What about those early intervention programs we mentioned earlier?
Both the Child Development Program (CDP) and the Early Learning Program (ELP) are provincially run services that offered through either CDS or St.Amant. During your intake meeting, you will be introduced to both via the Autism Early Intervention Specialist. These programs offer development based and/or behaviour based therapy approaches to assisting your child in developing skills they may be behind in.
Unfortunately, a family may not have their child enrolled and actively participating in both programs at the same time. It is seen as a duplication of services. They can, however, be actively involved in the CDS Child Development Program while being on the waitlist for St.Amant’s Early Learning Program. This is due to the vastly different wait times that each service has. The wait time for the CDP is currently around 6-8 months. The wait time for the ELP is currently around 18-24 months. They can then decide on whether or not they would like to switch from one type of early intervention service to another.
So let’s take a closer look at each early intervention option and what they entail.
CDS Child Development Program
St.Amant & The Early Learning Program
Westman Child Development Centre