The Cottage
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What is The Cottage?
The Cottage is an innovative therapy centre in Ajax specifically geared to children and youth with autism. The building on Kingston Road was formerly a residence and offers a unique environment to enhance learning.
There are few centres in Durham Region serving this population.
The Cottage is the third location owned and operated by Exceptional Learning Centre, based in Ajax. There are now two locations in Ajax and one in Richmond Hill.
What services will The Cottage offer?
A full range of behavioural therapy services and applied behaviour analysis (ABA) will be offered to help children and youth. Services will be delivered on both one-to-one and small group settings. Experienced therapists work with children and youth to develop customized treatment plans suited to individual needs.
Who would benefit from a placement at The Cottage?
Services at The Cottage are ideal for individuals who would benefit from a step-by-step approach to learning new skills ranging from daily living and social skills to academic skills. The placement is appropriate for children and youth diagnosed with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD/ADHD)
- Brain injury
- Childhood Disgenerative Disorder (CDD)
- Developmental delays
- Down Syndrome
- Learning Disabilities
- Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD)
- Tourette’s Syndrome
What is ABA/IBI therapy?
Applied behaviour analysis (ABA), also referred to as intensive behaviour intervention (IBI), is a treatment method that has been clinically proven to help children learn. Skills are broken down into their simplest components and taught in a step-by-step progression. Gains made through ABA therapy are most often long-lasting and provide the foundation required for life-long learning and social success.
Examples of the types of skills taught using ABA therapy include:
- Attention
- Academic
- School readiness
- Gross and fine motor
- Decreasing or eliminating inappropriate behaviour
- Play and social
Are There Other Services Available at The Cottage?
Respite Services
The Cottage will also provide on-site respite and sitter services on evenings and weekends. Parents and caregivers can bring their children to The Cottage and either do some shopping or errands, or enjoy a night out on their own. These opportunities provide respite for family members and they are assured their children are being supervised by trained and experienced staff.
Other extended evening and weekend services will include programming for youth in areas such as social and life skills, teaching them to become more independent.
Who are the Members of the eXL Team?
Staff will include special education teachers, speech & language therapists and behaviour therapists. These professionals work closely with family members to ensure each child receives programming to suit his or her individual needs. The Cottage will also have psychologists available to consult as needed.
How can my child attend The Cottage?
Parents can call the Exceptional Learning Centre head office at: 905-686-4800 or
1-866-211-7779.
How is programming at The Cottage funded?
All programs and services are funded by the families based on their needs. Like other Exceptional Learning Centre programs, the Cottage receives no government funding.
How does this new centre fit in with existing programs offered at Exceptional Learning Centre?
The Cottage complements existing services provided by Exceptional Learning Centre by offering a variety of learning environments where clients and families can receive customized programming according to their specific needs, whether it is in a home-based centre for life-skills training or a school-based centre for academic-focused services.
The aim is clients can be better served in the environment that suits their individual needs.
Who operates The Cottage & Exceptional Learning Centre?
The Centre is co-owned and operated by June Ferguson and Lorraine Lewis.
June Ferguson, with previous experience in business, is the mother of a child with special learning needs and has been an active member of the special needs community since her daughter’s birth in 1981.
Lorraine Lewis is an educator with a background in special education and cognitive development. She is firmly committed to evidence-based research and teaching.
Their commitment to honesty, quality and professionalism have resulted in Exceptional Learning Centre being the ‘centre of choice’ for education, speech and language pathology and behaviour therapy for hundreds of clients with unique learning needs.
How long has Exceptional Learning Centre operated?
It has operated since 1997.
How can I contact Exceptional Learning Centre?
In Ajax, please call: 905-686-4800 or 1-866-211-7779.
In Richmond Hill, please call: 905-508-0341.
You may also contact the Centre by e-mail at: info@exlcentre.com
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