Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

Our Vision is Successful Community Inclusion. Our Mission is to empower individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and their families, to fully participate in their communities.  

We strive to:

• Build the capacity and skills of individuals, families, community agencies and professionals to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) realize opportunities for successful community inclusion
• Provide leadership in the development and delivery of services that are marked by excellence and flexibility and are grounded in evidence
• Raise awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders and promote the rights of all individuals to be treated with dignity and respect

Every day of their lives, individuals with an ASD face difficulties communicating, socializing and interacting. Without support, making friends participating in school or simply buying a ticket for the subway can be a tremendous challenge.

We support individuals to reach their full potential and build collaborative partnerships with family members. We influence policy, support research, deliver innovative services and create uniquely tailored solutions that enable individuals with an ASD, their parents, siblings and others to adapt and prosper despite the daily challenges of living with an ASD.

History of Organization

Geneva Centre for Autism was created in 1974 as a 3--week residential camp for 20 children with autism. Today, the Centre is Canada’s largest autism service organization providing clinical services, support groups and programs.  Geneva Centre is an international leader in the field of autism education and training.

Geneva Centre for Autism’s programs and services are driven by a person-centred philosophy with emphasis on skill-building using evidence-based clinical practices and approaches that recognize the unique needs and strengths of an individual with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Centre is guided and supported by a Professional Advisory Council comprised of world-renowned experts in the field of Autism. 

Programs and services include early intensive intervention programs; speech and language services; occupational therapy; family education and support; social skill building groups; behaviour/communication services and intervention planning; parent, sibling and peer support groups; transition services; adult programs and respite.

The Geneva Centre for Autism Training Institute promotes community awareness and education on ASD to health and education professionals and is a recognized leader in the development and implementation of training programs on ASD.

Accolades and Accomplishments

• 35 years serving the Greater Toronto community
• 4,200 Toronto area families supported
• Child, teen, young adult, family clinical services, support groups and training
• 120,000 respite hours provided to Ontario families each year
• Ontario’s designated autism training resource
• Host of the world’s pre-eminent autism symposium
• Canada’s most extensive autism resource library
• 220 full and part-time staff
• 300 plus volunteer team
• 80 student placements every year
• 1.25 million website visits annually
• Host of RespiteServices.com
• 10,000 Teachers’ Assistants and 1,200 child care professionals trained and supported to create inclusive Ontario classrooms
• Summer Institute trains 1,500 educational professionals each year.

Programs

>Social Skills Groups for Children and Youth

Programs and services include early intensive intervention programs; speech and language services; occupational therapy; family education and support; social skill building groups; behaviour/communication services and intervention planning; parent, sibling and peer support groups; transition services; adult programs and respite. The Geneva Centre for Autism Training Institute promotes community awareness and education on ASD to health and education professionals and is a recognized leader in the development and implementation of training programs on ASD.

Services for Children:

• Skill building groups
• Respite
• Intensive Behavioural Intervention
• Behaviour Communication Services
• Intensive Behaviour Communication Service Counselling
• Asperger Specific Programs

Services for Youth and Adults:

• Transition Support
• Training and Coaching
• Respite 
• Social Groups
• Financial Aid Counselling

Services for Families:

• Service Coordination
• Parent Network
• Parent Sibling and Support Groups
• Respite
• Parent Training/Education
• Counselling
• Annual Family Picnic
• Annual Holiday Party
• Movie Nights

Services for Professionals:

• Biennial International Symposium
• Annual Summer Training Institute
• Customized International Training
• Workshop and Certificate Courses
• Provincial Training Initiatives
• E-Learning 
• Website – autism.net
• Canada’s largest autism reference and lending library

Social Skills Groups for Children and Youth

Understanding social norms and interacting with others are typically among the biggest challenges faced by children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). To assist them in developing the necessary understanding and appropriate behaviours to integrate successfully into schools, workplaces and the community, Geneva Centre for Autism offers an extensive Social Skill Building Program for children and youth 3-18 years of age. Our social skills-building program is a core support area necessary for individuals with autism, but it is not funded by the government.

Many children with autism have great potential but have a different style of learning. Under the direction of qualified group facilitators, these groups provide participants with opportunities learn specific social skills like sharing, turn-taking, coping with teasing, expressing emotions and general social interaction. Each group also focuses on specific autism related challenges such as dealing with anxiety and coping with change.

Through our screening process, children are grouped according to their compatibility in strength and need. The curriculum is customized to meet the needs of the specific participants in the group.

Children with ASD have potential for achievement and successful community inclusion – but they require extensive specialized training and support to achieve these things. Geneva Centre for Autism’s Social Skill Building Program is designed to offer this vital, ongoing support.

Funding and Program Partners

The Social Skills program is delivered in collaboration with Sportball.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

• “Every aspect of education is challenged by dramatic demographic shifts, increasingly diverse student populations and, the demand for innovative and creative learners”

• “More than half of all parents (56%) reported that of their children participate in sports and recreation activities outside school hours. But almost one quarter (23%) of children never participate in such activities”
• “Toronto now has a picture of how ready its young children are to start school, and a disproportionate number in some high-risk communities continue to experience multiple challenges”
• “One quarter (25.5%) are sometimes or often limited from participation in activities by disability or illness.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Participant Vignette

“It's been two years since John was diagnosed with autism and since we entered an adventure with Geneva Centre for Autism to ensure he gets everything he deserves and needs to succeed. Like many families, we do not get any funding for John’s therapies and would never let any opportunities slide that could help him.

Geneva Centre has been there to help us at the beginning of our life long journey with John and we do not have enough words to express our gratitude and love for the centre. This past fall, John joined one of the social skills groups and he made me so proud. As I think back to the smile on his face knowing that he was going to see his Geneva "Teachers" and friends and think back to the wonderful accomplishments he made, I still have tears in my eyes.

John began school this year and lots of transitions happened for him. With Geneva by his side to give him tools to begin socializing with his peers both at school and at his social skills classes, this will be with him forever. Our experience at Geneva Centre has been a remarkable one. Knowing that there is a support unit for John as he grows up into adulthood brings a sense of peace to my mind.

John will be starting a Sportball Social Skills class soon which he is looking forward to I know he will be surrounded by great staff and wonderful children and families when he's there.”