This page is updated regularly | Last updated: November 15, 2025
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Community Resources
ASK A SLP ABOUT AAC (AUGMENTATIVE and ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION) – Virtual Workshop
In this information session the Speech-Language Pathologist will be sharing about what augmentative communication is and how it can help with comprehension and as a means of expression, what types of AAC systems are available, the difference in AAC apps and suggestions for getting started with AAC. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about using augmentative communication.
Appropriate for: Parents and Caregivers
Presenter: Lorraine Otto, M.Sc., CCC, Speech Language Pathologist, (Reg. CASLPO) and Tess Farrington
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Time: 10 am to 11:00 pm
Register By: Jan 09, 2026
For Resource Support of SDRC please call: 519-741-1121
Resource Support at SDRC
SDRC offers Resource Support to families of children under the age of 18 years, who have an intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder. It provides quick access to short-term support for as long as the client is eligible for developmental services. Resource Support is mainly through telephone contact, email, or scheduled appointments.
- Resource Support offers a variety of services to eligible clients and includes:
Providing information on a variety of supports and services (developmental services, community services, funding options, leisure/recreation, etc.) - Assisting with problem solving
- Facilitating referrals to other organizations/services
- Answering general questions regarding services and supports
- Helping assess strengths and needs
- Helping identify barriers to accessing services and supports
- Providing short-term emotional support
- Liaising with other service providers
The Resource Support Worker is not able to:
- Attend school meetings or medical appointments
- Assist with application forms
- Organize case conferences
- Develop service plans
- Provide ongoing, intensive support
- Act as a case manager
- Provide mediation/group facilitation
Who Can Access Services:
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- Children, youth, and families living with or suspected of having FASD
- Ages: Up to 18 years old, or up to 21 if still attending school
- Must reside in the Waterloo Region
Referral Process:
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- Referrals can be made via Plexus
- Eligible referrers include:
- The individual or their legal guardian
- Extended family members
- Family physicians
- Agencies acting on behalf of the individual/family (with permission)
- Individuals aged 16+ must provide consent if they understand the implications of assessment/treatment
Support Offered:
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- Coordination and guidance from FASD Coordinators
- Resources for caregivers, health professionals, and social service providers
- Information and assistance regarding eligibility and services
Need Help or Have Questions?
Contact the FASD Coordinators at SDRC directly for clarification on eligibility or services for children under 18 at: plexusfasd@sunbeamcommunity.ca
They can also be found on Instagram and Twitter at – @Plexus Fasd Iike, follow, share and connect!
Referrals can be made here: Plexus Referral
sunbeam-centre.ontarionow.ca/self-referral/?aLanguage=
FASD Ontario Webinars
FASD Ontario has a resource page with past webinar recordings that cover a wide variety of topics within FASD including FASD and cannabis, FASD prevention, supporting parents raising children with FASD and more.
www.fasdinfotsaf.ca/webinars.
School Refusal – Virtual Workshop
Appropriate for: Parents and caregivers
Register online: www.sdrc.ca/workshops-and-training or email r.khanam@sunbeamcommunity.ca.
Upcoming dates:
Presenter: Denise Burke
Date: Monday, Dec 15, 2025
Time: 6 pm to 7 pm
Register By: December 12, 2025
Sunbeam Developmental Resource Centre (SDRC) hosts a variety of clinics. All clinics are 1 hour in length via Zoom, limited to a maximum of 10 participants (except the SLP clinic which is one-on-one) and include an opportunity for questions and discussion. Different eligibility criterias apply.
Some of our clinics are:
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- Ask A Behaviour Consultant Clinic
- Ask A Speech Language Pathologist Clinic
- Collaboration with Schools Clinic
- Intake Financial Clinic
- Speech Language Pathology Clinic
For specific information on each clinic and dates please visit: www.sdrc.ca/clinics. Call Rehana Khanam at 519-741-1121, ext. 2201 to register.
