Our Partners

The project was initiated by acommittee of local service providers in Waterloo, Wellington, and Guelph (including Trellis, KidsAbility, Kerry's Place, Family Services Guelph, MCYS, and Lutherwood). It was funded Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Service (MCYS).

Project Synposis

If someone in your family has a developmental disability, getting the support you need is often stressful. For families dealing with autism and related diagnoses, the stress is often linked to long waiting lists, incomplete diagnoses, and the need to deal with a confusing and changing array of service providers. In the spring of 2007, a committee of service providers in Waterloo Region, Guelph, and Wellington County came together with the regional office of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to start talking about ways to improve services for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. At about the same time (but independently), the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation in Waterloo Region began to talk with local parents and grassroots groups about similar issues. Eventually, both groups contracted with CCBR to undertake research and community consultations on the topic. The core purposes of these two closely related projects were to inventory and analyze the current array of services and develop a comprehensive vision or 'pathway' about how services could work more seamlessly together. From June to December 2007, the CCBR research team conducted interviews with local and external service providers, local parents of autistic children, school board and government representatives. A literature search was also completed. At various points in the process, feedback on emergent themes was sought from an ad hoc committee of parents in Waterloo, and a group of key service providers in Guelph and Waterloo Region. Ultimately, this process led to a final Pathways report and an executive summary.

Find the final report here.