Special needs child care

Together with community partners, the City is committed to supporting families and child care service providers with information and resources to ensure the inclusion of children with special needs in child care.

Children can have a wide variety of needs and do not require a diagnosis to be considered a child with special needs to access services through child care. Defined by the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 a:

child with special needs

means a child whose cognitive, physical, social, emotional or communicative needs, or whose needs relating to overall development, are of such a nature that additional supports are required for the child

The City partners with Children's Inclusion Support Services (CISS) to support children with special needs in licensed child care at no additional cost to families. Children do not need to have a diagnosis to get this support. Learn more about the types child care in Ottawa, including licensed child care.

Inclusion support  

Families do not need to contact CISS to get support for their child. CISS staff work directly with staff at a child care program to meet the child’s needs. CISS has a team of:

• Resource Consultants,
• Behaviour Consultants and
• Inclusion Facilitators

CISS staff are trained to coach staff and provide resources to help create inclusive child care programs. These are some steps that CISS may take to help a child: 

• CISS staff will work with a child care service provider to create an Individual Support Plan for a child (if applicable).
• CISS Resource Consultants will work with a child care service provider to develop a Program Inclusion Plan. This plan considers the Individual Support Plans for children in the program and includes goals and strategies for the program.
• CISS staff will work with a child care service provider to adjust the space and programming, provide staff training and lend equipment.
• CISS staff will work with a child care service provider to help put a Program Inclusion Plan into action.

Individualized Support Plans

Child care service providers are required by the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 to create Individualized Support Plans for children with:

• special needs,
• anaphylactic allergies or
• medical needs

Individualized Support Plans include ways to ensure a child can safely participate in a child care program. 

Child care service providers will work with families and any regulated health care professionals who are involved in a child’s care to develop the plan. In some cases, the child may also help to develop the plan. CISS will work with staff in the child care program to implement the support plan.

Individualized Support Plans also outline how to reduce the risk of a child being exposed to something that could cause an allergic reaction or a medical emergency, steps to be taken in an emergency, medical devices needed and instructions for use. The plan will include help that a child needs, like changes to the room, G-tube feeding or a seizure plan. CISS will arrange the necessary medical training for the program staff.

For children with special needs, finding licensed child care may take longer. Families can contact the child care service providers that they are interested in attending to discuss their child’s needs and to help them decide if they are a good fit for their family. For licensed home child care locations, families can talk to the home child care agency to help find a suitable licensed home-based option for their child and family. Children's Inclusion Support Services can support a child in any licensed child care program.

Families can complete an application on the Child Care Registry and Waitlist (CCRAW) by following the steps in apply for child care. Included in this application is a section about special needs. Families can complete the special needs section of the application if their child has additional needs. This section is not mandatory but helps child care service providers prepare to support the child.

Share your child’s needs

After families get a child care space at a licensed centre or home, they are encouraged to share details about their child’s needs with their child care service provider. These needs could include needing help moving from one activity to another, controlling their anger, developing social skills, and others. A child does not need to have a diagnosis to access help in their child care program. If a child does have a diagnosis, tell the child care service provider to help them better understand the child’s needs and how they can support the child. If the child does not have a diagnosis but needs help, tell the child care provider. 

Families should to set up a meeting with their child care service provider to discuss their child’s needs in the program. In some cases, a Resource Consultant from Children's Inclusion Support Services (CISS) may attend this meeting. Together they can discuss the child’s needs and the supports and resources that may help the child. Families can also start to work with the child care service provider and CISS to create an Individualized Support Plan for their child.

Starting child care or school for the first time, or changing to a new child care program can be difficult for both you and your child. These are some things that you can consider doing to help prepare your child.   

• Visit the child care program with your child before the first day to help them get familiar with the indoor and outdoor space and the educators. 
• Have your child slowly go to child care more and more, and for longer and longer, each day. Start by going with them, then have them go on their own for a few hours a day and build up to a full day. Talk to your child care provider to come up with a schedule that works best for all. 
• Talk to your child about child care before they start. Tell them what it will look and be like, and how it will be different from home or their current child care program. 
• Let your child know where you will go while they are at child care and when you will come back to pick them up. 
• Ask your child how they are feeling, listen to what they have to say, and validate their experience. 
• Read books and watch tv/online episodes where the characters are starting child care. 
• Brainstorm strategies with your child that they can use when they are feeling sad, angry, or anxious. 
• Bring a comfort item from home to child care. Check with your child care service provider about what items your child can bring.
• Ask your child care provider for the schedule in advance and start practicing it at home. 
• Use strategies that have helped your child get used to a change in other situations. 
• Plan for more quiet time and sleep at home while your child is adjusting to child care.
• If you are breastfeeding and want to feed your child at child care, talk to your child care service provider about visiting to feed your child.

