In December 2020, there was a request for applications from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) to apply to deliver their new Caregiver Mediated Early Years programs. These are parent coaching programs young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder) just like we’ve been doing for the past 9 years.

 

With our long relationship with Emerging Minds, it made complete sense for our team (Robin Gaines, Yolanda Korneluk, Veronique Chiasson and myself) to apply and we were accepted!

 

Our new associated company QuickStart Early Years is now offering the ESI/SCERTS (QuickStart™ Autism Navigator®) through the Ontario Autism Program, one of the six programs offered to families who have a child with a diagnosis of Autism and who reside in Ontario. The programs are offered at No Cost to the families. 

 

We are super excited that so many more children will be helped!

 

With the new OAP Caregiver Mediated Early Years Programs up and running, there is no longer a need for our QuickStart Early Years Program. 

 

We would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the tremendous support we have received from:

A special thanks to Unity for Autism for providing a very generous grant to fund 7 children in our program for 2020!  In the past 11 years Unity for Autism has granted almost $200,000 to our charity to help children and families in the National Capital Region!  

Our heartfelt thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa for their generous support of our QuickStart Early Intervention program!  The Kiwanis Club of Ottawa donated $55,000 to help launch our QuickStart Early Intervention Program!

 

And thank you to the many fundraisers and donors who have allowed us to make this amazing difference for the children and their families!

We'd like to share a note a family wrote to us in March 2021 that they have given us permission to share along with a photo.

“I just wanted to share with you that Charlie is doing so well with the QuickStart program!  In a few weeks, he has become more engaged, more sociable and his communication has come a long way as well.  It has been fascinating to witness his progress and be a part of that.  Honestly, it feels as though he is a different child, more open to the world and to those around him, than when he started.  

 As with every child, I know we will have our share of challenges down the road.  The QuickStart Program has certainly given him tools he might not have had the opportunity to acquire as easily or quickly.”  D.D. March 2021

Truly making a difference!