Groups at SDRC
Autism Social Skills Group
SDRC offers a 6-week Social Skills Group to children/youth with an autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 11 and 17 years. A referral is required as this is not a drop-in group. The Six-Week Group runs on Tuesday evenings from 5:00 pm-6:30 pm.
SDRC offers a Monthly Social Group for youth between the ages of 14 and 17 years with an autism spectrum disorder with no intellectual disability. Individuals must be able to be independent. The purpose of the group is to help individuals develop social skills. A referral is required as this is not a drop-in group.
Please call 519-741-1121 for more information about how to join.
The Weekly Mothers’ Support Group at SDRC
The Mothers’ Support Group is a 6-week group, providing the opportunity for mothers to discuss a range of topics related to parenting a child with an intellectual disability and/or autism. Topics include: understanding and sharing the diagnosis, grief and resilience, community resources, behavioural challenges and self-care. Guest speakers from the community and SDRC also contribute their expertise.
The group is a great way to connect with other mothers who understand your daily experience. It is a small group, for
6 – 10 members, and runs for 6 consecutive weeks.
Two times are offered:
– Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
– Thursday mornings from 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Groups are offered 2 – 3 times per year. Please call 519-741-1121 for more information about how to join.
The Monthly Mothers’ Group
Monthly Mothers’ groups of SDRC are offered at two different times:
Daytime: The last Friday of the month
from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Evening: The last Tuesday of the month
from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
The purpose of the group is to connect with other mothers, share ideas, learn more about community resources and get support. Speakers are often invited to share information on topics of interest to group members. Some of the topics discussed in the past year were: anxiety, school issues and grief.
Please call 519-741-1121 for more information about how to join.
The Monthly Fathers’ Support Group
The Fathers’ Support group is open to fathers in Waterloo Region who have a child (of any age) with an intellectual disability and/or autism. The group meets monthly.
It is a great opportunity for dads to discuss a wide range of topics related to parenting a child with an intellectual disability and/or autism. Fathers learn from guest speakers as well as from each other, sharing wisdom, understanding and a chance to talk to other dads who “get it”.
Some of the topics discussed in the past year were: mindfulness, sharing the diagnosis and advocating for your child.
The Fathers Support Group meets on the
3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
Please call 519-741-1121 for more information about how to join.
Recreation and Wellness Programs of SCDS
The team introduces the monthly Recreation and Wellness Calendar of Events, which contains information and details for all group activities at Sunbeam. It can be found on the Sunbeam Community website here:
www.sunbeamcommunity.ca/recreation-wellness-program
These programs are eligible for Passport funding for adults 18 and older, and are also available as fee-for-service options for children aged 12 and up.
For more information and registration, please contact the Recreation & Wellness department via phone: 519-893-6200 (ext. 1211) or email: recreation@sunbeamcommunity.ca
DSO Central West
DSO CWR is funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, is one of nine DSO’s in Ontario and is administered by Sunbeam Community and Developmental Services.
What services can you apply for?
There are many different services offered across the province. Some of the services that may be available in your area include:
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- housing supports
- respite for your caregivers
- supports to help you take part in the community
- specialized and clinical supports
- Adult Protective Service Worker Program
- Passport program
Please check their website, www.dsocwr.ca, for more information.
Community Resources
We want to provide an informative resource that will be a useful guide for you. Sunbeam Developmental Resource Centre does not necessarily endorse the information contained in this Update. The purpose is to provide information to the community. It is up to the reader to decide what is useful for them. We make every effort to ensure that our information is accurate and relevant. We apologize for any errors or omissions that occur.
AccessOAP
Intake Organization to connect you with autism programs and services available to your family through the Ontario Autism Program.
If you have questions about the New Access-OAP, how to create an account or the Ontario Autism Program visit these websites:
Autism Ontario Calendar of Upcoming Events
Autism Ontario helps all individuals with autism and families in their communities have access to meaningful supports, information, and connections so they are equitably and seamlessly supported across their life course.
www.autismontario.com/events
Groups and Workshops at Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health
Groups are ongoing sessions, typically meeting weekly for about 8 weeks. Workshops are one-time events focused on specific topics.
