Tracy Aznar, Clinical Supervisor, R.B.A. (Ont.), BCBA
ErinoakKids

Stefania Laca,
Clinical Operations Manager, R.B.A. (Ont.), BCBA
ErinoakKids

In November 2022, an incident between officers and an autistic person prompted the Peel Regional Police to explore opportunities to connect with families and caregivers of autistic people in their community. A partnership between Peel Regional Police and ErinoakKids, alongside many community partners, was developed to provide training, education, and engagement to members of the force. Find out what inspired the program, how it came together, and what participants say they’ve learned to ensure kids with autism have every opportunity to be active members of our community.

Kristi Morgan, Vice President Clinical Services
ErinoakKids

Lindsay Jacks, Director, Analytics, Quality & Digital Health
ErinoakKids

Learn about ErinoakKids journey to build strong Decision Support and Clinical Services partnerships, and how the centre is using data to drive clinical innovations. We’re eager to tell you about our data infrastructure and how our teams use business intelligence tools and on demand reporting to inform changes in service delivery.

Dr. Carly Cermak
Bloorview Research Institute

Jesiqua Rapley
Bloorview Research Institute

Kids and families in Northern Ontario are faced with longer wait times for autism diagnostic services compared to other regions of the province. This may be due to the region’s expansive geography, rural characteristics, as well as getting healthcare providers to cover Northern Ontario’s vast regions. Learn about the experiences of parents and caregivers, clinicians, and leaders as they relate to accessing an autism diagnosis in Northern Ontario and solutions that could make autism assessments more collaborative, and timely, across the province.

Celeste Beaudoin, Speech-Language Pathologist
Neo Kids Children's Treatment Centre

Alison Bouchard, Communication Disorders Assistant
Neo Kids Children's Treatment Centre

Five-Minute Kids sounds amazing and when you hear about this program, you’ll say it certainly is. This approach in speech-language pathology is designed to provide efficient therapy for children with speech sound disorders, using short, frequent, and intensive individual sessions, lasting approximately 5-minutes, 2 to 3 times a week. At NEOKids, this program has improved discharge rates and there’s more: we’re also finding improved satisfaction levels among clinicians, teachers, parents, and children.

Stefanie Bradley
Bloorview Research Institute/Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital/Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto

Virginia Wright
Bloorview Research Institute/Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital/Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto

Technology-assisted physiotherapy may be paradigm-changing for minimally ambulatory children who find manual stepping devices extremely effortful. Pediatric robotic exoskeletons help provide stability and mechanically assisted movements; it is important to understand associated feasibility and functional outcomes in settings such as school and outpatient centres for children with cerebral palsy.

Erin Dojack, Occupational Therapist
The Rehabilitation Centre for Children

Ursula Koslowsky-Wiebe, Occupational Therapist
The Rehabilitation Centre for Children

Brenlee Perillo, Occupational Therapist
The Rehabilitation Centre for Children

Born from a need for equitable and timely access for children with regulation concerns, the Reflection Garden is an 8-session hybrid education program for caregivers and children to develop an understanding and strategies around regulation for preschool and school aged children. In this campfire session, we’ll discuss the program’s focus on caregiver education, caregiver empowerment, and relationship development of facilitators with caregivers, between caregivers, and caregivers and their children.

Noella Klawitter, Director
KidsInclusive - Kingston Health Sciences Center

Resiliency plays a critical role in our lives – it’s both the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging experiences—professional, health-related, and personal. Drawing on personal experiences, Noella Klawitter will share high-impact insights and practical tools. Integrating scientific research with compelling, inspirational narratives, this presentation demonstrates how individuals and organizations can build and sustain resilience, even in the most challenging times.

Tracy Moisan, Program Director
National Consortium on AFCCA,
Interwoven Connections

Shannon Parsons, Director
AFCCA Family Supports Program and Peer To Peer Support Network,
Interwoven Connections

Tanya Eichler, AFCCA Clinician
AFCCA Family Supports Program,
Interwoven Connections

Aggression toward Family/Caregivers in Childhood & Adolescence (AFCCA) describes a pattern of behaviour in childhood or adolescence, characterized by aggressive behaviour by a youth toward family members or other caregivers.

