Publicly funded therapy & rehabilitation
These programs are publicly funded, so families do not pay for them. Most are for babies and preschoolers and run province-wide through local agencies. Once your child is in school, therapy continues through your children's treatment centre.
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SmartStart Hubs
Every children's treatment centre, plus Surrey Place in TorontoThe one front door when a parent is worried about development. No referral or diagnosis needed.
Visit ontario.ca (opens in a new tab)
Early intervention, from birth to school age
Infant and Child Development Program
Province-wideHome visits for children from birth to age five with a developmental delay or disability.
Visit ontario.ca (opens in a new tab)Preschool Speech and Language Program
Province-wideSpeech and language help from birth until school starts.
Visit ontario.ca (opens in a new tab)Infant Hearing Program
Province-wideNewborn hearing screening, audiology and language support until school entry.
Visit ontario.ca (opens in a new tab)Blind-Low Vision Early Intervention Program
Province-wideFamily support and teaching for children born blind or with low vision.
Visit ontario.ca (opens in a new tab)Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Province-wide, through public health unitsHome visits from a public health nurse in the first months.
Visit ontario.ca (opens in a new tab)Centennial Infant and Child Centre
Toronto ยท CharityEarly intervention home visits and preschool for young children with developmental delays.
Visit cicc.ca (opens in a new tab)
Preschool and school-age therapy
Holland Bloorview nursery schools
TorontoNursery school from 18 months to 4 years for children with physical, developmental or communication disabilities.
Visit hollandbloorview.ca (opens in a new tab)Bloorview School Authority, Integrated Education and Therapy program
TorontoA full-day kindergarten-age program with therapy built into the school day.
Visit bloorviewschool.ca (opens in a new tab)School-based rehabilitation services
Every children's treatment centrePhysiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy at school, for students in publicly funded schools.
Visit ontario.ca (opens in a new tab)
Equipment, seating and communication
Equipment is usually prescribed by a clinic team, then paid for through a mix of government funding, charities and insurance.
Seating, orthotics and mobility clinics
Every children's treatment centreAssessment and prescription close to home.
Visit empoweredkidsontario.ca (opens in a new tab)Holland Bloorview Clinical Seating and Orthotics
TorontoCustom seating, orthoses and help with funding forms.
Visit hollandbloorview.ca (opens in a new tab)Hamilton Health Sciences Prosthetics and Orthotics (Ron Joyce Children's Health Centre)
HamiltonOne of the larger prosthetics and orthotics programs, for children and adults.
Visit hamiltonhealthsciences.ca (opens in a new tab)Augmentative communication clinics
Several regionsCommunication devices for children who cannot rely on speech. Offered at Holland Bloorview, Thames Valley Children's Centre, CHEO and others.
For help paying for equipment, see Funding & financial supports.
Website links open each organization's own site in a new tab. We share them for information only. Advocating for Better is not connected to these organizations and is not responsible for their services or websites. Please confirm details directly with them.
Programs checked October 2026 on Government of Ontario pages and each organization's own website.
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