Where to Get Autism & Developmental Support in Halton Region: A Family’s Guide

If you've typed something like "autism services in Burlington" or "my toddler isn't talking, who do I even call" into Google at 11pm, you're exactly the reason we wrote this blog.

Halton Region runs several different programs for children's development, and if you're not sure which one applies to your family, you're not alone. Even health and childcare professionals sometimes aren't sure where one program ends and another begins. So we sat down with Halton Region's Children's Developmental Services team to get it straight from the source, and we're passing that along here, in plain language, along with where a private option like Elemenoe fits in alongside the public system.

Public services and private services, in plain terms

You'll see both public and private options in this guide, and it's worth knowing the difference going in.

Public services, like the ones Halton Region offers, are government funded. They're free to access, don't require a physician referral in many cases, and are a great starting point for a lot of families. Because they serve the whole region, there can sometimes be a wait, and support can involve parent coaching, consultations, and some direct treatment.

Private services, like the ones a clinic such as Elemenoe offers, are private pay or through funding like the Ontario Autism Program. Private services tend to offer more individualized, ongoing care, and families can usually get started faster since there isn't a regional waitlist to work through.

Neither one is "better," and plenty of families use both at the same time. This guide walks through your public options first, then where private support like ours can fit in alongside them.

Infant and Child Developmental Services (birth to 5, no diagnosis needed)

This is usually the right starting point if your child is under 5 and you have a concern but no formal diagnosis yet. Halton Region's developmental consultants and occupational therapists do home visits and help with things like movement, communication, play skills, feeding, sleep, and daily routines. All you need is a concern about your child’s development, and you don't need a doctor's referral, to reach out.

One thing worth knowing: the developmental consultants team have training in child development but are not physicians or health care professionals and can’t diagnose autism. If something is outside their scope, they'll tell you to search for a provider yourself. That's actually one of the most common ways families end up finding a clinic like ours, so if that's you right now, keep reading.

If you aren't sure where to start, check out our free parent guides, including Who Does What in Collaborative Care and I Think My Child Has Autism, What's Next?

Inclusion Services (birth to 12, based at daycare)

If your child attends a licensed daycare or licensed home child care in Halton Region, the centre already has a resource consultant assigned to it through the region. That person's job is to support development right in the classroom/daycare through screening, observation, and working with your child's educators. It's a genuinely good resource, and if your daycare has flagged something, this is likely already in motion.

Family and Community Behavioural Services (ages 2 to 21)

This program is a bit more specific than its name suggests. It's for children and youth who have a diagnosed developmental disability other than autism spectrum disorder on its own, for example a dual diagnosis such as autism in addition to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or a stand alone diagnosis of FASD or Down syndrome. An ASD diagnosis by itself doesn't qualify a family for this particular program. When this program applies, support tends to be shorter term, things like coaching, workshops, and consultative visits.

Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC)

This one isn't specific to autism or speech, but it's worth knowing about, especially if you're expecting or have a very young child. Public health nurses and trained home visitors offer support with everything from nutrition to early development to connecting families with other services. You can reach this program through Halton Region's health line at 311.

ErinOak Kids: Children’s Treatment Centre

ErinOak Kids is the children's treatment centre that serves the Halton region, offering things like specialized therapy and medical support for kids with complex needs. If your child already has a diagnosed neurological condition, such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy, you can reach out to ErinOak Kids directly.

For most other situations, the smoother path is to start with Halton Region's Children's Developmental Services. They'll help figure out what kind of support fits, and connect you with ErinOak Kids if that ends up being the right next step.

Looking for private support alongside Halton Region?

Public programs like the ones above are a great starting point, and for some families, they're all that's needed. But some families want more individualized, ongoing support, or want to get started sooner rather than waiting on a waitlist. If that's you, a private clinic can work alongside Halton Region rather than instead of it.

That's where Elemenoe comes in. We're a collaborative ABA and speech-language therapy clinic with locations in Burlington and Waterloo, and we were built specifically to work alongside the public system, not compete with it. A few things that make us different from the public pathway:

• No referral needed. You can reach out directly, without waiting on a doctor's note or an assessment first.

• Collaborative by design. Our behaviour analysts and speech-language pathologists work together on one plan for your child, rather than treating communication and behaviour as separate concerns.

• A free discovery call. Before anything else, we offer a no-cost conversation to talk through what you're seeing and what support could look like.

• We’re a registered Ontario Autism Program (OAP) provider. If your family has OAP funding, or is figuring out how to use it, we can help you understand your options. Check out our free Parent Guide to OAP Funding.

None of this replaces what Halton Region offers, and for a lot of families, using both together is exactly the right approach: the public system for things like in-classroom support through Inclusion Services, and a private clinic for more individualized, ongoing therapy.

Helpful resources and directories

Here are a couple of resources that can help as you explore your options:

The Ontario Autism Program Provider List, run by Autism Ontario, is the place to browse clinicians who provide OAP-funded services across the province.

The CASLPO Public Register is a simple way to find a speech-language pathologist or audiologist in your area of Ontario and learn more about their registration.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a diagnosis to get help in Halton Region?

No. Infant and Child Developmental Services works with families who have concerns but no diagnosis yet, from birth to age 5.

Do I need a doctor's referral to contact Elemenoe?

No, families can reach out directly. A free discovery call is the usual first step. You can book an appointment with our owners here.

My daycare hasn't raised any concerns, should I still reach out somewhere?

Yes, if something feels off to you as a parent, that's reason enough. Daycare-based screening through Inclusion Services is one layer of support, but it isn't worth waiting if you have concerns.

What if my child has a diagnosis outside of autism, like FASD or Down syndrome?

Halton Region's Family and Community Behavioural Services may be a fit, particularly for children 2 to 21. Reach out to Halton Region directly to ask about eligibility.

Should I go to ErinOak Kids first?

In most cases, start with Halton Region's Children's Developmental Services, they handle triage and transfer to ErinOak Kids when it's needed. Go directly to ErinOak Kids only if your child already has a diagnosed neurological condition, such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy.

A note on accuracy: the program details above reflect what Halton Region's Children's Developmental Services team shared directly with Elemenoe, cross-checked against halton.ca as of August 2026. Program names, eligibility, and contact details can change, so we'd recommend a quick check of halton.ca or a call to Halton Region before including specifics in anything time-sensitive.