This panel discussion explores innovative approaches to supporting parents and caregivers of youth experiencing AFCCA, through blended peer support communities and evidence-based interventions focused on equipping parents and caregivers' to improve their well-being, to best support their children's intensive needs. Panelists will discuss learnings from deep family engagement, development of new clinical best practice supporting family preservation, and structured program evaluations.

Jodi Fischer, Manager, OT/PT Services
John McGivney Children's Centre

Christine Kipping, Senior Physiotherapist
John McGivney Children's Centre

This presentation highlights a pilot project aimed at improving access to pediatric rehabilitation services through Specialized Intake Clinics. By streamlining intake processes and implementing a triage system, the initiative significantly reduced wait times and enhanced family satisfaction. Preliminary results suggest effective resource allocation and potential for broader application in similar settings. 

Pamela Smit, Consultant
Veradus Consulting

Maggie Harkness, Senior Clinical Manager, Rehabilitation Services and Creative Arts Therapy
SickKids

Nisha Krishnan-Patel, Manager, Communication Development and Feeding Services,
CTN

In 2023, Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) set out to address variability in pediatric feeding and swallowing services (PFSS) for children and youth with physical, developmental and complex medical needs. This large-scale system change process required a flexible, adaptive approach and the dynamic application of lessons learned along the way. The EKO-appointed PFSS Working Group achieved substantial progress toward meaningful, collective system change for children and families resulting in the development of Ontario’s first-ever PFSS Quality Improvement Framework, a comprehensive PFSS gap analysis across 22 Children’s Treatment Centers, and the generation of priorities for change and recommendations for action.  

Brendan Wylie-Toal, Director, Research and Innovation
KidsAbility Centre for Child Development

KidsAbility's studies, in collaboration with the University of Waterloo and University of Guelph, explored AI's impact on pediatric rehab documentation. Findings show AI improves documentation quality and can save time with proper training. Compliance with legislation is possible, though data risks exist. The presentation will cover these outcomes and practical implications for clinical settings. 

Vanessa Tomas, Postdoctoral Researcher
CanChild, McMaster University; Children's Treatment Network; Rehabilitation Centre for Children

Shivajan Sivapalan, Director of Early Childhood Development and Special Projects
The SAAAC Autism Centre

Mahnoor Rizvi, Director of Service Navigation
SMILE Canada – Support Services

Amber King-Robitaille, Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Coordinator,
CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre

Michelle Blackburn, Director of Programs & Services,
George Jeffrey Children's Centre 

Being socially and culturally responsive involves respecting and valuing individual’s and families’ beliefs and traditions and being responsive to their needs and context, in turn, enabling providers to deliver clinical care in safer ways. Adaptations are helpful to ensure culturally and socially responsive implementation of the F-Words for Child Development Framework. This panel shares key learnings and successful strategies around adaptations that contribute to improving clinical services.  

Lisa Nelson, Manager of Service Coordination
Surrey Place

Last year Surrey Place Service Coordination teams implemented a new tiered model to address feedback from families that were concerned about long wait times with a one-size-fits-all model. This presentation will describe the model and share lessons learned as Surrey Place implemented this new approach to ensuring clients and families get the right level of support, when they need it. 

Susannah Van Damme, Team Lead, Clinical BCI Program
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital

Leslie Mumford, Senior Clinical Engineer
Bloorview Research Institute

Kunval Hanif, Parent of BCI-User

Zen Mudhar, Youth

Since 2019, brain-computer interfaces have supported accessible play for children with disabilities through the Clinical BCI Program at Holland Bloorview. Parents are key advocates, bringing this technology into clinics, schools, and homes. This discussion with parents and BCI users will explore family perspectives and hopes for BCI’s future.

Irene Drmic, Clinical Director and Psychologist
McMaster Children's Hospital

Patricia Wilson,
McMaster Children’s Hospital

Taylor Johansen,
CHEO

Toni Lui,
Holland Bloorview 

Extensive Needs Service provides intensive, individualized, family-centered wrap around care for children and youth with extensive neurodevelopmental, behavioral, mental health and physical health needs, and social vulnerabilities. This roundtable will engage attendees through case studies of ENS implementation addressing the unique system, service and client needs in different regions in Ontario.  

