This section is not at all comprehensive but it does provide a starting place when a parent is looking for resources or contacts for Toronto area kids special needs organizations. We also include Toronto schools that specialize in dealing with special children and sports and activities that can teach these kids valuable skills in a fun environment.
We also want to ensure that parents are aware of the many resources in the GTA dealing with speech and hearing. This is a hugely under recognized area and it is vital to deal with it as early as possible. It is recommended that all children have their hearing tested.. Even slight hearing impairments resulting from ear infections can have an impact on speech, comprehension, development, movement and learning. And now, we are discovering that playing too-loud music through headphones can also cause impairment.
Also, speech impediments such as lisps and stuttering and delays should be addressed as early as possible for maximum results. For additional information, call the Ontario Speech and Language Association (OSLA) at (416) 920-0361 or online www.osla.on.ca, which can provide a referral to a registered therapist in private practice in your area, or the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario www.caslpo.com.