Please visit their website at www.caminowellbeing.ca/groups-workshops for details.
To register for any group or workshop, please email groups@caminowellbeing.ca or call 519-743-6333.
Region of Waterloo’s Resources on
Children with Exceptional or Special Needs
Some children are born with exceptional needs or an exceptional need is identified later as the child grows. Region of Waterloo’s website is a great resource for parents and caregivers of Children with Exceptional or Special Needs. You can find information on the following programs/services on their website at this link:
www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/children-with-special-needs
Infant and Child Development
Infant and Child Development offers services, assistance, and support to families of young children who may be experiencing developmental concerns, delays or disabilities.
A range of services are available to children up to age five who are not attending licensed child care or kindergarten.
The Special Needs Access Point (SNAP) is a single access point for children up to 12 years who are currently attending or seeking to enroll in a licensed child care program in Waterloo Region. SNAP accepts referrals from child care programs, parents, and community agencies.
Finding Licensed Services for Children with Special Needs
Please visit the Special Needs Resourcing Collaborative website where you can find more information about referrals, what supports are available, and resources for both parents and early learning child care centers.
Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
If you are a parent or guardian who is caring for a child with a severe disability you may be able to get financial support through the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) Program. This program provides financial support for low-income and moderate-income families to cover some of the extra costs of caring for a child who has a severe disability.
ACSD and SSAH applications can be completed online. Below are the links for these two applications:
ACSD: https://www.tpon.gov.on.ca/indiv/#/acsd
SSAH:
www.ontario.ca/page/special-services-home
Special Services at Home: Families who are caring for a child with a developmental and/or physical disability can apply to the Special Services at Home (SSAH) program to get funding. Please visit the website to learn more.
School-Issue Parent Support Group of WRFN
This peer-led group provides support, advice and a safe environment for parents who have questions or concerns about school issues affecting their children with special needs. The WRFN (Waterloo Region Family Network) School Issues Support Group meets on the last Wednesday of each month during the school year. For more information, please contact Lisa Cook at lisa.cook@wrfn.info.
Special Education Resource Guide of Community Living Ontario (CLO)
Navigating Special Education in Ontario
A Guide for Students, Parents and Caregivers
This guidebook is intended to provide information for parents, caregivers, and community organizations that support students with disabilities. No matter your role, access to information is key when advocating for students throughout their learning journey.
Please check CLO’s website to see the Special Education Resource Guide
Adaptive Vehicles Join Shared E-Bike/E-Scooter Program
Neuron will be offering the service free of charge to celebrate the launch of the program.
Residents can book the four upright tricycles and two handcycle tricycles 24-hours ahead. Neuron will deliver and pick up vehicles throughout the tri-cities. Drop-off/pick-up locations do not need to be the same. Vehicles are owned and maintained by Neuron.
The Region of Waterloo and Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo renewed their agreement with Neuron Mobility for 2025, with shared e-scooters and e-bikes having returned in April. For more information about the adaptive vehicle program, visit: rideneuron.com/adaptive.
Inclusive Programs of City of Kitchener
City of Kitchener has introduced some Inclusive Recreational Programs this fall.
To register for the programs below please visit a Kitchener Community Centre, swimming pool or their website at www.kitchener.ca/ActiveNet.
You can also call the program registration line at 519-741-2907, Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 5pm.
The Hangout Café at the KW Habilitation is an inviting and comfortable place where everyone is welcome.
What to Expect: No purchase necessary, but they’ll have coffee, tea, other drinks, and snacks to buy.
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 am – 11:00 am
KW Habilitation, 99 Ottawa St S. Kitchener, ON N2G 3S8
To better serve our community, we have moved to an online format in the fall of 2025.