Caregiver Support
We offer numerous supportive resources for families.
Caregivers Connecting |
Caregiver Workshops |
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Caregivers Connecting
Virtual Family Support for Caregivers.
York Support Services, Family Peer Mentor Program is hosting virtual family support drop-ins for family caregivers who are caring for an adult or child with a developmental disability. A new topic will be covered at each session.
Join us for an opportunity to share your story and connect with others going through the same experiences in a safe and non-judgmental space.
The virtual family support drop-ins offer encouragement for you to:
- share your experience.
- increase your capacity for resiliency.
- learn to manage your stress.
- build a more meaningful life.
These sessions are for parents and caregivers of an adult or child with a developmental disability or autism.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
For questions or more information contact Sherry Summers at 905-898-6455 ext. 2213 or via email ssummers@yssn.ca
Caregiver Workshops
These workshops are for caregivers caring for an adult or child with a developmental disability and/or autism.
Wellness Wednesday: Wellness Through Informed Eating with Shawn Nisbet
If you are overwhelmed by the mass of nutritional information and misinformation, this talk is for you! Learn how simple it is to make the healthiest decisions for you and your family. Nutrition can be fun and easy if you know what to look for!
Details:
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Edible Gardening with Owen Reeves
Join Owen Reeves of the Marilyn Denis Show for a virtual how-to demonstration on edible gardening in containers. The focus will be on gardening tasks that are accessible and achievable for people of all ages and abilities. So, get your seeds ready, your pots out of the shed and learn to grow with Owen!
Details:
Thursday, May 27, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Enhance Your Spirit of Gratitude
When we start to practice the simple act of expressing gratitude to ourselves or to others, our entire disposition towards life starts to change and to soften. Come and learn how the practice of being Grateful will lead to a more meaningful life for you and for the world.
Details:
Thursday, June 24, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
How to Develop Self-Compassion
Why is self-compassion such a critical trait to develop as family caregivers of an individual with a developmental disability? How do we develop and practice self-compassion? How will being more self-compassionate to yourself help you become a more effective and caring family caregiver? Why is it that practicing self-compassion will not lead one to become lazy, unmotivated and selfish? And finally, how does practicing self- compassion and in the process becoming a more compassionate individual connect us more with other human beings and reduce our social isolation?
Join us in this five-part workshop series to explore the answers to these questions and learn about simple compassionate techniques and self-compassion exercises so that you can grow in this wonderful trait for yourself as a caregiver and for others.
This workshop series will be led by Linda Shea-Carter. Linda is a Counsellor, Life Coach, Family Facilitator, Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher and Educator with many years of professional experience in the field of helping people of any age or ability become more resilient, peace filled and content in life.
Stay tuned for the next workshop.
Transitioning Together
Sponsored by the York ASD Partnership with a grant from Autism Speaks Canada
Transitioning Together is an eight-week online program help teenagers with ASD, and their parent(s), plan their futures after secondary school.
professionals in March-April and May-June 2021.
participants will be randomly assigned to groups so you should be available for either Session One (March/April) or Session Two (May, June).
To learn more click here.
Caregiver Mindfulness Sessions
Join us for virtual mindfulness sessions that will teach you how to reduce stress, increase resiliency, improve relationships and regulate emotions. Core concepts of mindfulness will be explored through meditation and mindful exercises. Everyone is welcome.
Stay tuned for the next workshop.
Ontario Autism Program Workshops
These workshops are for families who have a child with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
Advocating for your Child
Successful advocacy skills are cruicial to help you obtain the best supports for your child through their lifetime.
Details
Monday April 12, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday April 29, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
Families with children up to age 17 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are
registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
Learning Self-Regulation
In this workshop families will begin to learn the importance of emotional regulation in their child’s success. The workshop will also cover data systems that allow you to determine triggers that can be modified for your family’s success.
Details:
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
All workshops are for families with children up to age 17 (unless otherwise noted) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with The Ontario Autism Program (OAP).
Benefits of Communicating
Communication comes in many forms, how to support and build on your child’s current strengths.