Asma Khan, Development Coordinator
SMILE Canada - Support Services

Nida Khan, Director of Research and Development
SMILE Canada – Support Services

Asmaa Nasser, Service Navigator (Arabic-speaking)
SMILE Canada – Support Services 

SMILE Canada’s Needs Assessment Tool reflects the dire and critical need for placing client narratives at the forefront of family and client-centred care when addressing the complex needs of newcomer racialized populations with disabilities facing intersectional barriers including financial, health, and accessibility challenges.  

Asma Khan, Development Coordinator
SMILE Canada - Support Services

Mohammad Dajani, Project Coordinator
SMILE Canada – Support Services

SMILE Canada’s OPEN SHOP program, an entrepreneurial program for racialized newcomer youth with disabilities, is a successful case study example that demonstrates the effective use of culturally safe, holistic, and family-centred practices that address the intersectional social, health, economic, and cultural barriers posed against these individuals and their families. 

Michelle Blackburn, Director, Programs and Services
George Jeffrey Children's Centre

Andrea Stach, Manager of Client Services - School Years Program
George Jeffrey Children's Centre

Lindsay McDonald, Manager of Client Services - Early Years Program
George Jeffrey Children's Centre 

This session will provide a case study of the organizational change initiative undertaken by George Jeffrey Children’s Centre to reimagine current service delivery and blend School-Based and Community-Based rehabilitation programs in advance of the 2024/2025 school year. Lessons learned will be shared for those considering future service realignment. 

Victoria Rombos, Sibling Support Program Coordinator
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

In Ontario, 17 per cent of caregivers are between the ages of 15 and 24, yet there is no data for young caregivers under the age of 15. Siblings of children with disabilities are not typically targeted in family support programs.

We think that needs to change. This workshop will explore the evolution and creation of Holland Bloorview’s Sibling Support Program, and highlight the benefits of including and supporting siblings (with testimonials from past and present participants!). We’ll make sure there is plenty of time for Q&A so you can ask about what we’ve learned and how you might apply those lessons to your organizations. 

Dr. Victoria Boyd
CanChild, McMaster University

Wenonah Campbell
CanChild, McMaster University

Leah Dix
McMaster University

Sandra Sahagian Whalen
McMaster University

This qualitative instrumental case study explores the roles of a mentor in supporting individuals, organizations, and systems in the transition to a tiered model of service delivery. The study identifies five key roles of multilevel mentorship – boundary spanner, connector, knowledge mobilizer, guide-on-the-side, and supporter – that enhance collaboration and change within and across organizations. 

Jenna Francis, Director - Programs and Services
Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth

Vienna Carruthers
Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth 

This case study examines the challenges faced by families of children with complex needs in Ontario and highlights the effectiveness of the integrated service delivery model by Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth. By facilitating coordinated care, the model aims to alleviate family burdens and improve outcomes, particularly during crises. 

June Coan-Brill, MClSc(SLP)/PhD Candidate
Western University

Jessica Kay
University of Waterloo

Aileen Costigan
McMaster University 

Many Canadian children with significant disabilities require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to participate in communication. Despite the documented benefits, many children who could benefit from AAC either do not utilize it or are restricted in how they use it in social and learning situations. Practical implications will be discussed. 

Nadia Tanel, Senior Director Strategy and Communication
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Each year, 70,000 young adults with disabilities in Canada transition out of pediatric care. These young adults face a distinct and often daunting set of challenges when transitioning to the adult system, from a fragmented, siloed health care system to a lack of specialized care and economic hardships. Through this presentation we will explore the gaps and the solutions to the pervasive and complex issue of transitions.  

Michelle Servais, Researcher
TVCC

This presentation emphasizes the importance of effective listening and communication in clinical practice. It explores best practices and evidence-based strategies for clinician-client conversations, highlighting types of listening, what clinicians listen for, and good clinical listening strategies. The goal is to enhance clinicians’ listening skills and create a collaborative, client-centered therapeutic environment. 

