Welcome to the first issue of The Lead, e-news brought to you by Geneva Centre for Autism.  The purpose of this e-news is to provide you with update on our Provincial Child Care Support Program and related information on events and initiatives in the child care sector in Ontario.

Geneva Centre for Autism’s Outreach in the ECE Field

Geneva Centre for Autism’s outreach in the ECE field aims to educate professionals about the Centre’s training initiative on Autism Spectrum Disorders and encourage resource teachers/consultants and home visitors to take part in the training program. 

With the prevalence of ASD at 1 in 165, the child care centres are faced with the challenge to provide appropriate and adequate support for children with ASD.  Considering that the condition is a spectrum, no one child is the same and the approach to support them varies from child to child.  What is helpful is for child care providers to know and understand what ASD is all about and only then can they know how best to support these children in a child care setting.  

Geneva Centre for Autism has been given a provincial mandate to provide training to resource teachers and home visitors in the child care sector.   This training initiative is called the Provincial Child Care Support Program.  Training of resource teachers started in 2006 and to date, nearly 85% of Ontario’s resource teachers have completed the initial training. 

Resource teachers and home visitors play an important role in ensuring the integration and inclusion of children with ASD in a child care setting.  By providing them with training on ASD, they translate that knowledge to child care providers across the Province. 

To find out more about the Provincial Child Care Support Program, please click here.

E-Learning for Effective Intervention – Your Online Resource on ASD
Visit E-Learning at www.autism.net.

One of the benefits of participating in the Provincial Child Care Program is the 24/7 access to Geneva Centre’s E-Learning site at www.autism.net.  We have developed a dedicated website for Resource Teachers and Home Visitors to support them with their learning needs.  The website contains audio and video presentations, printable hand outs, and a discussion forum. 

E-learning is an excellent resource to refer to for practical classroom strategies.  The E-Learning site’s content and features are continuously being enhanced.  Please visit it regularly. Your feedback and suggestions on how we can improve the site are very much welcome.  Please email your feedback to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

College of Early Childhood Educators

The Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario (AECEO) started the work of advocating for the legislative recognition of the ECE profession in 1984.  2007 marked the year when the College of Early Childhood Educators, the first of its kind in Canada, was finally established.  Geneva Centre for Autism would like to congratulate the AECEO and its partners for their leadership role in this historical milestone in the ECE field. The establishment of the College is part of the announced increase of investment in Ontario’s Best Start plan by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.  Please click here to read the announcement for your reference.

Home Child Care Association of Ontario Conference 2007- “Rising to the Challenge”

On October 24 to 26, 2007, the Home Child Care Association of Ontario will hold its 2007 conference at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel in Hamilton, Ontario.  The conference’s theme is “Rising to the Challenge” and it celebrates the 25 years of HCCAO’s work to promote, develop and support home-based childcare services for families through licensed agencies. 

Speakers include Charles Coffey, O.C.; Chair, Council for Early Child Development as opening keynote and Stephen Lewis, Commissioner of World Health Organization.  For more details about the conference, including registration, please click here or visit HCCAO’s website at www.hccao.com.   Geneva Centre for Autism will be there and will be available to provide information to conference delegates about the Provincial Child Care Support Program. 

The 23rd Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs & Their Families

The Division of Early Childhood is holding its 23rd Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs & Their Families on October 25 to 28, 2007 at the Sheraton Falls in Niagara Ontario.  The theme is “Crossing the Borders” and will provide a range of topics that impact children with special needs, their families, and the professionals that work with them.  For more information, please visit the DEC website by clicking here.  Geneva Centre for Autism will be there as an exhibitor.

Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario’s 2008 Annual Conference   

It is never too early to mark your calendar!  On May 7 to 9, 2008, the Perth County Children’s Resource Consultant Program is hosting the ECRTNO’s 22nd Annual Conference in the beautiful city of Stratford.  The focus of the conference will be on inclusive practices in early intervention with children.  The conference is for early childhood resource teachers, consultants, families, and for anyone interested to learn how to support children with special needs.

Detailed information on the conference will be posted on the Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario’s website soon.  Please visit www.ecrtno.ca.

Continuing Education on ASD through our Training Institute

Interested to enhance your practical knowledge on Autism Spectrum Disorders?  Geneva Centre for Autism’s Training Institute is a recognized leader in the development and implementation of training programs on Autism Spectrum Disorders.  The Training Institute offers year-round opportunities for continuing education.  To find out what courses are being offered, please visit our Calendar of Training Events.

Autism 2008 Geneva Centre for Autism International Symposium

You don’t want to miss our world renowned biennial International Symposium on Autism that will take place in Metro Toronto Convention Centre on October 22, 23, and 24, 2008.  This is a “must attend” event in 2008.  For more information, please click on Symposium 2008.

Child Care Support Program’s Contact Information

Debbie Irish
Manager, Provincial Programs
416 322 7877 ext. 322
 
Janette Seymour
Supervisor, Child Care Support Program
416 322 7877 ext. 284

Marilen Miguel
Community Relations (Editor of The Lead)
416 322 7877 ext. 212

The Provincial Child Care Support Program is part of the Provincial Training Initiatives of  Geneva Centre for Autism and funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

 DISCLAIMER
^{_{Content of this e-news is strictly for information purposes only.  Reference to any treatment or therapy option or to any program, service, or treatment provider is not an endorsement by Geneva Centre for Autism of the treatment or therapy option, program, or service referenced. Geneva Centre assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided by Geneva Centre for Autism.}}