, stroke, aneurysm, tumour, exposure to toxins and infections of the brain are ...
  • Amputees
    Amputee services are for individuals who have undergone an amputation - the removal of one or more limbs, or part of a limb, by surgery.
  • Autism
    Autism is a developmental disorder affecting the brain`s normal development of a person`s social and communication skills. Diagnosis of autism usually occurs in early childhood.
  • Blindness and Impaired Vision
    The organizations listed here provide counselling for the blind and those with impaired vision. Services include individual and family counselling relating to vision loss, parent, peer and family support groups and referrals to other ...
  • Cerebral Palsy
    Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive paralysis that is caused by developmental defects in the brain or trauma at birth, resulting in loss of muscular control, spasms, weakness and speech problems.
  • Cystic Fibrosis
    Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects the pancreas, respiratory system and sweat glands, which usually begins in infancy and is characterized by chronic respiratory infection, pancreatic insufficiency and heat intolerance.
  • Deafness and Impaired Hearing
    Hearing loss ranges from partial to total. Professionally trained sign language interpreters are available to those wishing to access services through the Ontario Interpreting Service of the Canadian Hearing Society (see below). The cost is ...
  • Down Syndrome
    Down Syndrome is a genetic condition in which an extra chromosome is present. Many individuals have a degree of intellectual disability, although the range of ability is wide.
  • Epilepsy
    Epilepsy is a neurological condition which causes seizures produced by a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures vary in severity from person to person.
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Women who consume alcohol while pregnant risk having a child affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Children with FASD may have deficiencies in growth; characteristic facial features; and impairment to the central nervous ...
  • Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida
    Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is an increased accumulation of fluid in the brain due to an interruption in the flow of the fluid that may have been caused by developmental anomalies, infection, injury or brain tumours. The ...
  • Learning Disabilities
    Learning disabilities affect the way in which a person takes in, remembers, understands and expresses information. Living with a learning disability can have an ongoing impact on friendships, school, work, self-esteem and daily life.
  • Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
    Muscular Dystrophy is the name of a group of muscle disorders that are characterized by progressive weakness and wasting of the voluntary muscles that control body movement. As muscle tissue weakens and wastes away, it is replaced by fatty ...
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
    Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord resulting in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling. Frequent causes of damage are trauma or disease. The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of ...

Entertainment, Recreation and Sports

  • Sports and recreation services for children and youth with disabilities.
  • EarlyON Child and Family Centres
    Free drop-in programs offer children up to the age of six, their parents, and their caregivers a place to learn, play, meet people, and get advice from professionals trained in early childhood development.
  • Fitness, Recreational and Social Programs for Children and Youth with Disabilities
    Fitness programs for children and youth with disabilities offer health instruction and exercise. Recreational and social programs provide opportunities to participate in social or recreational activities, sports, and games.
  • Wish Programs
    Wish programs provide support for terminally or gravely ill children or youth, by granting them one wish.

Funding, Financial and Housing Supports

  • Programs offering housing supports or financial assistance for children and youth with disabilities.
  • Child Care - Subsidy
    Parents on limited income or in need may be eligible for financial help with child care costs.
  • Financial Assistance for Children and Youth with Disabilities
    Financial support may be available to families with children or youth with special needs. Eligibility for this social assistance is based on the specific challenges or delays in physical, intellectual, emotional, social, language, or ...
  • Home Modification
    Modifications can be undertaken to make a home barrier-free for people with physical disabilities or mobility challenges. Financial assistance may be available.
  • Housing and Residential Care for Children and Youth with Disabilities
    Residential homes, and group or independent living homes, offer structured and supportive environments for children and youth with disabilities.