Lana Goodman, Clinical Manager
FIREFLY

Joel Willett
FIREFLY 

We all want every client to get the attention and support they deserve. At FIREFLY, we continually evaluate and implement changes in our Speech-Language Pathology services. We look for new strategies to optimize service delivery, manage caseloads, balance clinical demands with individual needs, and enhance client outcomes. Over the last few years, we considered a number of strategies—from increased implementation of features in our electronic medical records software for caseload management, to data collection to drive service delivery change, and more. We found successes, encountered roadblocks, and identified future directions. Some of these strategies are now being applied to FIREFLY’s OT and PT programs. We’ll share what we learned, what worked (and what didn’t). In this session we aim to inspire ongoing development, dialogue, and inter-agency collaboration to support and enhance service delivery. 

Claire Chadwick, Program Manager
BC Children's Hospital

Dr. Angie Ip, MD, PhD

Jamie Hack, MSc, RSLP

Kimberly Szeto

Pamela Wong, MSW, RSW

Laura Gold, BScN RN

Receiving an Autism diagnosis for a child can be an emotional experience for a family. In British Columbia, a conversation with a case manager typically follows—a significant resource investment that may present families with information at an inopportune time. BCAAN piloted group Post-Autism Diagnosis Information Sessions, for groups of 8 - 10 via Zoom, several days after families received news of the diagnosis. Families then received two follow-up calls, to answer any additional questions, address concerns, and collect feedback on the process. This has been a successful approach. Find out what families had to say, and how this is making a difference to families, and to providers. 

Jennifer Johannesen

Through real-life stories and discussion, this workshop invites attendees to consider the impact of what/how you communicate with caregivers, and will challenge assumptions about what children and families might want and need. A golden opportunity to explore critical thinking and reflexivity in your practice and share insights with colleagues. 

Rhine Basu, Graduate Student
Carleton University

Immigrant families acculturated to Canada often demonstrate strengths when it comes to engaging with community autism services. They may have experience with system navigation and may have community support. Still, unique cultural considerations are important to keep in mind when it comes to program design and provider choice. Many families require intensive support from providers due to existing service barriers, and look for interpretation options for intra-family language differences. 

Lisa Aquilino
CHEO

Chantal Lessard
CHEO 

CHEO’s Interprofessional Feeding Team introduced an innovative, interdisciplinary parent education-based service delivery model in 2007. A quality improvement initiative was designed in 2024 to ensure that delivering this service via virtual care maintained or enhanced service delivery. To measure the innovation’s success, the project team compared relevant statistical data from the in-person and the virtual programs, and evaluated opinions and attitudes of parents who attended the 2024 virtual groups regarding accessibility, usefulness and satisfaction. Be sure to check out this poster and find out what the CHEO team learned.

Megan Rovinelli, Clinical Services Supervisor
ErinoakKids

Christine Jones, Speech Language Pathologist
ErinoakKids 

Parent to parent support is an important part of intervention for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. ErinoakKids created Growing Little Listeners to provide an opportunity for families in the Infant Hearing Program to build social connections and share their listening and spoken language journey. 

Liz Cambridge, Occupational Therapist
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Temine Fedchak, OTA
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital OTs introduced a four-week cooking program for youth with cerebral palsy, aged 8 – 18, teaching vital cooking skills and safety. Increased confidence for both youth and their parents was one important outcome. Participants also gave positive feedback on the peer support and skills development opportunities. 

Amanda Chan, PhD Student
Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto; Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Elyse Comeau, Student Trainee
Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto; Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Timothy Ross, Researcher
Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto; Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto; Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Sally Lindsay, Researcher
Department of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto; Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 

Educational environments—their physical designs and operations—influence how disabled students experience inclusion and exclusion at school. Findings from this review emphasize the importance of conducting research with disabled students and the significance of agency in educational spaces, including schoolyards where disabled students should have autonomy. 

