Health News For South West


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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