Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder. While autism was once considered to be a rare disorder, currently is  estimated that 1 in 200 Canadian children are affected by autism, an increase of 600% in the past 10 years. Autism is now recognized as the most common developmental disorder in children.

 In 1943 Dr. Leo Kanner described several children who displayed similar symptoms, that he called “autistic”. There are
several theories, but no conclusive answers about the cause, or causes, of autism. The one thing we are sure of is that poor parenting does NOT cause autism. Medical research regarding causation is currently focused on genetics,
neurological differences, immunology and early identification.  Autism is a neurological disorder that affects communication, social interaction skills and behaviour.

 A diagnosis of autism requires impairments in all of the following areas of development:

 Social Interaction: People with autism often do not relate well to other people (particularly peers), have difficulty learning to play with others, can not effectively use non-verbal behaviours such as eye-to-eye gaze and facial expressions while interacting and have difficulty sharing information and experiences with others.

Communication: The impairment includes both spoken language  and non-verbal skills (gestures, body postures, imaginative play). People with autism who speak may have difficulty with speech production and/or conversational skills.

Restricted Repertoire of Behaviours, Activities and Interests: This includes some of the unusual behaviours that are often associated with autism such as: stereotyped body movements (hand flapping, toe walking, rocking, etc.), insistence upon following non-functional routines or  rituals, preoccupations with parts of objects (wheels, handles, etc.), and an abnormally intense or focused preoccupation with a very limited range of interests.

A number of other features are associated with the disorder and may or may not be present. These may include difficulties in eating, sleeping and toileting, unusual fears, lack of awareness of danger, repetitive behaviours and speech, self-injury. Unusual responses to sensory input such as extreme reactions to loud noises or touch are commonly seen. Individuals with autism may have any or all of these associated features in various combinations.

 There is no known cure for autism but structured early intervention combined with appropriate education programs can provide children with autism with the skills necessary for successful integration. Support and information for families, professionals and caregivers is also essential. With appropriate programs and support, individuals with autism can become active and contributing members of their communities.

If you would like further information about autism contact The Geneva Centre for Autism

Families who are caring for a child with a developmental and/or physical disability can apply to receive funding through Special Services at Home, also known as “SSAH”. This funding provides support in covering costs for primary caregiver relief and for activities of personal growth or development.

The program can support you in paying for special services in or outside of your home, as long as your child does not receive support from a residential program.

For example, SSAH can be used to offset the costs of:

• mainstream camp and recreation programs
• specialized camp and recreation programs
• advertising for recruitment of a special services worker
• special services or a support worker to provide respite and/or personal development
• travel costs associated with transporting special needs child for the worker
• basic supplies to implement a program for the special needs child (for example, flash cards)
• membership fees for special needs associations (for example, Special Olympics, Down Syndrome Association)
• 1 on 1 support worker at camp or recreational program
• training for a family member or worker that enhances the understanding of the child with a disability’s needs
• extraordinary cost of childcare (for children aged 12 and above)
• nursing for medically fragile children
• routine homemaking tasks – light housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grass cutting, and snow removal
• gym membership fees for the special needs child
• daycare and nursery school as respite or if recommended for socialization

• tutoring and academic programs
• camp fees for siblings
• basic care (for example, clothing, food, diapers, routine medical costs)
• one-time admission costs (for example, movies, amusement parks, museums)
• regular child care fees for children under 12 years
• fees and tuition costs for education and employment
• assistive devices, specialized equipment, home modifications
• dental services
• 1 on 1 support in a school setting
• professional services: junior and senior therapists (for example, Intensive Behavioural Intervention, Applied Behaviour Analysis, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy)
• sports equipment (some items might be eligible during the COVID-19covid 19 pandemic; please refer to the temporary expanded list of eligible expenses)
• electronics, including phones, computers, tablets (some items might be eligible during the COVID-19covid 19 pandemic; please refer to the temporary expanded list of eligible expenses)

Families are eligible and can apply if your child:

• Has a developmental and/or physical disability
• Lives in Ontario
• Is under the age of 18
• Needs more support than you can provide
• Lives at home with you

There is no income criteria to receive this funding, however, the amount of funding you receive depends on:

• The type and amount of service your child needs
• What other help is available in your community
• What kind of support you already receive

1. Download the application form

2. Attach a medical statement or psychological assessment to your application (it should include a description of the disability, an explanation of why you need services, and how much it will cost)

3. Submit a completed application form and medical assessment via mail to your nearest regional office or email to faxops-ssah-acsd-mississauga@ontario.ca

Watch a tutorial provided by Surrey Place but clicking the button to the right, “Online Tutorial”.

You can choose to administer your funding in two ways:

• Self-administered funding: you get your own funding, purchase services and supports on your own and submit expense claims directly to regional offices for reimbursement
• Agency administered funding: an agency administers your funding on your behalf. Please contact your local regional office to get more information on the list of agencies in your area that can support families who get SSAH funding.

If using the self-administered funding model, you must send your invoices for eligible services to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services for reimbursement. To do this, you can:

• use the 2021/2022 invoices that you received with your SSAH 2021/2022 approval package to e-mailed, faxed, mailed or dropped off
• submit your invoices electronically through MyDirectPlan