Kirsten Udvari, Clinical Operations Manager, Preschool Speech and Language
ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development

Cindy Goncalves-Addario
ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development

Malinda Bubas
ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development 

Significant numbers of clients are accessing both Preschool Speech and Language and Entry to School programs. To support client behaviour and communication needs, Erinoak has integrated staff and enhanced training resources in both programs and found this integrated approach for PSL and ETS significantly improved both client experiences and clinician skills.

Kari Renahan, Occupational Therapist & PhD student
McMaster University

Dr. Wenonah Campbell, Associate Professor, Researcher
McMaster University

Erin Knobl, OT Reg. (Ont), PhD Student
Brock University 

Large transitions in education significantly affect students with disabilities, influencing their academic performance and future success. This review examined how school-based occupational therapists support these transitions from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Presenters found evidence of diverse roles for therapists and that consistency in terminology and knowledge of relevant policies would enhance support. 

Gayle Roffey, Clinical Services Supervisor
ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development

Monette Graham, Clinical Services Supervisor
ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development

Managing wait lists is a constant conversation. With an increase in the number of OT and PT clients, ErinoakKids introduced a screening assessment that is strengths-based and child and family-centred. This new approach improved client experience/participation, streamlined processing of referrals, and enabled immediate referrals to other services as needed. 

Kate Patterson, Student Researcher, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Queen's University

Emily Jackson, Occupational Therapist and Team Leader
KidsInclusive

Lesley Prevost, Physiotherapist, Seating Therapist, Team Leader - Youth Services
KidsInclusive

Claire Davies, Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Queen's University

Aarron Jackson, Physiotherapist Assistant
KidsInclusive 

Research shows that independent mobility is linked to cognitive, social, motor, language, and other developmental benefits in young children. Being carried or pushed in a stroller/wheelchair is fundamentally different from having active control over one’s own exploration. When children have access to active control their greatest developmental gains are achieved. The Go Baby Go has been around for some time, and after A LOT of planning, KidsInclusive/Kingston Health Sciences Centre clinicians arrived at their inaugural “build day” in May 2024. The program supports kids with motor disabilities in using ride-on adapted toy cars. The ride-on cars were adapted with various switch and supportive seating options that were customized to each participants’ needs. The Augmentative Communication team put together communication tools to allow the participants to be fully engaged in the day – from choosing accessories to communicating with their team. These adaptations and strategies created a fun experience for the participants that promoted independent mobility with therapeutic benefits, including building muscle control and muscle memory, and learning about their environment. Come and learn how we made this all happen, including how we: accessed grant funding, built our team, collaborated with community and academic partners, adapted the cars, and how we got parent and clinician feedback on the day (and what they said).  

Carolyn McDougall, Manager, Employment Pathways
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Laura Bowman, Project Manager, Research and Evaluation Researcher
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Jennifer Way
March of Dimes Canada

Kari Renahan
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Anna Oh
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 

Employment is an established social determinant of health. Yet this health outcome is often considered out-of-reach for youth with disabilities and their families. Find out about the background, business case, and direct practices that can facilitate employment participation for youth with disabilities, starting as early as high school. 

Mylène Poitras, Clinical Manager
CHEO

Josee Perreault,
CHEO

Heather Scholman,
CHEO 

In response to service delivery challenges, CHEO launched a pilot project in July 2024 offering group-based assessment and intervention for fine motor development. The goal was to reduce wait times and deliver timely, high-quality services while adhering to the School-based Rehabilitation Services consultative model. The pilot resulted in a significant reduction in the waitlist, a decreased need for additional consultative services, and a shorter wait time for students. 

Bisola Olaseni, Student Researcher
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital: Autism Research Centre

Aligning with clinical best practice, this study identified barriers and facilitators in respite provision for children with complex behavioural needs. Focusing on Respite Care Providers’ experiences, the study aimed to enhance service delivery and inform evidence-based recommendations, ultimately improving outcomes for both RCPs and the families they support. 

Devon Schneider, Rehab Assistant
FIREFLY

Karim Suleman, Clinical Manager
FIREFLY 

In 2024, FIREFLY delivered interactive Tier 1 training focused on sensory processing for staff and children across the Rainy River District. This programming empowered staff and children to identify and address sensory challenges, offering practical tools to manage sensory regulation within their busy environments. 