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
Families with children up to age 17 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are
registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
Building a Nurturing Home Environment
Autism affects the whole family. Learn about what you can do to help your children build skills and relationships within the family.
Stay tuned for the next workshop.
School Readiness
Tips and strategies to help your child return to school.
Details
Thursday April 22, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
Families with children up to age 17 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are
registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
Caregiver Burnout and the Importance of Respite
Learn about respite and how it can help you over the long term.
Details
Thursday April 15, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Monday April 19, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
Families with children up to age 12 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
Funding 101 - Tips and Tricks
Learn what funding options are available to you now and into the future, how to apply and what to expect. Learn how to manage and use your funding in the most effective way to support your child and family's needs.
Details
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 20, 2021
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
Families with children up to age 17 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are
registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
Autism 101 for Grandparents
Grandparents play an important role in the family and are part of the family support system for the child and the parents.
Details
Thursday April 8, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Monday April 26, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
Grandparents who are caregivers for children up to age 12 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
If you have a child with autism and need help to register with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) please call YSSN at 905-898-6455 ext. 2574 to request an appointment with an OAP support worker.
CTN & YSSN Present:
A Parents Guide to IPRC & IEP’s: For families with children up to age 17
Learn about the role of the parents in Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) meetings and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and discover tips for school success
April 20, 2021
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Keeping Your Child Safe
Managing/ supporting destructive behaviors
Keeping our children safe is the priority in every family. In this session, families will learn the strategies for managing destructive behaviours.
May 12, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
All workshops are for families with children up to age 17 (unless otherwise noted) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with The Ontario Autism Program (OAP).
Campfire & Friendships
Parents who attend this workshop will gain insight into the work that is required to set up their child for a successful integration on the playground, the ultimate location to prove your training effective. Play skills will be taught using a variety of approaches and a discussion on social skills will help to support integration in a group setting.
May 26, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
All workshops are for families with children up to age 17 (unless otherwise noted) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with The Ontario Autism Program (OAP).
Transitioning to Summer
Transitioning is difficult for everyone especially for our children. In this session we will be discussing some strategies to help your child transition—small transitions like going to the cottage or life altering transitions like sibling moving out for college.
June 9, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
All workshops are for families with children up to age 17 (unless otherwise noted) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with The Ontario Autism Program (OAP).
Independence – Key to Success
In this workshop parents will learn the 5 most relevant skills to support your child in living independently. No matter your child’s age, thinking about the future is important, building strategies that allow your child to learn specific skills that will take them through their life-spans as independent and strong individuals is vital to your families success now and in 20 years.
June 23, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
This workshop is free and will be offered virtually. Details provided upon registration.
Who should attend?
All workshops are for families with children up to age 17 (unless otherwise noted) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with The Ontario Autism Program (OAP).
Guest Speaker Series Hosted by OAP Foundational Services
These events are for families who have a child up to age 17 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
Regulating the Sensitive System
In this workshop families will begin to learn about why emotional regulation is vital to their child’s success, pinpointing exactly what part of the brain is affected by regulation difficulties and provide strategies that support your child in learning how to maintain a calm demeanor during very difficult times. The workshop will also cover data systems that allow you to determine triggers that can be modified for your family’s success.
Stay tuned for the next workshop.
The Key to Unlocking the World's Problems
Communication is the KEY to all successful engagements in our communities whether at work or in our personal lives. This workshop will allow families to understand the different considerations of teaching their children to communicate and provide them with the skills necessary to expand their communicative behaviours. They will also learn how to set up expectations in a variety of environments.
Stay tuned for the next workshop.
Making Friends
Parents who attend this workshop will gain insight into the work that is required to set up their child for a successful integration on the playground, the ultimate location to prove your training effective. Play skills will be taught using a variety of approaches and a discussion on social skills will help to support integration in a group setting.
Stay tuned for the next workshop.
Breaking Down Disabilities
In this workshop we will discuss the fundamentals in terms of Developmental Disabilities and Childhood Mental Health Disorders. Ideas on how to break down barriers that exist in our communities when it comes to your child’s needs will be discussed.
Stay tuned for the next workshop.