Monday, July 23, 2007
Ministry of Children and Youth Services
McGuinty Government Enhancing Support For Children And Youth With Autism Through More Therapists, Summer Camps
SARNIA, ON, July 23 /CNW/ - The McGuinty
government is expanding a
college certificate program to train more therapists
so more children with autism spectrum disorder in
southwestern Ontario can get the help they need,
Minister of Children and Youth Services Mary
Anne Chambers announced today.
"We are moving quickly to boost training so more
qualified therapists are available to support
children and youth with autism and their families,"
said Chambers. "Expansion of this program to
three more colleges brings the total number of
colleges participating to 12 across the province,
with a total target enrolment of 220 students by
2008-09."
To increase the pool of qualified professionals
that families can access through Ontario`s autism
intervention program and through other service
provider agencies, the government is investing
$596,000 to expand delivery of the Ontario
College Graduate Certificate Program in Autism
and Behavioural Science to a college consortium
in southwestern Ontario.
The consortium is led by Fanshawe College in
London and includes Lambton College in Sarnia
and St. Clair College in Windsor. It has a targeted
enrolment of up to 75 students by 2008-09. More
than 200 trained therapists have graduated from
the program province wide since 2006.
"The expansion of the college program addresses
a long-term challenge for families in southwestern
Ontario who are seeking services for their
children," said Caroline Di Cocco, MPP for Sarnia-
Lambton, who joined Chambers at the
announcement. "More trained therapists in the
area will mean more children with autism and
their families will have access to services close to
home."
"Lambton College has a long history of providing
high quality and
relevant programming in the health area," said
Judith Morris, Vice President, Academic and
Student Success, Lambton College. "This program
will be an excellent addition to current offerings
and we look forward to launching this unique
postgraduate certificate as we continue to meet
the needs of our community."
Ontario colleges or consortia already offering the
program include:
- a northern consortium comprising Canadore
College (North Bay),
- Confederation College (Thunder Bay) and
Northern College (Timmins)
- Algonquin (Nepean) in partnership with
Seneca College (Toronto)
- Mohawk College (Hamilton)
- George Brown College (Toronto)
- St. Lawrence College (Kingston)
- La Cité (Ottawa)
Chambers made the announcement at Bridgeview
Public School, Point Edward, site of a summer
camp being funded through a recent $530,000
government investment that is helping to send
more than 800 children and youth with autism to
camp this summer. Autism Ontario Sarnia
Lambton will receive $16,000 to help 14 area
children and youth with autism to attend
camp.
"The province`s investment will enable Autism
Ontario to increase the number of children
attending camp and provide the support staff that
our children require," said Autism Ontario
Executive Director Margaret Spoelstra.
"Parents have told us many times that the respite
provided by the camps is extremely helpful to
families involved in the day-to-day care of
children with autism."
"Summer camps not only help maintain skills
gained during the school year," said
Chambers. "They also give families a bit of relief
while their children receive expert care in a
positive setting."
For further information:
Tricia Edgar, Minister`s Office, 416-212-7161, 416-
571-7247 (Cell);
Anne Machowski-Smith, Ministry of Children and
Youth Services, 416-325-5156
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