QuickStart Nova Scotia

Caregivers meet with a member of the interdisciplinary team once a week for a 17-week period with two follow-up meetings, for a total of 19 sessions.

The program uses an individualized approach unique to each family’s needs and provides a naturalistic teaching framework that is flexible, accessible, collaborative, and supportive.

Caregivers have a chance to collaborate with the team to: 

• develop individualized goals for their child
• practice teaching strategies which are derived from the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)
• Participate in sessions with the Speech Language Pathologist and Occupational Therapist focused on addressing concerns parents have and completing an assessment of the child’s skills.
• Participate in sessions with the Parent Coach focused on finalizing goals and supporting caregivers in learning strategies to teach individualized goals to their child.

Please note:

• Meetings range in length from 1 to 1.5 hours per week.
• Families are asked to identify one caregiver who can participate in every session.
• Additionally, caregivers are asked to practice the strategies across different activities throughout their day.

Are you Eligible?

1. Child has a suspected, provisional, or confirmed diagnosis of Autism;
2. Child is between the ages of 12 and 31 months at the start of the program;
3. One immediate caregiver can commit to attending all sessions;
4. Not enrolled in more than 10 hours per week of services elsewhere

Click here for the Referral Information Form

The program takes place for two, 1 hour sessions per week across a period of 4 months. QuickStart NS team members work directly with the child to teach skills across developmental areas through play-based activities for a 3-month period. Parent coaching will be the main focus for the last month of service. This is a limited service to support the learning of QuickStart staff.

Are you Eligible? 

1. Child has a suspected, provisional, or confirmed diagnosis of Autism
2. Child is between the ages of 31 and 45 months at the start of the program
3. A caregiver is to be present during sessions; and
4. Not enrolled in Parent-Mediated Coaching or more than 10 hours per week of services elsewhere

Click here for the Referral Information Form

Supports caregivers with sleep related concerns that is becoming a major barrier to their child’s quality of life.

A sleep assessment and plan are completed in the first weeks of service, followed by regular check-ins on progress and support for caregivers. The service will be on average, 6 weeks, based on the needs and progress of the child. This is a limited service.

Are you Eligible?

1. Child has a suspected, provisional, or confirmed diagnosis of Autism;
2. Child is between the ages of 12 and 45 months at the start of the program;
3. Eligible or enrolled in Parent-Mediated Coaching or ESDM
4. Reside in the Halifax Regional Municipality (for in-person);
5. One caregiver is to be present during sessions;
6. Sleep concerns are a main focus and are becoming a major barrier to child’s or caregivers’ quality of life; and
7. Aiming to not use medication for sleep

Click here for the Referral Information Form

Supports caregivers with a specific behaviour that is of concern and is becoming a major barrier to their child’s quality of life.

A Functional Behaviour Assessment is used to support in developing a plan to guide caregivers in understanding and build skills for themselves and the child. The service will be on average, 6 weeks, based on the needs and progress of the child. This is a limited service.

Are you Eligible?

1. Child has a suspected, provisional, or confirmed diagnosis of Autism;
2. Child is between the ages of 12 and 45 months at the start of the program;
3. Eligible or enrolled in Parent-Mediated Coaching or ESDM
4. Reside in the Halifax Regional Municipality (for in-person); and
5. A specific behaviour that is a main concern and are becoming a major barrier to child’s or caregivers’ quality of life;

Click here for the Referral Information Form

QuickStart Nova Scotia has developed a play guide, ‘Exploring Play Together.’ This play guide aims to provide useful ideas, information, and next steps in play and was created for caregivers to learn about play and autism, and have easy access to play ideas and supports in play for their individual child.

This is a guide, and is not an exhaustive resource of supports and play ideas. A child’s individual likes and dislikes are always important to consider in supporting their development. The intended age for this play guide is 12 months to 6 years old, and although many of this information can be used with any child, it was developed for caregivers who have a child with a confirmed, provisional or suspected autism diagnosis.

Download ‘Exploring Play Together’ here.
Download our French version, « Ensemble, explorons le jeu ! » here.
Download our Toy Play Cards here.

These videos are in reference to QuickStart Nova Scotia’s play guide, ‘Exploring Play Together.’ Our play guide aims to provide useful ideas, information, and next steps in play and was created for caregivers to learn about play and autism, and have easy access to play ideas and supports in play for their individual child.

Click each link below to view corresponding video:

Exploring Creative Play: Balloons

Exploring Creative Play: Books

Exploring Creative Play: Bubbles

Exploring Creative Play: Playdough

Exploring Creative Play: Pound a Ball

Exploring Creative Play: SpinAgain