April  2019 | Newsletter
 




C o n n e ct:  News, Stories, Events and Resources Relevant to You

We are proud to share Connect - a monthly newsletter for families of kids with special needs and the service providers who support them. If you have feedback on the newsletter, story ideas or want to volunteer to write an article please contact info@ctnsy.ca.
NEWS
Mark Your Calendar for the CTN Special Needs Information Fair 
The CTN Special Needs Information Fair will be at the Magna Centre in Newmarket from 1 - 4 p.m. on April 27th. Join us for a one-stop shop of information and resources including funding, private therapy services, transition to school and adult services, recreation programs, respite, and community support for families. This wonderful free event is brought to you in partnership with the Town of Newmarket, York Support Services Network (YSSN), York ASD Partnerhip, and Kerry's Place Autism Services.




Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Update
In early February the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) announced significant changes to the OAP. Since then, the Ministry has made several updates to their program, including eliminating income testing, expanding eligible services and more Most recently, they announced their plan to add a consulting process and advisory panel so that parents can provide their input.  For the most up to date information, please check the Ministry's website.



Empowered Kids Ontario announces the 2019 EKO Scholarship
Applications for the 2019 Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) Scholarship are now open.  The EKO Scholarship Program empowers kids with special needs with awards of up to $1,000 to support them in reaching their education goals and career dreams.

Easter Seals Scholarship Applications are Now Open 
Easter Seals manages a range of scholarships for students with physical disabilities, ranging in amounts from $500 to up to $5,000 for a single year of post-secondary education. Applications are now open for the 2018-2019 academic year.


CTN Volunteer Board of Director and Committee Positions Available
As a member of our Board of Directors you can expect to volunteer approximately 8-10 hours a month and share your leadership, expertise and governance experience at the board level and sit on one of our committees (audit and finance, governance or quality). As a community member on one of our committees you can expect to volunteer approximately 4 hours a month, share your expertise and build your governance experience.


STORIES
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Making Easter Inclusive for Kids with Special Needs
For many families and kids with special needs, each holiday can be a reminder of barriers or differences that exist. Some kids may not be able to participate in an Easter egg hunt without assistance, or maybe they can't eat orally, have food sensitivities or severe allergies that prohibit them from taking part in the fun of searching for Easter chocolates.  So that all kids can have fun, here are some ideas to make your family Easter more inclusive this year.
 

Special Needs Parenting: Tax Tips You Need to Know
These tips for the 2018 taxation year is a compilation of information that relates specifically to people with disabilities and their families.


EVENTS
This events calendar features events hosted by CTN, our partner organizations and other local organizations that we thought may be of interest to your family. New events are added to our network calendar each week! Check out the upcoming dates for family fun, inclusive recreation programs, camp and parent workshops, and coffee chats.

If you're interested in having your event posted on our calendar, please complete this  online form .


 TOP RESOURCES
Funding, Finance and Planning 
All About School and Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
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  Diagnosis Information
 Youth and Transition to Adulthood
Camps and Recreation
 
Autism Resources


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Disclaimer
This newsletter is not intended as advice to meet the specific needs of an individual, as individual situations will differ. Newsletter readers should not act or rely on newsletter information without seeking specific advice on matters of concern. We will not purposefully present inaccurate information in this newsletter, however information is supplied "as is" and may contain errors. We do not guarantee or warrant the quality, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, appropriateness or suitability of the newsletter content. Reliance on any information appearing on the newsletter is at your own risk. We expressly disclaim all warranties, representations and conditions regarding use of this newsletter and its content.