Small Business Awards 2020

Sep20910 Best Autistic Child Education Support NPO - Ontario All children should have the opportunity to learn and to be supported, but for many, this help does not come easily. TIPES offers a variety of programs for children, youth and adults with autism and related diagnoses. Taking a holistic approach means that these individuals can flourish in a safe learning environment. The services that TIPES provides ranges enormously from person to person, each requiring an individual approach that meets a specific need. Most are referred to the team’s ABA one on one or small group sessions. Respite services, tutoring, behaviour consultation and counselling are also provided by the talented team. These invaluable services have been made available in person at the team’s headquarters, in schools at satellite centers and through virtual sessions. This flexibility makes it easier for the team to meet the needs of individuals wherever they are. One of the driving forces of the organization since its inception has been finding new and innovative ways of supporting and alleviating the anxiety for families of children with autism and other diagnoses from the financial stress and uncertainty around their child’s future. All new clients are required to have a baseline assessment completed in order for the TIPES team to create an individualized learning program for that client. To ensure the client progreses successively the team is required to continually monitor the program and make appropriate revisions. Any clinical supervision is provided by a consulting Clinical Psychologist if requested or a Board Certified Behavioural Analysist to eliminate bias, make further recommendations and ensure the integrity of the program. Working in this field requires a team that can work well with children and adults alike. This is not a skill that can be taught, but one that comes naturally. The staff that come to work at TIPES therefore come with experience and qualifications, along with a desire to progress. Regular training is offered, with additional online learning opportunities for each department and job description. The result is an organization that is always pushing to the next level, with a caring, supportive team. With so many of the materials that TIPES provides already online, steps are being made to make the organization’s various education courses, conferences and parent training available around the world. Collaboration has long been one of the strongest assets that the team can provide, with many partners in the Ottawa area offering mutual benefits. As the team expands internationally, they hope to apply this principle to new partners too. This deliberate expansion of services is happening in all departments, including in one-to-one therapy. Of course, more appointments and services being offered increases the business costs significantly and as people emerge from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that many will simply not have the finances to pay for support. Increasing fundraising online, therefore, is a clear way forward for the team. This will allow them to offer more services for free or at a reduced cost to families who could not otherwise afford treatment. Ghandi said “Be the change you want to see the world”, and that’s exactly what the team at TIPES try to do. Their efforts go a long way to lighten the load and really make a difference to families in Canada and beyond. Company: TIPES Contact: Jennifer Wyatt Website: www.tipes.ca Those who have autism, related diagnoses and individual learning needs need individual support to help them reach their potential. Thinking In Pictures Educational Services (TIPES) provides this vital support. Having built a reputation for excellence, their success has been recognized by their incredible achievement in Corporate Vision’s Small Business Awards. We take a closer look at this organization to see how they’ve done it.