Children with complex needs

Service Coordination Support for People with Developmental Disabilities  – the initial contact for children and adults who have a developmental disability or autism in Ottawa and the Eastern Region. Offers support in finding resources available in your community.

Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) Program - provides eligible parents or caregivers caring for a child with a severe disability with financial support to help with extra costs. 

Child development and health

Autism Ontario – offers a range of programming for children and youth with autism including help to get a diagnosis, march break and summer break support, community events and planning for the future. They also offer a video support learning series for families interested in learning more about an autism diagnosis and the transition to adulthood.

Service Coordination Support – offers a list of community services in Ottawa. You can search the website by key words or browse by topics such as: education, health, recreation/camp/social, respite, special support care and more.

Parent Resource Centre  – offers free and confidential non-medical services including a Parent Support Line, parenting workshops and support groups for families experiencing challenges related to child development and behaviour.

Early Child Development – The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services – provides a list of programs to support a child’s development, information on supporting children's health, and milestones to monitor a child’s development.

Healthy Babies, Healthy Children – Ottawa Public Health  – a free and voluntary home visiting program that provides support during pregnancy, after the baby is born and up to four years old.

Ottawa Public Library – offers a series of educational resources for families of children with special needs.

Children’s mental health

Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre – provides personalized and free mental health services for children under 12 years old.

LeCap – provides free specialized mental health services for Francophone children, youth and families in Ontario.

Parenting In Ottawa – provides information about children’s mental health and links to local resources.

Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use – Ottawa Public Health – provides a list of locally available mental health, addictions and substance use health resources.

Camps

Inclusive recreation – City of Ottawa – supports the inclusion of eligible children five to 12 years old in City of Ottawa camps (summer camp, winter break, march break, PD day).

YMCA – offers several camps for children 4 to 13 years old with inclusion supports for children with special needs and special requirements.

Ravens Adapted Multisport Camp – Carleton University – offers an adaptive multisport camp for children and youth aged eight to 18 years old with physical disabilities.

Main Street Community Services – offers a march break and summer camp for full time clients and families in the community.

Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre – offers a summer camp for children six to 12 years old that focuses on building resiliency and self-esteem and enhancing self-confidence.

Dovercourt Recreation – offers program inclusion to support the inclusion of children four to 13 years old with special needs during summer, winter, and march break camps.

Service Coordination Support – helps families explore summer camp options through a list of camps in the Ottawa area.

Camps.ca – offers a list of camps that serve children with special needs.

School readiness programs

ACT Learning Centre – offers a school readiness program for children between three and six years old with autism.

Support School Readiness Program – Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) – offers home visits and support during the first weeks of school to all children entering kindergarten for the first time in the OCSB. Offered in partnership with the Licensed Home Child Care Network of Ottawa.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten – Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) – offers information to help prepare your child for kindergarten.

Respite

Special Services at Home – Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services – funding to help with costs related to respite, support for daily activities, personal growth, and development for a child with physical and/or developmental disabilities.

Service Coordination Support – provides a list of services that provide in-home or out-of-home respite care.

Champlain Health Services – provide a list of respite services for children with disabilities.

Respiteservices.com – offers respite services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and/or autism.

The Ottawa Rotary Home – provides residential & community supports and a variety of respite programs catering to different groups.

Transportation

Para Transpo – City of Ottawa – offers a shared-ride, book-in-advance, door-to-door transit service between 6 am and midnight for registered customers who cannot take conventional transit (buses and trains) because of a disability. 

Recreation and community programs

Inclusive recreation programs – City of Ottawa – offer specialized programs for children 5 to 12 years old.

Hand in Hand financial support – City of Ottawa – provides eligible Ottawa residents with fee support for City recreation and culture programs.

EarlyON Child and Family Centres – offer free, high-quality programs for families and children from birth to 6 years old and assists families and caregivers in accessing services and supports that respond to their unique needs.

Sensory Storytime – Ottawa Public Library – provides a welcoming environment and respects the needs of children from 18 months to six years who live with developmental disabilities and/or autism, or who show signs of a developmental delay.

Adaptive Sport for Children and Youth – Carleton Athletics – offers adaptive sports and recreations programs for children and youth in Ottawa.