What It Is? We start by completing a written Developmental Curriculum Assessment of the child's skills across developmental domains. Based on those results and parent input, a plan is developed indicating the critical skill areas to teach and the treatment interventions to be used. A written cost estimate is provided at that time. A team is pulled together with typically three facilitators (we referred to our staff as facilitators rather than therapists) and the sessions for the first week are held in a therapy room at one of our sites. The programs are planned by the psychologist. For the first day, all staff are present with the psychologist and a senior clinician. The programs are tried out and consistency is ensured across staff. The IBI is then transferred to the home and weekly supervision is provided initially by the psychologist or senior clinician and then every second week. Programs are revised and new programs add continuously. Each month a team meeting is held with staff and the parents to discuss the child's progress. Distance Supervision Although it is not possible to provide our facilitators for home-based services outside of the greater Toronto area, we are able to set up, train staff and supervise home-based programs for children who live much further away. (For example, we are supervising a home-based program in the Caribbean). The main difference is that parents need to recruit their own therapist.

Who Do We Serve? The majority of children we serve are from 2 to 7 years of age, but we also treat a number of older children. We provide home-based programs for children from London Ontario to Bowmanville.   What There is To Know About the Direct Funding Option   In Ontario, the first step in getting IBI for young children with autism is to contact a local Regional Program ( http://www.children.gov.on.ca/CS/en/autismRecruitment/Contacts/default.htm ). Families of children with autism whose child may be eligible for IBI in Ontario should be aware of the Direct Funding Option . The Direct Funding Option (DFO) consists of families having a choice between receiving IBI service through Regional Programs (public sector) or receiving funds and purchasing IBI services through an approved provider.   In either case, the child with autism, would need to undergo an assessment by the Regional Program and be deemed eligible to receive IBI services.    There are a number of aspects of DFO of which parents should be aware:   Regional centres must provide families with this choice (Ministry of Children and Youth Services Guidelines, November 1, 2004.   Copies are available on request) Regional centres only pass on a fraction of the true cost of IBI to parents in the DFO option.   The true cost of IBI by Regional Programs is about $95/hr (about $100,000 a year) (Ontario Provincial Auditor's Report, 2004. A copy is available on request).    Regional Program provide DFO funding at between $27 to $30/hr (this amount changes).   Families need to “top-up” on any difference between the DFO funds and the cost of the private service (BI is about $36.75/hr). Families need to find their own private provider. The private provider needs to be approved by the Regional Program Regional programs have a quota on the number of DFO spots that they are willing to fund. Regional Programs differ in their requirements for supervisors of DFO, but typically is a psychologist with experience in ABA. Regional Programs will periodically review the programs offered through DFO for individual children