Hosted by the Lake Ridge Community Support Services Family Engagement Committee
What I Wish I Knew: A Guide for Parents of Newly Diagnosed Children & Youth
When your child is first diagnosed with autism, the paperwork, waitlists, and medical terms can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Join local parents and clinical navigators who have walked this road.
Event Details
🤗 What: Open House Information Fair
🗓 When: Monday, November 16 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
📍 Where: Lake Ridge Community Support Services, 900 Hopkins St., Unit 8, Whitby, ON. L1N 6A9
👉Highlights: Free On-site Child Care (RSVP required) | Coffee, Tea & Baked Treats | Interactive Stations
👍 Plus: Get the printed guide with all the key links in one place.
In New Zealand, the Māori word for autism is Takiwātanga — 'in one's own time and space.' This isn't a race, and neither is your child's development.
Receiving an autism diagnosis brings a swirl of emotions: relief at having answers, worry about the future, and exhaustion from the sheer volume of acronyms (OAP, DTC, IEP, ACSD).
Our Family Engagement Committee is made up of parents and caregivers in Durham Region who have sat where you are sitting. We designed this event and consulted on a digital roadmap to give you what we wish we had on day one: clear, calm, practical steps—without the bureaucratic jargon.
The 4 Core Tracks We Will Unpack
Track 1: Registering with the OAP (AccessOAP)
The essential documents you need to unlock OAP supports.
Track 2: Leaving Money on the Table? Tax Credits & Financial Aid
How the Disability Tax Credit unlocks financial benefits.
Track 3: What to Do While You Wait (Free Foundational Supports)
How to advocate for accommodations, sensory breaks, and transition planning.
Track 4: School Navigation & Advocacy (DDSB / DCDSB)
Access free OAP Foundational Family Services at LRCSS using your registration number.
Event Schedule & What to Expect
This is an open house style event. Drop in when it works for you, stay as long as you need. We’re here to help.
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Welcome & Fuel Station: Grab a coffee, tea, or snack. Check in your children if using the supervised sensory childcare room.
6:00 PM – 6:15 PM | Driver’s Briefing: Brief welcome from the Family Engagement Committee and leadership.
6:15 PM – 8:00 PM | Interactive Resource Stations: Move at your own pace through 4 guided tables staffed by parent volunteers and clinicians:
Station 1: The On-Ramp (Newly Diagnosed & AccessOAP support)
Station 2: The School Roadmap (DDSB/DCDSB Special Education supports)
Station 3: Financial Supports (DTC, RDSP, Respite & Access passes)
Station 4: While You Wait: Family Well-Being & LRCSS Free Foundational Services
Can't Make It? Get the Email Roadmap
Can’t attend in person? Let us deliver the steps to your inbox. Receive our Ontario Autism Navigation Series breaking down AccessOAP, the DTC, school meetings, and free interim supports. Receive emails with detailed steps you can take after your child is diagnosed with autism.