Joel Willett, Clinical Manager
FIREFLY

Lana Goodman, Clinical Manager
FIREFLY 

We took a look at the role of effective onboarding and orientation as a response to the challenge of staff retention. Visit this poster to learn more about the evidence-based strategies—including mentorship, personalized onboarding, and feedback-driven improvements—that can foster a supportive work environment and enhance professional growth, leading to a more engaged and stable workforce. 

Ozi Jones, Manager, Quality Measurement & Evaluation
Children's Treatment Network

Sue Nall, Director, Performance and Network Integration
Children's Treatment Network

In the developmental health sector (just like in other sectors), strategic plans often remain static, failing to drive real change. The demand for innovative and data-driven tools is more critical than ever. This poster introduces a strategic tool that bridges gaps between leadership and frontline workers, ensuring all staff clearly see how their work contributes to achieving strategic directions, and redefine success in the sector. 

Tithi Paul,
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Molly Friedman
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Annie Dupuis, Statistician, Researcher
University of Toronto

Harshit Bokadia, Research Engineer
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Melanie Penner, Scientist and Researcher
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Azadeh Kushki, Scientist
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 

Oral health is essential but it’s no secret that getting kids to the dentist is not typically a walk in the park. What can we do to make the visit better for kids with autism?

This Randomized Control Trial evaluates the effectiveness of a VR-based intervention compared to a social story approach in reducing pre-dental-visit anxiety and improving visit completeness in autistic children. While both interventions showed comparable outcomes in visit completeness and anxiety reduction, VR demonstrated a trend toward more positive behaviour and was well-received. 

Julia Carbone
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Marlee Vandewouw
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Harshit Bokadia
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Tithi Paul
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Aleena Walji
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Kamran Niroomand
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Dr. Azadeh Kushki
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 

Heightened emotion is sometimes difficult to recognize before escalation. These emotions may manifest into challenging behaviours such as aggression, self-injury, and outburst. By using markers of physiological arousal as early signs of escalation behaviors, the onset of challenging behaviors can be detected and de-escalation strategies can be initiated. holly™ is a Bloorview Research Institute patented algorithm that uses heart rate measurements to provide a visual display of emotional arousal level, a technology developed to detect anxiety and empower self-awareness and management for better outcomes—especially for those with Austim Spectrum Disorder. The BRI team evaluated holly™ in naturalistic settings with children and youth to learn how we could enhance the technology’s usability in pediatric therapeutic and educational settings. The results of this trial indicated high satisfaction and acceptability, and identified some usability challenges as well. 

Linda Laing, Director of Clinical Services, School Years
Grandview Kids

Marika Beaumont, Clinical Manager
Grandview Kids 

During the pandemic, long wait times and new Ministry guidelines meant that changes to School-based Rehabilitation speech therapy services were needed. This poster highlights Grandview Kids’ approach to meet the goals of early intervention, promote parent coaching, and reduce wait times.

Dr. Samantha Noyek
CanChild, McMaster University and KidsAbility

Cynthia Lennon
KidsAbility

Elizabeth Chambers, Family Member
CanChild 

Families across Canada experience lengthy waitlists when trying to access healthcare services for their child with developmental concerns. KidsAbility provides universal services to families while on waitlists; they identified that ENVISAGE would be a significant addition to these services. The ENVISAGE program is a five-week online program offering early exposure to current thinking/best practices around childhood development/disability. ENVISAGE has a Families program and a Service Providers program, which supports a common language to be used across care.

KidsAbility is one of the first EKO members to implement both ENVISAGE-Families and ENVISAGE-Service Providers, and identify quality improvements for the ENVISAGE Train the Trainer program. Knowledge gained from this project will inform the spread/scale of ENVISAGE across other institutions.

