What is Autism?

Autism is complex developmental disorder that typically appears during the first three years of life, and is estimated to occur in two to five of every 1000 individuals.

Four times more prevalent in boys than girls, the cause of autism is unknown, however, evidence points to physiological causes such as neurobiological abnormalities in certain areas of the brain.

Autism may affect verbal communication, social interaction and leisure or play. Children with autism may also have difficulty relating to people and may engage in repetitive movements such as rocking or hand flapping. In some cases aggressive and/or self-injurious behaviours may be present. Autism may affect children’s sensitivity to any or all of the five sense; hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell. While autism is typified through general characteristics, it is important to know that no two children are alike – whether or not they have been diagnosed with autism.

Kinark is committed to caring, helping and healing, and while there is no one treatment which is entirely accepted by all professionals and parents as the ‘only’ approach to use, treatment based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) have been scientifically proven to facilitate the best outcomes for children with autism.

Applied Behaviour Analysis, as defined by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, is a scientific approach that describes a method to change behaviour and measure the resulting change.

Kinark’s Central East Autism Program offers services to children who have a diagnosis of autism and their families. These services include IBI, which is based on the principles of ABA, for children with autism and a variety of Family Resource and Support Services for families with children who are both receiving and waiting to receive IBI.

For more information on our IBI program please refer to the Program Guidelines set by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services or contact our Central Intake and Information at
1-888-454-6275.

IBI Training for Instructor Therapists

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services has provided funding to the Colleges of Ontario Network for Education and Training (CON*NECT) to coordinate a new training initiative for Instructor Therapists hired by families choosing the Direct Funding Option (DFO) in the Autism Intervention Program.  For information, please visit www.collegeconnect.on.ca.