Essential Skills – Skills for Everyday Living
Real-life scenarios designed for real-life participation
Looking for a program that empowers your child to thrive in everyday activities at home and in the community? Look no further than our Essential Skills ABA Program. Designed to instill confidence and independence, our unique and specialized programs are a game-changer for non-verbal or those with limited communication skills, children aged 7-13.
We believe in practical preparation. That's why we recreate real-life scenarios within our program, from haircuts to doctor's appointments. By immersing your child in mock environments that mirror community and home settings, we equip them with the skills and confidence needed to navigate these experiences. Our ultimate goal is to provide children with opportunities to participate in daily tasks alongside their families, fostering a sense of structure, belonging, and fulfillment in their lives.
Essential Skills Comprehensive / Focused
In our program, your child is not just a participant but a priority. With a 1:1 staff-to-client ratio, we provide individualized attention and support tailored to your child's unique needs and abilities. Whether addressing challenges or celebrating achievements, our dedicated team is committed to empowering your child to reach their full potential - and to help families navigate through difficult situations.
Program benefits:
- Emphasizes daily living skills to promote independence
- Mock environments like hair salons, dental offices and bedrooms that make navigating real-world everyday challenges easy
- Targets skills like accepting “no,” brushing teeth, dressing, chores and kitchen skills
- Offers opportunities for individual and group goal achievement and celebration
- 1:1 ratio allows for intense focus on fostering positive behaviours
- Parents actively contribute to additional goals and skill development
- Staffed by experienced professionals under the supervision of a Registered Behaviour Analyst
Ideal participants are:
- Children aged 7 to 11 years old
- Non-verbal or have limited communication skills
- Seeking to enhance independence and engagement
- Needing 1:1 support in a group environment
- Eager to strengthen their daily living skills
- Available for participation two or three days per week
Essential Skills Plus - A Pilot Program
A natural next step for youth ready to build on their foundational skills
As children grow, so do their needs, and so should their programming. Essential Skills Plus is a new pilot program designed for youth aged 11–13 who have outgrown our Essential Skills program and are ready to build greater independence in a small-group setting.
Where Essential Skills uses a 1:1 ratio to build foundational communication and daily living skills, Essential Skills Plus shifts youth into a 3:2 ratio, giving them the structure and support they still need, while creating space to practice independence, initiative, and peer interaction in a more natural, real-world way.
Our program places a strong emphasis on functional leisure skills, helping youth learn to select, initiate, and sustain activities on their own, without step-by-step guidance. We also build in dedicated time for movement and structured exercise, recognizing how important physical activity is for this age group's long-term health, strength, and well-being. And through regular community outings, youth practice generalizing their skills in real settings, grocery stores, cafés, parks, and public transit, building the confidence to navigate the world around them.
Program Benefits
- Supports the transition from 1:1 to a small-group (3:2) ratio as youth are ready
- Builds independent and shared functional leisure skills
- Dedicated movement and exercise block to support physical health and self-regulation
- Structured community outings to practice real-world routines and safety skills
- Focus on communication, everyday life skills, and group participation
- Includes a 1-hour consultation with a speech and language pathologist
- Predictable, structured environment that builds confidence at each youth's own pace
- Shared group responsibilities that build a sense of contribution and belonging
Ideal Participants Are:
- Youth aged 11 to 13 years old (some flexibility for slightly younger learners who fit this profile)
- Currently in, or have aged out of, our Essential Skills program
- Ready to shift from 1:1 support toward a 3:2 group ratio
- Building emerging communication skills
- Able to participate safely in group activities and tolerate group routines
- Able to navigate group transitions with some support
- Available Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Program Focus Areas
- Communication and everyday life skills
- Independent and shared functional leisure skills
- Community engagement and real-world routines
- Movement, exercise, and physical well-being
- Personal care routines
- Shared group responsibility and belonging
This is a limited-enrollment pilot program — spaces are filling quickly. Contact us today to learn more or to reserve your child's spot.
Families may use their OAP funding for Geneva Centre's Essential Skills programs. We provide invoices that can be submitted to the OAP for reconciliation. Private insurance or other means of payment may also be used if applicable.