Clovis Grant Co-Founder/President
Sawubona Africentric Circle of Support; CEO, 360°kids

Marcia Cole, Program Coordinator
Sawubona Africentric Circle of Care; Program manager, Karis Community Services

The intersection of race and disability is an often-overlooked topic. Black caregivers often feel invisible when it comes to having their voices heard and in getting access to the services they require for their child with a disability. The added complexities of having a child with a disability often magnifies the already existing challenge of anti-Black racism and creates additional stresses and mental health challenges to the caregivers. The role of culturally relevant support groups such as Sawubona Africentric Circle of Support is highlighted as a way to provide resources, reduce social isolation, provide emotional support and improve the quality of life for Black caregivers of a family member with a disability. 

We are so excited to welcome Ahren Belisle, software engineer and mental health advocate turned comedian, to the EKO Spring Symposium 2025! Ahren will be taking the stage on April 16. 

Concurrent Session: Guiding Canada's Autism Strategy: Learnings and Where We Are Today

The Autism Alliance of Canada has been calling for a comprehensive and viable autism strategy since 2007. Last September federal Minister of Health Mark Holland tabled the Framework for Autism in Canda in Parliament, marking a key milestone in efforts to ensure people with autism living in Canada are accepted, included, and supported to experience an optimal quality of life, from childhood to adulthood.

The Framework—a multi-year plan that will be updated regularly as needs and priorities evolve—outlines principles and best practices to guide national autism policy, programs and activities to support people of all ages with autism, their families, and caregivers.

What will it take to deliver on the vision?

Concurrent Session: Talking to a Child with a PDA Profile of Autism

Children with a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile are more likely to have a difficult time trusting and following adults in charge.

Learn from PDAer and Autism advocate Paige Layle about the effect of too many demands on the PDA nervous system, strategies to talk to children when they are in fight or flight mode, and tips for creating an environment that maximizes the child’s safety and security to keep them engaged.

In this session, Paige will speak about her own experience growing up as a PDA Autistic child and adult, and how she's applied what she's learned teaching children for over a decade.

Concurrent Session: Real Conversations

Many kinds of barriers exist for disabled individuals which often leads to exclusion and their voices left unheard. Yet without safe environments to share personal experiences, there cannot be opportunities to drive real change, open doors, and help everyone move forward to understanding and action.

Four EKO Scholars and three disabled activists created a safe and supported community that generated Real Conversations, a platform to share experiences of disability and ableism with EKO members.

In this session, Stephanie Dixon shares the Real Conversations journey; the communities’ experiences, learnings, feedback received on the four-episode series, and what’s next for all those involved.

The Real Conversations series was developed for EKO members and is found on the password protected EKO’s Members’ Portal. To respect the privacy of those who shared their stories, this session is recommended for those who have access to Real Conversations.

Anishinaabe Traditional Grandmother Kim Wheatley is Ojibway, Potawatomi and Caribbean in ancestry. She is a band member of Shawanaga First Nation located on the shores of Georgian Bay on Robinson Huron Treaty Territories and is Turtle Clan. She carries the Spirit name “Head or Leader of the Fireflower” and has worked for three decades with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada.

Grandmother Kim Wheatley will begin the in-person conference with a special Land Acknowledgement presentation on April 16.  

Thinking Creatively About Addressing Online Harms for Children and Youth
March 26, 2025 from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Virtual Keynote session 

Keynote Speakers:
Frances Haugen
Data scientist and engineer, former Facebook employee and whistleblower, Advocate for accountability and transparency in social media

Dr. Michael Cheng, O.Ont.
Child & Family Psychiatrist, CHEO and Associate Professor, University of Ottawa

Moderator:
Brad Ross
Consultant, Brad Ross Communications Counsel, former Chief Communications Officer and Executive Director of Communications for the Toronto Transit Commission 

Frances Haugen and Dr. Michael Cheng talk about what we need to know about social media platforms, and how can professionals and parents can support kids with disabilities and developmental needs in the world of online connection.

