Overview

Children’s Treatment Centres and Surrey Place in Toronto deliver a range of rehabilitation services (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech and language pathology) to support children’s development so they can participate more fully at school, at home and in their communities.

Children’s rehabilitation services support children with special needs to participate fully at home, school and in the community.

Children and youth with special needs may require rehabilitation services if they experience challenges or delays in their development in areas such as:

  • communication
  • mobility
  • motor skills

Children’s Treatment Centres and Surrey Place in Toronto have established SmartStart Hubs, a new function that provides families with information about their child’s development, entry to assessment and programs.

Children's Treatment Centres provide services to more than 180,000 children and youth with special needs every year.

SmartStart Hubs

We are making it easier for your family to find trusted information and services to support your child’s development needs, without a doctor’s referral.

If you believe that your child isn’t meeting their developmental milestones and would like to discuss your child’s development, support needs, and strengths, you can contact your local Children’s Treatment Centre, or Surrey Place in Toronto to access SmartStart Hubs services. You will:

  • Have one access point so that your family is supported without having to re-tell your story to each new provider
  • Connect with local professionals in early intervention and child development so that your child can receive assessments and services, including speech and language occupational and physical therapy
  • Have access to family-based supports, including respite services and parent coaching

A Children’s Treatment Centre can help you understand what development services your child should receive and how to access them. You can still contact service providers directly if you already know what your child’s support needs are and where to go to access a service.

Read the SmartStart Hubs guidelines for more information.

Contact your local Children’s Treatment Centre to connect with the SmartStart Hub in your community.

Rehabilitation services

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy (PT) helps through physical rehabilitation, injury prevention and health and fitness. Physiotherapy services may include assessment, diagnosis, and treatment to restore, maintain, and make the most of a child’s mobility, function, and well-being.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) helps to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment function in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure. Occupational therapy services may include:

  • assessment of function and adaptive behavior
  • treatment and prevention of disorders that affect function or adaptive behaviour

Speech and language therapy

Speech and language therapy helps to develop maintain, rehabilitate or augment oral motor or communication function. Speech and language therapy services may include:

  • assessment of speech and language functions
  • prevention and treatment of speech and language dysfunction or disorders
  • providing and/or helping families get prescribed specialized equipment, supplies or goods

Apply for preschool speech and language services

Young children with speech and language difficulties and disorders may also be eligible for preschool speech and language services from the time they are born until they start school. These services will help your child develop communication and early literacy skills, so they are ready to start school.

Learn more about preschool speech and language services.

Eligibility

Children and youth up to 19 years, or up to age 21 if they are in school, can access rehabilitation services, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy, if they have:

  • physical disabilities
  • developmental disabilities
  • communication difficulties and disorders

You do not need a formal referral to access services. However, education or health professionals may refer you for services. Children’s Treatment Centres also provide these services in schools to students enrolled in Ontario public schools. Students attending publicly funded elementary or secondary school may access these services until they finish school.

Find children’s rehabilitation and SmartStart Hubs services

Use this table to find a Children’s Treatment Centre in your area. For more information about services and locations, contact Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO).

You can also contact your local regional office for more information.

MCCSS RegionLocation(s)Name
CentralHalton, Mississauga, Brampton, OrangevilleErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development
CentralWaterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Guelph, FergusKidsability Centre for Child Development
CentralBarrie, Richmond Hill, Allison, Collingwood, Keswick, Markham, Newmarket, Orillia, MapleChildren's Treatment Network Simcoe-York
EastPeterborough, Lindsay, Halliburton, Cobourg, CampbellfordFive Counties Children’s Centre
EastOshawa, Ajax, Port Perry, Whitby, BowmanvilleGrandview Kids
EastBelleville, TrentonQuinte Children’s Treatment Centre
EastKingstonKidsInclusive Centre for Child and Youth Development
EastOttawa, Renfrew, CornwallChildren’s Hospital for Eastern Ontario (CHEO)
NorthSault Ste. Marie, Elliot Lake, WawaTHRIVE Child Development Centre
NorthThunder BayGeorge Jeffery Children’s Treatment Centre
NorthKenoraFirefly
NorthSudburyHealth Sciences North NEO Kids Children’s Treatment Centre
NorthTimmins, Kapuskasing, North Cobalt, Moose Factory, Kirkland LakeCochrane/Temiskaming Children’s Treatment Centre
NorthNorth Bay, Parry Sound, MuskokaOne Kids Place Children`s Treatment Centre
WestWindsorJohn McGivney Children’s Centre
WestSarniaPathways Health Centre for Children
WestChathamChildren’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent
WestLondon, Owen Sound, St-Thomas, Sarnia, StratfordThames Valley Children’s Centre
WestHamiltonRon Joyce Children`s Health Centre
WestBrantfordLansdowne Children’s Centre
WestSt. CatharinesNiagara Children’s Centre
TorontoTorontoHolland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
TorontoTorontoSurrey Place

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