Health, Therapy, Medical Equipment and Travel

  • Medical and rehabilitation services for children and youth with disabilities.
  • Child and Youth Community Health Care Programs
    This section lists programs and services providing health care services to children and youth.
  • Developmental Assessments
    Clinicians with expertise in child development can assess the strengths and needs of a child who may need extra supports. Copies of the results and recommendations are given to the parents and the referring physician, and can be made ...
  • Health Care Facilities for Children and Youth
    The health care treatment facilities listed here have a special interest in the health care needs of children and youth.
  • Home and Community Care - LHIN (Formerly CCAC)
    Health care services offered at home, at school, and in the community, as well as access to supported living programs and long-term care, are coordinated by Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) to ensure people of all ages can make ...
  • Medical Equipment and Supplies - Loans
    Organizations that loan medical equipment to individuals recovering from surgery or living with mobility limitations. Some organizations may require a donation or have other criteria for use of equipment. Local service clubs may also loan ...
  • Medical Equipment and Supplies - Sales and Rentals
    Organizations that sell or rent medical equipment to individuals recovering from surgery or living with mobility limitations. Local service clubs may also loan medical equipment and/or provide financial assistance.
  • Prosthetics and Orthotics
    Prosthetic devices replace missing body parts. Orthotic devices control, guide, limit, or immobilize body parts to help with rehabilitation or movement.
  • Public Health Units
    Public Health Units provide programs that protect and improve the health of the community through comprehensive efforts to prevent, control and eradicate communicable disease; eliminate environmental health hazards; and recognize, prevent ...
  • Rehabilitative Care for Children and Youth
    Rehabilitation services specializing in children and youth with disabilities or injuries can include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and case management. Services may be provided in the home, community, or at ...
  • Screening Programs for Children
    Screening programs attempt to detect disease by examining children before they show symptoms.
  • Speech and Language
    Speech and language programs help individuals who have a communication disorder, such as voice disorders, hearing impairment, delayed language skills, cleft palate or tongue disorder, stutter or aphasia.
  • Vehicle Modification
    Programs and services carrying out vehicular modification for drivers with disabilities or medical conditions.

Indigenous Services

  • Health and social services for Indigenous communities are often a combination of traditional healing, primary care, cultural programs, health promotion programs, resource centres, community development initiatives, and social support services. Indigenous peoples are the descendants of the original inhabitants of North America, who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.

    The services within the topics below are not necessarily focused on children and youth with disabilities, but include people of all ages and abilities.
  • Advocacy and Social Action for Indigenous Peoples
    Indigenous governments, councils, unions, and non-profit organizations provide services to First Nations, Inuit, or Métis communities. They protect and promote Indigenous rights and interests through advocacy and policy development.
  • Health Centres and Programs for Indigenous Peoples
    Community-led health programs and services for First Nations, Inuit, or Métis communities.

Parents, Caregivers, Peer and Respite Supports

  • Services supporting the families and caregivers of children and youth with disabilities.
  • Counselling - Family, Couple, Individual
    Counselling aims at assisting people to understand and overcome or manage personal problems, such as difficulties in relationships, anger, conflict, trauma, abuse, bereavement, and addiction. There are many types of counsellors usually ...
  • Parenting Education
    Parenting education programs provide classes, individual consultation or other educational opportunities for parents or potential parents who want to acquire the knowledge and skills to be effective in their parenting role.
  • Parenting Groups
    Parenting groups bring together parents who wish to share common problems, concerns or ideas about parenting and child-rearing.
  • Parenting Groups for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities
    Education and support services help parents gain the knowledge and skills they need to be more effective in parenting children or youth with disabilities.
  • Respite Care for Children
    Respite care offers temporary, substitute living arrangements or special care in the home for children with disabilities in order to provide a brief period of relief or rest (usually more than twenty-four hours) for the family members, ...

Youth Services

  • Health and social services for youth (13-19 years) address the specific challenges of becoming a young adult.
  • Employment Assistance for Youth
    Unemployed or underemployed youth and young adults can get help through drop-in resource centres, job search assistance programs, and job-skills workshops. Employment counselling and career planning services provide information on the ...
  • Prevention and Early Intervention Programs for Psychosis (PEPP)
    People with psychosis may experience personality changes, hallucinations, false beliefs, or impaired insight. This condition can be caused by disease, injury, substance use, or mental illness. Early intervention programs treat and support ...
  • Transition Services for Youth and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities
    Programs supporting youth with developmental disabilities help with the transition to adult health care providers, with the goal of living as independently as possible.
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