More on the 2025 Advance Keynote 

The Power of Disability
April 16, 2025 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Keynote Speaker:
Mayaan Ziv
CEO, Access NOW, disability advocate, entrepreneur, and media innovator

Disability has the power to reshape our understanding of inclusion and belonging. In this closing keynote, Maayan Ziv will explore how the experiences and insights of disabled people can transform communities, spaces, and systems into more welcoming and inclusive environments for everyone. With thought-provoking stories and practical takeaways, this session will challenge conventional thinking and inspire new approaches to creating spaces where all people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

Empowering Complex Families: Improving Outcomes by Supporting All Family Members
April 17, 2025 from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Maude Champagne
Award-winning neuroscientist, social worker and therapist 

Raising a child with complex behavioral challenges stemming from neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) presents significant hardships, often compounded by judgment and isolation. Parents experience shame, grief, and exhaustion while navigating systems that frequently lack understanding of trauma and the nuanced grief associated with NDDs. Drawing from my research, clinical practice, and personal journey, I emphasize the need for trauma-informed care, caregiver well-being, and supportive communities. Addressing the intersection of trauma in marginalized communities, particularly families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, is essential to fostering inclusive, trauma-responsive support systems. 

Precision Developmental Healthcare
April 17, 2025 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou
Vice President of Research and Director of the Bloorview Research Institute, Child neurologist 

Professor Stephen Scherer, PhD DSc FRSC.
Chief of Research & Northbridge Chair in Paediatric Research at SickKids and University of Toronto, Director of the UofT McLaughlin Centre and The Centre for Applied Genomics at SickKids 

We are living through a revolution in healthcare. Data and data science are increasingly reshaping all aspects of our lives, including developmental healthcare. We’re moving toward the personalization of clinical care, focusing on the individual—not one size fits all.

This is coming faster than you may think.

Precision health aims to personalize treatment and prevention strategies based on individual biological differences and social determinants. While the approach has proven successful for certain patient groups, broader translation—particularly in child health—faces challenges with evidence development, evidence appraisal, and implementation. These challenges are compounded as existing methods fail to incorporate the physiology and socio-biology unique to childhood.

Our goal is to understand each child’s health and development, so we can predict better, treat smarter and provide clinical care faster.

Here’s how we’ll get there.

Thinking Creatively About Addressing Online Harms for Children and Youth
March 26, 2025 from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Virtual Keynote session 

Keynote Speakers:
Frances Haugen
Data scientist and engineer, former Facebook employee and whistleblower, Advocate for accountability and transparency in social media

Dr. Michael Cheng, O.Ont.
Child & Family Psychiatrist, CHEO and Associate Professor, University of Ottawa

Moderator:
Brad Ross
Consultant, Brad Ross Communications Counsel, former Chief Communications Officer and Executive Director of Communications for the Toronto Transit Commission 

Frances Haugen and Dr. Michael Cheng talk about what we need to know about social media platforms, and how can professionals and parents can support kids with disabilities and developmental needs in the world of online connection.

More on the 2025 Advance Keynote 

The NEW Grandview Kids centre just opened less than six months ago, in November 2024. If you haven’t visited yet—and even if you have—you’ll want to take in the fabulous design of Ontario’s newest developmental health centre in action.

Grandview Kids is offering several small-group tours, led by Grandview Kids CEO Tom McHugh and members of the senior leadership team, to EKO Spring Symposium 2025 delegates on Tuesday, April 15th, between 3:00 and 4:30 p.m.

More on the Tour of the New Grandview Kids 

Back by popular demand, this fun, fast-paced, 1-to-1 session is an energizing and powerful way to start great conversations while racing against the clock—a really big ticking clock! By the end of the session, everyone will have made several connections, refined their networking and conversation skills, and added to their career toolkit.

More on the Schmooza Palooza 

All delegates are encouraged to join this special event that marks the conclusion of Day 1.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment, food and drinks as you mix and mingle, and meet the 2025 EKO Tribute Award recipients, introduced by Dr. Laverne Jacobs, Canada’s first-ever representative on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and University of Windsor Law Professor.

More on the Opening Night Reception

The formal poster presentation takes place on April 16th in the Provincial Ballroom. All posters presented at the EKO Spring Symposium 2025 are eligible for the People’s Choice Award recognizing the audience’s favourite poster presentation.

You can find all poster descriptions in the Poster Presentation section of the program.