Our Work

The Geneva Centre for Autism offers a wide range of age-specific programs to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. GCA has been proactively speaking and listening to individuals in the community to deliver flexible, relevant, and sustainable programs. The growing contribution from our funders has helped Geneva Centre for Autism meet the changing needs of our clients and community. Your support can help us continue to improve lives and make a lasting and meaningful impact.  

For more information on how you can support our programs and services please contact                                                            Marie Desmarteau                                                                                                                                                                                                  Vice President, Foundation                                                                                                                                                                              416-322-7877 ext. 318                                                                                                                                                                                Foundation@autism.net 

Employment

Creating opportunities for Inclusive employment for Youth and Adults with ASD 

Challenge: Access to job placement opportunities is one of the biggest challenges.  
Solution: This program will aim at dismantling barriers that impede the success of individuals with ASD in the workplace.   
Approach: We utilize a strength-based approach, current sector research, and over a decade of experience working with our youth and adult clients to improve employment readiness and outcomes. 
Programming Activities: 

  • Webinars and Live- training  
  • Consultations with job developers  
  • 1:1 Support  
  • Supported job placement   
  • Participation in Job Fair  
     

Social Skills

Improving Social Skills of Individuals with ASD  

Challenge: Physical distancing has been challenging for all of us, but for children, youth, and adults with autism, the sudden interruption of social and recreational activities has been particularly isolating.  
Solution: Recognizing the need to keep our clients engaged in social activities with their peers, our staff launched virtual social skills programming to bridge the gap.  
Approach: Adapted from our onsite Social Skills programs, our Remote Social Skills groups for children and youth use virtual games, role-playing, and group activities to practice the relevant skills.  
 

Respite  

Supporting high-needs children and youth with ASD and their caregivers

Challenge: COVID crisis has amplified issues exponentially. With no in-person respite services, families are feeling exhausted, leaving particularly, high needs children and youth isolated.   
Solution: This program will offer subsidies to families demonstrating the greatest financial need and will have a significant impact by supporting high-needs children and youth with ASD to engage in social recreational activities after months of isolation and will give parents time to attend to their own needs and recharge.  
Approach: Our Respite program provides a variety of activities for children and youth of all ages while encouraging learning and community engagement through community outings, sensory play, arts & crafts, life skills, and social skills.